There is far more to Nevada than just Las Vegas and the desert. This is a guide to the best places to visit in Nevada, including plenty of options outside of Sin City!
Yes, Nevada has a lot of desert. And yes, Las Vegas is in Nevada. However, there are so many cool places in Nevada worth your time, and this guide will disclose some of my favorites!
While California may get all the credit, parts of Lake Tahoe and Death Valley National Park are actually inside Nevada. But Nevada is home to one of the most underrated national parks in the US (Great Basin).
These are the destinations in Nevada worth adding to your bucket list… beyond Vegas! Did I miss any spots? Let me know in the comments!
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Best Places to Visit in Nevada
1. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Located in the Mojave Desert, the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is home to vibrant red sandstone peaks, Native petroglyphs that date back many eras, and the Keystone Thrust Fault.
The conservation area is located only 16 miles away from Las Vegas and has a lot to offer its visitors, especially those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a little peace and quiet.
One of the best reasons to visit this Nevada destination is the scenic ride to get there!
But once you’re there, you can check out Red Rock’s 26+ hiking trails, one of which is the popular Calico Hills Trail, a 2.6-mile hike that has amazing views along the way.
2. Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park doesn’t get nearly enough love compared to other national parks out west. But, it is a must for your Nevada bucket list!
Located in eastern Nevada, this national park sits in the Great Basin Desert. But, it is home to the beautiful South Snake Mountains which includes majestic Wheeler Peak.
Covered with lush green pine trees and aspen forests, those visiting Great Basin can experience its wonderful nature by taking to the trails! Some of the most famous ones are:
- Lehman Creek Trail (takes you to the Lehman Caves)
- Sky Islands Forest Trail
- Bristlecone Trail
The park is also home to mountain lakes like Stella Lake and Teresa Lake where you can have a picnic and camp. It is one of the least visited national parks in the United States but it is a gem!
3. Massacre Rim Dark Sky Sanctuary
Located near the California and Oregon borders, Massacre Rim is one of the best places to enjoy beautiful starry nights in Nevada. Due to its remote location, it’s known to have “exceptional starry night quality” and is a designated Dark Sky Park. It is one of only 18 in the world!
This Nevada Dark Sky Sanctuary is accessible by car or truck, but you will have to drive over gravel roads when you reach the perimeter of the park. Please note that these roads may be impassable during winter or when the weather is wet.
The closest city to Massacre Rim is Gerlach and it is located in the northern part of the state. The park is open 24/7 and you can check road conditions with the BLM Winnemucca Field Office (775) 623-1500). It is free to visit.
4. Hoover Dam
Impressive Hoover Dam is one of the most famous places to visit in Nevada and it is located in the Black Canyon. It was constructed in 1931 and is one of the best engineering marvels in the United States. Over a million travelers visit annually to see just how spectacular the structure is!
The dam is built on the Colorado River where it is possible to raft and kayak. The area also attracts hikers to put their skills to the test on the Historic Railroad Hiking Trail that passes through tunnels via the Gold Strike Hot Springs Trail.
Other popular sights near the Hoover Dam are the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, Ringbolt Hot Spring (in Arizona), and more. This is the perfect stop on a road trip from Colorado to California (or anywhere that passes by the Vegas area)!
5. Reno
Reno is yet another city that is famous for its tourist sights and casinos and has a lot to offer its visitors, no matter what time of the year it is!
Also known as ” The Biggest Little City”, Reno is famous for its museums like the Nevada Museum of Art which is the oldest cultural center in the state.
Another museum to visit in Reno is the National Automobile Museum which contains a collection of 200 retro vehicles, ranging from racing cars to high-class, luxury cars.
Another perk of visiting Reno is that you’re only a stone’s throw from Lake Tahoe. I wholeheartedly believe it is one of the most beautiful places in the United States and should be up there as a spot to visit alongside other greats like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, etc.
6. Ely
Ely is a small, mountainous town that thrives on history, art, and outdoor adventure. Founded in 1870 as a trading stop named Murray Station, Ely, later on, became one of the major copper mining regions in the world!
Some of the best things to do in Ely include checking out the unique Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park, learning more about the history of the town at the White Pine Public Museum, diving into the past at the Nevada Northern Railway Museum, etc.
Ely is also a fantastic weekend trip from Salt Lake City (and you can even pop over to the nearby Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah).
7. Valley of Fire State Park
Nevada has many beautiful places and Valley of Fire State Park is one of the most fabulous ones in the state. It is my favorite state park in the entire country!
Valley of Fire is located approximately one hour away from Las Vegas and is home to several mesmerizing pink rock formations, prehistoric petroglyphs, hiking trails, and other natural spots.
One of the coolest things to do at Valley of Fire is to cruse along Mouse’s Tank Road and enjoy the epic rock formations as you drive by. It is particularly gorgeous at sunset.
Thousands of travelers are visiting Valley of Fire from Las Vegas to hike and photograph several famous rock formations like the Fire Rock, the Beehives, Elephant Rock, and many others.
8. Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area
Spanning 48,438 acres, this national conservation area promises unique geologic features that you’ve probably not seen in many other areas of the US.
One of the highlights of Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area is the Sloan Canyon Petroglyph Site, which is one of the most significant cultural landmarks in Southern Nevada.
Archaeologists claim that the Native cultures from the Archaic historical period have produced more than 300 rock art panels with 1,700 individual design elements here.
As a premier rock art site, Sloan Canyon has some pretty strict regulations in place when it comes to keeping the petroglyphs preserved, so make sure you do not violate any of them and read up on them before your trip.
9. Pyramid Lake
Pyramid Lake, widely known for its amazing scenery, is one of Nevada’s largest natural lakes. It is surrounded by unique rock formations that make the location mystical and pretty interesting to visit.
While it is renowned for its fishing, I think one of the top reasons to visit is to go to the Paiute Tribe Museum and Visitor’s Center.
It is known that this lake played a significant role in the history of the Paiute tribe, and several exhibits in this museum specifically highlight information on the connection between the Paiute and Pyramid Lake.
The lake is located 35 miles northeast of Reno and is on the Paiute Reservation. You can read more here.
10. Lake Tahoe
One of the most beautiful places to visit in Nevada is Lake Tahoe which is famous for being the Sierra Nevada Mountains’ largest freshwater lake. Most people associate the lake with California, but it is also part of Nevada!
Located approximately 40 miles away from Reno, Lake Tahoe is known as one of the clearest lakes in the United States and is a great weekend getaway destination from the bustling cities of the West Coast and Southwest.
I mentioned it above, but I think this is one of the most beautiful places in the US and everyone should visit at least once!
You can do something at all times of the year in Lake Tahoe. If visiting in summer, you can hike and go hot air ballooning (you can do both in winter but I prefer them in summer). If visiting in winter, you can take advantage of their world-famous ski resorts and winter sports activities!
Some of the notable names around the lake are Heavenly Mountain Resort (skiing), Squaw Valley (skiing), Emerald Bay State Park (great hiking), and the Vikingsholm Museum.
11. Rhyolite Ghost Town
This so-called ghost town was established in 1904 but was “dead” by 1916, mainly because of the gold mine closure. Even though the lights went out far too long ago in Rhyolite, there are still many cool reasons to visit the ghost town!
Paramount Pictures restored the bottle house for the film The Air Mail in 1925. That house was constructed from hundreds of glass bottles in the walls of Adolphus Busch products. It truly is a bizarre thing to see.
Other famous spots in Rhyolite are a three-story bank building, a general store, a train station, and more. Ghost towns are a cool experience for everyone (even if they can be a bit gimmicky these days).
12. Grapevine Canyon Petroglyphs
Also known as “Christmas Tree Pass,” Grapevine Canyon is home to nearly 700 petroglyphs and several rock shelters. While several of these petroglyphs are at the entrance of the canyon, you can hike to find additional ones further in (but at least some are within easy reach!).
The petroglyphs were created in 1100 and 1900 AD. Sadly, the only fact that is known about them is that the area was inhabited by the Mojave, but both the meaning of the glyphs and their creators remain unclear.
13. Fly Geyser
The small geothermal geyser named Fly Geyser is located on private land in Washoe County, Nevada. The geyser’s uniqueness is that it has multiple hues of green and red in its coloring due to thermophilic algae in its consistency.
The Fly Geyser area’s heat source comes from a very deep and hot rock pool where tectonic rifting is common. The geyser’s temperature is typical of those found at higher elevations (around 200F or 93C).
From April to October of each year, Fly Ranch is open for small, guided three-hour nature walks, and the geyser is part of the walk. The money collected from the tickets is given to the Fly Ranch and Friends organization as a donation.
14. Carson City
Carson City is the capital of Nevada and is home to historical attractions, theaters, art galleries, beautiful golf courses, shopping centers, and many other landmarks and things to do.
If you are visiting Carson City, make sure you don’t miss out on the Nevada State Museum which showcases the region’s history starting from prehistoric times.
Outdoorsy enthusiasts can go hiking in Carson City on the Kit Carson Trail and have a chance to see the architecture and historical sites of the city. Alternatively, you can cross the border into California and take a day trip to the ghost town of Bodie instead!
Don’t forget to try the traditional, local steak in the famous Red’s Old 395 Grill. They also have over 100 different types of beers to try and are open daily from 11am until 9pm!
15. Tonopah
Tonopah is yet another place to visit in Nevada for those who love to go stargazing. Clair Blackburn Memorial Stargazing Park in Tonopah was built for both trained astronomers and those with a peaked interest in the stars.
Aside from its epic stargazing opportunities, the town of Tonopah had a thriving mining history that lasted until the 1920s and you can still feel the effects of that era and its downfall in the town when you visit.
Be sure to check out the Tonopah Historic Mining Park and the Central Nevada Museum, both of which exhibit Tonopah’s western history!
16. Virginia City
Virginia City is known for its 19th-century Victorian buildings that were built during the boom of the mining industry.
The whole town is one big attraction these days, with various historical places like Mackay Mansion (the oldest structure in Virginia City) built in the mid-19th century. It was once the home of the Gould and Curry Mine.
Other historical sites that have a specific Western architectural style that you can’t miss out on are the Piper’s Opera House which was built in 1885 and the Fourth Ward School.
If you want to learn and see how the mine tunnel worked 200 years ago, sign up for the Ponderosa Saloon Mine Tour.
17. Cathedral Gorge State Park
Located in a narrow valley in southeastern Nevada, Cathedral Gorge State Park is a unique spot where erosion has done its job by carving some specific patterns in the soft bentonite clay.
The park offers some great trails to enjoy hiking, picnicking, camping, and the overall Nevada landscapes that exist here!
There are more than 20 sites for camping, with facilities like large shade ramadas, grills, picnic tables, and water access. Note that these campgrounds are not available for reservations.
Aside from camping, there is also a picnic area and part of the park is available for hiking. There is a remote area available via a 4-mile loop trail and there is also a 1-mile trail connecting the picnic area to Miller Point Overlook.
18. Eldorado Canyon & Gold Mine
Only a 45-minute distance from Las Vegas, Eldorado Canyon is the oldest and was the richest gold mine in Southern Nevada.
This area (now referred to as Nelson) was flooded with miners and prospectors in the mid-1880s, which resulted in a lot of disagreements and management issues, making the place renowned for its lawlessness!
However, despite this, large quantities of gold, silver, copper, and lead were still produced and mined there. When visiting, you can take a guided tour to get through the mine including Savage Mine and Techatticup Millsite.
There are also blue water cove trips offered where visitors can rent a canoe or a two-person kayak to row in the canyon below through the mighty Colorado River.
19. Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Lake Mead National Recreation Area is located approximately 16 miles away from Las Vegas in the southwestern part of Nevada. The National Recreation Area is known for being the first and largest national recreational area in America!
It has a breathtaking landscape and blue waters, luring travelers all year round to enjoy different activities like swimming, hiking, boating, kayaking, and more.
It’s a perfect weekend getaway destination from Las Vegas where visitors can picnic near the lake, see Hoover Dam up close, visit the Lost City Museum-Archaeology, kayak to stunning Emerald Cove, and more.
Lake Mead is a gem. There are also many amazing places to visit in Arizona nearby – so definitely consider a trip to see this marvel and stick around a little longer!
20. Lamoille Canyon
Many say that visiting the Lamoille area without seeing the unique Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway is a big mistake and I have to agree with them! It is a U-shaped canyon teeming with summer wildflowers and dazzling colors in the fall.
Be sure to check out the Lamoille Glacier Overlook on the way to the peak, where you can see the effects of two 1,000-foot-thick glaciers that carved the land into a U-shaped canyon.
You can also spend your spare time there doing some hiking, picnicking, mountain biking, backpacking, and more. The area contains more than 100 miles of hiking trails, and one of them is Island Lake, a simple two-mile hike that promises breathtaking views.
21. Ruby Mountains
As the wettest spot in Nevada, the Ruby Mountains offer a green and lush landscape, which is truly a different kind of contrast to the ecosystems that one typically thinks of when Nevada comes to mind!
During the recent ice ages, the central core of the range displays substantial evidence of glaciation, including U-shaped canyons, hanging valleys, steeply eroded granite mountains, moraines, cirques, etc.
A few things to note about the Ruby Mountains is that it is the only habitat in North America of an introduced Himalayan snowcock and the range was named for the garnet found in the area.
Most of the range is found within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in the northern part of Nevada near Elko.
22. Black Rock Desert
The Black Rock Desert is home to a unique lava bed landscape; it’s also rich with many hot springs like Trego Hot Springs, Black Rock Hot Springs, Double Hot Springs, and others.
This place in Nevada has become synonymous with the Burning Man Festival but also has some interesting and unusual places like Planet X Pottery, an artist community oasis located close to the Smoke Creek Desert.
The off-the-grid place is filled with a lot of pottery and art in its garden that you can also take home as a souvenir.
While the desert offers endless opportunities, one thing to not miss is to book a timeslot to swim in the Soldier Meadows Hot Springs. It is one of the most relaxing things to do while visiting.
23. Mount Charleston
Mount Charleston is the highest mountain in both the Spring Mountains and Clark County and it is also the eighth-highest peak in the state.
The iconic mountain can be seen from parts of the Las Vegas Strip when looking westward if the air quality is right and the sky is clear. At its base and to the east is the unincorporated town of Mount Charleston, Nevada.
With a variety of hiking trails, a ski area, a rustic hotel, and a small restaurant, Mount Charleston is a year-round getaway not only for Las Vegas residents but also for many tourists!
There are almost 200 campsites and over 150 picnic areas on Mount Charleston, some of which are RV-accessible.
One of the things I love best about Mount Charleston is how I always forget that these types of landscapes (and snow!) exist so close to Vegas. It is always a welcomed surprise when I am in Vegas during the colder months.
Nevada Destinations Map
I hope that you found some inspiring destinations for your Nevada bucket list to visit on your upcoming trip! This guide to the best places to visit in Nevada is never conclusive and I will add to it over time!
Let me know your favorite destination in Nevada in the comments!
Additional Nevada Travel Guides
- Valley of Fire day trip
- Winter trip to Las Vegas
- Best small towns in Nevada
- Death Valley in winter
- 2 days in Death Valley National Park
- Best day trips from Las Vegas
Pin this Guide to Places in Nevada
Megan is a travel blogger and writer with a background in digital marketing. Originally from Richmond, VA, she now lives in Finnish Lapland after previous stints in Norway, Germany, Armenia, and Kazakhstan. She has a passion for winter travel, as well as the Nordic countries, but you can also find her eating her way through Italy, perusing perfume stores in Paris, or taking road trips through the USA. Megan has written for or been featured by National Geographic, Forbes, Lonely Planet, the New York Times, and more. She co-authored Fodor’s Travel ‘Essential Norway’ (2020) and has visited 45 US states and 100+ countries.
Nevada has so many beautiful sights to see, I especially want to check out Lake Tahoe! The one time I have been before was somewhat close to it, it was when I visited for some business involving carpet cleaning in Reno, NV. Saving this list for when I finally make it back there!