Looking for the best indoor activities in Las Vegas? These are the things you should do when it’s summer.
The Las Vegas desert brings in scorching hot summers, so we don’t like leaving the apartment until sundown. Even when going you’re out at night, it feels like there’s a hairdryer blowing hot air on you.
Now that we’re more experienced adventurers, and we slow travel, we can be more strategic on where and when we explore.
We reserve late fall to early spring for outdoor activities, and you’ll find us indoors when the heat sets in or when it’s raining. If you’re visiting in the summer or live here and can’t seem to escape like the other sunbirds, here’s a list of the best indoor activities in Las Vegas.
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Last Updated: December 14, 2022
25 Fun Indoor Activities in Las Vegas for Scorching Hot Summers and Rainy Days
4090 Schiff Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89103, map
Step into a room full of bottles, electronics, VHS tapes, and more armed with bats, bowling pins, and crowbars. Then go to town and DESTROY EVERYTHING. It’s so much fun whether you need to get your aggression out or just try something new.
Pro Tip: They provide you with protective gear but you can work up a sweat. Wear shorts and a t-shirt or great sweat-wicking material under.
We did our first escape room in NYC when we lived there, and then proceeded to do 8 more that winter when it was miserable outside. Now it’s the summer heat we have to worry about.
We’re making our way through all the top-rated Las Vegas escape rooms so we can report back on which are the best. So far our favorites are at the Escape Game.
800 W Roban Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89044, map
Dig This is a giant sandbox for grown-ups. You can get behind the wheel of bulldozers and excavators as the instructors show you how to use them and perform multiple tasks. The machines are air-conditioned so it’s a great way to stay cool in the heat.
Pro Tip: We wished we had brought sunglasses since it’s so bright on sunny days!
4. Indoor Sports
If you love doing active things, there are plenty of indoor sporting options in Las Vegas.
- Topgolf Las Vegas – although it’s technically outdoors, it’s temperature controlled and a lot of fun even for non-golfers! Plus, there’s a pool you can hop in if you want to cool off even more.
- Ice Skating Indoors – Las Vegas Ice Center, Sobe Ice Arena, or Roller Skating at Crystal Palace Skating Center
- Indoor Rock Climbing – When it’s too hot to go to Red Rock, visit the indoor rock climbing gyms. We’ve been to them all and highly recommend this climbing gym in Vegas because they have the best community.
- Bowling – Brooklyn Bowl, Gold Coast Bowling Center, Orleans Bowling Center, Red Rock Lanes Bowling Center, Sam’s Town Bowling Center, Santa Fe Lanes, South Point Bowling Center, Sunset Station Strike Zone, and Suncoast Bowling Center (Permanently closed: Texas Station’s Texas Star Lanes).
We’ve seen a lot of shows in Vegas and still haven’t scratched the surface. Our current top 3 are O by Cirque du Soleil, Atomic Saloon, and Freestyle Love Supreme. You can see a full list of shows on our post here.
1410 Jet Stream Dr Ste 150, Henderson, NV 89052, map
Have you ever wanted to fly a plane or get your pilot’s license? At All in Aviation, you can get behind the wheel of beautiful Cirrus jets and log your hours toward a pilot’s license. Jacob logged his first hour flying. Should he keep going?
Pro Tip: Depending on which plane you choose, you can bring 2-4 friends with you while you fly. That means you get air time and they get to enjoy the view.
Whether you want to see Grand Canyon or get a better vantage point of the strip, you can hop in a helicopter and enjoy the views.
Photo Tip: Bring a wide and long camera lens to get a variety of shots. If you had to only choose one, I would bring this wide zoom lens or something equivalent.
8. Learn a New Skill or Take Up a New Hobby
What better time to pick up a new skill or hobby? Especially one that keeps you in an air-conditioned space. Here are some fun skills you can look into if you’re looking for a new hobby:
9. Indoor activities for kids in las vegas
This was hard to narrow down to a specific activity, but we found many great family-friendly activities.
- Interactive Museums – Marvel Avengers STATION
- Trampoline Parks – Sky Zone Sports Trampoline Park or Flip N Out Xtreme
- Games – Pinball Hall of Fame, GameWorks, Dave & Busters
- Rides – Adventuredome Theme Park, Big Apple Coaster and Arcade
- Mini Golf – GlowZone, KISS by Monster Mini Golf, Twilight Zone Mini Golf and Arcade, Rex Center
- Indoor Playgrounds – Adventure Indoor Playground, Kangamoo Indoor Playground, Jumper’s Jungle Family Fun Center
- Zoos & Aquariums – Shark Reef Aquarium, Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat
10. Try a New Fitness Class
It may be too hot outside to get your blood pumping, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of some of the unique fitness classes offered in Las Vegas.
- Aerial Silks
- Pole Dancing – we tried it with Sunny in Container Park, which was so much fun!
- Trampoline Studio
11. Afternoon tea
I love going to Afternoon Tea, especially with my girlfriends. I’ve only done 4 in Vegas but plan on checking out the others this year.
- Afternoon Tea at the Tea Lounge Waldorf Astoria – our favorite.
- Petrossian Bar at Bellagio
- LaPostte
- Cafe Lola in Summerlin
- Lobby Bar at Aria, Ri Ra Irish Pub
- Veranda Mandalay Bay
- The Stove in Henderson
- Mrs Coco in Lake Las Vegas – It’s cute for the gram if you care about that sort of thing, but the actual afternoon tea is not great. The only thing we liked was their egg sandwich.
12. Have a Spa Day
Spoil yourself with and feel refreshed and relaxed after a day at the spa. Like everything in Vegas, they don’t hold back. Here are some of the best spas in Las Vegas:
- The Spa at the Waldorf Astoria (our favorite)
- The Spa at Encore Las Vegas (a close second)
- Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace
- ESPA at Vdara (did this so long ago, so I only remember their shared facilities being really big and nice).
13. Hang Out at a Unique Bar
You can drink practically anywhere in Las Vegas, but why not go to a unique bar? Here are some to check out:
- The Underground at the Mob Museum (Speakeasy)
- Laundry Room (Speakeasy)
- Golden Tiki
- Millennium Fandom Bar
- Senor Frogs: One-Hour Open Bar
14. Tour the Coffee Shops
If you’re looking for a chill afternoon or just need a break from all the madness on the strip, head to one of the local coffee shops. Some of the most popular ones are PublicUs and Makers & Finders.
3545 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109, map
This isn’t your typical ferris wheel (or observation wheel as they are now called). It stands 550 feet tall with observation cabins that hold up to 40 people each. The entire ride takes roughly 30 minutes. Get tickets here.
Local Tip: If you want to keep the booze flowing, there is an open bar option as well.
200 Convention Center Dr., Las Vegas, Nevada 89109, map
We haven’t been skydiving yet, but we did get a taste of it at this indoor skydiving spot. Get your tickets here.
Pro Tip: Be sure to wear secure shoes.
Release your inner woodsman at Axehole Vegas or Axe Monkeys, where you can learn to throw and axe and practice your aim.
3377 S Las Vegas Blvd #2235, Las Vegas, NV 89109, map
Area15 is one of the newest attractions in Las Vegas and has a little bit of everything. You can walk through a trippy art experience at Meow Wolf, go on the immersive Lost Spirits distillery tour, get food under a beautiful light-up tree, or check out any of the other exhibits.
Pro Tip: Each attraction has its own ticket prices and usually offers local discounts!
Las Vegas has a great food scene on and off strip. Most people just think about buffets, but there are fine dining options, some of the best Hawaiian food we’ve had, and more. Click here to see our Vegas food bucket list.
- Prix Fixe Meals – é by Jose Andres, Yui Edomae Sushi, Joel Robuchon
- Buffets – Bacchanal, Wicked Spoon
- Off Strip – Shang’s Artisan Noodles, Poke Express
Local Tip: If you’re a big buffet eater, try the Buffet of Buffets where you get access to a bunch of buffets for 24 hours. This one is more about quantity than quality. We tried it a couple times in our twenties and always regretted it. But it was a check off our bucket list!
20. Gamble
This is kind of an obvious one, but casinos like to keep you indoors by pumping in oxygen and making sure you don’t know what time of day it is. These are some of our favorite casinos: Palazzo, Wynn, Encore, Aria, Venetian, Cosmopolitan, Bellagio, Red Rock Casino.
Pro Tip: Newer and nicer hotels will have higher minimums. Head to older casinos if you’re looking for cheaper tables. Our friends like going to OYO for cheap gambling on the Strip.
21. Drive Experiences
If you’re hoping to show off your trip to Vegas, why not get a photo of you driving a fancy car? There are a few driving experiences in Vegas, and our favorites are Exotics Racing and World Class Driving (permanently closed).
Local Tip: The cars are rotated every 18-24 months, so you can check back in to see what other cars they have in the future.
22. Hop Around Art Galleries
Casinos put a lot of money into their seasonal displays, and some of them have world-class art galleries as well. Area 15 is one of the newest attractions in Vegas that mashes up art, food, and shopping.
- Area 15 has the famous Meow Wolf and many rotating exhibits.
- Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art
- The Gallery at Aria
- Art of Richard MacDonald / Cirque Art
Local Tip: The Palms recently went through a huge renovation and they now have a lot of spectacular art displayed throughout the public areas.
23. Check Out the Museums
Las Vegas has a wide range of museums to check out. Here are a few you can check out:
- Mob Museum
- National Atomic Testing Museum
- Titanic the Artifact Exhibition
- DISCOVERY Children’s Museum,
- Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum
- Burlesque Hall of Fame
- Real Bodies at Bally’s
- Las Vegas Natural History Museum
- Liberace Museum Collection Tour
- Hollywood Cars Museum
- The Auto Collections
- Shelby American Inc,
- Nostalgia Street Rods
- Counts Kustoms
- Springs Preserve – has indoor areas
24. Go on a Tour
There are multiple tour options in Las Vegas, whether you’re into mob history, chocolate, beer, or shoes. Here are the ones we went on that we recommend.
More: Zappos Tour Las Vegas
25. Check Out the Indoor Tourist Spots
- Gold & Silver Pawn Shop
- Coca Cola Store – tastes of the World
- M&M’s World
- Hershey’s Chocolate World
More Indoor Activities Las Vegas
- Shopping – Shops at Crystals, the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian, Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, Fashion Show Mall, Shoppes at Palazzo, Miracle Mile Shops, Grand Bazaar Shops
- Breweries – Ellis Island Casino & Brewery, Banger Brewing, Hop Nuts Brewing, Tenaya Creek Brewery, Lovelady Brewing Company, CraftHaus Brewery
- Watch Sports – T-Mobile Arena & City National Arena
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It is our second year working with CORT, and it has been such an amazing experience being able to move from city to city without having to worry about our furniture.
For the first 4 years, we would either move our own furniture or deal with the stress of buying and selling every year. Once we discovered that we could rent furniture from CORT, it was a game changer.
We order the pieces that we want, they deliver it right to our apartment and help us get it set up. When we’re ready to move, they’ll come pick it up! Check out our home tour here.
Having a comfortable home was extremely important for us moving back to Vegas. Not only will we be spending a lot of time indoors during the summer, we’ve been hosting guests every other week. It’s been nice having a home furnished and decorated to help us relax and host. Read more on the CORT blog
Las Vegas Packing List for Summer
Where to Stay in Las Vegas
More Las Vegas Guides and Resources
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“Discovery consists not of seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes” – M. Proust
Esther + Jacob
Esther and Jacob are the founders of Local Adventurer, which is one of the top 5 travel blogs in the US. They believe that adventure can be found both near and far and hope to inspire others to explore locally. They explore a new city in depth every year and currently base themselves in Las Vegas.
