Good roads in Las Vegas?

Depending on how much time you have, here is something to consider. Head south a little to Boulder City and grab lunch at Fox's BBQ - one of my favorite BBQ joints.

Fox Smokehouse BBQ - Restaurant in Boulder City, NV

From there you can head over and see the Hoover Dam if you like - not a great drive, but the dam is worth seeing. A little sad seeing how low the water levels in Lake Mead are, though.

Then head back and head north on Lakeshore Road, which is on the west side of Lake Mead. Follow that north and then take a right just before Lake Las Vegas, and get on Highway 167.

Follow that north - it has lots of fun fast sweepers and is not usually that busy.

Eventually you'll want to take a left onto the Valley of Fire Hwy - it's a state park so you may have to pay a fee at some point to enter/exit. It's not a fast road but the scenery is beautiful.

If time permits, take a short detour off the Valley of Fire Hwy and head north to The White Domes Trail (dead end) - really spectacular scenery on this part of the drive.

After that, head back to the Valley of Fire Hwy, and continue until you get to I15, and then it's the boring drive from there to St George.

The drive is probably around 4 hours from Ferrari of Las Vegas, to Boulder and back to I15 via Valley of Fire, and about 140 miles give or take.

 

Valley of Fire is mostly a slow drive but spectacular. We went through again two months ago. I think fee is $ 15. Big horn sheep are plentiful.

 

If you're planning on staying the night in Vegas, and would prefer to avoid the crowds on the strip, you may want to consider staying at the Red Rock Casino - it's way out on the west side of the city (no where near the strip). Just less crowded, cheaper and probably smells a lot better - lol! Also would be easier to get to Ferrari of Las Vegas from there. Their steakhouse (TBones) is pretty good - the waitresses are a knockout.

 

If you want decent BBQ, try Lonny Boy’s BBQ in Hurricane which is just north of St. George.

 

I moved to Vegas thinking there would be good driving roads and a large car based culture. I should have done my research. Even the karting community disappeared.

 

Absolutely agree - I came from the PNW which has awesome driving roads, and a great weekly car meet in Redmond (Exotics at Redmond Town Center). The only drawback was of course the weather, which limited the car season to the summer months. I was really hoping for something similar in Vegas but with a much longer season. But really there's not much IMHO that makes it worth owning an exotic in Vegas.
However, Vegas has something that few other places have, and that is a fantastic racetrack that is only 1 hr drive outside of town - Spring Mountain Racetrack. It's actually more of a motorsports country club rather than just a racetrack. They have condos you can rent, a pool, fitness room etc in addition to a club house, restaurant and bar etc. So I ended up selling my 430 and bought a membership at the track. Also bought a spec Boxster and I'm in the process of getting a racing license.
Also I believe they have a karting track, but don't know much about that. They did just add a new FIA certified track that I haven't been on yet.

 

I’ve been to Spring Mountain many times and actually bought a .7 of an acre directly across the street. I run the HPDE’s with the Las Vegas Porsche club. They are very welcoming and it’s a great event.

 

When is the 430 being delivered? I can leave my Tesla in the driveway for a few days and let you keep it in my garage. But I won’t be home until 17 Aug. At which point my manual trans 350 will get shipped.
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The drive along SR-160 through Red Rock Canyon, into Blue Diamond and up to Pahrump is fast, and pretty fun. Earlier you go the better, very low traffic during the week.

 

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I'd like to share this: A couple of years ago, we went up the 15 from Bellagio and turned off to go to Valley of Fire. There is a big Reservation ( I think Paiute) just off the exit....18 wheeler fuel stop and gas station, RV stop, a combo home depot, 7-11, casino, hardware store, giant liquor store, trading post, etc. The wind was blowing 80 miles and hour, the red dust and gravel was flying. I got out of the rental car to gas up, I could barely stand up and opening your eyes was impossible. I thought I was surely on Mars.

 

The doors into the place, James, have steel handles and there is no shade above the entrance. They face southwest. There is a sign on the door advising not to touch the door handles with your bare hands, as you are likely to receives second degree burns!

 

What's funny is that I've said that about St. George ever since I first drove through it nearly 20 years ago. For someone from flat, green, East coast it is totally alien.

I just spent a day with my car in Santa Clara and Ivins driving the "Old Highway 91" a few times with my brothers in law and that was a fun road. I want to do Hwy 9 on the south side of Zion soon.

These are my 5 picks for the best driving roads around the county - three of them are in different National / State Parks, Red Rock, Lake Mead and Valley of Fire.
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The Mt. Charleston drive, through a UV lens:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWWNYxavhVv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Red Rock (outside the park driving toward Blue Diamond):
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGGm0GgHc4J/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

That road on the west side of Lake Mead:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFYS7FmHSPR/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

 

Once you get to the hotel ("The Retreat") at the base of the mountain you can stop and put the top down. Then you go another half mile or so and take a right to go up the side of the mountain and that takes you to the next canyon, Lee Canyon.

When you get to the Lee Canyon Rd. go left to drive up to the lookout point in front of the ski area. Good place for pictures
https://goo.gl/maps/Kee6crzJG5iygLcU7