PETERSEN’S PLAYBOOK — Travel Health, ER Insights & Smart Vacation Planning
Las Vegas Health Score: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
The city is practically engineered to dehydrate you — heat, alcohol, and bone-dry desert air. Easy to overdo, just as easy to prevent.
Las Vegas at a glance
Las Vegas is 24/7 energy — the Strip, conventions, pool parties, and triple-digit desert heat. Almost everything we treat here traces back to dehydration.
Top 5 healthy things to do in Las Vegas
- Sunrise walk or scenic drive at Red Rock Canyon
- Use the resort fitness centers and spas
- Pool time in the morning, before peak sun
- Walk the Strip early or after dark, not midday
- Hydrate at every single stop
Best hikes in Las Vegas
- Easiest: Red Rock Canyon’s Calico Hills and Moenkopi Loop — short desert walks with big views.
- Most vigorous: Calico Tanks or Turtlehead Peak at Red Rock — rocky climbing routes; go early and carry lots of water.
- Longest: The Bristlecone Loop at Mt. Charleston — cooler elevation and a solid half-day loop when the valley is too hot.
Best golf in Las Vegas
TPC Las Vegas, Bali Hai, and (if you can get on) Shadow Creek are bucket-list rounds — desert golf in the heat demands serious hydration and sun protection.
Healthy eats
Beyond the buffets, nearly every resort has excellent fresh and healthy options if you look.
Common vacation health risks in Las Vegas
- Dehydration and heat illness
- Alcohol-related illness
- Foodborne illness
- UTIs
- Respiratory infections from dry air and crowds
- Sunburn at the pool
Dr. Petersen’s take
“Nine out of ten ‘I feel terrible in Vegas’ visits are simple dehydration. The dry desert air and the drinks pull water out of you fast. Alternate every cocktail with a glass of water and your trip gets a whole lot better.”
— Dr. Erik Petersen, DO, board-certified emergency & internal medicine
Closest emergency rooms
For a true emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest ER. University Medical Center (UMC) is the region’s Level I trauma center; Sunrise Hospital, Desert Springs, and Spring Valley also have ERs near the Strip.
Closest urgent care & pharmacy
There are 24-hour Walgreens and CVS locations on and near the Strip — still worth a call to confirm the pharmacy counter is open overnight. (Hours and locations change — please call ahead to confirm.)
What to pack
- Prescription medications (original bottles + a list)
- EpiPen and any rescue inhalers
- Reef-safe sunscreen (SPF 30+) and a hat
- Electrolyte packets
- Anti-nausea and anti-diarrheal medication
- Basic first-aid and blister care
If you get sick in Las Vegas
If illness strikes on your Las Vegas trip, Vacation Medicine provides virtual urgent care from licensed physicians — right from your hotel or rental. We treat UTIs, sinus and skin infections, pink eye, nausea and diarrhea, allergies, dehydration, and medication-refill emergencies.
Call Vacation Medicine: 850-660-3112 — Seen in minutes. Followed for a week.
Book a Virtual Visit – $100 Flat Fee →
Local hidden gems
- Best morning: the Red Rock scenic loop at sunrise
- Best recovery: shade, a pool, and electrolytes by noon
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