Self Drive and discover Neon to Nature in Nevada

Self Drive and discover Neon to Nature in Nevada

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The great escape: Switch the bright lights and noise of Las Vegas for the nearby open road. Picture: TravelNevada

Las Vegas and surrounds can certainly be a world of extremes and the Neon to Nature route allows roadtrippers to swap the bright lights and pace of one of the hottest cities in the world for the extraordinary fresh air, natural sights and landscape in the peaceful desert only a short trip away. This a chance to experience the best of both worlds.

Beyond the bright lights

From the Hoover Dam and Lake Mead to the Valley of Fire, Red Rock Canyon and Boulder City, unlimited opportunities and mysterious landmarks await you on this beautiful Neon to Nature Route experience through Nevada.

Importantly, the open road in a Las Vegas RV and views of blue skies and deep orange and brown landscapes gives you the chance to escape the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas for some much needed time for yourself and to help you bring out an adventurous side while all the noise and neon glove of Vegas suddenly slips away.

Starting from the bright lights of the city of Las Vegas, you can jump onto the Neon to Nature route and let the highway take you straight to some of the biggest wonders in Nevada.

Dam that's big!: Hoover Dam and Boulder City is a must-see along the Neon To Nature route. Picture: TravelNevada.

First stop Hoover Dam

First stop is Hoover Dam and Boulder City.

Formerly known as Boulder Dam, Hoover Dam is a massive concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon on the Colorado River just 30 miles south of Las Vegas. You can even stop and admire the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge or even have a one-hour guide of the powerplant before driving into the heart of Boulder City in Clark County.

Boulder City has several artistic and outdoor attractions and activities including Lake Mead cruises, Wilbur Square Park, Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area, Historic Railroad Track, River Mountains Loop Trail, kayaking and markets.

Man-made masterpiece: Lake Mead is ideal for all sorts of activities and has nearby campgrounds. Picture: S Podmore

One lake to rule them all

Find solitude and marvel at the views of Lake Mead, a man-made lake that lies on the Colorado River. Here you can explore secluded coves, go fishing, kayak and canoe through the open water and gaze at the stark mountains of the Lake Mead National Recreation Park. There are also plenty of campgrounds surrounding the park.

Heat up your road trip and cool down after visiting Lake Mead with a stopover at the world-renowned Valley of Fire State Park, famous for its 40,000 acres of bright red Aztec sandstone formations, petrified trees dating back more than 2000 years, beautiful red and pink rock formations and panoramic vistas.

During sunny days, these rock formations really do look like they are on fire.

The park also hosts an Annual Atlatl Competition in which participants test their skills with replicas of ancient spears. If you want somewhere to park your vehicle, the park has numerous campsites.

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Stunning landscape: There are lots of places to stop off and explore at Red Rock Canyon. Picture: Sydney Martinez/TravelNevada.

Red Rock Canyon

Next up on the Neon to Nature Route is mighty Red Rock Canyon, which will take road trippers through a mesmerising 13-mile scenic drive.

If you want to have a look around, check out the Calico Hills, Moenkopi Loop, Turtlehead Peak Keystone Thrust, Grand Circle Loop and White Rock – Willow Springs. The park also has various campsites to choose from.

TravelNevada has a range of  different loops you can take on your exciting adventure along the Neon to Nature Route from the Red Rockin’ Loop, the Fire & Water Loop and the Colorado River Corridor.

For those with an extra couple of days, you can continue your route down highway 50 known as the loneliest road in America and add a link to the Travel Nevada highway 50 route.

Scott Podmore

Scott Podmore

Award-winning writer, editor, photographer, videographer and owner of October Grey Media. Specialising in travel and lifestyle content and a full member of the Australian Society of Travel Writers. Has contributed regular content for the NewsCorp stable of newspapers and magazines, TravelTalk mag, The Departure Lounge and many more publications in Australia and internationally. Follow on Twitter & instragram #scottpodmore

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