Nevada climate
Nevada is in a mountain region with semi-arid grasslands, alpine forests, and deserts. Average temperatures range from about four degrees (Celsius) in the northeast to ten in the west and central areas and the high teens in the south. Summers in the northeast are short and hot; winters are long and cold. The west’s summers are also short and hot, but the winters only moderately cold. The south has long and hot summers, with the temperature frequently above 37 degrees, and short and mild winters.The humidity is usually low, which makes the higher temperatures less disagreeable. However, there’s a wide range in daily temperatures. Even in summer, the nights can be much cooler than the daytime high.
When to fly to Nevada
Peak Season:
Las Vegas is busy all year, particularly in the fall, when the convention season starts up, and during Thanksgiving, New Year, and Superbowl weekend. Flights to Nevada by way of Las Vegas are easy to come by, but plan ahead if you're visiting during the peak Vegas times.
Off Season:
Thanks to the hot summers in the desert, cheap flights to Nevada and Las Vegas hotel rooms are easy to find. However, rates change very quickly if there’s a convention in town, and the Thanksgiving, New Year, and Super Bowl weekends are very busy. If you visit Nevada (mainly Lake Tahoe or Las Vegas) during a slow period, keep in mind that shows and attractions might be discounted, too.
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Getting around Nevada
Driving and flying are the best modes of transportation around Nevada. Las Vegas, Reno, Laughlin, and Bullhead City are all easy driving. You don’t need to rent a car to get around Las Vegas. Walking is an option, and taxis are easy to hail. The city has an efficient bus system that runs up and down the Strip. There are also four-wheeled trolleys that resemble cable cars and run the length of the Strip.
Reno too has areas that can be covered on foot, and a bus system that covers most of the metropolitan area.
Nevada insider information
- Built for gambling and tourism, Las Vegas doesn’t have quaint neighbourhoods where you can experience the “real” Vegas — it’s all the real Vegas. Gambling is the main attraction, but Las Vegas also draws in non-gamblers with elegant shows, year-round sunshine, golf courses, theme parks and rides. The nearby attractions also draw visitors to the area — Red Rock Canyon with 914-metre (3000-foot) escarpments, hiking trails, and a scenic loop; Lake Mead and Hoover Dam; and the Valley of Fire State Park with its magnificent desert vistas.
- The main events in Reno seem to be gambling, getting married, and getting divorced, but Reno also attracts visitors with its small-town charm and scenery. Set at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Reno offers outdoor activities in summer, and with its proximity to Lake Tahoe you have access to top-notch winter activities. If you prefer staying in town, you can stroll or bike through the city's historic neighbourhoods. Reno also has an Arts District along the banks of the Truckee River with concerts, art galleries, coffeehouses, Riverside Hotel Artist Lofts, and the Pioneer Centre for the Performing Arts.
- Laughlin is in southern Nevada across the Colorado River from its sister city, Bullhead City, Arizona. A popular gambling spot, Laughlin is known for having liberal slots (the slot machines pay off frequently). Laughlin also boasts some of the cheapest hotel rates in the West. Although in desert country, big draws to the area are golf and water activities and sports, including trophy fishing. There’s also hiking, off-road vehicle sports, hunting, exploring ghost towns, rockhounding, and prospecting. Always popular with the snowbirds, Bullhead City has become a year-round vacation community, even in summer.