Campervan and RV Rental Las Vegas — Zion, the Grand Canyon, Death Valley and Tips for 2027

Las Vegas is an unusual starting point: the city is loud, but within a few hours you are in a world of red rock, canyons and silence. Valley of Fire, Death Valley, Zion and the Grand Canyon are all within a day's drive. The Strip is no place for a campervan, so the best plan is to pick it up and leave town the same day. This guide covers routes, the heat and the rules guests meet most often. For general advice on renting in the United States, see our guide for European visitors.

Routes from Las Vegas

• Valley of Fire State Park (about 75 km, an hour): red sandstone and petroglyphs, with a campground in the park. Best from October to April.
• Death Valley (about 210 km, two hours, plus 30 to 45 minutes to Badwater Basin): the lowest point in North America. In summer only a few campgrounds stay open because of the heat; Furnace Creek and Mesquite Spring are open all year.
• Zion National Park (about 245 km, two and a half hours): canyon walls and the Virgin River. Consider spending the night there instead of a day trip.
• Grand Canyon South Rim (about 440 km, four to four and a half hours): the Trailer Village campground has hookups and can be reserved up to 13 months ahead; Mather Campground has no hookups.
• Bryce Canyon and Utah (about 400 km, four and a half hours): the red hoodoos, combined with Zion in a loop of four to five days.
• Hoover Dam and Lake Mead (about 50 km): a short trip for the first day.
• Los Angeles (about 435 km): see our guide to campervan hire in Los Angeles.

Where to stay overnight

• National park campgrounds. Zion, Death Valley and the Grand Canyon take reservations online months ahead; in spring and autumn the popular ones are full.
• State park campgrounds. Valley of Fire and Lake Mead have simple campgrounds.
• Private RV parks. They have full hookups: electricity, water and sewer, and some are close to the Strip.
• No wild camping. Sleeping in a vehicle on city streets and in car parks is generally restricted and fined. On public land outside the parks, rules differ by area, so ask the land manager.

Driving and costs that guests forget

• Heat. In summer temperatures exceed 43 °C. Start before sunrise, carry more water than you think you need and never leave people or pets in a parked vehicle. Check the cooling system and the tyres, which suffer on hot asphalt.
• Distances. Fuel stations in the desert are far apart. Fill up before long stretches, and download maps, because mobile coverage in the parks is patchy.
• Vehicle size. A typical American Class C motorhome is seven to nine metres long and more than three and a half metres high. A smaller campervan is easier on park roads, such as the Zion–Mount Carmel Highway, which has tunnels with limits for large vehicles.
• Mileage and generator. American rental companies often charge separately for miles above the included allowance and for generator hours. Read the quote to the end.

When to go

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best times. Summer is the low season for the desert and the high season for the parks' prices; in Death Valley it is dangerous to hike. Winter is mild in Las Vegas, but Zion and Bryce are cold, with snow and icy roads, and the Grand Canyon rim has snow.

A campervan in Las Vegas through Crystalium Booker

We are still building our campervan offer in Las Vegas. Send us your dates and group size through the contact page and we will look for a vehicle for you, and keep an eye on the campervans in Las Vegas page for new listings. Do you rent out a campervan in or around Las Vegas? List it with us.