Trip To Las Vegas

[TransitRider]

This big world expo is coming up in July so I want make plans early and buy bedrooms early...I understand Amtrak has thruway to Las Vegas but should I rent a car in LA and drive up to Vegas or go on train to Kingman, AZ then get on bus to LV ??

Any ideas?

 

[ScottC4746]

This big world expo is coming up in July so I want make plans early and buy bedrooms early...I understand Amtrak has thruway to Las Vegas but should I rent a car in LA and drive up to Vegas or go on train to Kingman, AZ then get on bus to LV ??
Any ideas?

Having lived in Las Vegas I can tell you you want to drive from LA. You NEED a car at your disposal in Vegas as the CAT (Citizen's Area Transit) does not always get you from here to there quickly or easily. Between work and home it was an hour and a half and two buses each way just to go four miles.

 

[dart330]

Your forum profile doesn't show where you are coming from, but guessing Florida from your blog link. If that is the case, you probably are going through Chicago to get to Vegas and would be on the SWC anyways, so I would take the thruway at Kingmam, it is only a 90 minute ride.

The drive from LA is horrible, plan on 5 hours, up to 7 if traffic is really bad or there is a wreck. The thruway drops you off at the airport where there are 2 bus lines, hundreds of cabs, and lots of rental car agencies.

Here is a picture of the thruway:



Note: you can only use the thruway when coming from or going East.

 

[ScottC4746]

Your forum profile doesn't show where you are coming from, but guessing Florida from your blog link. If that is the case, you probably are going through Chicago to get to Vegas and would be on the SWC anyways, so I would take the thruway at Kingmam, it is only a 90 minute ride.
The drive from LA is horrible, plan on 5 hours, up to 7 if traffic is really bad or there is a wreck. The thruway drops you off at the airport where there are 2 bus lines, hundreds of cabs, and lots of rental car agencies.

Here is a picture of the thruway:



Note: you can only use the thruway when coming from or going East.

So...do they put you in the van or the trailer. Sorry I couldn't resist that. :lol:

 

[Roadfool]

Whether or not you need a car depends a lot on where ou want to go once you're in Vegas. Scott's right, it'll be difficult to get around if you want to stray from the major areas like the Strip and downtown. If you're only going back and forth to the Convention Center, you can take the monorail from there to almost any spot on the Strip. Some of the downtown and Boulder Highway casinos run free daily shuttles, so you can see other parts of town as long as you get back before the last shuttle leaves.

It also depends a lot on when you plan to drive from LA. The traffic sucks unless you go in the middle of the night, then it's actually a pretty nice drive because there's nobody on the road. And it is kinda cool to watch Vegas change from night to day as you head down the highway.

Hmm...that was a lot of "it depends" and not much help, wasn't it? I'd say overall, it's better to skip the rental car unless you absolutely need it or you're a nocturnal freak like me who doesn't mind pulling an all-nighter.

 

[the_traveler]

I'd say take the shuttle from Kingman to LV from the SWC. As said, it runs to the airport, and there are loads of car rentals there. You will really need a car to easily go anywhere except from casino to casino on the Strip. And between May and September, it can easily get to 100 or more! And even just going to another casino, you may want to drive. (It could be a mile or more - "the Strip" is over 2 1/2 miles long!)

Also, car rentals in LV (and especially at the airport) could be less expensive than from LA!

 

[the_traveler]

Here is a picture of the thruway:

So...do they put you in the van or the trailer. Sorry I couldn't resist that. :lol:

The trailer is for people who go 3rd class! :lol:

 

[oldtimer]

Here is a picture of the thruway:

So...do they put you in the van or the trailer. Sorry I couldn't resist that. :lol:

The trailer is for people who go 3rd class! :lol:

3rd class or fare evaders!

 

[Jeremy]

I vote for the thruway from Kingman and rent a car at the airport. There are things to see outside of Las Vegas area that require a car. For example, Red Rock Park west of Vegas is beautiful and the birdwatching at the Henderson Sewage Ponds (yes, I'm serious) is excellent but you need a car to get to both.

Of course if you plan to never leave the Expo then you could get a shuttle from the airport to your hotel and skip the rental car. In any case, there are too many risks associated with the highway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Kingman is the correct choice.

Jeremy

 

[GG-1]

Aloha

My daughter lives in the LA area. Every time we drive to Vegas, the average is 6 hours each way. The road isn't exactly interesting, except for maybe a couple of places. Oh for the desert Wind to come back thaat was a great way to arrive, right downtown.

 

[DET63]

Here is a picture of the thruway:

So...do they put you in the van or the trailer. Sorry I couldn't resist that. :lol:

The trailer is for people who go 3rd class! :lol:

3rd class or fare evaders!

Speaking from experience, anyone?

 

[Green Maned Lion]

This big world expo is coming up in July so I want make plans early and buy bedrooms early...I understand Amtrak has thruway to Las Vegas but should I rent a car in LA and drive up to Vegas or go on train to Kingman, AZ then get on bus to LV ??
Any ideas?

Having lived in Las Vegas I can tell you you want to drive from LA. You NEED a car at your disposal in Vegas as the CAT (Citizen's Area Transit) does not always get you from here to there quickly or easily. Between work and home it was an hour and a half and two buses each way just to go four miles.

I gotta tell ya, if it was only 4 miles to work... and it took an hour and a half to transit it, I'd use God's Transit. My feet.

 

[oldtimer]

Here is a picture of the thruway:

So...do they put you in the van or the trailer. Sorry I couldn't resist that. :lol:

The trailer is for people who go 3rd class! :lol:

3rd class or fare evaders!

Speaking from experience, anyone?

Yes, as an Amtrak employee at the time. They really take care of employee pass riders.

:angry: :angry: :angry:

 

[Bob Dylan]

This big world expo is coming up in July so I want make plans early and buy bedrooms early...I understand Amtrak has thruway to Las Vegas but should I rent a car in LA and drive up to Vegas or go on train to Kingman, AZ then get on bus to LV ??
Any ideas?

Having lived in Las Vegas I can tell you you want to drive from LA. You NEED a car at your disposal in Vegas as the CAT (Citizen's Area Transit) does not always get you from here to there quickly or easily. Between work and home it was an hour and a half and two buses each way just to go four miles.

I gotta tell ya, if it was only 4 miles to work... and it took an hour and a half to transit it, I'd use God's Transit. My feet.

Ever been in Vegas in August when its 130, feels like 200! :lol: