Nevada teems with the kind of breathtaking scenery that could fill the walls of your home with visuals – and fill your memory with experiences you won’t soon forget. The length of some of the most alluring drives in the state ranges from 13 to 57 miles. Just remember that this distance does not include the ride from Las Vegas. The good news is, once you arrive at the starting point, you may not have to refill your tank along the way. Plan accordingly, but whatever you do, plan to bring your camera, too.
Drive: Pyramid Lake Scenic Byway
If you haven’t taken a ride through the desert, here is a prime chance to do so while enjoying a variety of terrain after about a seven-hour drive from Las Vegas. Start in Spanish Springs at the Virginia Mountains and end at Pyramid Lake in Fernley and marvel at all the rock formations that punctuate this 55-mile drive.
Drive: Red Rock Canyon Loop
“The Loop” more than lives up to its name: the rocks are indeed deep red (almost burgundy) and the loop starts and ends in Las Vegas, from just past Fort Apache on Blue Diamond, and arcs around to the west end of Charleston. An abundance of hiking trails may tempt you to pull over more than once on this 15-mile drive.
Drive: Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway
Even when you know what awaits you, the canyon can still surprise you with its panoramic views from the Ruby Mountains and the surrounding waterfalls. After about a six-hour drive from Las Vegas, start in Lamoille and end in Elko. It’s a quick 20-mile drive that is worthy of an encore amid the aspen and willow trees.
Drive: Valley of Fire Highway
Be sure to bring some extra water for this 36-mile trip through Valley of Fire State Park, the state’s oldest and largest. Here, when the sun hits the rocks, they literally look as though they’re ablaze. But you’ll be missing out if you don’t pull over and reach out and touch Seven Sisters Vista or Elephant Rock Vista – even if you do need cooling off. You can enjoy this freeway after taking about a one-hour drive from Las Vegas.
Drive: Angel Lake Scenic Drive
At only 13 miles long, the “shorty” of the scenic drive group is another you may wish to repeat – as long as you like the colder temperatures. Start in Wells — about six hours from Las Vegas — and click away at the Humboldt Mountains. End your journey at Angel Lake, which is often covered with a substance many Nevadans don’t often see: ice.
Drive: Walker River Scenic Drive
After nearly a six-hour drive from Las Vegas, begin in Yerington and follow the bend of the East Walker River until you wind up in Hawthorne, about 57 miles away. You won’t see many signs of “civilization”, but this is precisely the point: you’ll be too captivated by the mighty Mt. Grant, which stands more than 11,000 feet tall.
Drive to Valley Automall
You probably won’t want to take just any vehicle to these knockout locales, especially if scenic drives become part of your recreational repertoire. You’ll want to make sure you have a vehicle that can navigate these areas while you spread out comfortably from within.