Note: Some tour providers on this list may be running more limited operations due to COVID-19 or may impose testing or vaccine requirements. Check with your tour operator about availability before you book.
Following long nights of gambling and snapping photos of Las Vegas‘ famed Strip, you may want to spend time exploring the city in the daylight. Some travelers opt for helicopter tours to the Grand Canyon, while others choose to experience Vegas through their taste buds on a food tour. All-terrain vehicle tours often win the hearts of adventurous travelers who want to combine a thrilling ride with unique scenery. After consulting both traveler sentiment and expert input, U.S. News selected five of the best ATV tours in Las Vegas.
Make sure you’re prepared for the ride before you leave your hotel. Most companies require participants to wear long pants and closed-toe shoes (sturdy boots are even better). They also recommend wearing sunscreen and sunglasses and bringing a small bag – like a fanny pack – for necessities and a camera. Helmets and safety gear will be provided by the company. Children are generally allowed to join, but each tour operator has its own age and height restrictions.
Las Vegas ATV Tours – Nellis Dunes
First-time ATV riders appreciate the guides from Las Vegas ATV Tours: Tourgoers say guides are patient and take the time to teach novices how to operate the vehicles. During the tour, you’ll explore the Nellis Dunes National Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area, which is located just 25 miles northwest of Las Vegas and features hills, dunes and desert flora. You’ll have a selection of ATVs to pick from (250 cubic centimeters to 450 cc vehicles) to ride during the three-hour tour. Tours cost around $200 per person and include use of the ATV as well as round-trip transportation from your Las Vegas hotel. The company also offers tours atop utility terrain vehicles.
American Adventure Tours – Hidden Valley Primm Adventure
During this tour, travelers will mount ATVs to explore Hidden Valley and ride through the McCullough Mountains. The tour will be tailored to both the group’s preferences as well as the riders’ experience levels. Anticipate riding for about two hours; the entire experience lasts about four to five hours. Round-trip transportation from Las Vegas is available, but you can also drive yourself to the company’s staging area in Jean (about 40 miles south). Tours start at 7 a.m. year-round and cost about $255 per person. Tour-takers applaud the company and say the journey is tons of fun. American Adventure Tours also operates a version of this tour on dirt bikes.
Awesome Adventures’ ATV tour brings riders to Eldorado Canyon, the ancestral home of the Paiute and Mojave tribes that later became a hub of gold mining in the 1800s. Following 60 to 90 minutes of riding through desert terrain, you’ll be served a sandwich lunch. The final part of the day is a tour of the Techatticup Gold Mine, where you’ll learn about the history of Nevada’s mining community. In total, you’ll want to set aside seven hours for the activities. Tourgoers rave about the experience, describing the ATV ride as exhilarating and the tour as informative. Trips depart at 9 a.m. daily and tickets start at $229 per person. Fees include round-trip transportation from your Las Vegas accommodations, lunch, safety gear and use of the ATVs. Note: To drive an ATV, participants must be at least 16 years old. Travelers also have the option to take the tour on RZRs for an added fee.
SunBuggy Fun Rentals – Valley of Fire Tour
As the name implies, this Valley of Fire Tour from SunBuggy Rentals takes visitors through Valley of Fire State Park on ATVs (or dune buggies or UTVs). You’ll ride for two to three hours through the park’s striking sandstone terrain along the Logandale Trails System, keeping your eyes peeled for local wildlife like bighorn sheep. There will be plenty of stops along the way to snap photos. Travelers say the trip has just the right amount of adrenaline and the guides are friendly. Transportation to and from Vegas is provided, so allot about eight hours for the whole experience. Fees for ATVs start at $399 per person. Hotel pickups begin around 7:30 a.m. Selecting a UTV or desert racer will have different costs. SunBuggy Fun Rentals offers many other off-road tours on its buggies.
Las Vegas Elite Offroad – Las Vegas Off-Road Guided Adventure
Travelers regularly describe this tour as “excellent” and “a blast” thanks to both the competent guides and exciting ride. During the two-hour outing, you’ll drive Can-Am Maverick X3s through the varied terrain of the Nevada desert. Guides will help you navigate, but you will get to choose whether you want to take your time to enjoy the scenery or if you want to zip through the desert. Vehicles can accommodate up to four passengers. There will be a stop halfway through so you can switch drivers, but keep in mind drivers must be at least 18 years of age. Trips depart at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. daily. Tickets start at $349 for two-seater vehicles and participants who want to ride along with a guide (no driving) will pay around $110. Fees include water, use of vehicles, photos and helmets. Tour-takers have the option of taking a complimentary shuttle to the site, which sits 15 minutes from the Strip, or they can drive themselves.
