Road Trip | Indie Campers

Las Vegas

Worth a visit:

Caesars Palace: Caesars is the crown jewel of the so-called “Sin City” and is one of the last old-school Las Vegas properties still standing.
Park Theatre: Showcasing the hottest resident performers on the strip, this showroom has hosted Lady Gaga, Cher, and Aerosmith.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area: Camping at Red Rock Canyon - natural camping in the desert mountains

Where to eat:

Other Mama ($$): Bold, Japanese-influenced fish and seafood. This is a little out of the way but well worth the journey
Ferraro’s Restaurant and Wine Bar ($$): A local favourite, this restaurant specialises in southern Italian classics.
Gordon Ramsay Steak ($$$): This place became an instant hit when it opened in 2012. If you’re a steak fan, you can’t miss this one.

Where to park overnight:

Party like there’s no tomorrow

Situated in a basin on the floor of the Mojave Desert, Las Vegas is framed on all sides by mountain ranges. Most of its landscape is rocky and arid, with desert vegetation and wildlife; however, the city itself is much greener than its surroundings.

Las Vegas is an internationally renowned resort city, known primarily for its entertainment, gambling, shopping, fine dining and nightlife. It's hugely popular with visitors, who call it the entertainment capital of the world and flock there in their millions every year.

A global heavyweight in the hospitality industry, the city is renowned for its mega casino hotels and is one of the top destinations in the country for business conferences.

Death Valley

Worth a visit:

Dante’s View: One of the best viewpoints in the valley, Dante’s View isn’t to be missed for those who like to watch the sunrise or sunset.
Zabrickie Point: Another must-see viewpoint. This one is just a short walk from the road and is the starting point of many easy walks.
Badwater Basin: Sitting at 282 feet below sea level, this basin is the lowest point in the United States.

Where to eat:

Panamint Springs ($$): This tiny desert outpost offers great views and a surprisingly large craft beer selection, as well as food.
Badwater Saloon ($$): Located in the heart of the park, this saloon harks back to the gold-rush era.
Last Kind Words Saloon & Steakhouse ($$$): The quintessential American experience — this steakhouse serves everything a tourist would expect from a wild west saloon.

Experience the extremes

Designated a national park in 1994, Death Valley is the largest national park south of Alaska and is known for its extremes. It’s the hottest, driest place in North America and contains the lowest point on the continent. As inhospitable as that sounds, the park still attracts nearly a million visitors a year.

Straddling Nevada and California, it has almost 1,600 km (nearly 1,000 miles) of roads crisscrossing it, giving visitors access to both remote and popular spots in the park.

Despite the name, Death Valley is home to a range of flora and fauna. In spring the valley bursts into life with wildflowers, creating a really pretty landscape for visitors to enjoy.

Mojave National Preserve

Worth a visit:

Kelso Dunes: One of the most famous attractions in the park, these dunes will literally sing.
Cinder Cone Field and Lava Flows: The park has a number of very-well-preserved volcanic scoria that make for an interesting visit.
Teutonia Peak trail: A moderate walk that takes you through the largest forest of Joshua trees in the world.

Where to eat:

Pioneer Saloon ($$): This 100-year-old saloon is reminiscent of the Wild West in the best possible way.
GP's Steakhouse at Primm Valley Resort ($$): A classic American steakhouse with a charming atmosphere.
The Gold Strike Steakhouse ($$$): Located inside Gold Strike Casino Resort, this steakhouse serves over 1,000 guests every day.

Reconnect with nature

One of the largest national preserves in the United States, Mojave National Preserve boasts mountains, canyons, former military outposts and plenty of opportunities to explore all year round.

The park stretches across 1.6 million acres and has volcanic cinder cones, rose-coloured sand dunes, Joshua tree forests and epic carpets of wildflowers. Visitors can also explore long-abandoned mines, rock-walled military outposts and homesteads within its bounds.

For anyone wanting a break from city life, this national preserve is just the ticket. There’s no entrance fee for the park, either.

Los Angeles

Worth a visit:

Hollywood Sign: The Hollywood Sign is one of the most recognisable tourist attractions in the world and isn’t to be missed if you’re in LA.
The Getty Center: The main branch of the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Getty Center hosts a staggering variety of art.
Venice: An eccentric neighbourhood, the world-famous Venice is both cosmopolitan and independent.

Where to eat:

République (€€): An all-day café that serves sumptuous menu items and old-world charm.
Bestia (€€€): A refined, multiregional tour through Italy under the supervision of one of LA’s best chefs.
Orsa and Winston (€€€): This Japanese-meets-Italian restaurant brings the best of both worlds to their menu.

Soak up the luxury

Los Angeles is one of the most visited cities in the world. Home to the glitz and glam of Hollywood, it’s famed for housing the rich and famous. But that’s not all — it’s also the second-largest city in the United States and one of the most culturally diverse.

There’s so much to see and do in LA, from world-class museums to fantastic restaurants and nightlife. Whether you’re into history, a celebrity fan, or a foodie, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy in Los Angeles.

Las Vegas

Party like there’s no tomorrow

Death Valley

Experience the extremes

Mojave National Preserve

Reconnect with nature

Los Angeles

Soak up the luxury

Las Vegas to Los Angeles