With a lot of University of Kentucky fans about to converge on Las Vegas next week to see the Cats play two games in Sin City, I wanted to share this post about one option to get out of the city and visit one of the many awesome places within driving distance. There are a lot of good options — Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon are probably the most well-publicized day-trips, but if you’re looking to spend a day away from the casinos (and not overrun by other tourists), consider a drive to Death Valley National Park!

From the rental car plaza at the Las Vegas airport, the Furnace Creek Visitor Center at Death Valley is roughly a 2.5 hour drive away. If you’ve traveled in from the Eastern (or even Central) time zone, the time difference should make it easy to wake up and get an early start for a long day trip. The earlier you pick up the rental car, the more time you’ll have for sightseeing!

Traveling to Death Valley is like visiting another planet when compared to the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip. It is not only the largest national park in the lower 48 states, it’s also the hottest, driest, and lowest. Visiting at this time of year is a good way to see the park while avoiding the extreme heat of the summer months!

My previous visit was in late November 2016, and the temperatures were comfortable in most of the park. As you can see, I’m wearing jacket at Zabriskie Point in the photo above, but a jacket wasn’t even needed during much of our visit. However, at Dante’s View, it was very windy to the point of being cold. I’d recommend wearing layers that you can adjust throughout the day! When planning a visit to any national park, it is best to always check the park’s official website and Facebook page for the latest weather and road conditions before you go.

Although a longer stay would allow more time for hiking and exploring the huge park, you can definitely fit enough sightseeing into one day to make the trip worthwhile. Our day included stops at Zabriskie Point with its spectacular views, Badwater Basin to experience the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level, the extremely rough landscape of the Devil’s Golf Course, Artist’s Drive with its colorful hills, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes where a short walk will fill your shoes with sand, and Dante’s View over 5,000 feet above the valley.

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There were limited places in the park to purchase food and water, so its a good idea to pack water and snacks for the day. The sightseeing is well worth the drive and the park entry fee of $30 per vehicle. In comparison to other ways you can spend $30 in Vegas, this option is a sure winner!