How to get from Los Angeles to Las Vegas

Three ways cover the route: your own or a rental car, a flight, and an intercity bus. For a small group a private transfer is also possible. Rail is not a practical option on this corridor (check).

Distances below are road kilometres from central Los Angeles to the Las Vegas Strip. Prices are one way per person unless noted, 2026 estimates, and exclude baggage fees, tolls and fuel.

I-15 is the whole route: northeast out of the Los Angeles basin, over Cajon Pass, across the Mojave Desert, then down into Las Vegas. It is about 435 km (270 mi) and normally 4–5 hours (check). Traffic is the variable, not distance: leaving Los Angeles on a Friday afternoon or returning on a Sunday evening can add two hours or more, and the stretch between Barstow and Primm backs up on holiday weekends (check).

Fill the tank before the desert stretch and carry water. Summer daytime temperatures on this route pass 40 °C, and services are sparse between Barstow and Baker. In winter, Cajon Pass and the high desert can see snow and chain controls; check state road conditions before setting out.

Useful stops: Barstow for fuel and food, Baker for the 24-hour diner and the world's tallest thermometer, and Primm for a last break before the state line. If you have time, detour to Calico or into Death Valley — but only outside summer.

One-way rentals are common on this route. A drop fee usually applies when you pick up in California and return in Nevada, so compare the total, not the daily rate. Parking on the Strip is often free at some resorts and paid at others (check).

Flights from LAX to Harry Reid International (LAS) take about 1 hour 15 minutes in the air (check). Add getting to the airport, security and the ride from LAS to the Strip; the door-to-door figure depends heavily on which airport you start from and the time of day (check).

Burbank (BUR), Long Beach (LGB) and Ontario (ONT) are smaller alternatives to LAX and may suit you better if you are starting outside central LA (check). Fares on this route are volatile: midweek departures can be very cheap, Friday and Sunday departures much less so. Book two to six weeks ahead for weekends.

From LAS, the Strip is about 5 km from the terminals (check); a taxi or rideshare is the usual option, and some resorts run shuttles (check).

Scheduled coaches run several times a day and take 5–7 hours depending on stops (check). This is the cheapest way to make the trip, and the only one where you can sleep or work the whole way. Terminals are in downtown Los Angeles and near the Las Vegas Strip or downtown, so check which end suits your hotel.

Book online in advance for the lowest fares; walk-up tickets cost more and weekend departures sell out. Bring a jacket — the air conditioning is strong — and expect limited legroom on the cheapest fares.

Flights: book on the airline's own site or app so changes and cancellations are handled directly. Compare LAX, BUR, LGB and ONT before you commit.

Buses: book on the operator's site. Fares rise as departure fills, so booking a week or two out is usually enough outside holidays.

Cars: book with the rental firm directly, and read the one-way drop fee before paying. Check whether your own car insurance or credit card covers US rentals; otherwise take the counter policy.

Private transfers: book with the operator and confirm the pickup point, since Strip resorts have several vehicle entrances.

Do not plan a same-day arrival and departure around a show or a flight. Build in a two-hour buffer on I-15 in either direction.

If you are flying in for a weekend, book the return for Monday morning rather than Sunday evening — it is usually cheaper and far less crowded.

Mobile coverage drops in parts of the Mojave. Download offline maps before you leave, and see our eSIM guide if you need US data.

Nevada is on Pacific Time, the same as California, so there is no clock change on this route.

The drive follows I-15 the whole way: Los Angeles → San Bernardino → Cajon Pass → Victorville → Barstow → Baker → Primm → Las Vegas. Use the map below to see the line and the main stops.