Get into the great wide open in Nevada
There are routes that simply get people from point A to point B, and then there are road trips that are designed to get you closer to aliens by Area 51… or cowboys… or ghost towns.
Travel Nevada has developed unique 10 road trips that highlight some of the state’s diverse offerings, catering to a variety of interests. So whether clients want to hit the open road down Highway 50, known as the Loneliest Road in America, or take a hike at Red Rock Canyon, there really is a road trip for that.
“There’s so much to explore,” Elsa Gomez, global market manager for Travel Nevada, tells Travel Courier. “They’re all so much fun.”
As the gateway to the state for many Canadians is Vegas, she points out that the Neon to Nature trip is one of the most popular routes, since it features stops that are within a few hours of the downtown Strip.
“It is very popular because it hits just the two hour vicinity around the city and it goes through Mesquite, Boulder City, Laughlin and Moapa Valley,” she says. “Popular too is the extraterrestrial [roadtrip] for those folks who are all about aliens. They do this ride right across to Tonopah, there’s dark skies, the paranormal, The Mizpah Hotel and then it goes near Goldfield, where the Car Forest is.”
A delegation from Travel Nevada was in Toronto recently to keep the state top of mind for when travellers are ready to visit the U.S. again. While visitation from Canada dropped 24.9 per cent in 2025 and a further decline of nearly 30 per cent was recorded in January 2026 compared to the previous year, Gomez noted that 800,000 Canadians still travelled to Nevada last year.
“We know that the Canadian market at the moment is taking a little pause, but we are here to continue to be present,” she says. “We are ready when they are, we’re here to support. We’re here to express our appreciation and we’re grateful that they’re allowing us to come and promote the destination because we don’t want to be out of sight, out of mind. Our message is we’re open and we’re ready when you are.”
Putting a big spotlight on the destination right now is extreme pro climber Alex Honnold, whose new show, ‘Get a Little Out There,’ explores his home state of Nevada — including many stops on the aforementioned road trips.
While many visitors head to Vegas or Reno, Nevada is also known for its natural side with 27 State Parks, 1 National Park, 300 hot springs, dark sky viewing, mountains, hiking trails and more.
“Go out and explore the state parks and the national parks within a two or three hour vicinity of this region,” Gomez adds, noting that many first timers to Vegas want to hit Zion National Park, but a small detour also allows people to see Great Basin National Park as well.
As for misconceptions, Gomez says pricing is often one that visitors tend to have. Although there are certainly places that are expensive, she says the state has a lot of affordable options, and points out that several hotels in Vegas are offering at-par rates to entice Canadian travellers. These include: Circa Resort & Casino, the D Las Vegas and Golden Gate Hotel & Casino. Notably, Autumn Eisenbarth of Reno Tahoe Territory, says hotels in the area are considering the same offering.
She says the tourism region in Northern Nevada, anchored by Reno, Carson City, and Lake Tahoe, ranges from the crystal-clear Lake Tahoe to historic charm in Virginia City and Carson City and year-round outdoor adventure. While there are no direct flights, she says clients could easily fly to Sacramento and then take a transit bus for US$36. Overall, clients will be able to discover five different destinations within one hour.
For foodies, Kathryn Kelly of Taste Buzz! Food Tours has a variety of tours on offer that clients can truly sink their teeth into. Kelly runs culinary experiences in the Strip, the Arts District and downtown to hidden gems, speakeasies and local establishments visitors may never find on their own. In addition to tasting a variety of dishes, guests also learn about the history of Vegas and take in some off-the-beaten path sights. After 10 years in business, Kelly has also branched out to run Buzzy Brand Vegas Tours, which are discovery walking tours, and is also looking into launching a craft cocktail tour. Daily tours are commissionable at 15% and can be increased to 20% based on the amount of business. Private tours are also available.
Meanwhile, Jane Moon of Visit Fallon, highlighted a variety of things to discover from unique garden stays to farm-to-table experiences, petroglyphs and tastings at Frey Ranch Distillery, a 5th generation distillery that’s also a working ranch. The destination is also happy to work with agents to help put together packages and memorable things to do. Although not in her area, Moon also works for the State Commission on Tourism for rural communities and says the state is full of delights from teepee accommodations at Aravada Springs to the International Car Forest, a free, open-air art installation in Goldfield, Nevada, featuring over 40 cars, trucks, and buses partially buried or stacked at odd angles.
Representing both Lake Tahoe Travel & Visit Reno Tahoe, Denise Graham noted the year-round appeal of the destination, with crystal-clear waters and Sierra Nevada mountain views. For those who want to hit the slopes, she says Diamond Peak is a great option for beginners and Mt. Rose is known for its high base elevation and a high amount of annual snowfall, ideal for skiers and boarders. Notably, she says Lake Tahoe has 99.9% clarity, meaning visitors can see depths up to 70 feet deep, with many beaches. There is also a lively calendar of events from for concerts to a Shakespeare festival.
Meanwhile, Cherie Westbrook, LVCVA Southern Nevada Region, which includes Laughlin, Mesquite and Boulder City, points out that the destination is value oriented and many hotels have recently done upgrades and renovations. The area is easily accessible from Vegas and has lots to offer from sandy white beaches to mining towns and distillery tours to camel rides in the desert and outdoor activities like ATV rides. From natural swimming pools an ATV trail all the way to the rim of the Grand Canyon, and sports options like golf and disc golf, she says there’s a lot for clients to do.
For agents looking to connect with a DMC for their transportation needs and packages with such as show tickets like Cirque du Soleil, connect with Alessandro Levaccchia of Bramer Tours for net rates to develop tours for clients.
