We all know that Las Vegas was built in the middle of the desert to become the gambling capital of the world, and as any desert city, it is indeed very hot in the Summer. If you are planning a road trip in the United States to explore some of the most popular National Parks, Las Vegas will certainly be one of your stops along your journey.

But when is the best time to visit Vegas together with the National Parks and the Canyons without having to suffer brutally hot temperatures? Let's see some options.

Las Vegas Climate and Temperatures

Las Vegas has a desert climate, it is located in the middle of the Mojave Desert, and therefore mild temperatures even during the winter days but temperatures will drop considerably during the night. Summer is very hot and temperatures can easily reach 115F/45C. The good thing is that Vegas is at least located on a plateau at 2000 ft/610 mt above sea level, therefore less hot than in the Death Valley which we recommend visiting preferably in the spring or fall.

Precipitation in Las Vegas

Precipitation is very scarce and occurs mostly during the winter season. Let's see the average rainfall by month on this table:

Winter in Las Vegas

As was mentioned, the Winter in Las Vegas has mild temperatures during the day around 63F/15-17C ° while at night they drop quite a lot even reaching 40F/4-5 C°. You can probably encounter some rain but Winter is still a season that leaves you free to explore the surroundings, a short distance away, do not miss the Red Rock Canyon, or the Valley of Fire, book yourself for an off-road adventure.

Spring and Autumn in Las Vegas

These are the two best seasons to visit Las Vegas, especially Spring when even the night temperatures are pleasant and you can enjoy walking outside experiencing all the explosions of colors and shows that Las Vegas has to offer. Day excursions will take you to discover Hoover Dam and Lake Mead or if you love flying you can get on a helicopter to fly over the Grand Canyon which will be magical!


In the fall, especially in September and in the first few days of October, the temperatures remain high during the day but not so hot and brutal anymore, this is the best time to visit the Death Valley and go down the Grand Canyon maybe by Jeep with an off-road adventure and reach the Colorado River and maybe take a boat trip. 

Summer in Las Vegas

Even if the temperatures are high, the climate remains very dry with very low humidity, and this helps a lot combatting the extreme heat (the lack of humidity will make the perceived temperatures feel more bearable,) also most of the attractions in Las Vegas are inside where there is always air conditioning blasting, but be careful sometimes it can be very strong! In short, Summer will not be the best season to visit this area (especially mid-July to end of August) but if you are on an "On The Road Trip" across the West, a stop in Vegas will still be a great addition to your journey across the Western States.

Heat Wave - How to dress & know how to protect yourself from the Heat

As you may have guessed by now, summer is the season that can create the most problems, but as always just some simple precautions will suffice. Hat, glasses, and sunscreen must always be with you, dressed in light and fresh cotton. Comfortable shoes are suitable for hiking. And make sure to always have water with you at all times!

If you stay in the city of Las Vegas during the day and stay indoors during the hottest hours, there are so many attractions that Vegas offers. In the evening when temperatures drop, take a walk down the Strip and see the most famous hotels.

If you are planning excursions during the hottest days try to avoid the valleys and try to remain at least 2500ft/900 mt above sea level!