If the casinos of Las Vegas start to feel too stuffy, take a day trip to the Grand Canyon. As one of the world’s greatest natural wonders, visitors can hike, mountain bike, ride horseback, rock climb or simply gaze in awe over the canyon’s grandeur. Take on the expansive desert plains on an ATV, white water raft the Colorado River, or take a dizzying helicopter ride — even go skydiving. Visit the South Rim for more gorgeous scenery at Lookout Studio, as well as the historic El Tovar Hotel where generations of presidents and notable celebrities have stayed.

The drive to Grand Canyon West is only 130 miles (209 kilometers) from Las Vegas by car. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park is more than twice the distance at 280 miles (450 kilometers). The North Rim of the park is roughly the same distance.

The massive red sandstone and silica formations in the Valley of Fire have eroded over millennia into fascinating shapes, making the national park a popular destination from Las Vegas. Keep your eyes out for petrified logs, scampering animals, and geological wonders on your desert hike. Don’t miss the unique red rock formations of the Seven Sisters, circling the water basin of Mouse’s Tank, climbing at Atlatl Rock next to its petroglyphs, or exploring Fire Canyon’s Silica Dome and Elephant’s Rock.

The Valley of Fire is approximately 53 miles (85 kilometers) northeast of Las Vegas and usually takes about an hour to reach by car.

Death Valley is the largest national park in the United States, as well as the hottest and driest, making it a must-see destination for anyone looking for a day trip into the desert around Las Vegas. Visitors of Death Valley National Park should make sure to see Dante’s View, Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point, Twenty Mule Team Canyon, where borax was once mined, and the ghost town of Rhyolite.

At 123 miles (198 kilometers), Death Valley is approximately two hours’ drive from Las Vegas to reach the entrance at Furnace Creek Visitor’s Center.