Surviving the drive between LA and Las Vegas.

I'm trying to scrape together another Ask the Wizard column. One question I'd like to address is how to survive the drive between LA and Vegas. Here is what I have so far:

Q: What is your advice for avoiding traffic on the I-15 between LA and Vegas?

A: I estimate I've done that drive about 200 times and think I've mastered it. As with gambling, there is always going to be some variance, so take what I say with a grain of salt. That said, here is my advice on how to beat the I-15 between Vegas and LA.

1. As with anything, you want to understand what the masses do, and then do the opposite. In other words, you want to be a contrarian. What the masses do on a typical two-day weekend is leave to Vegas on a Friday afternoon or evening and return on Sunday morning. Do not do that! Take any means necessary to change your trip to leave on Thursday night and leave Saturday night.

2. If at all possible, avoid the 91 freeway between the 55 and 15. This advice goes for every day and 24 hours a day. I just can't seem to outsmart that freeway and have been stuck in bumper to bumper traffic numerous times. Every time I do, I consider buying a FasTrak sticker, or a screwdriver to remove my license plate, but forget about it by the time I get home. What can I say -- that stretch of road is simply a bitch and can get you, or not, at any time. I've since taken to getting to the beach cities via the 215 to the 605. A little longer but much faster and predictable. You'd think that driving through the midst of LA traffic wouldn't be the right move, but there are a lot of freeways to divide the load.

3. The main bottleneck on the 15 is between Barstow and Primm, where there are usually only two lanes in each directions. For this I blame the jerks who weave between lanes, causing everybody else to slow down to accommodate them, but that is beside the point. If despite trying to avoid the weekend rush into and out of Vegas you find yourself standing still on this stretch of road then my advice is to take the frontage road on the side. I'm sure those who already know this secret will want my neck for telling you this, but there is a side road that parallels the 15 between Barstow and Jean that will let you whiz by standstill traffic at 55 MPH. Be sure to check your GPS or GoogleMaps for the details.

4. Drive at night. Not only is there is less traffic on average at night but drivers just seem to not be as aggressive. When everybody chills and stays in his own lane, as tends to happen more so at night, everything goes smoother and happier. I don't know what it is, but the on any long boring drive it seems to go by faster and more effortlessly when it is dark.

5. The maps feature on the iPhone is a marvel of modern science. Use it. It will show you where traffic is bad with red lines. This advice goes for anywhere. If you see red lines ahead -- take another route.

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Comments? Anything I'm forgetting?

I drive late at night, as fast as I can get away with. Never got a speeding ticket (in Nevada at least)

Quote: Wizard

Comments? Anything I'm forgetting?

You should maybe consider getting one of those uni-copters the guy used who got arrested flying onto White House grounds.

Call Uber for a van and sleep all the way
in the back is what I'd do.

Does the routing advice apply for both directions?

Bring plenty of water. You don't want to get stuck in the desert, broken down car, and no water.

I'm interested in economical places to stay near the beaches between Newport and Malibu if anyone can make suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Quote: Aussie

Does the routing advice apply for both directions?

Generally, it is worse getting to Vegas than leaving it. Funny why that is. Maybe drivers are more aggressive to get there, which only makes things worse for everybody, than leaving. Or maybe those leaving just spread it out over a wider period of time.

As I wrote, don't leave for Vegas on Friday and don't leave on Sunday. Avoid the 91 at all times. Keep in mind the frontage roads as a backup plan.

I've always avoided living in places that had
traffic problems. I lived in San Jose for about
a month in the mid 70's and the traffic was
so horrible on the way to work I vowed to
never do that again.

In LA they do everything by time. It's 45min
away, it's an hour away. Could be 4 miles and
it's 45 min. Here when we says 4 miles we mean
it's 5 min away. Even during rush hour.

You should ask AlanM for advice. He must have done that drive much more than 200 times.

Also, I think you mean the 210 to the 605? The 215 doesn't intersect the 605.

I have a feeling you are one of those people who imagines everyone going 60 MPH in both lanes, exactly 15 feet apart from each other. Maximum efficiency ... lol.

Deleted. Duplicate.

Quote: Aussie

Does the routing advice apply for both directions?

Why? You go both ways, Aussie? 😊

One exception to fading the masses: you should stop at The Mad Greek.

Quote: Rigondeaux

One exception to fading the masses: you should stop at The Mad Greek.

I sort of second this. Stop in Victorville and/or Barstow to break up the drive and do some shopping. Check out Calico, or get some "Alien Beef Jerky" in Baker. Breaking up the grind makes it more enjoyable. If you have done all these things, then you would agree that the best advice is to drive at night. there is no better way to avoid the crowds than to leave L.A. on Friday after 10 pm., or LAS after 8 p.m. on Sunday.

If you are nervous about traveling in the dark, the other "best practice" is to leave early in the morning, like 6 a.m., either way. Bring your sunglasses though.

Alternate route wise, there is a road that runs along the west side of the 15 below the Cajon pass if the traffic is extreme at Wrightwood.

Construction on the 15 seems never ending. Be mentally prepared for the traffic it will cause. Unless there is a brush fire coming, that forces you to abandon your vehicle, you will eventually get where you need to go. Stressing about something you have no control over will only shorten your life. Try "paying it forward" and do something considerate for a driver near you.


image from KABC news

Best way to get anywhere:

1. Be god
2. Divert traffic away from you like Bruce almighty
3. Profit

You need to be a believer to make this real so there is a few more steps involved.

Whenever I go on a road trip, I always dump 12 beers and a bag of ice in a cooler.

When the inevitable traffic jam materializes, I relax and enjoy a few cold ones.

I like it, although that particular route is not something I would need to take.

Perhaps add some points of interest along the way, like others have suggested, for the people who have time and may be travelling on the non-busy days.

Add a map and post it as an article.

Quote: JohnnyQ

I like it, although that particular route is not something I would need to take.

Perhaps add some points of interest along the way, like others have suggested, for the people who have time and may be travelling on the non-busy days.

Add a map and post it as an article.

The coconut brittle at Peggy Sue's is pretty good.

Peggy Sue's 50's Diner
35654 West Yermo Road
Yermo, CA 92398

Quote: djatc

The coconut brittle at Peggy Sue's is pretty good.

Peggy Sue's 50's Diner
35654 West Yermo Road
Yermo, CA 92398

Thanks for the tip - the few times I've done the drive I've always stopped somewhere along the route. Once, taking all day as my flight was 10pm, I went via Hoover Dam, Rte 93 and you can add a bit of Rte 66 for fun.

Quote: Wizard

3. The main bottleneck on the 15 is between Barstow and Primm, where there are usually only two lanes in each directions. For this I blame the jerks who weave between lanes, causing everybody else to slow down to accommodate them, but that is beside the point.

I think a good portion of the blame is also the ridiculous 55 MPH truck speed limit. Let the trucks go 70 like the cars, or 65 at least.

As an alternative, I wonder how many pilots fly their private planes in from LA instead of driving?

Quote: tringlomane

I think a good portion of the blame is also the ridiculous 55 MPH truck speed limit. Let the trucks go 70 like the cars, or 65 at least.

It'll never happen. I know some truck drivers that even refuse to drive into California because of this.

Having never driven in Cali, how strictly is that enforced. I know in IL the speed limit for trucks is still 55, but I see them doing 85 with regularity

Quote: Gabes22

Having never driven in Cali, how strictly is that enforced. I know in IL the speed limit for trucks is still 55, but I see them doing 85 with regularity

I cannot recall ever seeing a semi pulled over by the CHP unless there was an accident or breakdown. What I have seen are rigs pulling out of the dedicated truck lane to pass a "slower" truck. Unfortunately, this selfish behavior only congests the traffic for the cars in what is supposed to be the faster lanes of traffic, as the passing truck usually takes several minutes to make the pass.

When the traffic is light, or even moderate, I would estimate that the vehicles are averaging 80 miles an hour. If you are gong 75 or less, you best be in the right lane. The speed is deceptive since everyone is going at approximately the same rate, and there aren't any landmarks near the roadway to remind you just how fast you are actually moving. It is easy to be fooled into thinking a following distance barely adequate at 65 is okay at 85.

Note that there are areas known to have higher enforcement by the Highway Patrols. The east side of Victorville (as folks accelerate out of, or fail to slow in time as they approach town), and the approaches to the underpasses near the rest areas (where one team hits the cars with radar or laser from the overpass, then radios to another patrol vehicle that will do the stop and write the ticket) come to mind.

There are signs warning of aircraft patrols, but I can't recall ever seeing one, although I have come across folks who got a ticket based on readings from the "eye in the sky".

Quote: Gabes22

the speed limit for trucks is still 55, but I see them doing 85 with regularity

I think that's a Chicagoland thing. West and south, it's considerably calmer, both trucks and cars.

Quote: Dieter

I think that's a Chicagoland thing. West and south, it's considerably calmer, both trucks and cars.

If anyone is doing 55+ in Chicago is lucky. I think 15 is the average.

Quote: Ibeatyouraces

If anyone is doing 55+ in Chicago is lucky. I think 15 is the average.

Not on the tri-state tollway. If you aren't doing 70+ (speed limit for all vehicles is 55), you'll get run over.

Quote: Dieter

I think that's a Chicagoland thing. West and south, it's considerably calmer, both trucks and cars.

Yes, down state interstate traffic rarely drives too much above 75 MPH and trucks are often below the 70 MPH speed limit since they abolished the truck speed limit downstate. But when you enter Cook county on I57, that's when they start going 80+ all of a sudden.

Quote: tringlomane

Not on the tri-state tollway. If you aren't doing 70+ (speed limit for all vehicles is 55), you'll get run over...

Like 696 here between Royal Oak and St Clair Shores. Average speed is 90.

Quote: Ibeatyouraces

If anyone is doing 55+ in Chicago is lucky. I think 15 is the average.

Yeah, I get that. My usual experience with that is between Rockford and Schaumburg on I-90. Right about Hoffman Estates, it slows a bit, and at Ikea it starts to crawl.

And yes, the actual borders of Chicago seem to make everything slow, but the immediately surrounding area... drive faster or get out of the way.

Quote: tringlomane

Not on the tri-state tollway. If you aren't doing 70+ (speed limit for all vehicles is 55), you'll get run over. Yes, down state interstate traffic rarely drives too much above 75 MPH and trucks are often below the 70 MPH speed limit since they abolished the truck speed limit downstate. But when you enter Cook county on I57, that's when they start going 80+ all of a sudden.

The"erratic" enforcement apparently has much to do with the local government desire to retain commercial enterprises, especially those that can easily move elsewhere. All that gimmickry renders so much regulation a farce.

Right outside of Barstow where it really bottlenecks on the Vegas side I know you can get off at Harvard I believe that's the name of the street and go some 5 miles the road is pretty rough east of Harvard and I know about the road on the other side of the freeway I just never knew it went all the way to Vegas perhaps that was the oldoriginal road to Vegas it would make sense right maybe I'll get on it sometime and see if it goes all the way to Jean like was mentioned.

You stop on the way and play at the great buffet and casino at Morongo.

Quote: neverquitwhenup

You stop on the way and play at the great buffet and casino at Morongo.

Taking the 10 is going way.out of the way, but depending on traffic or weather or road conditions may be the only other option. I've only seen it bad enough (due to weather) on the 15 once to even consider it.

i agree Moron-go is too far East

SanMan is not that far from 15
and the buffet and gaming is Las Vegas style