Thread: Las Vegas side trip question

I'm going to Las Vegas next month to meet some friends and am interested in taking a loop drive to Hoover Dam, then up the west side of Lake Mead to Valley of Fire, then returning to Vegas. Anyone ever done this? Any kind of rough idea on how much time this will take assuming a few stops to see the sights?

Any other ideas? I've been out to Red Rock Canyon and thought that was great, but other than that haven't seen much outside the city.

Either Bryce or Zion is about a 4 hour drive. I forget which.

Originally Posted by The AD

I'm going to Las Vegas next month to meet some friends and am interested in taking a loop drive to Hoover Dam, then up the west side of Lake Mead to Valley of Fire, then returning to Vegas. Anyone ever done this? Any kind of rough idea on how much time this will take assuming a few stops to see the sights?

Any other ideas? I've been out to Red Rock Canyon and thought that was great, but other than that haven't seen much outside the city.

I used to live in Vegas (for anyone contemplating moving there, don't). Downtown LV to Hoover Dam is around 30-45 minutes; the Dam exhibit/ museum/ tour is actually worth doing, so give yourself 1-2 hours there. To go from Hoover Dam (Boulder City) to Valley of Fire means driving back up through LV, then northeast on I-15. I think you can drive up along a smaller road near Lake Mead (near Overton), but I haven't driven that whole route. I would think this is all doable in one long day; get started early.

Other sights to see: (1) Liberace museum, (2) New York-New York roller coaster, (3) Stateline (Primm) roller coaster -- something like a 9-story drop.

Warning: Vegas in July is insanely hot. If you've never been to Phoenix or Vegas in July or August, you have no idea just how bad it is.

I am planning on making a similar trip. We are going to Vegas, then down to San Diego and then acrocs to Sedona and back up to Vegas. From Vegas to San Diego was 5 hours. From San Diego to Sedona, it is 7 hours, and then back to Vegas is 6 hours. It should be a great trip with lots to see. Hope you have fun on yours!

Originally Posted by El Chupacabra

Warning: Vegas in July is insanely hot. If you've never been to Phoenix or Vegas in July or August, you have no idea just how bad it is.

Very true - bring light clothing and stay in a hotel with a pool.

The parents drive over the Hoover Dam each time they come to visit. Keep in mind that there is a very good chance you will get stopped and they check for explosives. Dad said it does not take long, but he has been stopped EVERY time. Simple FYI.

Originally Posted by El Chupacabra

I think you can drive up along a smaller road near Lake Mead (near Overton), but I haven't driven that whole route.

Yes, that's the road I was thinking about taking. I get in Friday morning, so that would be the logical day to do this. However by the time I get out of the airport it will be about 11:00 am so I don't know if the entire loop is realistic with that late of a start.

Warning: Vegas in July is insanely hot. If you've never been to Phoenix or Vegas in July or August, you have no idea just how bad it is.

The funny thing is last time I was there in July it was NOT hot. I couldn't believe it, but I was actually a little cold sitting by the pool. It couldn't have been above 70. No, I don't expect that to happen again

the Dam exhibit/ museum/ tour

I 2nd this...do the 'hard-hat' tour....it takes you onto the generator platform, and down to the transformer decks...truly amazing. They had cancelled this tour after 9/11..not sure if it's back on the menu yet.

Yeah, I'd heard the tour had been nixed by 9/11, but it may be worth checking out - it could be back up and running. It's the best dam tour ever (get ready for those, they spout those off all tour long).

I went to HS in Vegas - senior prom was at the Liberace mansion, actually. Wierd place. Anyway I believe you can take a route from Lake Mead to the Valley of Fire, but not through Boulder City - all the roads there pretty much end up in Arizona.

Mt Charleston/Lee Canyon area may be neat to see, especially if it's hot this time you go. It's usually 20 degrees or so cooler up there, a nice break from the heat.

Death Valley ain't too far, and if you really want to get out into the sticks, there's some old mining history stuff way up in the Tonopah/Goldfield area. But if you want to see that kind of stuff I'd recommend going to Butte in Montana instead, Tonopah's pretty out there and way rednecky.

I also second the roller coaster at Buffalo Bill's in State Line/Primm - it's the CA/NV border on I-15. Great roller coaster, far far far better than the one up on the stratosphere tower, and better than the ripoff that is the New York New York coaster. I remember that only costing 5 bucks a ride when it first opened, now it's up to like 20 bucks a shot, and it's barely even 2 minutes long.

Originally Posted by Jumper Bones

I also second the roller coaster at Buffalo Bill's in State Line/Primm - it's the CA/NV border on I-15. Great roller coaster, far far far better than the one up on the stratosphere tower, and better than the ripoff that is the New York New York coaster. I remember that only costing 5 bucks a ride when it first opened, now it's up to like 20 bucks a shot, and it's barely even 2 minutes long.

The NY-NY coaster is $20 ?!! Skip it then -- it's a fun ride since you're zooming around over fake NY skyline, right on the Strip, but it's not worth that much.

Originally Posted by El Chupacabra

The NY-NY coaster is $20 ?!! Skip it then -- it's a fun ride since you're zooming around over fake NY skyline, right on the Strip, but it's not worth that much.

I was just in Vegas a few weeks ago and I think it's $12. Still too much for me.

Originally Posted by The AD

I was just in Vegas a few weeks ago and I think it's $12. Still too much for me.

oops. yeah, you could be right...I'm foggy on it, it's been a while since I've been back to vegas, all I remember was that it got more and more expensive. At 5 bucks, it was worth it. After 7...not anymore.