American Dream Trip
Las Vegas, Nevada

Road-trip guide · Nevada

Las Vegas

A road-trip stop through Nevada.

Photo via Wikipedia — Las Vegas

The first thing you notice pulling into Las Vegas at dusk is the light — not just the neon, but the way the whole sky goes pink and orange behind the Strip while the signs are already competing for your attention. It hits differently when you've been driving through the Mojave all afternoon. Most families who pass through here make a few of the same stops, and they're worth it. The Welcome to Las Vegas sign on the southbound side is a quick pull-off that everyone actually uses — it's free, takes ten minutes, and the kids will ask for it anyway. Hoover Dam is a real stop, not a drive-by; give it an hour or two if you have the time. For dinner, the Secret Pizza spot tucked inside the Palazzo is a genuine family favorite — no reservation, no fuss, just good pizza on the ninth floor of a casino. Bazaar Meat at the Sahara is the splurge option if you're doing a longer stay and want one serious meal. If your route has any flexibility, Valley of Fire State Park is about an hour out and worth the detour — red rock formations that look almost unreal in the late afternoon. Las Vegas works well as a road trip stop because it's easy to do as much or as little as you want, and there's a route through here that connects a lot of the Southwest's best driving.

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What travelers do here

Things to do in Las Vegas

Check into your Vegas hotel and settle in
Fremont Street Experience
Check into your Vegas splurge hotel and unwind by the pool
Stroll the Strip at dusk — Bellagio Fountains, The Venetian
Welcome to Las Vegas Sign
The Mob Museum (National Museum of Organized Crime & Law Enforcement)
Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
The Neon Museum (Neon Boneyard)

Overnight

Where travelers stay

Lodging 1

Caesars Palace (or Nobu Hotel at Caesars for an upgrade)

Lodging 2

Caesars Palace or The Cosmopolitan

Lodging 3

Caesars Palace or Paris Las Vegas (Caesars Rewards)

Lodging 4

Caesars Rewards Property (Caesars Palace / Paris / Flamingo)

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Other cities in Nevada

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