Pheonix to Vegas, quickest route?

[KittyKat]

Yahoo maps driving directions recomends going from Pheonix to Flagstaff, then going west and north to Vegas. On the maps though, there appears to be a highway, 60, that goes from Pheonix in a more direct line toward Vegas. Can anyone familiar with the area give me advice on the best way to go?

Thanks!

[meep_42]

Take the 10 towards LA, get off on 303 North. Make a left on US 60 through Wickenburg and follow the signs the rest of the way.

-d

[Howard Beale]

I-17 North to Carefree Highway (73?). West to Wickenburg. 93 North (fill up at Wikieup) to I-40 then West thru Kingman. Back onto 93 and straight thru to LV (signs are clearly marked). This cuts an hour (at least) from going up through Flagstaff buts it's a 2 lane road much of the way.

[aheravi]

Southwest Airlines?

[tuq]

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Southwest Airlines?

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Horrible answer. Both because it's wrong to a lot of us and pointless in the process.

Kitty, Howard Beale gave the best/most obvious answer. I hear the highway through Wickenburg/Kingman has improved a lot, but you're still going to get stuck around the Hoover dam.

The way I've gone the last 5+ times I've driven out there is, I-10 West to Salome Road (maybe 15 miles east of Quartzsite). Take that up to Kingman (near Lake Havasu), then take *US 95* all the way up to Vegas. It's important that you choose US 95 instead of AZ 95; the latter will waste your time. You'll spend quite a bit of time in CA going this way, but as soon as you hit NV and the road is flatter, straighter, and with a massive shoulder, you'll appreciate the casino tax. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Advantages of this route: far fewer white crosses, very light traffic. Also, the stretch near Laughlin is where Sam Kinison died, ironically at the hands of a a drunk driver.

[JCool]

They are in the process of repaving 93 from Wickenberg to Kingman into 4 lanes, and was about half done in Feb 05, the last time I made the drive. So its not as bad as it used to be. Also, take the 101 to Grand Ave. which goes straight to Wickenberg. For godsakes. Why would anyone suggest driving out all the way to the 303?

[Thythe]

[ QUOTE ]
They are in the process of repaving 93 from Wickenberg to Kingman into 4 lanes, and was about half done in Feb 05, the last time I made the drive. So its not as bad as it used to be. Also, take the 101 to Grand Ave. which goes straight to Wickenberg. For godsakes. Why would anyone suggest driving out all the way to the 303?

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Agreed, I take the 101 to Grand (or take Bell to Grand) to Wickenberg, the 89/93 from there, a brief stretch on I40, then back on the 89/93 all the way to Vegas. If you are traveling in the evening, you will find no traffic on Hoover Dam. I always head to Vegas Friday night and usually come back Sunday afternoon. There is always major traffic on Hoover Dam on the way back, but otherwise it's OK. I would never take the Flagstaff or Cali routes.

[tuq]

JCool,

The reason anyone would want to drive the 303 is quite frankly to avoid the fogies and their golf carts, both of which I've heard can clog up Grand Avenue/Bell Road pretty much anytime the casinos are open and the AARP members have a chance to burn through my inheritance. Let's say you live in Laveen, Estrella Mtn Ranch, etc., if you're going through Kingman this is correct. I stand by my route however.

Also, re-iterating my support for Beale's taking Carefree Highway west on the AZ74 to the AZ73 (?); it's the NE version of avoiding Sun City and saves tons of time. It's just not how I roll.

[meep_42]

[ QUOTE ]
They are in the process of repaving 93 from Wickenberg to Kingman into 4 lanes, and was about half done in Feb 05, the last time I made the drive. So its not as bad as it used to be. Also, take the 101 to Grand Ave. which goes straight to Wickenberg. For godsakes. Why would anyone suggest driving out all the way to the 303?

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Because I don't like stopping every half mile? At 3am 60 took longer than taking the 303/10 leaving on the Friday before Christmas in the early afternoon.

-d

-d

[gusmahler]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
They are in the process of repaving 93 from Wickenberg to Kingman into 4 lanes, and was about half done in Feb 05, the last time I made the drive. So its not as bad as it used to be. Also, take the 101 to Grand Ave. which goes straight to Wickenberg. For godsakes. Why would anyone suggest driving out all the way to the 303?

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Because I don't like stopping every half mile? At 3am 60 took longer than taking the 303/10 leaving on the Friday before Christmas in the early afternoon.

-d

-d

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Word. Grand is full of stoplights until you reach Sun City West. In contrast, the 303 has about 3 stoplights from the 10 to Grand.