Las Vegas to LA road trip- any tips?

[Doris1971]

Hi all

We are planning a road trip from Vegas to LA and back for our 30th wedding anniversary in sept/ Oct next year.

Has anyone got any tips? Hotel ideas? Thinking of renewing our vows. Where have others done this?Best places to eat? Best hotel for universal? What stops have you done on the trip from Vegas to LA? Husband will be driving so definitely looking to go on part of Route 66.

Never done west coast before so want to make the most of it.

Thanks in advance
Doris

[RachaelC]

Originally Posted by Doris1971

Hi all

We are planning a road trip from Vegas to LA and back for our 30th wedding anniversary in sept/ Oct next year.

Has anyone got any tips? Hotel ideas? Thinking of renewing our vows. Where have others done this?Best places to eat? Best hotel for universal? What stops have you done on the trip from Vegas to LA? Husband will be driving so definitely looking to go on part of Route 66.

Never done west coast before so want to make the most of it.

Thanks in advance
Doris

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We did a mini road trip 10 years ago. Flew to LA, drove to Vegas the next day, took about 5 hours if I remember correctly.

On the way back to LA we spent a few days in Palm Springs which I would say is well worth a visit.

[kateb78]

We did the drive from Vegas to Anaheim for a Disney fix! The drive was about 5 hours and we took in a bit of Route 66 too. We stopped at Elmer’s Bottletree Ranch and stopped for food at Peggy Sue’s diner. It wasn’t the most interesting of journeys but it was pretty straightforward.

I’d also recommend taking in one of the beaches once you’re in the LA area - we went to Laguna Beach and saw the best sunset ever. We’ll be checking out Huntington Beach next time.

[swiper]

We went to Peggy sues ... that was an experience driving down ghost town road. Tumble weed blowing everywhere, plus we hit a sandstorm. Also seen loads of Joshua trees.

[georgemac]

We have done a couple of West Coast Road Trips - including a drive from Vegas to LA.
The drive from Vegas to LA is quite uninspiring from memory - I would not stop overnight anywhere.

Vegas - we enjoyed it - not gamblers or drinkers - but loved the shows and walking around the hotels. I'd recommend staying right on the strip - we stayed in the Vdara - fantastic suite - no casino. We went to a couple of shows and a day trip drive to Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon West Rim - really enjoyed it.

Palm Springs - we did a day trip there in 2015 for Aerial Tramway and Air Museum - really enjoyed it - so went back for a few nights in 2016 - did Joshua Tree National Park. In the desert so guaranteed good weather, lot's of lovely resort hotels to choose from and not too expensive.

LA - for Universal best staying to the North End I would say. We did not like LA too much (been twice) except for the beaches - and although we did not find Hollywood or Bel Air etc too great - we are glad we have been and seen it.
1st trip we stayed at Anaheim - at Disney - hotels are good, plentiful and not too expensive.
2nd Trip we stayed at Manhattan Beach - which we loved, and also liked Marina Del Rey on South end of Venice beach, also really liked Santa Monica. We have also visited Long Beach, lovely and Redondo Beach would also be great.

A trip to Santa Barbara is not too far away from LA. We also loved Dan Diego. Drove there from Palm Springs. Good luck with the planning.

[Nicksgirl]

We drove from LA to Vegas... yonks ago.

I remember stopping in Barstow and another place can not remember now, great shopping.

Probably useless info. But hope it helps a little. xxx

[mouli1]

We absolutely loved the drive .the landscape is like nothing you see in the UK. We stopped at barstow for outlets and shopping and again nearer Vegas just over the Nevada state line for more outlets. Took us about 4 hours or so .
If you stop in Vegas take time to go to the Hoover dam and then you get to time travel as half way across you are in Arizona which is one hour ahead

[KarenG]

Formerly we stopped at Peggy Sues and always recommended it on here but last week we tried “Eddie World” which is literally a mile before Peggy Sues.

I’m going to struggle to explain it because all the stuff online didn’t convince me at all!

It’s a massive shop and gas station with lots of really well priced and nicely prepared and presented food, cooked to order (WAY better than Peggy Sues). There is a range of soft toys and candy which is ... eccentric but really impressive. The toilets are amazing... better than many of the five star casinos!

I won’t go to Peggy Sues again, it’s Eddie World all the way now

[400ixl]

You can go the boring route across to Barstow and down which takes around 4-5 hours without major traffic / hold ups. The scenery here is OK, but nothing really special.

Alternatively you could go across through Death Valley stopping at the lowest point in the US and a few other highlights and down to Barstow, or right across to Olancha and down from there.

If you go the full Olancha route you can stop in many scenic places and also the mainly abandoned mining ghost town in Darwin. The full route will be a full 12 hour day, but you could stop in death valley for a night under the stars. Somewhere like Panamint Springs for example is pretty basic but a nice place or somewhere like the Stove Pipe Wells in the middle and The Inn at Death Valley which is very nice.

Really is worth the Death Valley route if you have the time, otherwise its just pretty much a wasted day travelling.

Return wise maybe come back via Palm Springs.

Also, there is a whole west coast section to the forum which will be much better than this one for questions and research.

https://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=171

[Doris1971]

Wow, these tips are great. Thanks everyone for all the replies. I will definitely take a look at the west coast board.

Doris x