Las Vegas Travel Guide: Shows, Sights & Day Trips Beyond the Casinos

Las Vegas for travelers over 50: far more than casinos

Las Vegas has quietly become one of America's best destinations for travelers over 50, and gambling has very little to do with it. The city now earns more from shows, restaurants, and hotel rooms than from slot machines, and the experiences that older travelers rave about are the ones that do not need a single bet: a Cirque du Soleil show, dinner at a celebrity chef's restaurant, the Fountains of Bellagio after dark, and day trips to Hoover Dam and the red-rock canyons just beyond the city.

It is also one of the easiest big trips in the country to plan. Harry Reid International Airport has nonstop flights from almost every major US city and sits about ten minutes from the Strip. Resorts are modern and built to accessibility standards, with elevators, wide corridors, and wheelchair and scooter rentals on site. And because there are so many hotel rooms, midweek rates at even the grandest resorts can be surprisingly reasonable.

The trick is to plan Las Vegas on your own terms. Choose a central or smoke-free hotel, see the big sights in the morning or after dark, use taxis and the free trams instead of walking the Strip in the heat, and treat the desert day trips as the highlight they are. Do that, and Las Vegas is relaxing, glamorous, and genuinely fun.

Resort fees, smoke, and walking distances: what to know first

Three things catch first-time visitors off guard. Resort fees of roughly $35-55 per night are added to most Strip room rates, and most Strip resorts also charge for parking, so compare the total price, not the headline rate. Smoking is still allowed on most casino floors; if smoke bothers you, stay at Park MGM or a non-gaming hotel such as Vdara, the Waldorf Astoria, or the Westin. And distances are deceptive: the Strip is about four miles long, and resorts that look next door can be a 20-minute walk apart through casino floors and over pedestrian bridges.

Where to stay in Las Vegas: the four areas that matter

The best things to do in Las Vegas, beyond the casinos

The best day trips from Las Vegas: Hoover Dam, Red Rock, and the Grand Canyon

Some of the best things about a Las Vegas trip are outside the city. These full-day trips and excursions handle the driving for you and are ranked for traveler ratings, comfort, and value. Prices and availability are live from Viator.

Planning it yourself: drive times and what to know

Prefer to drive? These are the classic day trips, from a half day at Hoover Dam to a full day at Zion, with the drive times that matter when you are planning around comfort.

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  Hoover Dam and Lake Mead, 45 minutes: The easiest and most popular day trip from Las Vegas. Take the Visitor Center or Powerplant tour, then drive the Lakeshore Road through Lake Mead National Recreation Area (Senior Pass accepted) and stop in Boulder City for lunch. Half-day guided tours with hotel pickup cover it without any driving.
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  Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, 30 minutes: A 13-mile scenic loop with drive-up viewpoints over towering sandstone cliffs. Book a timed-entry slot on recreation.gov for October to May visits, stop at the visitor center for its outdoor exhibits, and plan two to three hours. The Calico Hills overlooks are the most accessible.
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  Valley of Fire State Park, 1 hour: Red rock formations, petroglyphs, and a road through the heart of the park that delivers most of the scenery from your car. The visitor center opens at 9am. Avoid midday in summer, when temperatures can pass 110°F.
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  Grand Canyon West and the Skywalk, 2.5 hours: Run by the Hualapai Tribe, Grand Canyon West has the glass Skywalk and canyon-edge viewpoints connected by a shuttle. It is the closest rim to Las Vegas but is not part of the national park, so the Senior Pass does not apply and admission is sold as packages. Guided bus tours make the long drive easier.
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  Grand Canyon South Rim, 4.5 hours: The classic national park views, but about 280 miles each way, which makes it a 12-plus-hour day. We recommend flying over by helicopter or plane, or staying at least one night. See our Grand Canyon guide for the best senior-friendly lodges and viewpoints.
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  Zion National Park, 2.5 hours: Utah's most visited park is an easy drive up I-15. The free park shuttle carries you through the canyon with no driving, and the paved Riverside Walk is mostly flat. Our Zion guide covers the best senior-friendly way to see it.
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  Death Valley National Park, 2 hours: From November to March, Death Valley is spectacular and comfortable: Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point, and Artists Drive are all reachable by car with short walks. Avoid it from May through September, when heat becomes genuinely dangerous.

Where to stay in Las Vegas

For a first visit, the center Strip puts the most sights within reach. If cigarette smoke or crowds are a concern, a smoke-free or non-gaming hotel makes the biggest difference to how much you enjoy your stay.

Best time to visit Las Vegas: desert weather, month by month

Las Vegas is a year-round destination, but the desert climate shapes everything you do outdoors. Spring and fall are ideal; summer is extremely hot; winter is mild, quiet, and often the cheapest time to go. Here is how the year breaks down.

March-May, the sweet spot

Spring brings highs in the 70s and 80s, cool evenings, and perfect weather for Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, and the Grand Canyon. It is also busy, with conventions, spring break, and big events pushing up hotel prices on some weekends. Book shows and hotels early, and aim for midweek stays.

October-early November, equally excellent

After the summer heat breaks, fall is just as pleasant as spring, with highs in the 70s and 80s and dependable sunshine. It is the best season for day trips, and pool weather lingers into October. Check event calendars, as large conventions and sporting events can fill the city.

Summer (June-September), plan around the heat

Daytime highs regularly reach 105-115°F, and nights barely cool off. Las Vegas is built for it, with air-conditioned everything, and summer brings some of the year's lowest hotel rates. Do anything outdoors before 10am, use taxis instead of walking the Strip, and keep afternoons for shows, museums, spas, and the pool in the shade.

Winter (December-February)

Highs in the upper 50s and low 60s make winter comfortable for walking the Strip and ideal for Death Valley, which is dangerously hot in summer. Nights can drop to freezing, and holiday displays at Bellagio and around the city are a highlight. Outside the New Year's Eve period, this is often the best-value season.

Getting around Las Vegas: the Strip, downtown, and day trips

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  Taxis and rideshare, the easiest option: Taxis line up at every resort, and Uber and Lyft have dedicated pickup areas, usually in the parking garage. A ride along the Strip costs much less than the time and energy of walking it. From the airport, the taxi ride to most Strip hotels takes 10-20 minutes.
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  Las Vegas Monorail: An elevated train along the east side of the Strip from the MGM Grand to the Sahara, with seven stations and elevators at each. It is quick and air-conditioned, but stations are at the back of the resorts, so expect a walk to reach them.
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  Free trams between resorts: Free trams connect Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and Excalibur, and another links Park MGM, Aria, and Bellagio. They save a lot of walking on the south and center Strip.
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  The Deuce bus: The RTC's Deuce double-decker runs the length of the Strip and downtown 24 hours a day, with discounted fares for seniors who sign up for a reduced-fare card. It is slow in traffic but kneels at stops for easy boarding.
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  Rental car, for day trips only: You do not need a car on the Strip, and most Strip resorts charge for self-parking. Rent one for a day or two for Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, or Hoover Dam, or join a guided tour with hotel pickup and skip driving entirely.
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  Mobility help: Every major resort rents wheelchairs and mobility scooters, and many delivery companies drop them at your hotel. Ask for an accessible room near the elevators when you book, and request show seats with no stairs.

Las Vegas sense: heat, hydration, and pacing your days

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  Drink more water than you think: The desert air is extremely dry, and casinos pump in cool, dehydrating air conditioning. Carry water everywhere, especially on day trips, and go easy on alcohol, which hits harder when you are dehydrated.
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  Plan your day by area: Group sights by section of the Strip so you are not crisscrossing it. A morning at the center Strip, a rest at the hotel, and an evening show nearby is a far better day than racing from one end to the other.
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  Book the big shows ahead, gamble on the rest: Top shows and Sphere sell out on weekends, so reserve those early. For other shows, same-day discount ticket booths around the Strip can save a lot.
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  Join the free loyalty programs: Even non-gamblers benefit: free players' club cards from the big resort companies can unlock lower room rates, dining discounts, and occasionally waived resort fees.
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  Build in rest time: Las Vegas is designed to keep you moving with no clocks or windows. Schedule a mid-afternoon break at your hotel each day, then head out again for dinner and a show, when the city is at its best.

What travelers say about Las Vegas: our review roundup

Here is what travelers over 50 keep mentioning about Las Vegas, drawn from public reviews and travel coverage on sites such as TripAdvisor, AARP Travel, US News Travel, and senior travel forums.

Las Vegas itinerary: 4 days of shows, sights, and desert scenery

Day 1, arrival and the center Strip

Fly into Harry Reid International and take a taxi to your hotel. Rest, then spend the late afternoon at the Bellagio Conservatory and watch the Fountains of Bellagio after dark from the lakeside railing or a restaurant terrace. Early dinner and an early night.

Day 2, Hoover Dam and a show

Take a morning tour to Hoover Dam with hotel pickup, or drive yourself and add a lunch stop in Boulder City. Rest in the afternoon. In the evening, see a headline show such as Cirque du Soleil's O at Bellagio.

Day 3, Red Rock Canyon and the High Roller

Drive the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive first thing in the morning with a timed-entry reservation, stopping at the visitor center and the Calico Hills overlooks. Afternoon at the pool or spa. Ride the High Roller at sunset, then dinner at the LINQ Promenade.

Day 4, downtown and Fremont Street

Spend the morning at the Mob Museum, then see the Neon Museum's boneyard of historic signs. Have an early dinner downtown and stay for the Viva Vision light show on the Fremont Street canopy. Alternatively, swap this day for a helicopter flight to the Grand Canyon.

Flying to Las Vegas: Harry Reid International Airport

Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is one of the busiest airports in the country, with nonstop flights from nearly every major US city and many smaller ones. It sits just east of the south end of the Strip, so most hotels are a 10-20 minute taxi or rideshare away. Wheelchair assistance is available through your airline; request it when you book.

Terminal 1 serves Southwest and several other airlines, and Terminal 3 serves most others. Both have taxi lines and rideshare pickup areas on the parking garage levels, and shared shuttle vans and limousines are available for groups. If you plan day trips, the rental car center is a short free shuttle ride from both terminals.

Las Vegas FAQ: shows, smoke-free hotels, and day trips