By Car, Las Vegas

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the best way to go around the las vegas area is to get a rental car along the many car rental facilities around the las vegas area like enterprise or hertz or Avis or Budget others and the best thing is that they offer free shuttle service from the Mc Carran International Airport to the Depot so that you can choose what type of car or SUV or Van you would choose. Better to rent a mid size sedan than a small compact car since it will cost cheaper at just $ 20 plus insurance at another $ 35 a day while compact cars cost a little more. There is a main rental car depot just outside the arrival area of Mc Carran Airport here all the major car rental companies plying the las vegas area are represented. Dedicated McCarran Rent-A-Car Center shuttles depart approximately every five minutes to the new McCarran Rent-A-Car Center. Exit door 10 or 11.

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Plane fare to Las Vegas seems to high for your pocketbook. Too many of you going to fly. So, the bus is not that expensive, but times are set and the ride is long on that lonely desert road to Las Vegas. The answer is do what so many others do, take a vehicle and drive. Some motorcycle, others have a camper or motor home. Most of us will drive a car. What type makes all the difference on that long lonely road. Sports cars are neat and a chance to kick it up a notch on those long lonely desert roads, but just remember the maximum speed limit on many of the sections of highway is 70 mph with areas that have top speeds posted at 65 mph. Unfortunately, many drive faster, and if you see flashing red, blue lights coming from the car behind you , it means you have violated the speed limit in 95% of the times and the law enforcement agency in that area is about to have a serious talk with you. Radar and aircraft are also used to fine the speeders. Be wise, be careful, mind the speed laws and arrive safely in Las Vegas. Now you can become that wild an crazy person.

There are several ways to arrive via highway and listing a few of them coming from Salt Lake City (Interstate 15), from Denver (Interstate 70 to I-15), from Flagstaff (I-40 to US 93), or Phoenix (I-17 to I-40 to US 93). Los Angeles is about 300 miles away and those in the southern section of California will take the major highway, Interstate 15, that has the most traffic. Some will drive to Las Vegas via the northern area of California through Bakersfield and State Route 58 or merge with State Route 58 from Reno or Yosemite via US395.

Okay, if you are not a local, it might be time to brush up on the California Roads and Traffic website for the tourist driver. It will help you for California and even the other States surrounding Las Vegas, including Nevada, the home state for "Sin City", "Lost Wages" or whatever else comes to mind. I just say "Viva Las Vegas." Seeing that most visitors to Las Vegas statistically come from the Los Angeles area, Vegas.com website has some great tips for the drive. It is a long lonely desert road to Las Vegas.

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Las Vegas is the ideal place to start a journey into the Southwest of the USA. It is large enough to warrant many flights on different companies providing flexibility in timing and pricing. On the ground, it has the volume of car rentals to supply you with same choice while budgeting or planning. Once in Las Vegas one can focus on loops in all four directions of the compass and end up with wonders of nature everywhere. Example in the west is the Death Valley of California, example in the east is the Four Corners region and going south to the Mexican border or north into Utah offers other attractions not to be missed. The car is indispensable because it gives freedom and flexibility especially in a region where the public options are rare and far between. Within ten day car-assisted trip one can spend enough time in iconic places such as the Grand Canyon, its stunning neighbour - the Monument Valley, the historical masterpieces of the Mesa Verde, the remnants of pueblo culture in New Mexico and even have time to play the casinos of Las Vegas at the end for two whole days!

Travel notes

From Springfield,IL to Las Vegas, then go back to Springfield,IL in Apr.2011. Totally more than 3326miles and more than 53 hours. I was the only one driver.

First day: From Springfield, IL through Saint Louis to Oklahoma City, OK. Totally 633miles
Visited Cowboy and heritage museum and Oklahoma national memorial
Fun things: during in 12 hours from winter to summer. The temperature is from 47 up to 85. We left home at 5:30am when Springfield is scattered strong storms we got out home driving to Oklahoma City through 3 seasons on one day.

Second day: Oklahoma City, Ok to Abq, NM 572miles. Also in one day is from summer to winter. The temperature is from 85 down to 53, also one day go through 3 seasons

Third day from Albuquerque, NM to Las Vegas, NV, 572 miles The landscape on the I-40 from Arizona to La Vegas so beautiful and I love it. Stop by both side of Grand Canyon and take some pictures.

Stay in Las Vegas two nights
Forth day shopping, walking, and watching, and gambling in Las Vegas.

Fifth day from Las Vgas to Denver, 771miels, and the temperature is from summer down to winter. In CO, we met snow and rain from afternoon till night.

Sixth day: Denver to Springfield, 907miles. The temperature is from winter up to summer.

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Rest Areas I-15

I think rests areas are so essential. They provide an area to stretch and relax from traveling the road. Your body needs this. I think many forget how important they are and I know my family depends on them. They have plenty of restrooms, drinking fountains, shaded area, picnic tables and many of some pretty interesting information posted. Some may have pay phones.

I-15 has several going to and from Vegas. They are both centrally located from Barstow to Baker and from Baker to Nevada Stateline. Baker is 64 miles east of Barstow and about 51 miles west of Primm, Nevada Stateline.

Clyde V. Kane Rest Area is about 30 Miles East of Barstow and 34 miles west of Baker. Yet, beware it has not been remodeled and is in need of much repair. Their is is two rooms for the ladies, but some of the sinks and tolets do not work. So there maybe lines.

So the other rest area is called Valley Wells Rest Area and it is 26 miles west of Nevada state line and 25 miles east of Baker.

Valley Wells Rest area is Opened and Remodeled!

I had to giggle at some folks trying to find a tree or bush big enough for them since they didn’t stop at the available rest stop. Just keep in mind that there is Barstow, Baker, Valley Wells, and Primm Nevada, and after that is Gene Nevada, which I would recommend stopping at while heading east or west if you didn’t stop at any of the rest areas along the way.

When renting a car, it's my experience that going through the airport is considerably cheaper than picking up a car at the hotel. I had to rent the last two stays in town, and once I did it at the hotel, once at the airport. The Airport was much cheaper, and has a better selection of cars.

Most car rental agencies let you cancel with short notice, so I would rent as soon as possible, and watch for rates as it gets closer to your trip to see if prices go down. I usually use Travelocity to do a quick comparison, then rent through the agency directly, although you'll see very small differences.

My personal preference is Dollar, always a good experience in Vegas with them. In any case, whichever you go with, see if they have a "club" you can join. For example, with Dollar, I am a member of Dollar Express. If you reserve through this club, you can skip the line in the rental center, go directly outside to a small booth where your paperwork is ready, and they direct you on to the cars. Takes two minutes vs. a potential long wait in line at the counter!

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Hertz rental car is not friendly to the mildly disabled. I have serious mobility problems with my shoulders, hands and wrist. I have a doctor's Rx for a steering wheel spinner to make driving safe and less painful. Although it was noted on my reservation when I arrived the spinner was not installed. I was told to drive the car into vegas and drive it back to the airport the next day. We enjoyed a ride down the strip. Great view for my passenger! Drove to Red Rock Canyon area for great views of dessert and rock formations. Unfortunately the spinner was not the only thing Hertz forgot to install! They left off the all important oil cap. Oil spewed out of the car grill, terrible fumes. We returned to the airport but again too late for a spinner. Again I was required to take a car without modification and asked to return it for installation. That's 2 round trips they expected me to take without any modification for my disability. I passed and took a cab. The next time you walk around a Hertz checking car for any damages be sure to pop the hood... just in case! If Hertz had been more helpful we would have visited Valley of the Fire and the art gallery district. Buses were often slow and/or full.

Hello,

Las Vegas to SF would be the longest hall about 9 to 10 hours, you might want to stop off in Santa Maria or any place near the 101. The 101 is a lovely highway, if you want to take your time lots of nice towns and you can always pop on the old highway 1.

SF to LA the fastest way is the 5 fwy but "oh so boring" I recommend a little more time down the 101 and you should have time definetly take a detour through Big Sur quite stunning just south of SF just off of the old Highway 1. So that is what I recommend. Happy travels