[see17fly]

Hi, I tried posting this in the Arizona forum so I thought I would also try it here in the Vegas one.

My son and I will be headed to Nellis AFB near Vegas From Randolph AFB near San Antonio in a couple of weeks.

I wanted the safest, quickest route but I wanted to avoid the El Paso area and the Phoenix area. Opinions vary on this a lot but so far most think taking I-10 all the way through past El Paso and then onto Phoenix is the best way to come there.

We really wanted to go up through NM through Roswell and then on to Flagstaff before hitting 93 up to Vegas but I guess others feel like the weather and the mountains would slow us a down a lot and not be as safe.

The more input the better from whomever has taken this route multiple ways. We greatly appreciate it.

[dynimagelv]

SA to Phoenix on 10 Phoenix to LV.....should be no weather and Phoenix is a piece of cake except at rush hour.

[see17fly]

Originally Posted by dynimagelv

SA to Phoenix on 10 Phoenix to LV.....should be no weather and Phoenix is a piece of cake except at rush hour.

Do you think I should take I-17 at Phoenix and then hit I-40 at Flagstaff like many others have stated?

I really wanted to go through NM and AZ on I-40 because I didn't think weather would be a factor in mid Nov.

By the way, I have an older car to drive and heard the route you suggested has very little services or places to stop if help is needed.

Thanks.

[DavieJ89]

I drove from Orlando, FL to Las Vegas this past May and passed through San Antonio (great city) as 90% of my route was I-10 The journey from San Antonio to LV will be a very beautiful one

Simply follow I-10 from San Antonio to Phoenix, in Phoenix you pick up the 101 freeway and exit onto Route 60 (signs will indicate Wickenburg and Las Vegas as well)

You follow US Route 60 into Wickenburg and you pick up Route 93. This will take you through Wikieup (quaint little desert town and some beautiful views along this stretch of 93)

Route 93 will merge with I-40 near Kingman, when you reach Kingman 93 will split off on its own to the north and lead you up to the Hoover Dam and Boulder City where you will pass Railroad Pass Casino where 93 and Route 95 merge with the 515 Freeway which takes you right into Fabulous Las Vegas

Note:Watch out for Speed Cameras in A**holzona along Route 60 in Sun City (NW Phoenix) and on 93 just north of Kingman. They got me twice

Also along I-10 and the 101 in Phoenix, there are additional speed cameras to watch out for as well. Sheriff Joe Arpaio is a real tyrant in Phoenix. You will know when you get close to them as traffic will slow down and then speed up again once you are past them

[mjjudd]

I would avoid flagstaff area this time of year.. I remember trying that route in 1992 and the mountain just got a bunch of snow dumped on it. Ended up sitting there 1/2 way up the mountain for like 5 hours, just to have the state police tell us it was closed and had to turn around and find a hotel for the night.

[Buzz123]

Why do you need to avoid El Paso and Phoenix? You only pass by El Paso on the freeway, and Phoenix isn't bad. The route Davie laid out is the best route. If you want to see New Mexico you could take I-25 to Albuquerque, then I-40, but it's longer, and like others have said, you might run into snow.

[whereinutep]

I would just take I-10 through phoenix and go through the hoover dam, now that the bridge is complete its going to be a faster trip to take to vegas. I took the same route in August from el paso to vegas and it was a very smooth trip. There were big delays at the hoover dam due to construction, but for you guys it'll be a quick drive by the hoover dam since the bridge is now complete.

[dynimagelv]

I go to Kingman once a week....it's resulted in a 45 minute cut on the travel time....very few delays now as the road is almost complete....

[jepwatkins]

I agree with DavieJ89 except I have taken the 60 out of Phoenix off the 101 and it adds at least an hour to the trip trying to get through Sun City. We recently went to Las Vegas and it was the quickest, easiest way I'd ever taken. Definitely take I-10 from San Antonio to Phoenix, fastest and safest route. In Phoenix near downtown, take I-17 North until right at the top of the city you will hit the Carefree Highway. Take the Carefree Highway West (AZ 74-W) until you hit the 60 West just outside Wickenburg. In Wickenburg you will take the 93 North until the I-40, which you will take for about 20 miles until you hit the 93 North again (Beale street exit). This will take you all the way past the dam (and over the new bridge, super fast!) and through Boulder City in to Las Vegas. Just make sure you don't hit Phoenix during rush hour and it will be smooth sailing!

[delgadobb]

Question: We just came through New Mexico & Arizona on I-40 a few weeks ago; we took 93 up to Hoover Dam but still went over the dam instead of the bridge.

From a visual perspective, it looked like the bridge was completed but we still had to wait & cross the dam. My guess was the connecting roads are/were not yet completed.

So, did the bridge just open up in the last few weeks?