Nevada holidays

From the glamour of the Las Vegas Strip to the grandeur of the Mojave Desert, this Western state has always set out to impress. Its arid landscape is home to surprising sights like Hoover Dam, which tames the Colorado River. But holidays to Nevada aren’t just for exploring the frontier. You’ll find gorgeous landscapes of pink rock, vast lakefront vistas and impossibly dark night skies perfect for stargazing.

Top destinations in Nevada

Las Vegas

Sin City glitters with card games, pool parties and non-stop entertainment. But raise the stakes on your Las Vegas holiday with desert hikes and gallery-hopping off the Strip.

Reno

From outdoor murals and live music to river tubing and restaurants, Reno offers exciting activities for culture vultures, night owls and nature lovers alike.

Elko

With soaring mountains, sprawling ranches and museums dedicated to cowboy culture, this northern Nevada town is full of Wild West flair.

Nevada: fast facts

Language

English

Currency

United States dollar ($)

Time zone

Las Vegas - UTC−8 (PST) and UTC−7 (PDT)

High season

March – May; September – November

Low season

June – August

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Nevada holiday highlights

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Visit Lake Tahoe

On the California border, Lake Tahoe is one of the best things to see in Nevada. It’s over 500 metres deep in some places and boasts 115 kilometres of shoreline. Around its perimeter, you’ll find forest hiking trails and breathtaking peaks. Boating and swimming at Sand Harbor State Park are a must. In winter, enjoy some of the most scenic skiing in the country.

See a ghost town

Get a glimpse into Nevada’s gold rush past at one of its many eerie ghost towns. Rhyolite, a boomtown located near Death Valley National Park, includes the remains of an Old West train depot and jail. If you like some action with your ghost town, head to Goldfield, where abandoned buildings have been repurposed as souvenir shops, cafes and ice cream parlours.

Explore Hoover Dam

Straddling both the Colorado River and the Arizona border, the massive Hoover Dam is a feat of modern engineering. Ride a lift to the top of the dam, then walk right through its centre by way of inspection tunnels. Along the way, marvel at the towering structure that sustains much of the US West with hydroelectric power.

Things to do in Nevada

Fire Wave

Top attractions

At Hoover Dam, the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge offers sweeping views of the Colorado River and Black Canyon. In eastern Nevada, Great Basin National Park boasts some of the nation’s darkest skies for stargazing. And on the Las Vegas Strip, the Bellagio’s famous fountains star in the 2001 remake of ‘Ocean’s Eleven’.

Beaches

Nevada may be landlocked, but Lake Tahoe offers sandy shores perfect for swimming, kayaking or just sunbathing while enjoying alpine views. Families head to Sand Harbor’s eastern shore for its calm shallows and picnic spots. And near Las Vegas, Lake Mead combines desert landscapes with wide beaches and boat launches, making it a great spot for day trips and weekend getaways.

Nature

Go caving in Nevada’s Great Basin National Park, where you’ll explore winding passages and sparkly caverns. View even more incredible rock formations in the Valley of Fire State Park, whose otherworldly landscape is made up of bright pink and red sandstone. And after a long day of hiking, seek out a restorative hot spring — Nevada has more than any other state.

Cuisine

When it comes to finding the best restaurants in Nevada, Las Vegas is by far the heavyweight. Whether you want to dine in an old-school steakhouse or a restaurant designed to look like a Victorian submarine, this is the place. Seek out high-profile spots run by celebrity chefs like Roy Choi and José Andrés. Or head to the Arts District for elevated comfort food and handmade pasta.

Culture and museums

Two museums in Nevada not to be missed are the Neon Museum and the Mob Museum, which tells the story of how organised crime helped put Las Vegas on the map. In Reno, the Nevada Museum of Art focuses on contemporary and historical works. For something offbeat, head to Rachel, the self-proclaimed UFO capital of the world, located near the infamous Area 51.

Nightlife

Reno’s MidTown is always popular after dark, with indie music venues, breweries and wine bars drawing a local crowd. In Las Vegas, Chinatown offers late-night karaoke lounges and hidden cocktail spots away from the Strip’s crowds. For a different take on nightlife in Nevada, head to the Western Folklife Center in Elko for cowboy poetry nights and live folk music performances.

Find the best time to visit Nevada

Weather in Nevada through the year

March – May: Spring brings warm days and cool nights, though snow lingers in the mountains. Wildflowers brighten the Mojave, making it a great season for hiking.

June – September: Summers are hot, with desert highs reaching 49°C. Beat the heat by heading to Lake Tahoe or the Sierra Nevada mountains. Sudden thunderstorms can disrupt travel — keep an eye on forecasts.

October – November: Crisp air and quieter parks make autumn an ideal time for hiking and stargazing in Great Basin National Park. Early snow is possible in the Sierra Nevada. Check road conditions before driving.

December – February: Ski season kicks off in Lake Tahoe and the Ruby Mountains, while the desert regions stay mild by day but get chillier after dark.

Events in Nevada

Electric Daisy Carnival (May): One of the world’s biggest electronic music festivals, EDC lights up the Las Vegas Motor Speedway with art installations, carnival rides and performances from top DJs.

Burning Man (August to September): For one week, the Black Rock Desert transforms into a temporary city of art, music and creativity. Giant sculptures rise from the sand, theme camps host performances late into the night and the burning of a giant wooden figure rounds off the festivities.

Great Reno Balloon Race (September): Wake before dawn to watch dozens of hot-air balloons drift over the Sierra Nevada foothills from Reno’s Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. On the ground, the fun continues with live entertainment and family-friendly activities.

Know before you go

Budget

It’s very possible to have a cheap holiday in Nevada. Ghost towns and parks are cost-effective sightseeing options, and there are even some free activities in Las Vegas, such as the Fountains of Bellagio. An inexpensive meal in the state will cost you around 20 US dollars ($). And you can get a domestic beer or cappuccino for about $5.

Health and safety

Nevada’s dry desert climate means dehydration and sunburn are real risks. Drink plenty of water, wear sun cream, and cover up during long hikes or while sightseeing in places like Red Rock Canyon. In higher-altitude areas like the Sierra Nevada, be mindful of altitude sickness — take breaks, drink plenty of water and avoid heavy exertion until your body adjusts.

Free things to do

Wander along Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas to take in dazzling light shows, live music and street performers. In Reno, stroll the scenic Truckee Riverwalk, home to murals, public art installations and picturesque riverside views. For a quirkier day out, head to the Goldwell Open Air Museum near Rhyolite for outdoor sculptures set against the desert landscape.

Family friendly

Las Vegas’ DISCOVERY Children’s Museum keeps kids busy with hands-on science labs and art spaces. At Tonopah Historic Mining Park, learn about Nevada’s boomtown days through exhibits, historical equipment and a walk-through mine tunnel. For wildlife spotting, visit the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, offering family-friendly trails and opportunities to spot jackrabbits and bighorn sheep.

Getting around Nevada

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Public transport

Buses: Regional bus services like RTC Transit in Las Vegas and RTC Washoe in Reno cover city routes, while Greyhound and FlixBus provide long-distance services to nearby states like California and Utah. Buses are generally clean and air-conditioned, offering a comfortable and affordable way to get around.

Trains: Amtrak’s California Zephyr crosses northern Nevada with stops in Reno and Elko, offering one of the most scenic rail journeys in the US.

Boats: Ferries aren’t part of Nevada’s transport network, but sightseeing cruises on Lake Mead and Lake Tahoe offer a relaxing way to take in the state’s waterways.

Domestic flights

Harry Reid International and Reno–Tahoe International airports handle most domestic traffic, with frequent connections to major US hubs. Smaller airports, like the one in Elko, make it easy to reach northern Nevada or remote desert destinations without the long drive.

Find domestic flights

Driving and car hire

Driving Nevada’s wide-open roads is one of the easiest ways to get around. Interstates connect major cities, while scenic byways like the Loneliest Road in America (Highway 50) offer dramatic desert landscapes. Expect long stretches without services in rural areas, so fill up with petrol and make sure you have plenty of drinking water on hand.

Check car hire

FAQs about Nevada holidays

Start in Las Vegas, where the Strip offers endless entertainment, from headline shows to fine dining, all within walking distance of major resorts. Or trade neon lights for mountain air in Lake Tahoe — its lakeside cabins, hiking trails and ski slopes are perfect for active types and families alike.
You can get a taste of Nevada in three days. Las Vegas serves as a base for day trips to Valley of Fire State Park and Hoover Dam. But plan for at least a week to see ghost towns, Lake Tahoe, Great Basin National Park and beyond.
For milder weather, the best time to go to Nevada is in spring and autumn. Summers are extremely hot in the desert, making trips to Las Vegas and its surrounding nature challenging. If you’re happy hopping from one air-conditioned locale to another, you may find Vegas deals in summer. Winter is for hitting Nevada’s slopes, like Heavenly Ski Resort near Tahoe.
Nevada is a safe place to travel, but you should always take common-sense precautions. When enjoying the outdoors, pay attention to weather warnings and road closures. In Las Vegas, be careful with your belongings, as incidents of pickpocketing can occur on the Strip.
The official language of Nevada is English, although the state is home to many native Spanish speakers. Las Vegas is a world-class hospitality city where you’re bound to hear everything from Spanish and Russian to Cantonese, depending on the venue.
Nevada uses the US dollar ($). Credit and debit cards are widely accepted, but it’s smart to carry cash when travelling in more remote areas. ATMs are common in cities and tourist areas but less so in desert regions. Tipping is customary — expect to leave 20% at restaurants and $1 or $2 per drink at bars.