Driving from LA to Vegas
 

Hi all,

I just made my reservations for Vegas for Labor Day weekend. I usually avoid busy 3 day weekends, but a bunch of friends are going, so its gonna be a fun weekend.

Unfortunately I have to drive on Friday Night and I'm trying to avoid the 6 to 8 hour traffic jam that is the 10 to the 15 route.

I've heard about this route where you can go through downtown, then take the 2 to 134 to 210 to 15.

Has anyone taken this route? Any recommendations on a better one?

I live on the westside if it makes a difference in the route.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

i took that route from Pasadena this past weekend, the 210 was traffic free. I dont know if it saved me any extra time by avoiding LA traffic, but by the time you get to the 15 I think there will still be a lot of vehicles traveling to Vegas anyway.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

All things equal, the 210 is much better than the 10. The 10's carpool lane only stretches for about 5 miles and doesn't really help. The 210's carpool goes from Pasadena to the 15 so that would really help. That said, you're travelling on a Friday before a 3-day weekend, so many additional variables will be in play.

What time are you leaving? If you're leaving from the Westside at 6/7pm or after, you should be ok, relatively speaking (since everyone would have been on the road from 3pm and on).

You can do the 5-2-134-210 combo. However, the 2 and 5 portions could really be backed up. If you're going to go through downtown anyway, a better bet is to take the 110 North all the way to Pasadena, get on local streets for about 1 mile and then back on the 210.

Other options include the 405-101-134-210 (probably not a good idea), or through Laurel Canyon etc.

Heading east out of LA shouldn't be that bad. The worst part of traffic is the 15 north in the Ontario/Devour area. It is ALWAYS backed up here! Reason being is that tons of big rigs come through here and they can't make it up hill, so everyone slows down.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

[ QUOTE ]
All things equal, the 210 is much better than the 10. The 10's carpool lane only stretches for about 5 miles and doesn't really help. The 210's carpool goes from Pasadena to the 15 so that would really help. That said, you're travelling on a Friday before a 3-day weekend, so many additional variables will be in play.

What time are you leaving? If you're leaving from the Westside at 6/7pm or after, you should be ok, relatively speaking (since everyone would have been on the road from 3pm and on).

You can do the 5-2-134-210 combo. However, the 2 and 5 portions could really be backed up. If you're going to go through downtown anyway, a better bet is to take the 110 North all the way to Pasadena, get on local streets for about 1 mile and then back on the 210.

Other options include the 405-101-134-210 (probably not a good idea), or through Laurel Canyon etc.

Heading east out of LA shouldn't be that bad. The worst part of traffic is the 15 north in the Ontario/Devour area. It is ALWAYS backed up here! Reason being is that tons of big rigs come through here and they can't make it up hill, so everyone slows down.

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I'll be leaving around 7pm. I've made the 405S->10E->15N trip many times, and during a busy weekend, it takes 2 hours to get to the 15. I'm mainly looking to avoid that. I dont have to go through downtown, but it seems like the easiest way to get to the 210 (avoiding the 101 at all costs). I live on Sunset, so right now I'm thinking I'll take Sunset to the 5 to 210 to 15.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

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I'll be leaving around 7pm. I've made the 405S->10E->15N trip many times, and during a busy weekend, it takes 2 hours to get to the 15. I'm mainly looking to avoid that. I dont have to go through downtown, but it seems like the easiest way to get to the 210 (avoiding the 101 at all costs). I live on Sunset, so right now I'm thinking I'll take Sunset to the 5 to 210 to 15.

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Sunset > 5 > 210 should work. Just keep an eye/ear on the traffic report for the 5. If it's bad, take the 101 south to the 110 north and into Pasadena where you can hop on the 210.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

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I live on Sunset, so right now I'm thinking I'll take Sunset to the 5 to 210 to 15.

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The 5 to the 210? that is way out of your way! The 5 hits the 2 north near Dodger Stadium... take that to the 134 E to Pasadena which dumps right into the 210... then it's smooth sailing. Good luck.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

Driving to Vegas, on Friday, at rush hour, on Labor Day Weekend? dahhh

You're screwed.. Have fun sitting in your car [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

Cajon Pass alone will be a nightmare (as it is on every friday, let alone Labor Day weekend).

Try to get our earlier. Call in sick.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

I can get out, my girl is a bank manager and has to close. I'm thinking about leaving without her.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

U R Sooooooooooooooo screwed, sorry.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

Leaving earlier would be worse, unless you can leave before 2pm. Just spend the $100 and buy the girl a 1-way plane ticket to Vegas and pick her up from there!

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

I'll probably leave early saturday morning, but that means I have to give up my $79 venetian room friday night.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

Seriously, if you can leave earlier, do so and buy your girlfriend a one-way ticket.

You will not regret it. Nights are crucial in Vegas, would be tragic to give one up for traffic.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

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I have to give up my $79 venetian room friday night.

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How the hell did you get a room at Venetian for 79?????

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

Casino rate (The lady on the phone called it promotional rate):

Friday, Aug 31 - $79
Saturday, Sep 1 - $379
Sunday, Sep 2 - $79

I will hopefully get Saturday comped or reduced based on my play.

Also, I'm planning on using the $50 trick during check-in. I think $20 might be low for the venetian.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

There is a lot of construction in the Cajon Pass and Victorville. I just made the drive the other day. It might even be faster to take 405 to 5 to 14 to 18 over to the 15. Bypassing all that construction traffic.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

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Seriously, if you can leave earlier, do so and buy your girlfriend a one-way ticket.

You will not regret it. Nights are crucial in Vegas, would be tragic to give one up for traffic.

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Generally I'd agree, but I go to Vegas often enough and I'll be there 2 more nights anyway. 3 days is usually the max I can take it in vegas before no eating and extracurricular activities take their toll. I'll also be there end of the month when its less crowded. Plus I'm only partially ashamed to admit I dont have the balls to tell my gf to fly alone because I dont want to wait.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

sorry to break it to you Mauricio but you're fct, looking at a 6 hour drive minimum if you don't need to stop. The 15-215 split is always busy regardless of how you get there, basically bumper-bumper from the 210 end/15 split. Cahon (sp?) another nightmare, you got dingbats who won't accelerate uphill and truckers who don't stay to the right. The two lanes until Victorville, then 2 lanes thru Yermo into Barstow and Baker, basically leave at NOON or after MIDNIGHT.

Also with all those yambags on the road (one of the busiest LA to Vegas weekends) there's gonna be tons of accidents so two lanes turns into one and u know how that goes. Then traffic becomes a nightmare once you pass the Gold Strike at this time...tons of I-15 traffic down the mountain into the Vegas valley.

good luck, it might be better to sack up and pay the plane ticket dont be a nit

I personally only drive to Vegas in the window b/w 1am and 6am. Road is empty and many CHPers are sleeping. Suns in your eyes at sun-up but who cares.

Here's a little MSPAINT map 4 ur pleasure. If you can leave by 2pm I'd say go the 5N to 58 to Barstow, then at least you bypass a good portion of I-15 traffic.

6:1 1/2 dozen honestly at any given day due to accidents...LA is a tough city to drive out of in all directions.

http://img377.imageshack.us/img377/3144/mapxx1.png

edit: Now looking at your OP it seems you're either somewhere in the valley or just over the hill on the westside. IF u really wanna take the 210 just shoot the 405N to the 118E which turns into the 210 then 65 miles to the 15 or so.

If I were in ur shoes tho I'd take the 405N which turns into the 5N, 14N to Lancaster and then shoot the 58 across Mojave and into Barstow. You can really haul ass on the 58. Two lane freeway and no CHP. And don't take the PearBlossom highway ever, dangerous as hell and Slooooooooow.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

Nice thoughts and info on freeways here. I always go 10 to the 15. Went on All-Star Weekend, took us 5 hours to get to Vegas. I expected worse. But we left at like 9 p.m. Friday. Things might be different for Labor Day though.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

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...basically leave at NOON or after MIDNIGHT....

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surfin is right. if you can't leave by 12 noon on fri, ya might as well wait 'til after 9-10pm.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

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sorry to break it to you Mauricio but you're fct, looking at a 6 hour drive minimum if you don't need to stop.

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Friday evening and Labor Day weekend is definitely 6 hour minimum and pray for no accidents on the 15N past Devore. Just one accident and you're looking at 8-10 hours. The 210 is a great freeway but expect it to be crowded on a Friday evening. Buy a plane ticket and save yourself the hassle and stress and arrive in Vegas ready to play some poker.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

Another option is to take the Megabus except it won't leave as late as you want and you'll still be in the same amount of traffic but at least you can relax.

Megabus

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

Go 4 hours later than you otherwise would have, arrive 2 hour later than you otherwise would have, is the best advice I can give.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

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Another option is to take the Megabus except it won't leave as late as you want and you'll still be in the same amount of traffic but at least you can relax.

Megabus

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Whoa. Never heard of that before - looks like tickets are $8 each way if you buy in advance. Are they nice, comfortable buses? Do they get there in a reasonable amount of time (obviously traffic is traffic, but are they maxing out at 55)? Is the clientèle...acceptable?

Please tell.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

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Another option is to take the Megabus except it won't leave as late as you want and you'll still be in the same amount of traffic but at least you can relax.

Megabus

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Whoa. Never heard of that before - looks like tickets are $8 each way if you buy in advance. Are they nice, comfortable buses? Do they get there in a reasonable amount of time (obviously traffic is traffic, but are they maxing out at 55)? Is the clientèle...acceptable?

Please tell.

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Sorry. I have no idea. A friend of mine sent me the link a couple of weeks ago. I would assume that they are nice buses with comfortable, airline style seats. I'd also assume that they don't max out at 55 but this assumption is based on stories I've heard of other Vegas buses. No idea about the clientele but again, I'd assume a bunch of degens with a median age somewhere's around 70. [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

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edit: Now looking at your OP it seems you're either somewhere in the valley or just over the hill on the westside. IF u really wanna take the 210 just shoot the 405N to the 118E which turns into the 210 then 65 miles to the 15 or so.

If I were in ur shoes tho I'd take the 405N which turns into the 5N, 14N to Lancaster and then shoot the 58 across Mojave and into Barstow. You can really haul ass on the 58. Two lane freeway and no CHP. And don't take the PearBlossom highway ever, dangerous as hell and Slooooooooow.

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I always get stuck behind 4 Winnebagos going 54.5 mph on 58.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

Assuming little traffic, early morning or late night, how long from LV to LA--Anaheim/Disney?

What's the max I can set cruise without taking chances?

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

[ QUOTE ]
Assuming little traffic, early morning or late night, how long from LV to LA--Anaheim/Disney?

What's the max I can set cruise without taking chances?

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I did this the weekend after July 4th. Cruise was 85, with occassional faster spurts.

Gernerally if I was being passed by a few cars, I started to keep up with them, safety in numbers and all that.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

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edit: Now looking at your OP it seems you're either somewhere in the valley or just over the hill on the westside. IF u really wanna take the 210 just shoot the 405N to the 118E which turns into the 210 then 65 miles to the 15 or so.

If I were in ur shoes tho I'd take the 405N which turns into the 5N, 14N to Lancaster and then shoot the 58 across Mojave and into Barstow. You can really haul ass on the 58. Two lane freeway and no CHP. And don't take the PearBlossom highway ever, dangerous as hell and Slooooooooow.

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I always get stuck behind 4 Winnebagos going 54.5 mph on 58.

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If you go this route, you can always take a break at Diamond Jim's card room in Rosamond. Sit to the left of Lucky Louie he will always call pot sized bets with any draw in the 200 NL game. Also the 3/6 kill plays large, there is a reason they call 7-2 off Rosamond Big Slick.

Re: Driving from LA to Vegas
 

[ QUOTE ]
Assuming little traffic, early morning or late night, how long from LV to LA--Anaheim/Disney?

What's the max I can set cruise without taking chances?

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this past weekend to Anaheim with one stop was less than 4 hours, I hit very little traffic.