ATV Tours in Las Vegas

Las Vegas is synonymous with debauchery, neon lights and dollar signs, but it also offers some incredible excursions in the desert surroundings. If you like adventure, here are the best off-road tours in Las Vegas and its most spectacular surroundings.

Ana C.R.

Ana C.R.

12 min read

ATV Tours in Las Vegas

Colorado River | ©big-ashb

Do you like to feel the adrenaline rush in your body? It's clear that gambling can be very exciting, but I assure you that Las Vegas has much more to see and do besides being in the casinos downtown. Its privileged location, in the middle of the desert and close to renowned nature reserves, make it an ideal city for adventure sports.

If you have come on vacation to visit Las Vegas and want to have a unique experience, there is nothing better than getting on an off-road vehicle and taming the wild terrain. There are many types of tours and destinations in this area, so I'm going to help you by telling you about the most popular ones to choose from.

1. Hidden Valley and Primm off road tour

Hidden Valley Tour| ©Viator
Hidden Valley Tour| ©Viator

If you have come to Las Vegas wanting to have new experiences and want to know in depth the whole environment of the city, you should know that there is a great offer of excursions to natural parks from Las Vegas. However, one of the ones I can recommend the most is the off-road one.

Some of these tours are usually focused on a specific area, either dunes or signposted circuits. However, if you hire a complete tour in the area of Hidden Valley and Primm Valley, you will have a total experience, being able to cross a total of almost 80 kilometers between dunes, rocky terrain and nature in its purest form.

This type of excursion is usually done in groups of no more than 10 people, since the guide must be aware at all times of each of you.

Throughout the almost 5 hours of this excursion, you will visit impressive places such as the Mojave Desert, the Seven Magic Mountains, the Hidden Valley National Monument or the McCullough Mountain Range. It will depend a lot on which route you hire but you will surely get a more than complete and vivid idea of the Las Vegas surroundings.

Details of interest

  • Price: around 250€.
  • Duration: usually a tour of about 5 hours.
  • Location: they usually make a tour from Las Vegas to Hidden Valley passing by different places of interest.
  • To take into account: it is a somewhat demanding tour. Although no experience is required, it is not recommended for children under 16 years old and you should be well prepared with comfortable shoes and clothes.

Book an off-road tour in Hidden Valley

2. Off-road tour of Lake Mead and Colorado River

Lake Mead| ©Wouter Kiel
Lake Mead| ©Wouter Kiel

There are many worthwhile excursions from Las Vegas. Don't forget that this city was built from nothing in an inhospitable environment full of unparalleled natural scenery. Some of the most popular tours are the excursions to the Grand Canyon.

However, if you want to see the area in a more original way and get a closer look at the river that gives it its name, I suggest you get on an SUV and hit the road.

There are several excursions that take you to the Lake Mead National Park area, a lake where the Colorado River flows into the border between Arizona and Nevada.

I can't think of a better way to get to this place than driving your own ATV. To get there, you will have to drive for at least 3 hours through the desert and rocky terrain of the area.

At all times, you will have a guide who will be marking the route and will ensure your safety. In addition, if you travel in the warmer months, you can even take advantage of the stop at the lake to take a dip.

Interesting details

  • Price: about 230€ approximately.

-Duration: it is usually a long excursion, almost 7 hours.

  • Location: the route usually departs from the city of Las Vegas and reaches the Laje Mead Natural Park.
  • To take into account: it is a long and demanding tour for the body, so it is not recommended for children, people with injuries or pregnant women. Food is usually included in these tours.

Book an off road tour from Las Vegas

3. Nellis Dunes Off Road Tour

Nellis Dunes| ©SunBuggy FunRentals
Nellis Dunes| ©SunBuggy FunRentals

If you're only coming to Las Vegas for a few days, but don't want to give up getting on an ATV and feeling the power and adrenaline of the desert, don't worry. You don't need to embark on one of the tours that take up all or half a day.

The good thing about Las Vegas, compared to other cities, is that it is literally in the middle of nowhere, and you can find just a few miles outside the city, places as incredible as the Nellis Dunes.

This area, with a total of approximately 4,000 hectares, receives numerous tours organized by the hand of a guide who, for about 3 hours, will take you through the dunes and sliding down the sandy slopes.

You can live this complete experience accompanied by your friends or family and know in depth the entire desert area. In addition, you will be able to stop several times to take pictures of one of the best views of the city of Las Vegas from a distance.

By Mini Buggy

Due to its proximity, Nellis Dunes welcomes all kinds of activities that are related to adventure and the desert. In addition to the ATV tours, there is also another very popular modality among the most daring that is done in Buggy Mini.

This type of transportation, much lower than an ATV, will make you feel like in a real roller coaster when you go down the steep dunes. It is recommended for all those who like strong emotions and are in Las Vegas.

Interesting details

  • Price: both modalities are between 180€ and 190€.
  • Duration: these excursions last around 3 hours.
  • Location: Nellis Dunes.
  • To take into account: it is a perfect type of excursion if you have little time because it is close to the city and does not require great physical condition or previous experience. Of course, the groups are usually large, reaching around 30 participants.

Book a dune buggy tour in Las Vegas

4. Off-road tour in the Mojave Desert

Mojave Desert| ©FredGNoVa
Mojave Desert| ©FredGNoVa

Las Vegas was built only 100 years ago in the middle of the imposing Mojave Desert and, although the city has been gaining ground year after year, the truth is that all nature lovers agree that the environment is completely enviable.

Its Natural Reserve is only a few kilometers from downtown and it is an ideal place to go off-road.

There are several excursions that can take you to this beautiful landscape. Most of them are in large groups and can have more than one guide who will control all participants.

Being able to leave on your ATV from the very sign "Welcome to Las Vegas" and arrive in less than 2 hours to the center of the Nature Reserve is a real luxury that you can not miss during your stay in Las Vegas. Without a doubt a recommended tour to get away for a few hours from the hustle and bustle of the casinos and breathe the warm desert air.

Details of interest

  • Price: usually around 100€.
  • Duration: in total, this type of tour can last 4 hours.
  • Location: the tours usually start from the outskirts of Las Vegas and go all the way to the Mojave Nature Reserve.
  • To take into account: it is a very affordable tour and you have the option of taking children in an extra chair.

Book an ATV tour in the Mojave Desert

5. Golden Canyon and gold mines tour

Golden Canyon sign| ©inazakira
Golden Canyon sign| ©inazakira

The gold rush hit hard throughout the Nevada and Arizona area and there were many mines where hundreds of people left their lives to improve their fortunes.

Today, there are still remnants of that era and, if you are visiting Las Vegas, you are in luck, since one of the most famous sites is quite close to the city.

It is the entire area of the Golden Canyon and the Techatticup gold mine, very close to the popular Hoover Dam. If you want to do this pilgrimage in a unique and emotionally charged way, I can't think of a better way than to hire one of the tours that take you driving yourself on your own ATV through the middle of the desert.

After about an hour of driving and feeling the adrenaline rush, you will arrive at the access to the mine. Most tours have the entrance fee included to access the dark passageways. In addition, you will be able to observe the scenery of the Golden Canyon and take a ride through the rocky terrain in your fun four-wheeler.

Details of interest

  • Price: it usually costs around 200€.
  • Duration: it is a half-day excursion that can last around 6 hours.
  • Location: the tour usually starts from the outskirts of Las Vegas and goes all the way to the Golden Canyon, stopping at the Techatticup mine.
  • Pleasenote: Due to the length of the tour, it is not recommended for people with medical conditions, small children or pregnant women. These tours usually include food, drinks and entrance to the mines and groups do not exceed 10 people.

Book a tour to Hoover Dam

6. Valley of Fire off-road tour

Touring the Valley of Fire| ©Paul Hudson
Touring the Valley of Fire| ©Paul Hudson

If you want to see landscapes taken from another planet, the Valley of Fire is definitely waiting for you. The name was not given by chance, this place is characterized by its unusual rock formations and red sands, which seem to be taken from Mars. Being able to arrive and step on this place is an unforgettable experience.

If you come to Las Vegas in 7 days or more and you have time to invest a whole day in a tour, I assure you that the Valley of Fire has a lot to see and do, but one of the most popular activities among visitors is to arrive and tour the place in an ATV or Buggy.

This place is about 2 hours from downtown and, upon arrival, you will have about 3 hours to take advantage of the area and its incredible scenery.

The groups of this type of tours are usually large, but at all times you will have the supervision of a guide who will also give you a previous introduction to the type of vehicle you choose.

Details of interest

-Price: it usually costs around 350€.

  • Duration: it is a full day activity, about 8 hours in total.
  • Location: the tour will take you from the city of Las Vegas to the Valley of Fire Reserve.
  • Pleasenote: this is a very intense type of excursion, not recommended for older adults, people with injuries, pregnant women or small children. Entrance fees to the reserve are usually included, as well as lunch and drinks.

7. Off-road excursion to Area 51

Groom Lake, Area 51| ©Ken Lund
Groom Lake, Area 51| ©Ken Lund

Are you a mystery and conspiracy buff? Then you should know that from Las Vegas you are only two hours away from one of the most intriguing places on the planet; Area 51. This place is located in the middle of the desert and is quite difficult to enter, but not if you go in an SUV prepared.

If beyond the adrenaline of the bumps and dunes, what you want is to take advantage of your vacation in Las Vegas to know this place and see with your own eyes the scenarios where, supposedly, there have been sightings of extraterrestrials, it is best to contrast a type of tour that will take you with a small group in a luxury SUV to this place.

It is an excursion that usually lasts all day but is fully equipped so that you can travel comfortably. In addition, a guide will be able to orient you so that you know the exact places where "paranormal events" have occurred , do you dare to discover them?

Interesting details

  • Price: around 200€.
  • Duration: it is a full day tour, approximately 10 hours.
  • Location: departs from Las Vegas and arrives by jeep to the area of Area 51.
  • Please note: it is a long tour that will take all day but lunch, drinks, transportation and entrance fees are included.

Book a tour to Area 51 from Las Vegas

8. Off road tour to Red Rock Canyon Preserve

Red Rock Canyon| ©jankgo
Red Rock Canyon| ©jankgo

If you are a true nature lover, you will know that one of the closest nature reserves to the city of Las Vegas is Red Rock Canyon.

This place is only 30 minutes drive from downtown and has an unparalleled landscape of fossilized rocks and an irregular formation polished by the desert wind.

Being able to tour this place is a great experience and even more if you do it through a 4x4 off-road excursion. You can drive yourself from the Strip Avenue to the entrance of the reserve. From here, a guide will take you and the group through different routes.

You will also have the opportunity to stop and walk around the area to take pictures and enjoy nature. These tours usually last half a day, so you can take advantage of the day to do other things in the city.

Details of interest

  • Price: 150€ approximately.
  • Duration: about 3 hours.
  • Location: the tour route goes from downtown Las Vegas to the Red Rock Canyon Nature Reserve.
  • To keep in mind: the groups are usually small, no more than 7 people and it is ideal to do with a group of trust.

9. Las Vegas free trail tour

Las Vegas Tour| ©Douglas Muth
Las Vegas Tour| ©Douglas Muth

Want to get off the beaten track? Well, Las Vegas has the perfect plan. If you've been bitten by the bug to go on an off-road excursion but, beyond where to go, what you want is to experience the adrenaline of driving these machines through the desert, you should know that there is a type of excursion designed for you.

Keep in mind that, as soon as you leave the civilization of Las Vegas, you will literally be in the middle of the desert. That's why many companies offer a type of tour in which they provide you with an SUV that you can drive, all the safety equipment and a guide that will take you through different areas near the city.

This way, you can drive on your own, always followed by a guide so you don't get lost. You will feel the energy and excitement of sliding at full speed through the dunes.

In addition, this type of tour can also be done at sunset, so you can be back in Las Vegas at night to attend one of the casinos or resorts.

Interesting details

  • Price: usually costs about 200€.
  • Duration: these are tours of no more than 2 hours.
  • Location: in the dunes closest to Las Vegas.
  • To take into account: you can choose the private tour mode and be alone with your group of friends or family.

10. Private tour on closed track

Las Vegas views| ©Michael Rehfeldt
Las Vegas views| ©Michael Rehfeldt

If you're a little apprehensive about going into the desert or the rocky canyon areas, but still want to experience the thrill of motoring over the desert sand, you're in luck.

In Las Vegas you have several closed tracks built with sand roads on which you can drive an off-road vehicle.

Without having to leave the city, you can feel the speed and the thrill of the ups and downs and the heat of the desert. You will have all the necessary means to make it safe and you will also have prior instruction, which makes it an ideal activity to do with children in Las Vegas.

In addition, the duration of this type of tour is usually no more than two hours, and, because it is within the city, it can be an ideal activity to do and then continue sightseeing.

Details of interest

  • Price: around 100€.
  • Duration: usually lasts 1 to 2 hours.
  • Location: the closed circuits are usually on the outskirts of the city.
  • To take into account: it has the modality of being private and is suitable for almost everyone.

When is the best time to go on an off-road excursion?

Colorado River| ©Mike McBey
Colorado River| ©Mike McBey

Generally, the best time to go to Las Vegas is when the temperatures are neither too cold nor too hot, that is, in the spring and autumn months. April and May, and September and October are the preferred months to visit the city.

However, if you want to make the most of the off-road tours, it is best to do it in the colder months.

Winter in Las Vegas is not particularly cold and, if you consider that during the off-road tours you will be exposed to the desert wind, believe me you will be grateful that it is a little cooler than in summer.

Are these tours suitable for everyone?

Valley Of Fire| ©Bernard Spragg. NZ
Valley Of Fire| ©Bernard Spragg. NZ

The truth is that you have to like these types of tours beforehand to want to do them. They are activities that require stamina and physical condition that can withstand hours and hours outdoors with bumps and slopes.

People who have some kind of injury, pregnant women or small children are not usually suitable for long desert off-road tours.

In these cases, the best option within the trip to Las Vegas is to be able to make the most of the city's plans, such as attending the best shows at the resorts or visiting some of the best museums in Las Vegas.

Don't think twice, the adventure on the desert sand awaits you!

Book an off-road tour from Las Vegas