KennilworthKid: LA to Vegas by car

[KennilworthKid]

Any tips on bypass roads from Los Angeles to Los Vegas and return?

Leaving LA on a preweekend afternoon, traffic is tough on the 15 east from the 210 junction to the 215 junction. How is taking the 210 east to Sierra Ave, then north to Glen Haven, then east to Glen Haven or all the way to Devore? Is this a good method to avoid bottleneck that seems to form in the Cajon Pass? On Thanksgiving afternoon, I was stuck on 15 while I thought I saw locals zooming alongside the freeway on these street roads.

Also, from Barstow to Baker there seems to be a lot of slow downs. How about taking Yermo Road from Calico Rd to Field Road? It seems to run right alongside I 15. Is the road paved and open to the public the entire way through there? The road looked empty, while it was slow and go on I-15.

From Wheaton Springs does it do any good to take a side route into Vegas by going east on 164 to Searchlight, then north on 95 through Henderson into Vegas? On I-15 there is usually loaded with congestion right at the stateline, or so it (especially when driving back from Vegas to Los Angeles). Is 164 level and flat, or is it hilly and full of turns? And is there anything worth playing in Searchlight?

As you can tell, I am very Southern Californian, as I try to cut around traffic during peak hours to get there faster. Going at night is not an option unfortunately, as wifey must be accomodated.

Thanks.

[Hollywood Dave]

you'd think i'd know this, since i've made this exact LA-Vegas trip about a billion times. but honestly, the 'secret' that i've landed on is to leave in the evening(after 8 pm) -- you can still be in Vegas by midnight & (barring construction) not get too congested.

generally i like to leave even later than that, but less because of traffic & more because i love to really push my car to the limit on the drive & there's no such thing as a cop in the middle of Death Valley at 1 am. But for your wife's sake, leaving at around 8 would be fine.

Also, on the way back to LA on Sundays I *never* leave before 8 pm, too many weekend trippers makeing their way back. and a few weeks ago it was even worse -- after the Hilton Million Dollar III November qualifier, i tried to get back to LA & traffic was so bad, it took me 2 hours just to get to Primm -- no shit. luckily i got off there & found out that the 15 had been SHUT DOWN due to snow & black ice up in the mountain passes... rather than trying to find alt routes back to LA that would only take hours longer, i drove back to the Nugget & stayed another night! A friend of mine who was stcuk somewhere between Primm and Barstow told me he sat on the 15 without moving for over 8 HOURS -- how insane is that?!? i can only imagine sitting in your car overnight, hungry, having to go to the bathroom, freezing, running out of gas, sleeping... its times like that when you realize the absurdity of there being only one 2-lane route from LA to Vegas.

WHEN exactly are they building this bullet train between the cities? i heard it rumored last year... hopefully it isn't being put together by the same jagoffs who built the LV monorail!

-holly d.

[Parker]

> you'd think i'd know this, since i've made
> this exact LA-Vegas trip about a billion
> times. but honestly, the 'secret' that i've
> landed on is to leave in the evening(after 8
> pm) -- you can still be in Vegas by midnight
> & (barring construction) not get too
> congested.

Alternatively, if you can get away before noon, you will be in front of the heaviest traffic.

> generally i like to leave even later than
> that, but less because of traffic & more
> because i love to really push my car to the
> limit on the drive & there's no such
> thing as a cop in the middle of Death Valley
> at 1 am. But for your wife's sake, leaving
> at around 8 would be fine.

Be sure to slow down when you cross the state line. Nevada Highway Patrol is often lurking just past the Primm exit.

> Also, on the way back to LA on Sundays I
> *never* leave before 8 pm, too many weekend
> trippers makeing their way back.

Again, if you hit the road by about 9:00 am, you will miss the worst of the return traffic. Of course, who wants to leave Vegas at 9:00 am on a Sunday?

> and a few
> weeks ago it was even worse -- after the
> Hilton Million Dollar III November
> qualifier, i tried to get back to LA &
> traffic was so bad, it took me 2 hours just
> to get to Primm -- no shit. luckily i got
> off there & found out that the 15 had
> been SHUT DOWN due to snow & black ice
> up in the mountain passes... rather than
> trying to find alt routes back to LA that
> would only take hours longer, i drove back
> to the Nugget & stayed another night! A
> friend of mine who was stcuk somewhere
> between Primm and Barstow told me he sat on
> the 15 without moving for over 8 HOURS --
> how insane is that?!? i can only imagine
> sitting in your car overnight, hungry,
> having to go to the bathroom, freezing,
> running out of gas, sleeping... its times
> like that when you realize the absurdity of
> there being only one 2-lane route from LA to
> Vegas.

On more than one occasion I have stopped in Primm to get some respite from traffic, amusing myself at the generally mediocre or worse blackjack game, only to have a friendly pit critter offer me a room for the night. They make it sound awfully tempting, and a few times I have taken them up on it. Of the 3 properties, Primm Valley Inn has the nicest rooms.

> WHEN exactly are they building this bullet
> train between the cities? i heard it rumored
> last year... hopefully it isn't being put
> together by the same jagoffs who built the
> LV monorail!

No idea. The only "alternate route" that I regularly use is Route 66 between Victorville and Barstow to avoid all the construction. Exit D St. in Victorville, and turn left. This stretch of Route 66 is also known as the "National Trails Hwy." Follow it to Lenwood Rd where you can cut back to I-15. Southbound, exit at Lenwood Rd. (the Factory Outlet Mall) and reverse the procedure. It is a good 2 lane road that is usually deserted. This is perhaps 5 mi longer than staying on the freeway.

[Calheel]

I've been driving the LA-Vegas route about once a month for the past five years, and I think I've experimented with every possible shortcut. Some of them are already getting pretty well known, so I might as well let the cat out of the bag.

Rancho Cucamonga to Devore:
You have two alternatives here, both of which are preferable to the road construction headaches on the 15 these days. First, as you suggested, you can take the 210 East to Sierra Ave. Unfortunately, the 210 currently ends at Sierra, so you usually have to wait at least two light cycles to make the left on Sierra Ave. You then take Sierra all the way past the 15 and make a right on Little Creek Road, which ultimately turns into Glen Helen. Take Glen Helen back under the 15 and stay on it for another three miles or so to the 215. Take the 215 North to Barstow. This takes about 10 minutes and completely misses about 30 minutes of traffic.

Alternatively, you can get off on Summit (next road after the 210), cross over the 15, and then go through a residential neighborhood that eventually hooks up with Little Creek. This one is tricky. It's best you try it first on the way back from Vegas because it is easy to find Little Creek that way (It's right by the Chevron station at Sierra).

The Cajon Pass:
Sorry -- no good shortcut here. You could go up through Big Bear, but that takes about an hour and a half and is usually very slow on the weekends, especially during ski season. If coming from/going to LA, you could always take Hwy 18 through Palmdale, but that is a bit out of the way, too (use just for major accidents that close down the Pass).

Victorville to Barstow:
As Parker mentioned, old 66 is a good short cut, although it is not quite as important now that 15 South is 3 lanes. If traffic on the 15 is really bad, you can stay on the 15 past Lenwood. 66 becomes Main Street in Barstow and you can take it all the way to the 15 (right after the split with 40). Or, you can make a left on 1st Street in downtown Barstow. This eventually takes you to old Hwy 58 and meets up with the 15 about 3 miles outside of town.

Barstow to Field Road:
If you want to avoid the agriculture inspection station (mostly a problem on Sunday), you can get off at Calico Road as you mentioned and then take a left on Yermo Road and take it all the way to Field Road. The pavement can be a little bumpy here, but it is a lot better than the 15 if there is any traffic at all. If traffic is really backed up on the 15, you can actually pick up Yermo Road at the Fort Irwin exit. You get a few exciting dips on this route -- great fun if you're going over 60 mph.

Field Road to Baker:
Sorry, no short cuts. This is the most frustrating part of the trip. You are almost guaranteed to hit traffic on this strecth and you just have to accept it.

Baker to Cima Road:
No short cuts.

Cima Road to Jean:
Warning, only for the truly adventerous! If you have a four wheel drive vehicle, or you don't mind dirt roads, you can make a left at the Cima Road exit. After about a mile, the pavement ends and you make a right. The dirt road is pretty well maintained, but best travelled in the day time. You take this over a mountain and cross into Nevada. The road becomes pavement again (after about 20 minutes) and you go through a small town and up through another mountain. At this point, I think the road is called Sandy Mountain. It ends at Hwy 161. Make a right and that takes you right into Jean. It takes about 45 minutes total (which is about 20 minutes longer than the 15 takes without traffic).

Jean to Vegas.
Now that the 15 has been widened, this route is not as important. Drive past the Chevron and make a left on Las Vegas Blvd. That will take you right to the Strip in about 25 minutes.

I can't comment on the Searchlight method, but that just seems so far out of the way, it is hard to believe it is worth the effort.

Calheel

> Any tips on bypass roads from Los Angeles to
> Los Vegas and return?

> Leaving LA on a preweekend afternoon,
> traffic is tough on the 15 east from the 210
> junction to the 215 junction. How is taking
> the 210 east to Sierra Ave, then north to
> Glen Haven, then east to Glen Haven or all
> the way to Devore? Is this a good method to
> avoid bottleneck that seems to form in the
> Cajon Pass? On Thanksgiving afternoon, I was
> stuck on 15 while I thought I saw locals
> zooming alongside the freeway on these
> street roads.

> Also, from Barstow to Baker there seems to
> be a lot of slow downs. How about taking
> Yermo Road from Calico Rd to Field Road? It
> seems to run right alongside I 15. Is the
> road paved and open to the public the entire
> way through there? The road looked empty,
> while it was slow and go on I-15.

> From Wheaton Springs does it do any good to
> take a side route into Vegas by going east
> on 164 to Searchlight, then north on 95
> through Henderson into Vegas? On I-15 there
> is usually loaded with congestion right at
> the stateline, or so it (especially when
> driving back from Vegas to Los Angeles). Is
> 164 level and flat, or is it hilly and full
> of turns? And is there anything worth
> playing in Searchlight?

> As you can tell, I am very Southern
> Californian, as I try to cut around traffic
> during peak hours to get there faster. Going
> at night is not an option unfortunately, as
> wifey must be accomodated.

> Thanks.

[Theoldboozer]

If Cajon and/or I-15 is stopped because of snow
or traffic,and you are willing to drive longer
and farther,you might try this route.Go East on
the 60 through Moreno Valley and then East on
the 10 toward Palm Springs.Take 62 North all the
way to downtown 29 Palms.Turn North toward the
Marine base.Turn right at the mileage sign and
proceed to Amboy.Go East on old hiway 66 about
4 miles and turn North on the Kelso road.Pass
under I-40 into the Mojave National Preserve,
and proceed to I-15 just West of Primm.Sorry
I cannot give street names of these secondary
roads,you must get a good map.This is also a
fine way to go to Laughlin,just hook up with 40

[Theoldboozer]

If you take this route and just cant wait for
some action,will go right by Morongo Casino,
not advised,bad games.Might stop to use the rest
room,quick look,and on your way.When driving in
the Mojave National Preserve keep your speed
down,the Rangers are diligent about speeders
and will write tickets..Their official website
has a very useful map of the area.If I-15 is
rough around Primm,you could go East to 95
at Searchlight and then North to Las Vegas.

[Parker]

This route is considerably longer, adding at least 50 miles or so to the trip. However, it still may be an attractive alternative on those holiday weekends when I-15 is stacked up from one end to the other.

Another thing to keep in mind is that these roads are seriously out in the middle of nowhere. It is possible to drive for extended periods without even seeing another vehicle, and your cellphone probably will cease to function. Be certain that your vehicle is in good condition, and always carry plenty of water (for both you and your car), especially in the hot summer months.

[KennilworthKid]