1

1st Use Google MAPS
clik on "SEARCH NEARBY" to find businesses
like Hotels, Shopping Malls and use STREET VIEW
to see the location.
Youtube for quick demos of "How to use Google MAPS"
Where are you travelling from ?

Edited by: yofletch

2

Why drive? From what part of L.A., on what day of the week and at what hour? Traffic can be horrific at times. I like the desert, but generally find the drive to Vegas boring. First part huge urban area, then a bit of mountains, then flat desert. No "must sees" unless you find an outlet mall (in Barstow) or a park that's a recreated ghost town (Calico) a must-see. The drive is just something you do to get it over with. If you've never been in the desert you might find it interesting, but you'll see plenty of desert in, and around, Las Vegas, and some parts much more interesting (e.g., Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire). If leaving from the northern part of L.A., I find the Hwy. 14/Hwy. 138/I-15 option a tad less boring and difficult than the usual I-10/I-15 route, and you could stop by Vasquez Rocks County Park (lots of movies and TV shows filmed there, often using it to portray an alien planet), but neither is great.

Lots of inexpensive flights from virtually all of the area's airports.

3

Agree with Bubba...a very boring drive, and lots of cheap flights to Vegas.
McCarran is very close to the strip so cabs are cheap, and rental cars are cheap in Vegas as well (due to all the tourists).

4

You need to be a little more specific. How much time do you have to drive to Vegas? What sorts of things do you want to see? Answer those two questions and you'll answer your question about the "best" route.
If you want to "drive from LA to Vegas," it is a straight, 4-hour shot north on I-15.
If you want to see the Angeles Crest, take CA-2 and then drive to Vegas.
If you want to see Grand Canyon National Park or Zion National Park, take I-40 east and then drive to Vegas.
If you want to see the eastern front of the Sierra Nevada or Yosemite National Park in summer or Lake Tahoe or Death Valley National Park, take US-395 north and backtrack to Vegas.
If you want to see Kings Canyon/Sequoia National Parks, take I-5 North and then drive around Thompson's Barn to reach Las Vegas.
If you want to see the California Coast, take CA-1 north and then drive around Thompson's Barn twice to reach Las Vegas.

Have a great time.

5

Several airlines fly LAX-LAS, not Southwest (airline code WN), though it's worth checking (and it won't apper on sites such as Expedia or Kayak). There are also flights from smaller, local airports that are easier to use, such as Bob Hope Airport in Burbank (BUR), from which both Southwest and Jetblue fly to Vegas.

6

If you want to see the Mojave desert, then driving is a better option than flying, though you can get in traffic jams. There aren't a lot of destinations between LA and Vegas but there is windswept desert scenery. If you are interested in seeing desert, the Mojave National Preserve is just off I-15 along the way. You can take a scenic drive through. This is a new preserve and there are very few amenities there so you want to read up on it thoroughly before you go and make sure you have water with you. http://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/things2do.htm The world's largest thermometer is kind of a kitschy stop to make along the way, it's around Barstow if I recall correctly. There's also a huge outlet mall just before you get to Vegas that's a tourist trap. Near Las Vegas you can visit Red Rock Canyon or Valley of FIre, really fantastic destinations with beautiful red rock scenery and hiking. Flying is a huge pain in the butt and you don't see anything when you fly, even if you get there a bit faster plus you dont' get a taste of the vastness of America. Definitely plan to get out of L.A. away from rush hour times so you don't get stuck in traffic and try not to drive back on Sunday afternoon, especially on a holiday, you'll get in a jam. Have fun! Any time you're in the desert bring lots of extra water and turn off the a/c in the car when the signs tell you to avoid overheating.

Super annoying by the way on these forums to see people say things like "check Google maps." Obviously anyone savvy enough to find these forums knows how to use Google maps, they are trying to reach out and get more personal advice from real people.

Edited by: marlajfish

7

JBE 86,
How long are you staying in the U.S. ?
SWA.COM / ....have more than 10 flights daily between -
LAX to LAS from $57. + add ons BTW ....thats a one-way fare.

Edited by: yofletch

8

One of the most dismal drives in America. FLY! FLY! FLY!

9

When are you coming, and how much time will you have for the drive? Do you have a budget for an overnight stay en route? Where else are you going on your trip?

10

we plan on leaving hollywood around the 27th-28th of november so not too far away! we have as much time as we need as we are on a "take it as it comes" holiday for 8 weeks our plan was to drive to vegas then fly/bus/drive/train whatever onto San Francisco!

11

Vegas , visit Sunday through Thursday for cheaper room rates
45 minutes drive from "the strip" is the Hoover Dam
for Shopping Malls use.....SIMON.COM / "Simon Malls"
includes both regular malls and outlet malls
Also in Primm, NV (89019) is another outlet mall "Fashion Outlets"
hours of business 10 - 8pm - 7days
Where to buy cheaper fuel ? see.....GASBUDDY.COM /
Consider flying to LAS first and then renting and drive to San Francisco
via Yosemite National Park its a far more interesting drive.

Edited by: yofletch

12

At that time of year, the place to go between L.A. and Vegas would be Death Valley.