Las Vegas in 5 Days: The Strip, Red Rock, Hoover Dam & a Grand Canyon Day Trip

Las Vegas sells itself as one long night. It is better than that. Five days gave me time for the Strip, yes, but also for the desert that surrounds it, which is the part people skip and the part I'd go back for first.

I split the trip in two: nights on the Strip and downtown, days out at the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and Red Rock Canyon. Here is the plan, day by day.

Where I stayed

I stayed at the Four Seasons Las Vegas, at the south end of the Strip. It has no casino floor of its own, which is the point. You come back from the noise to somewhere quiet, and the rest of the Strip is still a short walk or ride away.

My 5-day Las Vegas itinerary

Arrive easy, give the Strip a full day, then alternate: one big day out of town, one half day out and an evening back in the lights. Start early on the desert days. The heat and the crowds both build after mid-morning.

Day 1 — Arrival, the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign & In-N-Out

Check in, drop the bags, then go and say hello to the sign. The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign sits on the median of Las Vegas Boulevard, just south of the Strip. There's a small parking lot right next to it, and the line for the photo moves fast. Then dinner at In-N-Out, because a first night in the West should be simple.

Day 2 — The Strip, Bellagio fountains & the High Roller

Walk the Strip. It looks compact on a map and it isn't, so wear real shoes and use the pedestrian bridges. Drift through the big resorts; walking in costs nothing. As it gets dark, stand at the rail in front of the Bellagio for the fountains. The shows are free and run every few minutes in the evening. Finish on the High Roller at the LINQ, the giant observation wheel. One slow rotation takes about half an hour, and at night the whole Strip lights up below you.

Day 3 — Grand Canyon day trip

I took a tour from Vegas. The Grand Canyon is a long drive each way, and I'd rather look out the window than at the road. The tour I booked picks up from Las Vegas hotels and makes it a full day, with a stop at the Hoover Dam on the way.

See the Grand Canyon day tour from Las Vegas

Bring water, sunscreen and a layer. The canyon can be a different temperature from the city.

Day 4 — Hoover Dam, Seven Magic Mountains & Top of the World at the Stratosphere

Drive about 45 minutes southeast to the Hoover Dam. Walk across the top of the dam, then up onto the bypass bridge for the view straight down at it. Go in the morning, before the heat. In the afternoon, head south of the city to Seven Magic Mountains, Ugo Rondinone's seven towers of stacked, painted boulders out in the desert off Las Vegas Boulevard. It's free, and about 25 minutes south of the Strip.

Back in town, book dinner at Top of the World, the revolving restaurant near the top of the STRAT tower. The room turns slowly while you eat, so the whole valley passes by your table. Reserve ahead and aim for sunset.

Day 5 — Red Rock Canyon & Fremont Street

Red Rock Canyon is about 30 minutes west of the Strip and feels a world away. The scenic drive is a one-way loop with pull-offs and trailheads along it, and timed-entry reservations are needed for much of the year, so check before you go. In the evening, head downtown to Fremont Street, the old Las Vegas, under the LED canopy of the Fremont Street Experience. It's louder and looser than the Strip, and a good last night.

Final thoughts

Come for the lights, stay for the desert. If you only have a weekend, pick the Strip and Red Rock. With five days, you can have it all without rushing.