LAS VEGAS OFF THE STRIP
THE BEST THINGS TO EAT, SEE, AND DO
Las Vegas has so much to offer – both on the strip and off the strip. But sometimes you want to get away from all the craziness. By saying Las Vegas off the strip I’m referring to any area that is not in the main area on Las Vegas Boulevard. Here you’ll find more affordable (but just as yummy) eats, beautiful nature, like Valley of Fire, and fun sites, like the Hoover Dam. It’s worth getting away from the strip to see more of what Nevada has to offer. And all of these stops are within an hour (usually less) of the strip.
How To Get Here
It’s super easy to fly into Harry Reid International Airport. They typically have non-stop flights from most major cities in the US.
Places that are off the strip are easiest to get to if you have or rent a car, but can also be visited by Uber or Lyft.
Best Time to Visit
Any time but summer. I’ve been to Las Vegas a few times, but mostly in the fall and winter. It’s really nice to visit during these times because you won’t bake under the scorching summer sun. Typically the temperature will be in the 40s-60s during this time. In the sun, you’ll warm up super fast, but there’s also a bit of desert wind.
How Much Time Do You Need Here
Two days are perfect to do some activities in Las Vegas off the strip. You should also try to spend at least a day, maybe two, exploring the strip as well.
eat – Las Vegas off the strip
The best part about restaurants off of the Vegas strip is that they’re usually more affordable, and just as tasty, as restaurants on the strip.
Sakana Sushi
Distance from Strip: 10 mins
This is a great all you can eat sushi joint. They have all of the classic rolls, like California and Spider rolls, but they also have some more creative options – like the Monkey Brain, which is tempura banana and spicy crab, or the Lisa Lisa which has shrimp tempura, cucumber, avocado, crab, cream cheese and is topped with green and red tempura crumbs giving it a festive feel. Nigiri (including Uni and Quail Eggs), appetizers, and dessert are also included in the all you can eat price – the Sarada Lobster and The Shit were our faves on this side of the menu.
Lunch is $25 and dinner is $30. You have 90 minutes. There’s typically a wait, so try to go on an off hour if you can. We went on a weekend at 11:20 (20 minutes after opening) and there was an hour and a half wait already! But when we went on a Monday at 3 pm there was no wait.
Truffles N Bacon Cafe
Distance from Strip: 10 mins
If you’re craving something sweet, you need to try their Ube French Toast. It’s basically dessert, but it’s so so good. It’s french toast with ube cream cheese filling, coconut and ube jam! It was also featured on a Netflix show. We got some sweet and some savory dishes and shared. The other crowd favorite was the Chicken Tinga Omelet. This was the best omelet I’ve ever had in my life. We also got a hot Honey Citron Ginger Tea and it was amazing. It’s sweet and zesty from fresh lemon.
There’s usually a short wait, but you can sign up for their Waitlist on Yelp!
The Taco Stand
Distance from Strip: 10 mins
Awesome taco joint. All of the tacos were great, but the grilled pescado and al pastor were our favorites.
Double Zero Pie and Pub
Distance from Strip: 10 mins
This is a great spot for wood-fired, Neapolitan style pizza. They have traditional pizzas like margherita and pepperoni, as well as some more unique ones. We liked the Speck which is a white pie with Fig Jam, Speck, and Candied Pecans. There is a big parking lot, but the spaces are a little tight and it’s a crowded area so it can be tough to find a spot.
Carson Kitchen
Distance from Strip: 20 minutes
If you’re looking for a good place to eat near Freemont Street, Carson Kitchen is your spot. It’s suggested that you share all of the dishes, but the portion size for the meat and fish dishes can be standalone if you’re not into sharing. We recommend the “devil’s eggs”, the duck tacos, and the jerk turkey burger if you’re looking for something with a little spice.
Eggscellent Breakfast and Lunch
Distance from Strip: 20 mins
If you’re looking for an off-strip breakfast spot with big portions, this is your place. This unassuming strip mall dive is famous for their hashes and eggs benedict, but nothing on the menu disappointed.
Juan’s Flaming Fajitas
Distance from Strip: 20-30 minutes – there are a couple locations
This is more of an experience restaurant than a food restaurant. While the food is solid (good, but not great imo), you’re really coming for the ambiance. It’s very upbeat with live music and tableside fajitas that they light on fire right before your eyes. The portions are very large – the leftovers lasted us two more meals! And you can get almost any flavor margarita you want – watermelon, mango, guava. . .
NON-NATURE ACTIVITIES – las vegas off the strip
Walk Fremont Street
Distance from the strip: 20 mins
Fremont Street is the original Vegas. This is where it all began. There are a couple things you can do here:
– Walk, or zipline through this five-block street.
– Pop in to some of the original casinos – take a free picture in Binions with a million dollars. No catch, it’s really free.
– Enjoy live music from one of the many stages on this stretch- think DJs and cover bands.
– Take a picture with a Vegas showgirl, a cowgirl, a Chippendale’s guy . . .
– Enjoy a drink out on the street.
– Go to the container park where you can grab some snacks, pop into a boutique, and take a picture of the giant flaming bug.
Neon Museum
Distance from the strip: 20 mins
The Neon Museum is basically a graveyard of retired neon signs from the strip and surrounding areas. Go at night to see them lit up! Or go during the day because it’s cheaper. You’ll be walked through the signs by a tour guide who will tell stories about the signs and their origins. The whole tour takes about an hour.
Meow Wolf
Distance from the strip: 15 mins
Have you heard about Meow Wolf? If you haven’t, it’s a bit hard to describe. Meow Wolf Vegas is an immersive art experience. It’s kind of like a playground for adults and kids where visitors can explore a variety of bizarre environments, each created by a team of local artists. There are three Meow Wolf locations – one in Santa Fe, one in Las Vegas, and the newest one in Denver, each with a unique theme and story – a new one is also coming to Texas.
You can solve a mystery as you walk through the exhibit, but we found it more fun to just walk around and explore. There are also lesser-known things that you can discover, like hidden rooms, secret passageways, and neat tricks. I don’t want to give anything away, but talk to the staff – they’re usually dressed in lab coats and are happy to give you hints and point you in the right direction to discover some lesser-known rooms or gems.
The Vegas installation has a supermarket theme. You enter through a supermarket and need to find a hidden entry way to the other “world” – there might be a couple ways to get in – try to find them all!
Meow Wolf is located in Area15, which is an immersive entertainment venue located just outside of the Las Vegas Strip. It features a variety of attractions, including art shows, VR experiences, axe throwing, and a flight simulator. It also has a few restaurants, a bar, and a boba/ice cream place.
Lost Spirits Distillery
Distance from the strip: 15 mins
Also located in Area15, Lost Spirits is a rum distillery and cocktail bar. With your admission ticket, you get to try four different rums. As you walk through the venue looking for the rum tasting stands, you’ll notice a couple different stages. Throughout the night, you’ll see various performances ranging from burlesque to acrobatics to magicians. You can also take a 10 minute distillery tour and learn about the rum distilling process. If you want to relax with your rum, you can sit in a bar that feels like you’re in a submarine. If you’re feeling bougie, there is a dinner option. We didn’t want to spend that much on the meal so we decided to skip it this time, but it looks like it’d be great for a special occasion.
If you don’t want to drink straight rum, you can get a rum-infused cocktail.
The show runs for two hours, so you should try to get there on time so you don’t miss the performances.
Seven Magic Mountains
Distance from the strip: 15 mins
You’ve probably seen the colorful stacked rocks on social media already, but they’re fun to visit in person. It’s a nice place to stretch your legs and get some desert air. It gets crowded pretty quickly, so try to go early in the day to avoid the crowds.
NATURE ACTIVITIES – las vegas off the strip
Visit the Valley of Fire
Distance from the strip: 1 hour
Valley of Fire makes for a great day trip from the strip. Spend a couple hours hiking the various short trails and exploring the stunning red rock formations. You can also pack a picnic to enjoy here. There are a couple must hit trails:
– The Fire Wave Trail has a beautiful, wavy striped pattern
– Find the Elephant Rock – it actually looks like an elephant
– You can see petroglyphs while walking the Petroglyph Canyon Trail or Mouse’s Tank Trail
– Walk the White Dome Trail to experience a little slot canyon action
– Take a short staircase up to the top of Atlatl Rock
– Go to Rainbow Vista for a great panoramic view
– Check out Arch Rock – it’s exactly what it sounds like an arch in a rock!
Make sure to bring tons of water – even for short hikes it gets hot in the summer months! Try to go early to beat the crowds and the heat.
The entrance fee is $15 for non-Nevada cars and $10 for Nevada cars.
Visit Red Rocks Canyon
Distance from the strip: 25 mins
Red Rocks Canyon, similar to Valley of Fire, has some great hiking trails and scenic red rocks, as well as rock climbing opportunities and scenic drives. Here are the must hit trails and overlooks:
– Stop at Calico I, Calico II, and High Point Overlook, which all offer stunning views
– Take a hike
– Calico Tanks Trail has some rock scrambles and views of Vegas
– Turtlehead Peak is a more challenging, but also very rewarding hike
– Ice Box Canyon Trail is a bit more shaded and even has seasonal waterfalls
– Lost Creek Trail is a great trail if you’re looking for an easier hike
– Look out for wildlife
– If you’re lucky you’ll see desert tortoises, bighorn sheep, and tons of different birds
– Take the 13-mile scenic drive through the Red Rock Canyon Loop
Also like Valley of Fire, make sure to bring tons of water – even for short hikes it gets hot in the summer months! Try to go early to beat the crowds and the heat.
To enter, it’s $20/car or $5/person. If you have an America the Beautiful pass, you can use it here.
Visit the Hoover Dam
Distance from the strip: 45 mins
The Hoover Dam is a colossal concrete arch-gravity dam holding back the mighty Colorado River. The largest reservoir in the US, the dam provides power for millions, and is a major supplier of electricity to the U.S. defense industry. There are a couple unique ways you can explore the dam.
– Stop at the Visitor Center. This is one of the most helpful visitor centers out there. Explore exhibits, films, and interactive displays about the dam’s construction, engineering, and impact. You can also get panoramic views of the dam from the observation deck.
– Take a tour. There are three tour options available at Hoover Dam: a self-guided tour, a guided powerplant tour, and a guided dam tour. The self-guided tour is free and takes about 30 minutes, while the guided powerplant tour costs $35 and takes about 45 minutes. The guided dam tour costs $45 and takes about 1 hour.
– Walk or bike the Memorial Bridge: This unique bridge is open to pedestrians and cyclists, and offers stunning views of the dam and the surrounding canyon.
– Look at the clock towers. The Hoover Dam is in both Arizona and Nevada. Arizona does not observe daylight savings time, so for half of the year, it will be a different time in Arizona and Nevada. Check out the clock towers to see what time it is. The time can get a bit confusing!
The Hoover Dam is free to enter! The closer parking lots to the Dam cost money – about $10, but if you are okay with a five minute walk, you can park a little further away for free.
Security’s pretty tight at the Hoover Dam. You’ll be asked to roll down all windows in your car and your car may be searched. Make sure you don’t have a drone on you here.
Hike near Lake Mead
Distance from the strip: 45 mins
There are a couple great hiking trails in the Lake Mead area, near the Hoover Dam. Our top recs are:
– Gold Strike Hot Springs Trail
– Ringbolt Hot Springs Trail
– Historic Railroad Trail
– White Owl Canyon Trail
Visit Death Valley National Park
Distance from the strip: 2.5 hours
Death Valley makes for a great 1-3 day trip. Check out our guide here for our Death Valley recommendations.
Visit the Grand Canyon
Distance from the strip: 4 – 4.5 hours
The Grand Canyon is a little far for a day trip, but it is doable. You’d have time to drive (or catch the shuttle, depending on the season) to some overlooks and potentially do a short hike. Check out our full Grand Canyon itinerary.
NOT DONE TRAVELING?
Check out our guides of nearby areas:
Best of Las Vegas – On the Strip
Death Valley National Park
Hiking to Havasupai
The Best of the Grand Canyon