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You may be puzzled when someone mentions visiting the beach in Las Vegas as the city is in the middle of the desert. While it`s accurate that an ocean beach is not found in Vegas, some lakes and pools simulate the experience quite well.

Lake Mead is approximately 45 minutes from the city, and it offers sandy shorelines and watersports at multiple beaches. There are also beach clubs and pools in Las Vegas that recreate the ocean experience with wave pools and sand entries.

For those wanting to experience the sea, the closest beach to Las Vegas is Laguna Beach in California. However, it’s over 5 hours away, making it not viable for a day trip. That`s why pools or lake beaches in Las Vegas are recommended instead. While different, they can still be very enjoyable!

1. Mandalay Bay Beach, the best beach in a Las Vegas hotel

The initial place to investigate is the Mandalay Bay Beach at one of the superior child-friendly inns in Vegas.Mandalay Bay also happens to be the premier Vegas hotel with an aquatic area, and its aquatic wonderland extends over 11 acres. Certainly, it’s not an actual beach, but the 1.6-million-gallon surf pool has a real sand entrance. The waves reach as tall as 12 feet, so it’s nearly like swimming in the surf.

Along with a massive wave pond, Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Beach features an extensive tranquil river where you can float at your leisure. There are also multiple water areas and lagoons where you can unwind, sunbathe, and wade. Palm trees, greenery, and cascades encircle the entire complex, assisting to elicit the feeling of the tropics. Moreover, with the desert heat, you’ll feel like you’re on a seaside getaway.

a beach filled with lots of colorful umbrellas

This is about as close as you can get to experiencing a beach while in Las Vegas, Nevada, without truly being at the seaside. Mandalay Bay Beach provides the type of food and drinks normally found poolside at coastal destinations at their Beach Bar & Grill. Guests also avoid transporting all their belongings since the pool is located on the hotel grounds and locker rentals are available for items not needed during a swim.

  • Location: Mandalay Bay
  • Operating Hours: 9 am-5 pm Monday-Sunday
  • Admission fees: Open to Mandalay Bay guests only (for free)
  • Highlights: Wave pool, lazy river, real sand entry

2. Lake Las Vegas Marina, a fun Vegas beach for water sports

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Lake Las Vegas’ public beach offers the perfect getaway from the city`s busyness, allowing a retreat to nature. Here, beautiful blue waters and mountain scenery provide relief for the eyes from the glowing neon signs and noise.

a number of small boats in a large body of water `

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This beach surrounding Las Vegas retains a pristine state, thus lodging overnight at the Westin Lake Las Vegas or Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa merits consideration.

  • Location: Henderson, NV
  • Hours: Dawn-dusk
  • Admission fees: None (activities have separate costs)
  • Highlights: Aqua park, kayaking, paddleboards, cruises

3. VooDoo Beach, a swanky Las Vegas beach to visit

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Las Vegas’ VooDoo Beach pool is unlike any other in the city. The tropical atmosphere is undeniable thanks to the palm trees, hammocks, and fruity refreshments. While it’s suitable for families, it’s best for adults since you can get a massage and swim in the 21+ European-style Voo Pool.

people are swimming in the pool at the beach

Of course, visitors of all ages will enjoy the live music, whirlpool-style hot tubs, and real sand area for entering the pool. Best of all, access to Las Vegas’ VooDoo Beach is free for non-guests during the week but $20 on weekends.

  • Location: Rio Hotel & Casino
  • Hours: 9 am-5 pm
  • Admission fees for non-guests on weekends: $20
  • Key attractions included a real sandy beach, waterfalls, and sea caves.

4. Élia Beach Club at Virgin Hotel, the most luxurious Vegas beach for adults

For a luxurious atmosphere and party vibes, head to Élia Beach Club at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. This Las Vegas hotel beach takes its inspiration more from the coasts of popular Greek island locations such as Mykonos than from a standard pool, focusing more on a day club environment.

The Mediterranean-style club is the newest among the recreational areas located along the beaches in Las Vegas which was opened in June 2021. The atmosphere here is highly festive with live music and dancing similar to big tropical parties. It charges a fairly significant fee to enter but visitors will have the opportunity to watch world renowned talents like Deadmau5 perform live.

a large pool of water surrounded by palm trees

Élia features a small beach area where one can sunbathe and wade in the emerald waters. Cabanas, lounging spots, a bar, and a private swimming pool are also available. Note that Élia is for patrons 21 and over with a $40 entry fee.

  • Location: Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
  • Operating Hours: 11 am-6 pm Friday-Sunday
  • Admission fees: $40
  • Highlights: Actual beach sand, day lounge, bar, live music, dancing.

5. The Beach Club Pool, another cool beach in a Las Vegas hotel

Flamingo Hotel‘s Beach Club Pool represents another Vegas beach resort worthy of consideration. Not only is the Flamingo one of the cheapest hotels in Las Vegas, but its pool area caters well to families.

This Nevada resort hotel beach pond has interlinked lagoons encircled by cascades, exotic plants, and palm trees. This family-friendly pool offers a Caribbean-encouraged paradise and proposes plenty to do with slides, pool volleyball, and water basketball.

a large body of water with palm trees

If you’re looking for a more exclusive experience, check out Flamingo’s Go Pool, a 21+ complex with live music and private cabana rentals. The only downside to the Beach Club Pool and Go Pool is that they don’t have genuine sand.

  • Location: Flamingo Hotel
  • Operating Hours: 8 am-6 pm Monday-Sunday
  • Entrance fees: $10 for non-guests
  • Highlights: Waterfalls, pool volleyball, water basketball, lagoon pools

6. Grand Pool Complex at MGM Grand, one of the best beaches in Vegas for families

The Grand Pool Complex at MGM Grand is regarded as one of the finest pools in Las Vegas, owing to its beachy vibes and fun activities. This beach-theme resort in Las Vegas covers 6.5 acres of swimming pools, hot tubs, and other top-tier amenities.

One of the coolest aspects of the Grand Pool Complex is the lazy river that winds throughout the park. If you’d prefer to unwind on dry land, there are lounge chairs, daybeds, and cabin rentals. For the ultimate experience, book a poolside massage and feel transported away to the tropics.

a beach filled with lots of green and yellow umbrellas

This Las Vegas beach-style pool may lack actual sand, but waterfall features, fountains and palm trees create a seaside vacation atmosphere. An outdoor `front yard` includes lawn games like bean bag toss and ping-pong.

  • Location: MGM Grand
  • Operating Hours: 9 am-5 pm Monday-Sunday
  • Admission fees: Only for MGM Grand guests (free)
  • Highlights: Multiple pools, hot tubs, waterfalls, lazy river

7. Wet’n’Wild Las Vegas, the best Las Vegas beach for kids

If you’re in search of a beach in Las Vegas outside of a hotel, check out Wet’n’Wild. This waterside attraction offers family-friendly entertainment in the midst of the desert, located just 20 minutes from the Strip.

The waterpark holds features akin to a beach destination with notable entertainment similar to that found in Vegas, such as a lazy river, wave pool, and over a dozen slides for traveling downwater. Among these are multiple slides designed for racing, a boomerang-style slide, speed-oriented slides, and tunnel slides. An area is also designated for younger visitors where they can play in shallow watersand splash around. When hunger arises, one can refuel at the on-site cafe or beer garden.

a beach filled with lots of colorful umbrellas

As mentioned earlier, Wet’n’Wild is a family attraction and thus one of the top activities in Las Vegas for kids. It offers reasonably priced excitement enough to make you forget about the sea in Las Vegas, at least for an afternoon.

  • Location: Spring Valley, NV
  • Timeslots: 10:30 am-6 pm Monday-Sunday
  • Admission fees: $34.99 (adults), $29.99 (kids)
  • Highlights: Outdoor pool, lazy river, water slides, children’s area

8. Tahiti Village, an exclusive Las Vegas beach resort for relaxing

The pool at Tahiti Village Resort & Spa offers an island escape despite its proximity to the airport, with mini beach in Vegas vibes.

The Las Vegas beach resort features a lazy river, cascading waterfalls, cave-like structures, and tropical greenery. A primary attraction of the South Seas-themed pool is the sandy entry area designed to replicate the ocean environment found in Las Vegas. There are also hot tubs present, and the pool water is heated, ensuring comfort for swimmers at all times.

a large swimming pool surrounded by palm trees

Moreover, additional elements bring the feeling of paradise to this hotel, including the tiki bar, pool volleyball, and endless palm trees. The resort hosts luau events during peak season, too, so you’ll forget that you’re just minutes from the Vegas Strip.

  • Location: Tahiti Village Resort & Spa
  • Hours: 8 am-8 pm daily
  • Admission fees only applied to guests staying at Tahiti Village (free of charge).
  • Highlights: Lazy river, beach entry area

9. Boulder Beach at Lake Mead, a natural beach in Vegas to visit

Boulder Beach is among the top beaches at Lake Mead. It is located at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Boulder City, roughly 40 minutes from the Strip. Visitors will need to pay $25 per vehicle to access the recreational area, which provides entry to Las Vegas’ Boulder Beach and nearby coastlines.

Boulder Beach is on the southern shore of Lake Mead, alongside the Boulder Basin. Here, the coast is somewhat rocky, but the water is clear, and you can swim, boat, and sail. You are unable to bring watercraft here, but kayaks are permitted.

a crowd of people standing on top of a sandy beach

Overall, Boulder Beach presents a great option for swimming near Las Vegas for families, and the adjacent campground constitutes one of the finest places to pitch a tent in Las Vegas.

  • Location: Boulder City, NV
  • Hours: 24/7 year-round
  • Entry fees: $25 (to access the Lake Mead Recreation Area).
  • Highlights: Swimming, boating, kayaking, camping

10. Willow Beach at Lake Mead, a quiet beach close to Las Vegas

Technically, Willow Beach isn’t a Las Vegas beach, but it’s just across the border in Arizona. More specifically, it’s along the Colorado River in Black Canyon, between Lake Mead and Lake Mohave.

It’s only approximately one hour to Willow Beach from Las Vegas, Nevada, so it makes for a terrific day trip from Vegas. Willow Beach happens to be a paradise for kayaking and rafting, particularly since you can paddle north to the Hoover Dam. If you’re interested, I recommend this Black Canyon kayaking tour.

a body of water with a lake and mountains

Of course, if you’d prefer to stay at the Willow Beach Marina, you can swim, have a picnic, and enjoy the playground. Canoe rentals are available at the pier, and this is one of the best Lake Mead beaches for swimming and wildlife viewing.

  • Location: Black Canyon, AZ
  • Hours: 24/7 year-round
  • Entry fees: $25 (to access the Lake Mead Recreation Area).
  • Popular activities involved swimming, kayaking, rafting, and wildlife viewing.

FAQs – Beaches in Las Vegas

In closing, here are some regular inquiries regarding beaches in Las Vegas.

The beach nearest to Las Vegas that indeed qualifies as a beach is Boulder Beach at Lake Mead.

There aren’t any ocean shorelines in near proximity to Las Vegas, but beach pools and the shores of Lake Mead are options.

The top Las Vegas coastal pools with sand entry include Mandalay Bay Beach, VooDoo Beach, Élia Beach Club, and Tahiti Village.

The closest ocean to Vegas is located at Laguna Beach in California.

Now you know all about the beaches in Las Vegas, or at least the Las Vegas hotels with beachy pools. Be sure to check out my map to see all these places at a glance.

If you’ve been to any of these Vegas beaches, or you have an inquiry, post me a comment below! Travel safely!