Driving to Las Vegas question

[CodyW]

93 beyond Kingman is much improved compared to what it used to be. It's mostly 2 lanes the whole way, separated from oncoming traffic by a median. They did a lot of improvements on the road up there when they built the dam bypass bridge.

[las vegas drunk]

Originally Posted by Cognito

If one doesn't go through the Sedona/Flagstaff area, is the drive to Las Vegas boring as far as the scenery goes? I want to go the fastest route but I have an inkling it's not terribly interesting. True? Depending what you read, drive times truly vary.

Is the drive to San Diego any prettier? Should we stick to the Grand Canyon? LOL!

Thanks for your input!

It is a boring drive and the scenery sucks but it only takes 4 hours, at least the way I drive.

[KaaBoom]

Originally Posted by PhinsFan1

We take 93 through Kingman. I find it a pretty boring drive, and not terribly scenic. But I think it's the quickest, which is most important for us.

I've only driven through AZ one time, about 13 years ago. I thought I share my experience. I took I-40 through Flagstaff. Incidentally it was snowing like hell there. Which kind of surprised me at the time. I wasn't really expecting that.

Then I took 93 from Kingman to Boulder City after sunset. As I remember, traffic was very light. At one point I was stopped a couple of times just outside of Kingman by flagmen, for some large mining trucks that were crossing the highway. After that I think I only passed a few other cars on the entire stretch, until I got to Hoover Dam where the traffic was heavy.

What I really liked about the drive along 93 after dark was watching the lights from Las Vegas, get closer and closer. Maybe the conditions were just right night. There was a high cloud cover, and the clouds over Vegas brilliantly eliminated by the lights, and I could see the big light from the Luxor for the entire dive from Kingman.

Anyways I though that was cool. I always enjoy driving into Los Vegas at night. Maybe others might enjoy it too.

[JoeC]

Originally Posted by AZJoeD

...Put on the cruise control and point the car straight. Bring lots of music or take a nap.

Umm... I have a small issue with this.
I believe the OP would, also...

Cognito: 93 from Phx to Kingman is a pretty nice drive - and shorter than 17 to 40. The stretch of 93 from Kingman north to LV is, IMHO, unpleasant - very desolate. You're stuck with that stretch of road regardless of which route you drive.

[Alexico]

Originally Posted by CodyW

93 beyond Kingman is much improved compared to what it used to be. It's mostly 2 lanes the whole way, separated from oncoming traffic by a median. They did a lot of improvements on the road up there when they built the dam bypass bridge.

just drove to LV last weekend

take the 17 north to carefree highway (make left/head west)
then go through wberg - kingman etc to LV

way home (skip the damn on and go south on 95) and snake around back. i reccomend this on holiday weekends becuase the town before the damn backs everything up.

I do get a bit scared on those 2 lane roads, everyone is doing 75+ and maybe not paying attention/hung over. plus all it takes is someone to hit a big pothole and lose control

I will be flying next time, the back roads are a must though at least once

[adriver]

Originally Posted by Cognito

"Take I-17 north, go west on Hwy 74 up near the Anthem area, Go north on Hwy 93/60 toward Wickiup/Kingman, cut west on I-40 toward Kingman, take Hwy 93 north toward Hoover Dam/Las Vegas, Hwy 93 will become I-515, keep on going to Las Vegas. It takes about 4.5 to 5 hours, depending on traffic and getting across the Hoover dam." "This is about an hour faster than taking I-17 all the way to Flagstaff. "


I read this somewhere...does that sound about right?? I'm also having trouble deciding on whether to drive or fly. Pros and cons for both.

Thank you all!

I would love to find a nice place to stop because of my bad back. I'm guessing Lake Havasu is really out of the way. (Mapquest, etc though helpful can also be a headache in itself)

yeah thats about right, but youre addding an hour to half the drive cause either way you pick up I-40 west of flagstaff.

93 up takes about 4 hours, youll go through a couple of small towns where youll go from 70 to 25 and can either stretch, or use that entire mile of two lanes to get around the trucks and others that have been slowing you down for the last hour. Its one lane each way, and when cars get backed up youre not gonna pass. Theres plenty of joshua trees, and other than the few small towns its pretty boring until you get to nevada. Mostly a hilly drive, youll notice little elevation change. Its worth taking this drive at least once to enjoy the boring desert, I would just advise against doing it on a friday afternoon or holiday weekend.


If you take 17 up to flagstaff, youll probably add about an hour, theres several scenic overlooks along the way, quite a few more businesses for gas and food, you will have some long hills and i believe flag is either 6700 or 7700 ft, so definate nature changes along the way. The 75mph posted speed limit usually is that and this is another drive you need to take at least once.

BUT, and because you said you wanted to go to lake havasu, why not take I-10W and take (AZ) 95 north? You can add roughly 40 minutes/miles and go to lake havasu... Sadly out of all the drives available the lake and the bridge might be the best sites to take in... After that you get back on the 40 and take I-95 through CA, or go up to kingman and continue on the boring route.

[bigDwiki]

If you take the 17/40, you'll have cell service most of the way. Take 93 all the way and cell service is very seldom.

People are so dependent on phones these days for GPS, music, calls...it may affect your trip.

[lacal]

When you figure the hours spent driving, the cost of gas and food I say fly. I have done both several times and even with the time spent at the airport and the hassle of TSA I will fly every chance I get.

[las vegas drunk]

Originally Posted by lacal

When you figure the hours spent driving, the cost of gas and food I say fly. I have done both several times and even with the time spent at the airport and the hassle of TSA I will fly every chance I get.

I totally disagree. You have to eat regardless, so the only issue is time. You are are going to spend at least 3 hours round trip flying, getting a rental car, etc, while driving is 8 hours round trip. I recently drove to Phoenix and it was $70 round trip in gas, while the cheapest flight (for one person) is $216. For two people, you are over $400. There is no comparison.

http://www.expedia.com/Flights-Search?trip=roundtrip&leg1=from:PHX,to:LAS,departu re:06%2F15%2F2012TANYT&leg2=from:LAS,to:PHX,depart ure:06%2F17%2F2012TANYT&passengers=children:0,adul ts:1,seniors:0,infantinlap:Y&options=cabinclass:co ach,nopenalty:N,sortbyrice&mode=search

[Racer26]

I live in Havasu, and it takes a little over 2 hours to get to the edge of Vegas/Henderson, and about 3 hours to the Avondale area. So you'd be looking at about 5 hours from the edge of the Phoenix. I haven't driven any other routes for years, but this one wouldn't be too bad, and at least it's varied while still being fairly fast. You can do 75 on the 10, 75 on the 40, and now 75 on the US95 from Cal-Nev-Ari into Henderson.

However, if you decide to take the US 93, it's definately way, way better than it used to be. Now that the Hoover Dam bypass is fully complete, the whole stretch from Kingman to Boulder City is 2 lanes each direction divided highway. 70-75 mph all the way no problem.