3 Day in Vegas: Las Vegas 3 Day Itinerary

The first time I visited Las Vegas, I was only there for about a day and a half, which was just enough time for me to soak up some sunshine and waste the night away pulling slot machines and losing more money than I came with – the typical Vegas experience!

With just the slightest taste of Sin City, I knew I had to come back, but for a little longer. I also wanted to see what lay beyond the famous Vegas Strip.

I booked a flight and an ever-so-important rental car, and I made myself a kickass itinerary for 3 days in Vegas, jam-packed with sights and activities that had been burning a hole in my Pinterest boards and Instagram saves folders for over a year.

This itinerary must be pretty good because it went viral on Instagram and Tik Tok. I had dozens of people flooding my inbox and the comment section, begging for my itinerary. So I just HAD to make a blog post about my epic 3 days in Las Vegas.

Below is a rundown of all must do’s while during your 3 days in Vegas, followed by my highly requested itinerary at the end.

But before we get into all that, let’s check out some logistics to help you plan your trip.

Best Time To Visit Las Vegas

The best time to visit Las Vegas is from March to May and from September to November. You can find plenty of travel deals throughout the year (such as the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas), but the spring and fall shoulder seasons offer the most moderate weather.

My trip was during the first week of November, and I couldn’t have asked for more perfect weather.

Should I Rent a Car?

This will depend on how long your Vegas trip is and what you plan on doing. If you’re only in town for a day or two and have no intentions of leaving The Strip, then there’s no need to rent a car.

The Las Vegas Strip is 4.2 miles jam-packed with all the big hotels, casinos, shops, restaurants, and tourist activities. Getting around on foot and via the occasional Uber is super doable since all the major hotels have ride share pick up zones, and the airport is only about 15 minutes from The Strip.

If you’re feeling a little more ambitious and want to do some exploring off The Strip like I did, then you’ll definitely want to rent a car. All the rental car companies are located in a hub close to the airport, with shuttle buses free of charge to get there from the airport.

If you want to leave The Strip but really don’t want to deal with a rental car, there are tour companies that will pick you up right from your hotel and whisk you away to your desired destinations.

How Many Days Do I Need in Vegas?

It completely depends on YOU and what you want to do! Are you planning to stay on the Strip the whole time? Do you want to see as many shows as possible? Maybe you want to head outside The Strip, perhaps even as far as the Grand Canyon!

Figure out what you want to do and what kind of trip you want to have – adventurous, relaxing, or maybe a little bit of both.

If you don’t plan to leave The Strip, then two days is plenty of time. If you want to explore greater Las Vegas and the surrounding region, then I suggest 3-4 full days in Las Vegas to have enough time to hike a few gems from this list such as the Valley of Fire, Red Rock Canyon, and even Zion National Park.

I suggest having a game plan in advance so you can spend your 3 days in Vegas wisely.

Things To Do In and Around Las Vegas

Zion National Park (day trip)

I know, I know. Zion National Park is in Utah, which the Tik Tok haters reminded me repeatedly, insisting I need geography lessons. But hey, they haters are what helped me go viral!

Anyways, if you’re like me and flying into Vegas all the way from the East Coast, a 3 hour drive isn’t too bad to check out one of America’s most beloved national parks and perhaps the most famous hike in the country.

If you’ve never been to Zion before, I would recommend you spend a full two days exploring the park. You could even go canyoneering like I did! If you don’t want to drive out this far, then no worries. Just save Zion for another day because there is plenty to do on and around The Strip to keep you occupied!

Take a Trip Around the World

My favorite thing about Las Vegas is that it feels like taking a journey around the world even though you’ve only walked a few blocks! I like to think of Las Vegas as the adults’ Epcot.

By exploring the decadent themed hotels, you can see the Eiffel Tower light up at night, ride a gondola in a Venetian Canal, make a wish at the Trevi Fountain, and even see the Great Sphinx from Egypt! Well, almost.

Seven Magic Mountains

Located just 30 minutes from The Strip is this colorful art installation comprised of seven stacked boulders. The vibrant rocks stick out like a sore thumb in the middle of the desert, so you can’t miss them!

I suggest visiting early in the morning on a weekday to beat the crowds. I arrived at about sunrise, and I was joined by only a few other people. A few minutes after the sun came up, I had the place practically to myself for about an hour!

Red Rock Canyon

It’s hard to believe somewhere as stunning as Red Rock Canyon is just a 30 minute drive from The Strip. This place feels a world away with its dramatic canyons, vibrant reddish rocks and scenic hiking trails.

If you’re a big time hiker, you might want to make this a day trip, but it’s definitely doable in a shorter amount of time since it’s so close to The Strip. I went on the 1pm tour with Pink Jeep Tours and was back at my hotel around 5:30.

Whatever you decide to do, Calico Hills is not to be missed! It’s the most beautiful and iconic stop in the park.

Valley of Fire

From the moment you pull into the park, you’ll see why they call it a geologic wonderland in the Mojave Desert. The red sandstone formations are out of this world (literally – you’ll think you’ve stepped onto Mars).

You could easily spend a whole day here, doing hikes such as White Domes, Petroglyph Canyon, Pink Canyon, and my personal favorite, the Fire Wave.

It takes just under an hour to get to the park entrance from Las Vegas, and it’ll take another 20-30 minutes driving through the park to get to the trails.

Don’t worry if you don’t have all day. I pulled into the park only about two hours before sunset, and I still feel like I saw a lot and was able to get some great shots.

Neon Museum

The Neon Museum is like a graveyard for all the old vintage signs of Vegas past. You’ll see signs from old hotels, restaurants, bars, and casinos.

It’s open from 3pm-10pm daily. They allow an hour for visitation but aren’t strict about enforcing this.

The lights are always on, but I recommend going right before sunset so you can experience the signs during the day and when it gets dark because that’s when they really shine!

Purchase tickets ahead of time online to secure your preferred day and time slot. Tickets cost about $20 per person.

Fly Across Fremont Street

Fremont Street is the second most famous street in Vegas, second only to The Strip, of course. I rode the Slotzilla zipline and flew like Superman across the street. $39 will get you a regular zipline ride, and $59 will let you ride superhero style. Grab your tickets here.

High Roller

Home to the world’s tallest observation wheel, the High Roller offers passengers spectacular 360-degree views from 550 feet above The Strip. The ride is 30 minutes long, has 28 spacious cabins. The High Roller is located at the LINQ Hotel & Casino.

Bellagio Fountain Show

The Bellagio Fountain has been dazzling spectators for more than two decades with its elaborate water shows. The show takes place daily every 30 minutes from 3 PM to 8 PM Monday throughFriday, and every 15 minutes from 8 PM to midnight. The weekend schedule is a similar with a few extra shows.

Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden

In addition to the majestic fountain, The Bellagio also boasts a bright and airy botanical garden located just past the lobby. You’ll be able to smell the thousands of flowers from the moment you step into the hotel. This 14,000 square foot garden changes seasonally for themes such as the Lunar New Year, Spring Celebration, Summer Garden, Fall Harvest and Winter Holiday of course. The Botanical Garden is open 24 hours, and it’s completely free to visit.

Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian

Inside the Grand Canal Shoppes you’ll find a stunning recreation of Venice, Italy. Even if you’re not in the mood to shop, it’s worth a visit to see the beautifully designed Venetian facades, canal bridges and gondolas floating through the canals, which you can take a short ride in for an undoubtedly overpriced fee!

They take photos for you, but they cost like $70. It’s also pretty cringey with the gondolier singing in Italian, not to mention you have to we are a velcro seatbelt the whole time…

But hey, no shame! I haven’t been to Italy yet so this is the closest I could get. And anything for the Gram, right?

Cirque Du Soleil

Las Vegas might as well be the Cirque du Soleil capital of the world. This modern day contemporary circus hosts a variety of shows at the biggest hotels on The Strip – three of the best are Ka at the MGM Grand, O at the Bellagio, and Mystère at Treasure Island.

Hoover Dam

Did you know the Hoover Dam is only a 45 minute drive from Las Vegas? And it costs nothing to visit! Although there is a charge to take a tour and see the visitor center. Admission to the visitor center is included with a tour, or can be purchased separately if you’re not interested in taking a tour.

MRS COCO Cafe

MRS. COCO is described as a place “where cake becomes a living art and flowers always blooming.”

It’s a very Insta-famous cafe located in Henderson, about 30 minutes from Las Vegas. The cafe has the cutest pink decor, and a unique menu where healthy cuisine meets your sweet tooth cravings. It’s the loveliest brunch spot around!

Check out Cafe Lola for another IG-worthy cafe.

Welcome to Las Vegas Sign

Did you even go to Las Vegas if you don’t take a photo with this sign? Just be warned: there is almost ALWAYS an insane line. It moves pretty quickly, unless you’re waiting for a wedding party of 2 dozen like I was!

My Las Vegas 3 Day Itinerary

The moment of truth! Here is my 3 day Las Vegas itinerary. If you want to go as far as Zion National Park, then this can easily be a 4-5 day itinerary, but if you don’t have the time, then this will still give you the best things to do for 3 days in Las Vegas.

Normally I fly into my destinations as early as possible so I can still salvage the day, but I didn’t get into Las Vegas until 5pm. I just picked up the rental car then drove to my hotel near Zion National Park.

I chose to spend the night near Zion so that I could wake up bright and early and get on the first bus so I could be one of the first people of the day to hike the iconic Angel’s Landing. Plus, it’s not as hot if you get an early start.

Spend the middle of the day driving around, or walking some trails if you have the energy. Read my post on Zion if you need some ideas.

I definitely recommend the short and sweet Canyon Overlook Trail for sunset.

After your one day in Zion is over, drive back to Vegas.

I actually spent a second day in Zion National Park because I was dying to try out Canyoneering. I opted for a half day tour from about 8am-1pm before heading back to Vegas.

Canyoneering isn’t for the faint of heart, and it definitely isn’t for anyone afraid of heights, so I didn’t include this activity in my viral videos. BUT if you’re a daredevil and want to cross this off your bucket list, be my guest!

Ok, now here is how to spend 3 awesome days in Vegas.

Day 1

Sunrise at 7 Magic Mountains – 30 min from Vegas
PINK JEEP Tour of Red Rock Canyon at 1pm
Welcome to Las Vegas sign for sunset

Day 2

Walk along The Strip one way to see the Bellagio, Cosmopolitan, New York New York, MGM Grand, The Luxor, and The Excalibur
Neon Museum @ 4:45
Ride Slotzilla zipline at Fremont Street
Eat at In-N-Out Burger or White Castle – whichever you haven’t tried yet!

Day 3

Walk along the Strip the other way to see Caesar’s Palace, Treasure Island, The Flamingo, The Venetian, and more
Gondola ride at the Venetian
Lunch at Mrs Coco Cafe
Valley of Fire State Park for sunset