How is the drive from VEGAS to LA (vice versa)

[SportSavant]

a friend of mine wants me to pick him up in LA on FRIDAY June 27th. I underline Friday becoz I am sure there are many from LA making the trip to vegas for the weekend.

How is the drive? what time should I leave and aim to come back so that I can avoid as much traffic as possible. I want to go pick him up, maybe spend a few hours on the beach, and then come back, but I dont want to get stuck in any traffic jams if at all possible.

How much time should I expect it will take?

 

[GreenDoberman]

4 hours. Traffic sucks anywhere in LA.

The last drive out there was the most pleasant as I left at 3 in the morning and went around the back way that my GPS suggested to the Hills.

 

[SportSavant]

4 hours. Traffic sucks anywhere in LA.

The last drive out there was the most pleasant as I left at 3 in the morning and went around the back way that my GPS suggested to the Hills.

I will have a Chevy Cobalt rental, hopefully the air con blows cold.

Im gonna bring my GPS unit from home which I used last time I was in vegas so I guess I will just follow whatever it tells me.

you can set it to settings such as "avoid hi-ways" and such, did u have yours set like that?

 

[TescoVee]

what beach you leaving from? Santa Monica will cost you over 5 hours. no good time to leave but i would aim between 10am-2pm.

i highly recommend leaving vegas Sun morn before 10am.

sigalert.com and google maps for your online viewing of traffic conditions
also 980 am on the 1's

 

[GreenDoberman]

You are welcome to borrow my GPS if you don't feel like bringing yours.

Like Tesco says, it depends where in LA you are going. The drive to the Hills is about 10X's less the headache than the drive to Santa Monica or Venice.

 

[SportSavant]

what beach you leaving from? Santa Monica will cost you over 5 hours. no good time to leave but i would aim between 10am-2pm.

i highly recommend leaving vegas Sun morn before 10am.

sigalert.com and google maps for your online viewing of traffic conditions
also 980 am on the 1's

Friday the 27th is the only day I need to go to LOS ANGELES from VEGAS, to pick up my friend. he lives in Vancouver and is flying back home direct from vegas.

leaving at 10am isnt too bad in the sense that I will arrive in Los Angeles around 2pm, hopefully before major traffic has started and then go straight back at 2pm. Either that or stay in LA for the day, enjoy the beach, have dinner... and then head to VEGAS at night.

 

[TescoVee]

and dont forget to fill your gas in Nevada.

 

[SportSavant]

Thanks GD, I pretty sure ill just bring mine tho, coz im used to it, and im also gonna be in town for 2 weeks and will need it entire time.

I hope the car has a working cigarette lighter.

 

[Anonymous1]

"I hope the car has a working cigarette lighter."

No you don't...if it does...its an older pos...most newer cars don't have them in these parts...

 

[GreenDoberman]

I'll be around, Sunday is usually just sitting reading the paper and watching many soccer/racing/baseball bets.

No to the Strip Club, no to the beer(fuck me, did I really just say that?). Yes to the eats.

Definitely shoot me an email and if you don't have my number I'll give it to you. I know you are busy with the bachelor party but if you have time would like to meet up.

 

[SportSavant]

OKAY, my friend, "gag" who posts here said I would have to pick him up in HOLLYWOOD....

is that a nightmare?

 

[TescoVee]

just not freeway friendy gettin in and outta hollywood

 

[fhmesq44]

pay for a one way ticket for your friend, it will be the best $150 you spend. Driving to LA and then immediately back will be miserable. You are staring at 5-6 hours if you leave Hollywood at 2pm on top of the 4-5 to get to LA from Vegas.

 

[GreenDoberman]

Actually much better getting to Hollywood than it would be LAX.

Take the shortcut, a bumpy road through Palmdale/Lancaster, and you'll cut off lots of traffic time. It's a little more scenic than downtown Rancho Cucamonga as well.

I'd assume your GPS will take you this way regardless.

 

[SportSavant]

pay for a one way ticket for your friend, it will be the best $150 you spend. Driving to LA and then immediately back will be miserable. You are staring at 5-6 hours if you leave Hollywood at 2pm on top of the 4-5 to get to LA from Vegas.

you are absolutely right, my buddy was leading me to beleive he coudnt find any flights, but I found a ton.

Looks like he can fly for 143$.

 

[GreenDoberman]

You are talking around 290 miles each way.
Assuming the car gets around 25 miles a gallon, that is 11.6 gallons each way for a total of 23.2 gallons.

Gas is around $4.30 (probably will pay more than that in LA), so that times 23.2 gallons will cost you $99.76.

Add in the cost of your travel time (minimum 8 hours) and your best option is tell him to get his ass to Burbank Airport for a Southwest flight and you'll meet him in baggage claim at McCarran.

 

[GreenDoberman]

$130 on SW, $160 on JetBlue.

Even cheaper if he can fly out of Long Beach or LAX.

 

[SportSavant]

You are talking around 290 miles each way.
Assuming the car gets around 25 miles a gallon, that is 11.6 gallons each way for a total of 23.2 gallons.

Gas is around $4.30 (probably will pay more than that in LA), so that times 23.2 gallons will cost you $99.76.

Add in the cost of your travel time (minimum 8 hours) and your best option is tell him to get his ass to Burbank Airport for a Southwest flight and you'll meet him in baggage claim at McCarran.

It really is a NO BRAINER, do I want to spend 10 hours in a Chevy Cobalt, or do I want to spend that time by the MGM grand pool?

I didnt know there were so many flight options when I started this thread, my buddy had told me he coudnt find any, was he conning me? just so he could get a comfortable pick up at his cousins house?

:monsters-

 

[Mr.Leisure]

Defintely fly, the drive sucks on fridays both ways

 

[gag]

This isn't about time or money. Its about two friends driving across the desert. So please help me out and convince SS to pick me up.