Las Vegas is a center of nightlife, food, and fun. While it does offer all the lights and spectacles you could want, it’s also located in a gorgeous part of the country with a surprising number of parks and recreation areas perfect for the family that loves to get outside. From city parks to national monuments, check out our list of awesome parks near Las Vegas to start exploring. 

Sunset Park

If you’re looking for an outing close to home, Sunset Park is a great option. While it has the traditional playground and ball fields, there’s more to do at this park than at your average community playground. The largest park in the Clark County park system, the 324 acres include a splash pad, walking trails, picnic areas, and a dog park. Besides baseball fields, there are tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts and a disc golf course, all alongside a stocked lake perfect for fishing. This one is worth a visit. 

• Location: 2601 E. Sunset Road, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89120
• Hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily

Floyd Lamb Park

For those who love to amble outdoors, Floyd Lamb Park is the perfect destination. The views are amazing at this park, with abundant wildlife, beautiful lakes, and the Sheep and Springs mountain ranges in the background. The historic Tule Springs Ranch, a working dude ranch, is located inside the 680-acre park. Visitors are welcome to learn about life in early Las Vegas and how ranches function. 

• Location: 9200 Tule Springs Road, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89131
• Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. April through September and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. October through March.

Springs Preserve

The Springs Preserve is a cultural institution with 180 acres for visitors to explore. Springs Preserve has been included on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978. Besides enjoying the expansive grounds, you can visit a museum, botanical garden, butterfly habitat, and several other exhibits designed to educate you about early Las Vegas and a sustainable future. For the kids, there’s also a playground and splash pad to get out some energy between activities. 

• Location: 333 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89017
• Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Monday

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

For a bigger adventure, check out Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Run by a non-profit dedicated to maintaining and spreading awareness about public lands, the over 195,000 acres of the Mojave Desert provide many opportunities to hike and sightsee. Start at the visitor’s center to learn more about the park, and then take off on foot, by car, or on a bike to see the gorgeous scenery. You can also rock climb and camp on the grounds. 

• Location: 1000 Scenic Loop Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89161
• Hours: 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. November through February, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. March, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. April through September, and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. March

Springs Mountain National Recreation Area

If you’ve got a mountain lover in your family, definitely plan a trip out to Springs Mountain National Recreation Area. This park, also known as Mount Charleston, offers visitors 316,00 acres of hiking and climbing opportunities. The environment is one of a kind, with snow-capped mountains surrounded by desert just 30 miles away from bustling downtown Las Vegas. It’s worth the drive. 

• Location: 4701 N. Torrey Pines Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89130
• Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily

Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Park

History buffs will love a visit to Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Park, and kids will enjoy exploring the old settlement. Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Park memorializes the first settlement of non-native people in the Las Vegas Valley. There’s an informative visitors center, artifacts from the 1800s, and parts of the original fort and buildings to explore.

• Location: 500 E. Washington Ave. Las Vegas, Nevada, 89101
• Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday

Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument

The most recent addition to the Nevada park system, the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument is conveniently located just a few minutes from the Las Vegas strip. This national monument features a fascinating, prehistoric landscape full of fossils with hiking and photography opportunities. Great for a trip with the whole family since it’s so close to the center of town. 

• Location: Moccasin Road, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89124
• Hours: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily

Clark County Wetlands Park

Clark County’s Wetlands Park is a great way to see the geographical diversity in and around Las Vegas. This park features a multitude of hiking and biking trails that surround the titular wetlands. The park also offers a nature preserve, nature center, picnic areas, wildlife viewing areas, an amphitheater, and a natural play corner, perfect for kids. 

• Location: 7050 Wetlands Park Lane, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89122
• Hours: Dawn to dusk daily

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

You can’t pass up a visit to the nation’s first national recreation area and the closest national park to Las Vegas — Lake Mead National Recreation Area. This massive 1.5 million-acre park is open all year round for hiking, water activities, climbing, and more. You can also camp on the grounds and hunt in designated areas. This is a must-see spot, and kids and adults alike will find endless things to do in this stunning national park. 

• Location: 10 Lakeshore Road, Boulder City, Nevada, 89005
• Hours: Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, though some specific areas and activities within the park have different hours

And there you have it — Las Vegas truly offers more than nightlife with its amazing parks and natural spaces. Which of these is top of your list to visit? Feel free to reach out and let us know if we missed any of your favorites. We here at Crème de la Crème of Las Vegas wish you and your family many happy days of outdoor exploring ahead.