North Las Vegas vacation rentals

Just 15 minutes north of the Las Vegas Strip, North Las Vegas is a city in its own right, with plenty of outdoor recreation and culture of its own. For a more laid-back atmosphere, consider exploring some of the Las Vegas Valley scenery on the city’s doorstep. Mount Charleston is less than an hour’s drive from downtown, towering over the Lake Mead National Recreation Area with endless adventures year-round. You can also find Desert National Wildlife Refuge — the second-largest national wildlife refuge in the United States — a bit further north.

The city has a rich history that you can explore at various museums and military sites in the area. Stop by the outdoor Neon Museum to see its historical collection of Las Vegas signage, or the National Atomic Testing Museum, which documents Nevada’s nuclear testing history and is packed with radiation-themed artifacts. Kids will especially enjoy the 20-acre Aliante Nature Discovery Park, with its dinosaur-themed playground and jungle gym.

Given its desert location, North Las Vegas experiences hot summers, cool winters, and temperate weather in spring and fall; rainfall is rare here, and snow is virtually unheard of. Spring, winter, and fall are good times to enjoy outdoor pursuits like golf or off-roading at the Logandale Trails System. Given the extreme heat of summer, you may want to find a place that keeps you in air-conditioned comfort. If you’re planning to be outside during the day, take shelter from the midday sun, drink plenty of water, and always wear sunscreen and a hat.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

This extraordinary national park extends over 1.5 million acres of mountains, valleys, canyons, and lakes. Hiking trails boast vistas of the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and Lake Mohave with its purple mountains and red rock, while almost 300 square miles of water across the lakes give you plenty of chances to catch crappie, trout, and striped bass.

Desert National Wildlife Refuge

Thirty minutes northwest of North Las Vegas, the Desert National Wildlife Refuge is a 1.6-million-acre protected complex encompassing six major mountain ranges. Hop in a four-wheel-drive vehicle for some off-road adventures in the Mojave Desert, or wait until dusk for jackrabbits and bobcats to emerge after the heat of the day has disappeared.

Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument

This prehistoric landscape 30 minutes from town is home to ancient fossil beds and the extraordinary yields of the Big Dig, a major 1960s excavation that found the bones of mammoths, camels, and lions. Pockets of sunshine-yellow Las Vegas bearpoppies light up the dramatic scenery, and you might spot scorpions and snakes amongst the tufts of grass. Bear in mind that there is little shade out here, so you’ll need sun protection.