Days 1-2: Las Vegas Strip
Base yourself at a central Strip hotel: the Cosmopolitan, Aria, or Wynn if the budget stretches to $350 a night. Spend day one on the south Strip, hitting the Bellagio conservatory, the Waldorf Astoria's 23rd floor Sky Bar, and dinner at Estiatorio Milos for a $55 lunch prix fixe that beats the $120 dinner menu.
Day two, go north: Fremont Street after dark for $6 beers and the Viva Vision light show at the top of every hour from 6pm. If you are here to marry, the Little White Wedding Chapel on Las Vegas Boulevard still does drive-thru ceremonies for $75 plus the $102 license from the Marriage Bureau on Clark Avenue.
Day 3: Red Rock and Valley of Fire
Rent a car and knock out both parks in one long day. Red Rock's scenic loop in the morning, then a 90-minute drive to Valley of Fire for the Fire Wave and White Domes trails. Pack lunch from the Whole Foods on Charleston; there are no restaurants inside either park. Total driving: about 4 hours. Back on the Strip by 8pm.
Day 4-5: drive to Great Basin
This is the trip most visitors skip. Great Basin National Park sits 4.5 hours north of Vegas via US-93. Overnight in Ely at the Hotel Nevada, a 1929 casino hotel that still runs a small pit and charges $95 a room. Next morning, drive the 12-mile Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive to 10,000 feet and hike the Bristlecone trail (2.8 miles) to see 4,000-year-old trees. Cave tours of Lehman Caves cost $15 and book out; reserve in advance.
The night skies here are certified International Dark Sky. On a moonless night you can read a watch face by starlight.
Day 6: Reno and the Truckee River
Drive west on US-50, the 'Loneliest Road in America,' about 6 hours to Reno. Check in at the Peppermill or the newer Renaissance downtown. Reno's casinos are smaller and looser than Vegas, and dealers actually chat. Eat at Old Granite Street Eatery in midtown, roughly $35 a head. The riverwalk along the Truckee has 6 breweries within a 10-minute walk.
Day 7: Lake Tahoe
Forty-five minutes from Reno, the Nevada side of Tahoe centers on Incline Village and Sand Harbor. Beach entry at Sand Harbor is $15 per car and the water hits 68F in July. For a last-night splurge, dinner at Lone Eagle Grille at the Hyatt Regency runs $70 a head with lake views. Fly out of Reno-Tahoe International the next morning.
Good to know
Is one week enough for Nevada?+
Yes for the highlights. Vegas, one desert park day, Great Basin, Reno, and Tahoe fit in seven days if you drive. Skipping Great Basin cuts a full travel day.
Can I do this trip without renting a car?+
No. Only Vegas has real transit. Great Basin, Valley of Fire, and the drive to Reno all require a car. Budget $60 to $90 a day for the rental.
What is the best month for a Nevada road trip?+
May and October. Desert temperatures stay under 90F, Tahoe is snow-free, and Great Basin's Wheeler Peak road is open.
Should I fly into Vegas or Reno?+
Fly into Vegas, out of Reno. It saves a 7-hour backtrack. Most rental companies charge a one-way fee of $50 to $100, worth it against the driving time.