TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Route Options
• Scenic Stops
• About Lake Tahoe

You can fly between Las Vegas and Reno/Lake Tahoe, but a road trip offers so much more. The drive takes you through desert landscapes, small towns, and stunning western scenery—perfect for travelers who love the journey as much as the destination.

Here's an overview of how to go about this road trip:

Route Options

1. US-95 North

• The most straightforward option, this route has you drive about 455 miles in 7-8 hours.

2. US-95 N and US-395 N

• This route, significantly more scenic, includes 439 miles of driving in approximately 7-8 hours, but you may want to build in a couple of extra days to stop and take in some of the unique landscapes along the way. 

Your adventure begins in the glitzy and glamorous Las Vegas, and from there you'll take to the open road, heading northwest.

Let’s list out some of the most popular spots from start to finish:

Scenic Stops

1. Las Vegas

Lizzie Gerecitano

Visit the city that never sleeps. We highly recommend you download Shaka Guide’s Hoover Dam & Lake Mead audio tour while you’re there, because you’d be surprised at the beauty of these two places, mere minutes from the neon lights of the Vegas Strip. When you’re ready to leave Vegas, you’ll drive northwest towards Tahoe.

2. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

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Leaving the Vegas strip and heading west, this natural wonder is a must-see on your way out of town.

The amazing red-rock mountains rising up from the canyon can be enjoyed by taking a scenic road that runs through the park’s sandstone formations and picturesque viewpoints.

In fact, Shaka Guide has an amazing self-guided audio tour in Red Rock for your visit!

3. Yosemite National Park

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Yosemite is home to some of the most iconic natural landmarks in the United States, including El Capitan, Half Dome, and Yosemite Falls.

Yosemite is a great place to stop for hiking, camping, and general nature ogling.

You can also take the Shaka Guide self-guided audio tour along with you to the park so as not to miss a single iconic stop. 

4. Beatty, Nevada

David Brossard

Beatty is a small, historical ghost town located just northwest of Las Vegas. It's a great place to stop for gas, food, and supplies before continuing on your drive, or to stay overnight and explore the area.

Beatty has a rich history dating back to the Gold Rush era. In the early 1900s, Beatty was a booming mining town. Check out the Beatty Museum and Historical Society to immerse yourself in the boomtown world!

5. Mammoth Lakes

Don Graham

Mammoth Lakes is a popular ski resort in the winter and a great place to hike, bike, and fish in the summer. You can visit the Mammoth Lakes Basin Visitor Center to learn more about the area's natural history and culture, and find tips on what there is to do.

6. Mono Lake

chsyang

Mono Lake is a unique alkaline lake with tufa towers. It's a great place to stop for a picnic or a hike. You can also take a boat tour of the lake to learn more about its unique geology and ecosystem.

7. Death Valley National Park 

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Death Valley is one of the hottest and driest places on earth, but it's also one of the most beautiful.

Be sure to stop at the Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, and the Zabriskie Point for stunning views of the park.

Take Shaka Guide along with you on our Death Valley National Park tour to make sure you don’t miss a thing!

8. Carson Valley

Reno Tahoe Territory

Carson Valley is a beautiful valley at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains, less than half an hour from Lake Tahoe itself. It's home to farms, orchards, and casinos.

You can visit the Nevada State Museum in Carson City to learn about the state's history, or go for a drive through the valley.

9. Lake Tahoe

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Known for its stunning bright blue waters enveloped by the towering Sierra Nevada mountains, Lake Tahoe is a 22+ mile alpine lake surrounded by incredible towns, parks, beaches, and activities from hiking to water sports and — once the snow hits — winter activities.

About Lake Tahoe

In order to explore all the must-see places along the shores of Lake Tahoe (in both California and Nevada), be sure and download Shaka Guide’s Lake Tahoe self-driving audio tour so that you don’t miss a thing!

To give you a very brief overview of Lake Tahoe, the west side of the lake is in California, and the east side of the lake is in Nevada. But most folks instead describe Tahoe in terms of South Lake Tahoe and North Lake Tahoe.:

South Lake Tahoe

Emerald Bay View/ Shutterstock Image

South Lake Tahoe is actually a small city (which looks more like a small town) in California, and this is the most bustling area of the lake. Sharing a border with Nevada means that you can cross the street to some big casino resorts in a town appropriately named Stateline (since Nevada allows gambling and California does not).

The South offers a wide array of restaurants, shops, beach resorts, and ski resorts, as well as some spectacular hiking options. The iconic Emerald Bay State Park is one of many stunning areas of Lake Tahoe to visit in this region.

North Lake Tahoe

Tahoe City/ Shutterstock Image

This is the quieter area of the lake (compared to South Lake Tahoe), with charming towns like Tahoe City and popular swimming areas like Kings Beach.

The north lake also calls to outdoor enthusiasts, with opportunities for hiking, biking, and exploring the shores of the lake.

The north lake’s beauty rivals (and some might say even surpasses) that of South Lake Tahoe.

Explore with Shaka Guide

So, what do you say — are you ready for a road trip from Vegas to Lake Tahoe? You’ll trade the Strip’s glitz for alpine beauty, with landscapes, small towns, and endless outdoor adventures along the way.

Shaka Guide’s self-guided tours—covering Lake Tahoe, Death Valley, Yosemite, and Vegas day trips like Red Rock Canyon and Hoover Dam—make sure you never miss a stop while hearing great stories. So hit the road and enjoy the journey!

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