Red Rock Canyon is a 13-mile scenic drive through red and cream sandstone, 30 to 45 minutes from the Strip. We have been more times than I can count, and every single visit has been extraordinary.
It never looks the same twice. The sun lights the rock differently every time, so the views change depending on when you go, and I honestly could not tell you which visit was the best. Even at over 100 degrees, it was still a great time.
We went often while we lived in Vegas, because it was easy and close compared with every other park and place to get outside. We left in July 2025, and we still go back whenever we are through. I always will.
Per car, plus $2 for a timed-entry booking from October to May. An America the Beautiful pass or the annual pass covers the entry - bring the physical card.
The drive opens at 6am. It closes at 5pm November to February, 7pm in March and October, and 8pm April to September.
Getting there is the easy part
It is about as simple as a drive gets: more or less a straight line, with one turn off the 215.
From October to May you need a timed-entry booking for the scenic drive, which you make on Recreation.gov. It is easy - easy enough that you can book it while you sit in the queue, as long as you still have signal. You will lose full signal eventually, so download or screenshot the ticket before you reach the gate.
From June to September you do not need a booking at all. You just turn up and pay. That is the summer trade, and I will come back to what it costs you.
Start at the visitor centre
It is a really good one. There is a gift shop with a lot of cool stuff in it, some proper exhibits, and rangers who will talk you through the hikes and help you pick one.
Go outside too. There is a great view of the land you are about to drive into, and the tortoises live out there as well.
And use the bathroom. The visitor centre is your last real one. Every stop on the drive has an outhouse, which is not my preferred option, but they are there.
The drive is front-loaded
The first two stops are the great ones, and the overlook after them is good too. After that, the drive turns into more trailheads than viewpoints, so if you only want views, the front half is where they are.
The road is one way and about a car and a half wide. Watch for bikes and motorcycles. You can pass, but be polite about it - pull over and put your hazards on if you are stopping. And do not speed.
Take the hike down at the first stop
The hike down from the first stop is always a good one. It is steep, but it is worth it. The trails at the second and third stops are good too.
I climbed a rock at the first stop. At the third, I pretended to climb one.
A note for anyone like me: I do not do the hikes over big rock that slips and slides as you step on it. I prefer the trails with more of a gravel texture, where I feel confident getting out there. There are plenty of those, so you do not have to scramble to have a good day.
Petroglyphs, once
The petroglyphs are fun the first time. Seeing marks people left on the rock that long ago is worth the stop.
They are not something I go back for, though. Once you have seen them, you have seen them, and the time is better spent at the front of the drive.
The heat is the trade
In July we were out at 7am, and it was already baking. You start sweating straight away, and you dry out so fast. You need far more water than you think, because you are drinking it so much faster.
That is the summer deal. No booking, but the heat makes the hikes much harder to finish. The sun just bakes you.
It is more enjoyable in autumn, winter and spring. But I would still tell you to go in summer - just go early and pack for it.
Stay for the light
Because the sun lights the rock so differently, it is worth being there at more than one time of day.
In January we watched the sun go down behind the range from the overlook. In winter it drops behind the mountains early - it was going at about quarter past four - so you can catch it before the drive closes at five without racing the gate.
Outside the loop
Calico Basin sits just outside the fee area. It is free, it does not need a booking, and it has really good hikes and a nice boardwalk. I have done it a few times. If the scenic drive is booked up, or you are there in summer and just want a short walk, it is a good shout.
And the Joshua trees start before you are even in the park. Once you hit the desert they are all over, and they carry on inside.
Slower than the Strip
Red Rock is so much more chill than the Strip, and so much prettier. You are out in nature, breathing fresh air.
The Strip is casino smells, hotel smells, cars, and hustle and bustle. Red Rock is slower. It is more about enjoying where you are than trying to get somewhere else.
Give it the whole day
If you take your time you can be out there for hours, and there is no food or drink anywhere inside. Bring a cooler with drinks, and bring snacks.
If you are in Vegas for a few days, put Ice Age Fossils on the same trip. But give Red Rock a day of its own. It is not a place to rush out of and on to the next thing.
Who it is for
Everyone. The 13-mile drive is easy, and the viewpoints along it are accessible and give you great views. If you are a hiker, a climber, or just more outdoorsy, there is plenty more for you too.
The only people who should skip it are those who cannot appreciate natural beauty. I will always go back.
Overpack. Pack everything you think you need, then double the water and sunscreen - even in winter.