*Updated Summer 2022

One of the first trips I made after moving to LA was a drive to Vegas.  To me, this trip was manditory, and I’m shocked by how many Angelinos haven’t gone.  A mere 4-5 hour drive away, Vegas it the ultimate adult playground.  From slots, showgirls & shots -to- desert vistas, hiking & skiing, Las Vegas is the US equivalent of Amsterdam, but I don’t need to sell you on how awesome Vegas is, if you’ve read this far, you already want to go.

Whether you’re a SoCal resident looking to escape for the first time or a visitor wanting to pack your trip with as much fun as possible, the first question to pop up is always : “How do I get to Vegas?”.  

Though there are air options, I would highly suggest a road trip.  The drive is an easy, straight shot through the desert, which means, with TSA screenings, you’ll pull up to your hotel about the same time as if you had taken a flight, but along the way you’ll be able to see some great vistas and maybe pack in a few Route 66-ish tourist stops.

I’m going to lay out the route, sights along the way, and things to watch out for in order to get you there and back with your Vegas spirit intact.

Here’s How to Get from the Los Angeles Area to Las Vegas :

What You Need

• An automobile (motorcycle if you’re feeling really wild).
• 1 tank of gas each way
• Cash for pit stops
• Great music

Timing Your Trip : When To Go

The vast majority of your LA to Vegas drive is spent on I-15. Luckily, it’s mostly wide open – but the few exceptions are pretty killer.

• From about 3pm-9pm on Friday, leaving LA is a challenge. It can take 1 – 2 hours longer to get from the LA area to Barstow if you wait until Friday afternoon to leave.
• On the other end, leaving Las Vegas on Sunday after Noon will typically add :30 – 1:30 additional time getting through the Cajon Pass (the hill the leads from the LA Area into the High Desert).

With that in mind, try and schedule weekend departures at non-peak times (i.e in the morning), and holiday travel is best done two days before the weekend or one day afterward. Also, getting into Vegas – figure out where your hotel is so you can properly utilize the express lanes to cut through downtown traffic.

The Road Trip Route

The goal is to get to I-15 N, and depending on where you’re staying, your trip will begin with either:

• I-10 East – Coming from South LA or West LA (Santa Monica, Venice)
• I-134 East to the I-210 East – Coming from Hollywood or the SanFernando Valley (Sherman Oaks, Burbank, Pasadena)  This route has the added bonus of passing by a Chick-fil-A on the way
• I-15 will take you all the way to Vegas.  Once you’ve reached it, you just cruise the rest of the way.

Keep in Mind :

Either way you choose, where the I-15 and I-210 meet is called the Cajon Pass.  It’s a mountain highway that backs up really bad at the end of the weekend (easily more than an hour of traffic).  On the way out to Vegas, notice the gas station, Subway, and McDonald’s half-way up the mountain.  This is a good place to stop for emergencies if you get stuck on your return trip, but if traffic is bad the lines are going to be worse.  I suggest stopping either before (in Barstow) or after exiting the Cajon Pass, this will make your overall trip a better experience.

Also, you might try to get around the traffic by using surface streets – most if not just about every alternative route is either unreliable or just won’t work. The one exemption is passing through Big Bear – which adds a ton of time and really only works as a shortcut if traffic is particularly bad (backed-up 2-3 hours or more..which is rare).

Along the Way

If you are in a hurry to get to Vegas, or leave Friday afternoon, you’ll probably want to race straight down the I-15 to the Strip, but, if you have a little extra time, there are some interesting stops along the way.  Though the vast majority of these are just curiosities or something to look at while driving by, a stop at any of these will definitely be unique.

• Big Bear – Right about where I-210 and I-15 meet, the highway spurs off and leads up into the mountains above.  About an hour drive uphill, Big Bear is best known as a local ski resort, but also has great summer sights (although significantly less is open in the Summer).  This is a great place to stop for a few hours, and did I mention they have zip-line that lets you fly through the snow?
• World’s Largest Thermometer – (Baker, Ca) I’m a huge Americana fan, and really wish I could take a drive down the classic Route-66, when wigwam motels and giant dinosaurs dominated the roadside, which probably explains why I have a fond place in my heart for the World’s Largest Thermometer (and the movie “Michael”).  The world’s largest thermometer can be seen just about as well from the interstate as it can from up-close, but if you pull off you’ll be able to try some of the Greek food that’s been advertised on every billboard for your entire trip.
• Calico Ghost Town – This tourist attraction is a renovated gold mining village, and, though it’s not located right off the freeway, Calico won’t take you too far off I-15.  It’s an interesting place to stop for a few hours, but keep in mind that it is very touristy.

• Zzyzx – By far one of the most interesting names in the American lexicon, Zzyzx is a failed mineral spa turned US geological study center.  I’ve only known people to journey down the road based on pure curiosity, but there are classes held here in association with California State University.  If you choose to drive the 4-5 miles down, you’ll find a few remnants of the original spa and some sweeping desert views.  Check out One persons trip out to Zzyzx here.
• Barstow Station McDonald’s – If you have to stop to eat along the way, the McDonald’s in Barstow is probably a good bet.  It’s built to resemble an old train station.  That’s really all there is to say about it, but I think it’s cool.
• Abandoned Waterpark– If you’re into social check-in apps, this is the ultimate pass-by.  Notice I didn’t say to stop, there is no reason to stop (and I don’t think you could stop if you wanted to),but you can check in at the “abandoned waterpark” on Foursquare.
• Primm –  Not only is it home to an outlet mall, but this roadside town is home to the authentic Bonnie & Clyde getaway car.  Also, there is a roller coaster at the casino here.  Please, if anyone has stopped along the way here or stayed in Primm, leave a note below.  Also, this is the last town to pass before you hit Vegas.