Los Angeles to Las Vegas Road Trip

A road trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas is high on the bucket list of many Australians, so that is why we have put together this itinerary for you.

Many people believe that Las Vegas is just a big city stuck in the middle of the desert. Well, that may actually be true, but the journey from Los Angeles is in fact a beautiful one with many delightful stops.

All in all, the road trip will take you just under 5hrs if you follow the speed limits and don’t stop anywhere, but we have designed a road trip for you that is much more scenic than a long, boring stretch of road in the desert.

The trip we have planned for you is a little over 7.5hrs of driving, but it will take a full day with all the stops included, so we recommend stopping over in a nice little city.

Road Trip Driving Tips

First things first, what should you know about driving in California and Nevada? I have done this road trip on two occasions in the past and it easy.

There are a few things to be aware of though. We highly recommend that you do not speed. Unfortunately it is a long, tedious and flat road for a large majority so speeding is hard to avoid.

A Zero Tolerance program is in place which aims to reduce accidents, so you can expect to see police cars littered everywhere enforcing a strict 70 mph (112km) speed limit.

We also recommend you keep an eye on your petrol levels as you can sometimes go 50+ kilometres without seeing a gas station.

As a rule of thumb, never let your petrol slip below a quarter of a tank because you could really get yourself into some trouble.

One last thing – make sure you have map handy, or at least hire a GPS. Hiring a GPS will cost roughly $15-$30 a day.

Do not rely on Google Maps on your mobile phone, as reception drops in and out along the way.

Road Trip Itinerary

Ok, here is the exciting bit. Let’s get down to business!

First you will need to hire a car. Check out Hertz or Avis, two companies that we have used in the past with great success. Also be aware of a one way drop off fee if you plan on leaving your car in Las Vegas.

Assuming you start your journey in downtown Los Angeles, this trip will take you roughly 7h30m of driving, or 700km total.

That is a lot of driving, especially if you count for the stops on the way. So we recommend staying in the town of Primm which is just outside of Las Vegas.

Stops

Mormon Rocks

Mormon Rocks is the first stop. Also known as Cajon Pass, it is roughly a 1h15m drive from LA and is the perfect stop to kick off your adventure.

The Rocks will be hard to miss due to their size. They are an area of sandstone blocks exposed to the elements through plate tectonics.

First discovered in 1851 by a group of Mormon settlers (hence the name!), they are now a very popular stop for tourists.

You could spend between 15 mins to a few hours here depending what you want to do.

Maybe you want to stretch your legs and get a few photos, or maybe you may be more adventuress want to do the hiking trails or rock climbing.

Bottle Tree Ranch

Thirty minutes up the highway is Bottle Tree Ranch. This fascinating place is a landmark along the former Route 66 and is a must see on this road trip.

Created by Elmer Long, Bottle Tree Ranch consists of over 200 scrap metal bottle trees.

Rather than explaining how this looks, just cast your eyes to the photo below to get a glimpse of this amazing place.

It was created in the year 2000 and attracts thousands of tourists every year.  As the wind sails through the bottles, it creates a beautiful melody that is a real treat for the senses.

Calico Ghost Town

Do not be spooked by the name. Calico Ghost Town is not haunted (that we know of).

It is located 45 minutes up the highway from Bottle Tree Ranch and is slightly off the freeway, so you will have to take a slight detour.

Calico is a former prosperous mining town from the 1880s, but when silver lost its value in the 1890s the city lost its population.

Now an abandoned city, Calico is a popular tourist destination. A highlight is the long mining tunnel you can walk through for free, plus the views from Calico Peaks.

Baker

Baker is your next stop. Located about 1h45m from Calico, this tiny town has a population of just 735 people.

It is the perfect spot to jump out of the car and stretch your legs, as well as refuelling the car and grabbing some lunch.

As this is the last stop for a while, we highly recommend you leave Baker with a full tank of petrol!

There is not a lot to do in this town, but it is home to the World’s Tallest Thermometer, so perhaps checking that out is worth doing. You will also find a number of nice restaurants to eat at.

Primm

Normally you would drive straight through Primm, however we have listed the city in our itinerary as it is a good place to spend the night.

Primm is located on the California and Nevada border just under an hour outside of Las Vegas, but it is a perfect taster for Las Vegas.

You will be able to find cheap accommodation and experience what is essentially a ‘mini version’ Las Vegas without all the crowds and waiting in line.

Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam is the highlight of our trip and is the perfect way to start your day, before you head to Las Vegas.

Situated about an hour outside of Primm, the Hoover Dam is one of the most remarkable structures ever built by man. Construction began in 1931 and it was officially opened in 1936.

The sheer size of this place can only be appreciated by visiting it in person. Many a documentary has been made on the Hoover Dam and it attracts millions of tourists a year.

Expect to see plenty of crowds when visiting. Parking spots can be hard to find, so be aware of this also.

On to Las Vegas!

Finally it is time to go to in Sin City! Hop in your car for one last time and head 40 minutes up the road and you will be in Vegas!

Now we must warn you the traffic is madness in Las Vegas. So make sure you keep calm and be sure that you are in the correct lane because missing a turnoff can cost you plenty of time.

We hope you enjoy this road trip and if you ever complete it, or have stopped at any of the stops mentioned, be sure to let us know your thoughts in the comments below.