The Los Angeles to Las Vegas drive follows Interstate 15 north through the Mojave Desert, and it is a popular road trip in the western United States. The route is simple, but traffic, heat and fuel planning decide how smooth the day goes.
This guide to the Los Angeles to Las Vegas drive explains the route, time and distance, where you can stop and how to prepare your vehicle. It uses guidance from the National Park Service, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Department of Energy and a state emergency agency.
We found no official drive time, so our numbers are labeled as rough. This is general information.
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
- The Los Angeles to Las Vegas drive is along Interstate 15 north. A car rental company page gives about 270 miles and about 4 hours 15 minutes, but its own leg figures add up to more, so treat both numbers as rough.
- We did not find an official drive time. Use a live map for traffic and construction on the day.
- Mojave National Preserve lies between I-15 and I-40, with I-15 exits at Kelbaker Road, Zyzyx Road, Cima Road and Nipton Road, according to the National Park Service.
- NHTSA advises checking tires, fluids, lights and the battery before a trip, and taking breaks on long drives.
- Las Vegas is hot in summer, with a normal July high of 104.5 degrees Fahrenheit, so carry water and plan for heat.
How Far Is It, and How Long Does It Take?
The question everyone asks about the Los Angeles to Las Vegas drive is how long it takes. We could not find an official answer, and the numbers vary by source.
The Enterprise page on the drive says it is approximately 270 miles and approximately 4 hours and 15 minutes. The same page lists four legs that add up to about 312 miles and about 5 hours 15 minutes.
Because the page is from a car rental company and contradicts itself, we treat the figures as uncertain. It is not an independent source.
A safe approach is to use a live mapping app on the day, add time for stops and fuel and expect delays. How long the Los Angeles to Las Vegas drive takes depends on traffic, construction, weather and your breaks.
The Route: Interstate 15 North
The rental company page describes the route as Interstate 15 north the entire way. Its listed stops are Victorville, the Hollow Hills Wilderness Area and the Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area near Las Vegas. It does not mention Barstow or Baker.
The National Park Service does mention both. Its Mojave National Preserve directions say that Barstow is the preserve’s administrative headquarters, about 64 miles from the Baker entrance. These are towns near the route to consider for fuel and food stops, though we did not verify their order or distances on a map.
Stops Along the Way
These are possible stops for the Los Angeles to Las Vegas drive. Distances are rough and should be checked on a map.
- Victorville: The rental company page lists the California Route 66 Museum here.
- Barstow: A common break point and the administrative headquarters of Mojave National Preserve, per the National Park Service.
- Baker: The park service lists a Kelbaker Road exit from I-15 at Baker toward the preserve.
- Mojave National Preserve: Between I-15 and I-40, with exits at Kelbaker Road, Zyzyx Road, Cima Road and Nipton Road.
- Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area: Listed by the rental company page near the Las Vegas end.
Choose one or two stops to keep the day manageable. A long list turns the Los Angeles to Las Vegas drive into an all-day tour, so choose with care.
A Warning About GPS and Mojave National Preserve
If you plan to visit the preserve, the National Park Service says to use Kelso or Hole-in-the-Wall for GPS. It warns against using Mojave, California, which is about 168 miles from the park. The preserve is east of Barstow between I-15 and I-40.
The park page also notes that the main Las Vegas airport is about 60 miles northeast of the preserve. Services inside a desert preserve may be limited, so carry fuel, water and snacks. That last point is our advice.
Prepare Your Vehicle
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s summer driving tips advise checking the battery, tires, tire pressure, wipers, fluids, lights and air conditioning before a trip. It also says to check your vehicle’s VIN for open safety recalls, which are repaired for free.
Everyone should wear a seat belt, and children should use car seats suited to their age and size. Kids 12 and younger should sit in the back seat. NHTSA also says to take breaks on long drives. The page dates from 2018, but the basics still apply.
Pack an Emergency Kit
The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services lists a basic vehicle emergency kit: about a gallon of water per person per day for several days, at least three days of non-perishable food, a phone, charger and backup power source, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, a first aid kit, a flashlight, spare batteries, a whistle, local maps and other items.
NHTSA’s list for a vehicle includes a phone charger, first aid kit, flashlight, flares, jumper cables, water and blankets. For a desert Los Angeles to Las Vegas drive, water matters most. Summer breakdowns can become dangerous when it is hot, and help can be far away.
Fuel and Money
The Department of Energy’s fuel economy tips say gas mileage usually drops rapidly above 50 miles per hour and that observing the speed limit can improve fuel economy by 7 to 14 percent. Aggressive driving can lower mileage by 15 to 30 percent at highway speeds.
Proper tire inflation improves mileage by about 0.6 percent on average.
Roof-top cargo boxes can reduce highway fuel economy by 6 to 25 percent. The tips are from December 2021, so the dollar figures are old. Fuel matters on a Los Angeles to Las Vegas drive, and our guide on how to plan a road trip on a budget covers more ways to save.
Why the Los Angeles to Las Vegas Drive Takes Planning
The Los Angeles to Las Vegas drive crosses open desert with long gaps between services. A breakdown, a flat tire or a hot afternoon matters more here than on a city trip, so the preparation steps below are worth the time.
Treat the first hour as a test. If the vehicle feels wrong, a warning light appears or a tire looks low, stop and fix it before the long empty stretches. That is our suggestion and a practical extension of NHTSA’s pretrip checks.
Heat and Timing
Las Vegas is hot in summer. The National Weather Service lists a normal July high of 104.5 and a normal low of 82.0, based on 1991 to 2020 data. The record is 120, set on July 7, 2024. See our guide to the best time to visit Las Vegas for the whole year.
We did not find official traffic patterns for the Los Angeles to Las Vegas drive. A common suggestion is to avoid leaving at peak times, but we cannot back that with a source, so check live traffic. In hot months, an early start may help you stay out of the afternoon heat.
A Sample Plan
This is an author suggestion for the Los Angeles to Las Vegas drive.
| Time | Plan |
|---|---|
| Night before | Check the vehicle, tires, fluids and recalls |
| Morning | Leave early with full tank, water and snacks |
| First break | Stop in Victorville or Barstow |
| Midday | Optional stop at Baker or the preserve |
| Afternoon | Arrive in Las Vegas and park |
| Evening | Rest, since drivers get tired after long days |
Who Should Be Extra Careful
Drivers who are tired, new to long highway trips or traveling with children, older adults or pets should plan more breaks. The Los Angeles to Las Vegas drive crosses remote desert, so never skip fuel and water. If you feel drowsy, pull off in a safe place and rest, which is a general safety suggestion.
Mistakes to Avoid
These are common errors on a Los Angeles to Las Vegas drive.
- Trusting a single drive time and not planning for traffic.
- Starting with a low fuel tank.
- Carrying too little water in summer.
- Using the wrong location in GPS for Mojave National Preserve.
- Driving long hours without breaks.
Our California Road Trip Itinerary: 7 Easy Days, Coast to Vegas and the West Coast Road Trip USA: 5 Best Routes and Easy Planning put this leg into a larger trip. Our guide to road trip essentials has a packing list.
FAQs
How long is the Los Angeles to Las Vegas drive?
We found no official figure. A rental company page says about 4 hours 15 minutes for about 270 miles, but its own legs add up to more. Use a live map.
Which road do I take for the Los Angeles to Las Vegas drive?
The rental company page describes Interstate 15 north the entire way.
Where can I stop?
Possible stops include Victorville, Barstow, Baker and Mojave National Preserve.
Is the Los Angeles to Las Vegas drive safe in summer?
Prepare the vehicle, carry plenty of water, take breaks and watch the heat. NHTSA recommends checking your vehicle before a trip.
Is it cheaper to drive or fly from Los Angeles to Las Vegas?
No source reviewed compares costs. Add fuel, parking and time against airfare and bag fees for your own dates.
Conclusion
The Los Angeles to Las Vegas drive is simple on a map and demanding in practice. Follow Interstate 15 north, check your vehicle, carry water and a kit, plan fuel and breaks, and use a live map for time.
The evidence has limits. We found no official time or distance, the stop details come from park and rental pages, and the sample plan is our own suggestion. Prepare the night before, leave with a full tank and allow extra time for the unexpected.
Bring patience as well as water, since delays are part of any long drive. With good preparation, the Los Angeles to Las Vegas drive can be a pleasant part of your trip.
