Las Vegas might not be the first place that comes to mind for a family-friendly vacation, but it’s actually an amazing destination to explore with kids. Growing up in southern Utah, I visited Vegas on little family getaways at least a few times a year, and I always loved it. Despite its reputation as an adult destination, there are tons of really great things to do in Las Vegas with kids.

Now I take my kiddos to Vegas at least once a year for a fun and easy vacation close to home. We usually go in August, so we can do back to school clothes shopping at all the stores, but this year we went over spring break for a quick little getaway.

The Top Things to Do in Las Vegas with Kids

Each time we visit, I like to do at least one exciting new activity, so this guide includes all the things to do in Las Vegas with kids that we have actually done and loved.

Museum of Illusions

Visiting the Museum of Illusions is a super cool afternoon activity with kids in Las Vegas. When I went with my kiddos, we spent about two hours checking out the installations and illusion rooms and had an absolute blast. Exhibits like the Cloning Table and Reversed Room kept the kids super engaged the whole time.

The Museum of Illusions is conveniently located right on The Strip, and I really appreciated that it wasn’t priced too crazy high. Lots of activities in Vegas can be super pricey, but this didn’t break the bank with an adult ticket for $41 and kids tickets for $34 if you purchase online (tickets are $5 more apiece when purchased at the door).

Kayaking Emerald Cove

Emerald Cove is a stunning spot nestled in the Black Canyon along the Colorado River, and kayaking to the cove is one of the coolest outdoor things to do in Las Vegas with kids. We booked a 3-4 hour kayak tour with River Dogz to paddle from Willow Beach Marina to Emerald Cove, and it cost around $500 for me plus 3 kiddos. Our guide was wonderful…very patient with the kids, and you could tell she knew what she was doing.

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I think on a beautiful day this would be such a fun adventure, but I have mixed reviews for our experience because we didn’t have the greatest weather on our kayaking trip. We did this tour in March, and there was wind in the forecast for the day of our trip, so they gave me the option of canceling. I honestly probably should have done that, but it was the only day we could go, and I didn’t have anything else planned, so we went ahead with it.

The first part of our adventure started out well. The kayaking was really fun, and the river was beautiful. The weather was even fairly nice at the start of the day, but it was overcast, so the green I was expecting to see in the Emerald Cove was disappointing. You really need the sunlight to get that vivid green hue in the water.

But after our visit to the cove, the wind really started to pick up. We got wet, it was extremely cold, and getting back to the dock was just such a miserable struggle. I really do not recommend doing this tour if there is wind in the forecast. But if the weather is good, this would be an awesome outdoor family adventure in Las Vegas!

***Images courtesy of my fabulous big sis

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

It’s such a surprise to find the gorgeous landscape of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area just outside of the bright, bustling atmosphere that is Las Vegas! Over the years I have visited Red Rock Canyon quite a few times with my kiddos, and it’s always a treat to escape The Strip and explore this outdoor space.

A great moderate hike in Red Rock Canyon is the Calico Tanks trail, which is just under 2.5 miles round trip. You will encounter a decent amount of rock scrambling on the trail, but it’s very doable and will be fun for all but the littlest kids. After the big watering hole near the end of trail, there is a trickier scrambling section to get up to an awesome view of Vegas, but you can just skip this part and head back if it’s too much for you or your kiddos.

Note: From October 1 through May 31, timed entry reservations are required between 8am-5pm to enter the Red Rock Canyon Scenic Loop. Entrance fees are $20/vehicle or a valid National Parks pass. Also, be aware that the Scenic Loop is a one-way road, so it’s a good idea to plan out your stops ahead of time because you won’t be able to turn around and go back if you miss anything.

Valley of Fire State Park

Valley of Fire State Park Nevada is just an hour from the Vegas airport and is a perfect stop if you’re driving from Las Vegas to Zion National Park. Valley of Fire features stunning red and pink rock formations and slot canyons to explore for an awesome family adventure, making it one of the top things to do in Las Vegas with kids.

Some of my favorite hikes in Valley of Fire State Park include White Domes Loop, Fire Wave, and Rainbow Vista, all of which are easy to moderate. Mouse’s Tank is my absolute must-hike trail for kids because it’s under a mile, and the kiddos will love the opportunities for off-trail rock scrambling and the interesting petroglyphs along the way.

Check out my full guide to Valley of Fire State Park here!

Cathedral Gorge State Park

Visiting Cathedral Gorge State Park requires a bit of a detour since it’s about 2.5 hours from Las Vegas, but it would be a nice little day trip on the way to Zion. Cathedral Gorge stands out from the typical southwest desert landscape of sandstone and red rocks with its soft bentonite clay spires. These mud spires were formed over a million years ago from a volcanic eruption, and they are continually eroding and changing shape after every rain.

A nice hike with little kids is in Cathedral Gorge is starting at the water tower then walking south toward the canyon caves and moon caves. You’ll find a number of slot canyons here to hike into, so you can expect to explore this area for at least an hour. There are also a handful of other trails in the park that are only around a couple miles in length and good for families as well.

Read more about visiting Cathedral Gorge State Park here!

Springs Nature Preserve

Wandering through Springs Preserve is a great morning activity with lots of learning opportunities and intriguing things to keep the kiddos engaged and interested. From a botanical garden to a desert tortoise habitat to an Old West train ride, there is something for everyone in the family at Springs Preserve.

Plus, the preserve is just a quick and easy drive from The Strip, and I really love that it’s inexpensive (yay!). Tickets are $18.95 for adults and $10.95 for kids, and online ticket reservations are recommended, especially for weekends and holidays.

The Fremont Street Experience

Fremont Street is a fun place to go with the family to get a very Vegas experience…neon lights, live music, good food, great shopping. I like this area a lot because it has an artsy atmosphere along with the classic Vegas vibe. There are fun places to eat and cool thrift shops close by.

For the thrill seeking kiddos and adults, there is a zip line where you can fly high above Fremont Street for an unforgettable experience. If you prefer to stay on solid ground, don’t miss the light show every night on the largest LED canopy screen in the world.

Downtown Container Park

After you’ve had your fill of Fremont Street, the Downtown Container Park is a short walk away and a fun place to escape from the hustle and bustle. This open air shopping center has lots of restaurants and stores to browse (including a candy shop for the kiddos). Kids will love the giant 40-foot-tall Mantis who throws giant flames of fire several stories high. Don’t miss the drum circle every night at sundown to wake the Mantis up!

Note: Kids are allowed in the Container Park until 9pm, then the park becomes 21+.

Area 15

Area 15 is very high on my list of the best things to do in Las Vegas with kids, even though it also has a pretty high price tag. My kiddos and I checked it out a few years ago, and we had such a blast that I think it’s totally worth it.

During our visit to Area 15, we visited Wink World and Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart. We spent several hours exploring the surreal activities, taking pictures of the psychedelic installations, and eating creative ice cream concoctions. There is seriously so much to see and do that you could easily spend a couple days here to really get your money’s worth.

Note: Four levels of passes are available for purchase depending on what you want to do, but the cheaper two levels don’t include access to Meow Wolf.

Cowabunga Water Park

If you are visiting Vegas in the summer, a day at Cowabunga Water Park is a must if you have kiddos who love the water. There are two locations in Las Vegas, and we went to the Henderson location a few years ago and had an awesome time. You can splash around in the wave pool, float along the lazy river, or take a thrilling ride down the many water slides and easily spend the whole day here having family fun.

Mount Charleston

Another one of my favorite outdoor escapes near Las Vegas is Mount Charleston. You wouldn’t think you could get to the mountains in just 45 minutes from Las Vegas, but you can! I have camped here with my kids and also done little day trips with my sisters who live in Vegas, and it’s such a great way to escape the desert heat.

You can take a scenic drive through the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area or take a hike on one of the many trails around Mount Charleston. While a hike to the summit of the 11,916 foot peak is challenging, you can find plenty of easier trails for the kiddos.

Note: Since Mount Charleston is at a significantly higher elevation than Las Vegas, be prepared for snow if you’re visiting during the winter. Some trails close in the winter, and driving conditions could be dangerous.

Where to Stay in Las Vegas with Kids

These are the places I have stayed when visiting Las Vegas with my kiddos, and we had a good experience at each of them.

Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa

Located on the west side of Las Vegas in the Summerlin area, Red Rock Casino Resort is a great hotel away from the hustle and bustle of the Vegas Strip. Yet it is still close to great shopping and excellent places to eat, and it’s just a 10-minute drive from Red Rock Canyon. The massive pool area was probably the best part of staying at this hotel…we absolutely LOVED the pool!

Golden Nugget

The Golden Nugget is a classic Vegas hotel right next to the Fremont Street Experience, which I really liked for easy access to entertainment. The Tank pool is unique because it has a huge shark tank aquarium with a water slide which is so fun for the kids. Just be aware that the pool hours are pretty limited, so you have to plan around that.

Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino

We just recently stayed at the Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino over spring break, and I was very impressed with it! The location is just a minute walk to the Fremont Street Experience for easy access to food and shopping. The hotel is newer and more modern than the Golden Nugget, and it felt high-end yet the price was great.

We didn’t have a chance to check out the pool while we were there, but it’s on the rooftop with a skyline view and looked really nice. If you stay here, I highly recommend walking across the street in the morning to Craft Kitchen in the Fremont Food Hall for breakfast…seriously so yummy!

As you can see, Las Vegas is actually a wonderful destination for a family vacation, and I hope this post helps you plan your own amazing visit to Las Vegas with kids!