We are visiting LA next month and are thinking of driving to Vegas. Yahoo maps said the trip was nearly 300 miles and about 4.5 hrs. Yahoo said to take I-15 N most of the way.
Is the drive scenic, photo worthy, long, rough, boring, highway, desert, rural, or urban?
Are there gas stations or restaurants on the way?
What's the drive like?
Do you have any advice to make the journey better?
2007-07-01 13:07:56 · 10 answers · asked by Stacy B 2 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Las Vegas
It is a great ride been to San Bernandino to see a freind.
Best time is early in the morning 4-5 am. to beat the heat and no traffic. Wonderful sceenery. also you can stop in Bastown and Baker. Gas, restroom and if you need to eat
Baker has the tallest thermometer in the world. Family photo time.
2007-07-01 16:05:14 · answer #1 · answered by Michael M 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
The drive from LA to LV is roughly 300 miles, depending on what part of los angeles you are leaving from. It will take about 4 hrs and 20min if there is little to no traffic and if you dont speed insanely. You can make it there in 3hrs or so if you speed around 100mph, but cops have been known to pull people over more often now a days on the stretch of highway I-15 between vegas and LA.
The traffic, as you know, in LA is horrendous, and if you during traffic time (6-10am or 3-8pm) then you are in for a much longer ride than 4.5 hrs. I left with friends at 6pm once, and it took nearly 7 hours to get there from LA (when there is an accident it can take MUCH longer than that, due to the highway being on 2 lanes each way for much of the highway in the desert). I would say leave after 9pm or before 6am and I found this is the least stressful, AND the desert heat is at a minimum.
The drive provides a nice desert and mountainous scenery, but I must say that after about an hour in the desert, you will start to get bored and annoyed of the sun and heat. The setting is vastly rural, but there are a few nice towns along the way as mentioned by one of the people on here (Barstow, Baker, Primm) are all nice places to rest, fill up, or get some food. Careful, Primm looks like a very miniture version of Vegas, and you might be tempted to stop - and it does have outlets there that are good, but I would suggest NOT stopping there - tough it out another 30 more mins and Vegas will emerge past a mountain and look like a true oasis in the desert.
Love that city, wish I was going too - have fun and drive safely on the way back, its much harder than the drive there because you will be tired by then. Hope this helps.
2007-07-01 22:45:42 · answer #2 · answered by brix510 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The drive isn't very scenic unless you're into desolate desert landscapes. There is a ghost town along the way called Calico -- you can see the white letters on the mountain as you approach from the west. I haven't been there in 20 years or more but it was fairly entertaining then. Driving to Vegas can be fun if you're really excited about the trip. Driving back to L.A. usually sucks because you're tired! LOL. There are some gas stations and restaurants along the way. You will hit Victorville, Barstow, Baker, and State Line along the way. If you're driving during the day, make sure to have plenty of water for you AND your vehicle. Cars overheat all the time on I-15 and you do NOT want to be stuck in the desert heat while waiting for a tow!
One of the things we like to do when driving to Vegas is bet on the actual air temperature in Baker. They boast that they have the World's Tallest Thermometer and it's pretty easy to read the temp as you're driving through town (hard to read from the highway). The deal is that whoever is closest without going over the actual temperature gets $5 from everyone in the car and they have to play it at one of those giant slot machines in one of the casinos!
Have fun! I miss Vegas.
2007-07-01 20:24:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
do Not travel between LA to Las Vegas on friday afternoons.
It is just desert. Lots of desert.. Stop in the middle for a bite to eat and gas. Barstow is the best town.
Than more desert.. Lots and lots of desert
2007-07-03 23:52:30 · answer #4 · answered by The Vegas Tourist 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are some stops along the way, but as far as scenic goes you're out of luck. You will be traveling through desert and run down towns. Bring alot of snacks in the car and a cooler with drinks if possible. This will make it so you won't have to stop as much and can just get this painful drive over with :)
2007-07-02 14:14:24 · answer #5 · answered by Erased 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
its a drive for 5-6 hours through the desert. there is alot of traffic when you are leaving the city, and then when you start getting close to Vegas. stop in barstow at the McDonald's and the worlds largest thermometer in baker..
2007-07-01 22:51:23 · answer #6 · answered by aaron b 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Through the desert and way over 100 degrees
2007-07-01 20:24:15 · answer #7 · answered by ericdc10 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
boring and nothing to look @!!!! desert , and of course there's gas stations and restaurants o the way. have good company good music, and drive fast to make it better
2007-07-02 01:39:57 · answer #8 · answered by Jax 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
When i was out there i loved the drive. I love the dessert.
Took me about 3 hours .. the time flu by :)
have fun
2007-07-01 20:39:54 · answer #9 · answered by Mike Gravel 2008! 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
the scenery will mostly be desert when entering nevada. make sure the air conditioning is working , or you will be buzzard bait
2007-07-05 18:28:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋