Driving to Vegas from Southern California? Here Are Some Tips

My husband's family lives in Vegas, so we go to Vegas very, very often. And in the past few years of doing this, I've learned more than a few handy tips about the road there that you might find useful, so with a pen in your hand, and a paper before you, be ready to make your list. There are a lot of things to consider besides filling up your car at the gas station the night before!

1. TIME: The first thing you must decide is, when do you go?

Unless you absolutely must, don't EVER plan on leaving during traffic hours. From Southern California, we would be taking Interstate 15, due North. The 15 freeway, mind you, is one long road, and the only way into Vegas from here, and you have no alternatives should a traffic jam coincide with your travel. Traffic hours typically start around 3pm, almost every day of the week, and during morning traffic hours (6am to about 9am) on the weekday mornings (especially if you are passing through the Corona/Ontario region). Despite high gas prices, guaranteed to be extra heavy during holidays. If possible, we always leave late at night - after dinner (anytime after 8pm), and even the wee hours of the morning, if need be. Driving at night is not a problem for us, and it happens to be a lovely drive filled with the beautiful, jeweled night sky. I even saw shooting stars once! However, if nighttime driving is not suitable for you, wait for the break of dawn on weekends, or after the typical morning traffic on the weekdays to make your journey.

You may also have to take into consideration the time of arrival for where you will stay. As we stay at my in-laws, we have the liberty of arriving any time we want, even when it's 1am. If you're staying at a hotel, call the reception desk before you leave to find out what time you are allowed to check in.

2. FOR THE DRIVER:

Whether you are going by yourself or with passengers in the car, a few things you should make sure you have on hand are:

- A map. True, it's not easy to get lost driving the 15 freeway. You simply go straight up to Vegas! However, a map and/or directions to your hotel would be helpful. Sometimes, taking the usual exits in Vegas straight to the Las Vegas Blvd. strip may not be the best choice, as it is often always, full of cars and unpleasant to drive on. Updated maps might show you some side streets and back entrances that you can utilize for your particular hotel.

- Fluids! Having water bottles and drinks handy for yourself and any passengers is a must. Staying hydrated on the trip keeps you alert and awake, so that you don't nod off as easily on the drive. If you like your drinks cold, a cooler will come in handy, though it may be cumbersome to flip open a cooler while you drive. Instead, a handy tip for keeping your water ice cold is to simply freeze it the night before, with the bottle wrapped completely in foil outside. Remember that water expands when it's frozen, so do yourself a favor by taking a few sips of your foil-wrapped water bottle before you put it in the freezer! Your water will be a huge chunk of ice that can melt as it sits in your car during your drive. Meanwhile, the foil keeps the condensation (the "sweat" that seems to appear on your ice cold water bottle!) between the bottle and the foil, preventing the ring of water that may build up in your cup holder.

- For a single driver in the car, it's important to stay awake, and your car stereo can help you. Having great music that you can belt your soul out to always help, so build your music library on your iPod, or make a CD ahead of time. If that doesn't fit your style, listening to books-on-tape/CD, learning a new language-on-tape/CD, or listening to the radio can be mentally stimulating for the ride. The Drive, 97.1 FM, is a radio station dedicated to those driving to Vegas, and besides news and music, they also offer traffic information for Vegas goers.

- Snacks are always good to have on hand as well. Things easy to munch on, whether they're beef jerky, sandwiches, or crackers, are also favorable. If you have passengers, and you're not in a hurry to get to Vegas, feel free to take breaks and dine on more delectable picnic and finger foods. If you have a chef in the group, they may want to prepare something ahead of time - of if you have a whole party going, have everyone bring one snack item for the road trip!

3. PASSENGERS:

Having passengers in the car can be entertaining in itself, but at the same time, the 3-4 hour drive might need some extras to keep everyone entertained. That is, if you don't want them to fall asleep...the snoring can then be lulling to the driver, which may not help the most important person in the car!

For kids, books, portable electronic games (like the Nintendo DS, which is great because players can play each other wirelessly!), movies on the DVD player, and www.momsminivan.com/minivanofun.htmltravel games are always classically fun and appropriate for a car ride. Artistically-inclined kids can color with a lap desk or clipboard (just make sure you have a box to keep the colors/pencils in!), and older kids may enjoy the challenge of writing a short, rhyming poem that must use 5 things that you see on the road, or the first 5 random words that you come up with. Adults can play travel board games as much as kids can, as well as word games.

4. FUN STOPS:

If you aren't pressed for time, enjoy exploring the curious stops along the 15 freeway. If you've frequented the drive to and fro Vegas, you've probably seen the Barstow Station. Head into the golden arches that signal a McDonald's, and you'll find yourself in a bustling little market filled with tourist shops and a food plaza that sells everything from ice cream to Chinese food to Cuban snacks, and dine in the train cars that are there. If you head for the bathroom, you'll pass the radio station for The Drive, and can watch the radio announcers broadcast news and music from the outside. Another famous stop is in Baker, where the "World's Largest Thermometer" resides. Behold - it not only tells you the temperature and marks the city, but it's also where the Bob's Big Boy burger restaurant is found. Baker is also full of fast-food restaurants where you can grab a meal at, and it's also home to the Alien Fresh Jerky shop, a shop where you'll have seen signs advertising its location many exits before Baker.

Speaking of signs, you'll probably see many large billboards, screaming in full force that there's a Peggy Sue's 50's Diner in Yermo. This is my most favorite spot - there's actually a very happy, energetic, little old lady by the name of Peggy Sue who started it all that owns and works there. Besides the 50's diner where you order wonderful hash browns, pancakes, omelettes, and so on, there's a park outside where ducks swim peacefully on the pond, and a five and dime store where you can buy novelties and trinkets from the 50's era. The inside of the entire building is bright and colorfully decorated; the bathroom walls are a huge mural painted in tribute of Hollywood in the 50's!

Yermo is also home to the Calico Ghost Town, an old mining ghost town that is eerily delightful. Just like getting to Peggy Sue's, signs will clearly direct you to the ghost town where you can spend a whole afternoon there. You might even want to make this a day trip for the kids, instead of going straight to Vegas!

Last but not least, you'll no doubt see a few shopping outlets on the way there. If the desire strikes you, you can stop at either the Tanger Outlet Center in Barstow, California, or the Fashion Outlet of Las Vegas at Primm, Nevada. Personally, I always end up at Primm if I make a shopping stop, because of it's location. When I'm at Barstow, I'm still thinking of driving the whole way to Vegas. Primm is closer, and by then, I'm more than ready to stretch my legs. Plus, it's a good stop for clean bathrooms!

Though Vegas is a fun city to be in, remember that the journey itself can be just as exciting and new as the destination itself! Planning when you leave, what you want to bring, and entertainment for the ride there makes it all the more easier. Often, we see these tips as ideas for the drive to Vegas; keep in mind that these are just as handy for the ride back from Vegas. In fact, you can even leave Vegas earlier than you plan to, and enjoy many of these sites on the way back!