Las Vegas Side by Side Tours: 7 Essential Ride Tips
Las Vegas side by side tours let you explore desert trails in a vehicle with a steering wheel, pedals and seats beside one another. The important choice is how you want to experience the ride: drive behind a guide, sit with a guide who drives, or rent a vehicle for an independent outing.
At Vegas Off Road Tours, RZR/SXS adventures start from our Jean basecamp south of the Strip. This guide explains seven decisions that help you choose a ride for your group. For the full range of activities, compare our current tours and rentals.
1. Understand SXS, UTV and RZR
SXS means side-by-side. UTV is another common term for this kind of vehicle. RZR is a Polaris model family, rather than a separate style of tour. A side-by-side uses a steering wheel and adjacent seating, while an ATV usually has a different seating and control arrangement.
The Polaris RZR range gives useful manufacturer context. Your selected activity page determines which vehicle is offered for your reservation. Do not assume that every photograph on a general travel page represents the vehicle you will receive.
2. Choose Who Will Drive
On our drive-yourself guided experiences, the guide leads in a separate vehicle and you drive your RZR along the route. You still need to listen to instructions, control your pace and watch the terrain. A guide’s presence does not remove the responsibilities of driving.
Guests who prefer to be passengers can ask about Ride with Our Guide. That is a different arrangement from driving your own vehicle in a guided group. When comparing Las Vegas side by side tours, establish who holds the steering wheel before choosing a departure.
3. Match the Seating to Your Group
Our activity collection includes two-seat and four-seat options. Count the driver as one of the occupants. A four-seat vehicle is not a vehicle for a driver plus four passengers.
Tell the team how many drivers and passengers are coming, then confirm the arrangement on your selected activity. Check passenger eligibility, restraint requirements and whether your price is per person or per vehicle. For a larger party, ask about a private guided outing rather than assuming everyone can share one RZR.
4. Compare the Route and the Full Duration
Las Vegas side by side tours can vary in length and purpose. A shorter desert ride, a longer Mojave outing and a Pioneer Saloon experience should be compared as separate itineraries. Travel, equipment fitting, stops and dinner can all affect the overall time away.
If visiting Goodsprings is the main goal, choose an activity that explicitly lists the Pioneer Saloon. If scenery and changing evening light matter most, check the seasonal sunset option. A meal stop or a night-sky pause on one listing should not be assumed to appear on every tour.
5. Prepare for the Jean Meeting Point
Our basecamp is at 21016 South Las Vegas Boulevard in Jean, Nevada. The estimated drive from the Strip is 25–30 minutes, with extra time needed for traffic and check-in. Use the arrival instructions in your booking confirmation.
Hotel transport is activity dependent. Confirm pickup and return arrangements if they are essential to your schedule. Self-guided rentals have separate transport terms. Leave a sensible gap before your next dinner or show reservation so that your afternoon is not planned around an unrealistic return time.
6. Read the Requirements and Equipment Details
Before booking Las Vegas side by side tours, check the exact driver age and licensing rules for the activity. Standard guided tours, self-guided rentals and specialist experiences can have different requirements. Ask about first-time drivers and passenger needs in advance.
Our FAQ and safety information explain clothing, protective equipment and communication. Wear closed-toe shoes, bring suitable outdoor layers and secure phones and cameras. Follow the vehicle briefing and the guide’s instructions throughout the ride.
7. Decide Whether a Rental Suits Your Experience
A self-guided rental puts route management, timing and navigation in your hands. It suits experienced drivers who understand the terrain and the rental conditions. Review the current age rules, deposits, fuel conditions and return terms directly on the listing.
If you want route support and a planned outing, a guided departure may suit you better. Choose around the experience you want and the preparation you are comfortable managing, rather than comparing the advertised rate alone.
Choose Your Las Vegas Side by Side Tours Experience
Start with who wants to drive, the number of occupants and the time available. Then check your exact departure’s route, requirements, inclusions and transport. These details do more to shape the day than a general promise of adventure.
Browse our guided RZR activities or call 702-721-8383 to confirm an option for your group.