How many days to spend in DL , how long of a drive from LV

[wdwstar]

i have family in las vegas and i would like to split my vacation up between las vegas & DL, how long of a drive from LV to DL & how many days to spend at DL if i have never been there, i have heard that you spend less time doing DL compare to WDW & we are at wdw couple times a year and wanted to try DL for a change

 

[Amberle3]

I'd say you'd want a good 3 full days at DL. I myself like 5, but I take a pretty leisurely approach to the park.

It's about a 4.5 hour drive from Las Vegas, depending on traffic. I've done the drive a few times, once it took almost 8 hours, another time 6, a few times in the 4.5 range. I think a lot of it depends on what time/day you're on the roads and if there are any accidents to slow things up (frequent occurance).

 

[deedeetoo]

We are doing exactly the same thing this summer. We are flying into LV on a Friday staying there for the weekend to visit relatives and then driving to California on Monday. We expect it to take about 4.5 hours based on distance but I don't know anything about how traffic is. We are also new to DL and have bought 3 day PH. We figure one full day at each park, and then one day to go back and do what we missed and redo what we liked best.

 

[Michelle2]

I agree with Amberle, I think 3 minimum (there are so many things there especially now that they have added so much!), but I prefer 5 also. I think it depends on the time of year you go. If I was going at a busier time, I would get more days so I could see everything...but during a slower season, then 3 is ok.

And driving from LV. I was born and raised there, so every time we go which is about yearly, we stay with my parents and drive to DL. I guess we have good traffic because it only takes us about 4 hours, but we haven't encountered any accidents or traffic jams either. (We did on the way back from DL around Bakersfield I think, and it did delay us about 30 to 40 minutes...)

 

[Amberle3]

My mother was watching some news show last week that said that the stretch between LA and Las Vegas is one of (if not the) worst area for accidents in the country. Having seen some of the drivers there, I can see that it could be. I don't think I've driven it a single time when I haven't passed by some kind of accident.

On the trip with the 8+ hour wait there was an accident involving a semi. It blocked the entire highway on the way back to LA, and there was nothing anyone could do but wait. I'm telling you it really sucks being in the middle of those desert/mountain passes on a hot day, needing a bathroom, and knowing that you're not going anywhere for goodness only knows how long! I was really envying the folks with RVs.

 

[pjlla]

Okay.... here is one thread I wish I hadn't read!! We are driving from the LV area to Anaheim this summer. I mapquested it and added some time for traffic and potty stops and figured we would make it in about 6 hours max. And I scheduled a character dinner for that night, assuming we would have plenty of time.... NOW you tell me about how terrible this highway is! YIKES!!Well.... guess we can't do anything now but hope for the best and pray!......P

 

[iceskatejen]

It all really depends on time of day, day of the week, and a little luck of the draw. I went from my area to Vegas on a Friday morning last March and was there by 2pm after leaving at 8:30 (making a few stops along the way). The drive wasn't bad at all other than just being really ready to be out of the car by the time I got there. Going back, I left Vegas around 3pm and was home about 8:30-8:45. I did stop for dinner in Barstow, though. I did hit a little traffic in Victorville, but it wasn't too bad. Then again, I'm used to S CA traffic having lived here my whole life.

Just leave the Vegas area by 8 or 9 am, and you should be more than ok. If you do that, you'll be in the DL area by early to mid-afternoon.

 

[LuvTigger]

I've done this drive almost every year for the past 13 years, and it's generally not that bad. We usually take about 4.5 hours to get to DL from Vegas, including a couple of bathroom stops along the way. However, we do plan carefully. We usually leave first thing in the morning, about 6 a.m., and get to DL by about 10:30. Less people on the road then. Also, we try to avoid weekends. Keep in mind that a lot of CA residents drive to Vegas for the weekend, so they'll leave Friday afternoon. I got caught in that traffic once, and it was bad, but I don't think it added more than an hour to our drive. The weekend visitors will usually return sometime on Sunday, so I would also avoid leaving Vegas on a Sunday if at all possible.

Usually we make fewer stops on the way to DL from Vegas, so we always take longer returning to Vegas only because we stop and have lunch, maybe shopping along the way, etc.

 

[pjlla]

Well... the good news is that it is not a weekend.... it is a Tuesday. However, the bad news is that we will be leaving Hoover Dam/LV area around noon, maybe a bit earlier. Will keep our fingers crossed............P

 

[imjen]

Well... the good news is that it is not a weekend.... it is a Tuesday. However, the bad news is that we will be leaving Hoover Dam/LV area around noon, maybe a bit earlier. Will keep our fingers crossed............P

We drive through Vegas from Utah and always stop in South Las Vegas for an early lunch so leave from there around 11:30. We've never had any problems! We just did this drive several weeks ago on a Monday. I've heard that Sundays are awful with people heading back to CA after a weekend in Vegas so I wouldn't want to attempt driving that stretch then, but other than that I think you'll be fine. It takes us about 4.5 hours, with usually one bathroom break. You also want to leave early enough to avoid the worst of rush hour traffic around LA. We try to get through there before 3:30. Have a fun trip!

 

[wdwstar]

Thank you, for the info. i should have also included that we will be taking this trip next Easter. more then likely we will fly into LV the thursday evening before Easter and drive first thing Easter morning and returning that friday, first thing in the morning to fly home saturday. i wonder if we will really run into a lot of holiday traffic. i am so looking forward to this trip to DL. how is car rental out of LV ?

 

[LuvTigger]

All of the car rental agencies in Vegas are off site, but we don't have any problems catching the shuttles, and it's a short ride (most of the car rental sites are clustered together, and in the next few years, they are planning to put all the agencies in the same area). I like it much better than LAX.

I did have a really bad experience with Dollar in LV last year though - unbelievably horrible service. We've had much better service and overall experiences with National.

 

[wdwstar]

now that i think about it the several times we stayed in LV, we rented cars, i remember one car rental we stood out in the 120 degrees waiting for the shuttle, we seen all the shutltes several times before ours finally came after 40 mins. , a few times db came to pick us up and let us use is car but i dont want to ask him to take his car all the way to DL.

 

[marvel]

Oh boy. With the iternary we have we are driving from LV to Anaheim on a Sunday !! NOw I am thinking this may take well over 6 hours. But we have no choice. Is it worth leaving so early or would midday be better to avoid rush hour.

 

[Amberle3]

Early, definitely early.

 

[mommykatt]

Hi there! We live in Vegas and drive to Disneyland about every six weeks or so (our families are still down there!). It generally takes us 4 - 4.5 hours, depending on how many times we have to stop for potty breaks. We usually travel on a Monday morning. Sunday is the WORST day to drive from Vegas to So Cal. It is also the worst time for accidents. I don't want to jinx myself, but we've probably made the drive 50 times and (knock on wood) not been in an accident. We've seen quite a few though. You just have to be a careful driver and watch out for the RVs and big trucks. Nothing scarier than being passed by a big rig doing well over 90!!! You should do fine - don't worry about it!

HTH and enjoy your trip!

Kathleen

 

[wdwstar]

i wonder if there is cheap flights from LV to LAX if they have alot of accidents on that highway. we just drove to wdw this last easter and we seen so many accidents and right in front of our eyes a horriable accident, mini van rolled and slid into on coming traffic, took out a semi-truck, and blew up, i am sure there were no survivers, needless to say i have this fear driving more then a few hours now on highways that dont have the barriers in the middle lane to seperate on coming traffic.

 

[LuvTigger]

Marvel,

I second the point on leaving early if you're traveling to DL on a Sunday. We usually leave Vegas at around 6 a.m. (although usually on a weekday), and that seems to work pretty well for us.



Wdwstar,

While accidents are always a possibility, I wouldn't let it change my plans. I am always somewhat afraid to drive in other states (heck, I'm even afraid to drive in my own state sometimes!), but I really don't mind the drive from Vegas to DL. I've seen a couple of accidents, but it's rarely made a big impact on our drive. As long as you practice common sense and defensive driving, I think you'll be fine.

Personally, when it's my turn to drive (BF and I take turns), I just stay in the right lane until I need to pass a car or truck in front of me, and I make sure to leave enough distance in front of me in case someone stops suddenly. (And if it makes you feel better, there's either a median or a big trench thingy separating oncoming traffic )

 

[marvel]

Wow, is it really that bad that we would have to leave by 6am!! Being the one that planned our itenary I feel like an idiot not having worked that out.

Is is complete standstill traffic on the way to anaheim?? Is there a longer way to get there but without traffic? we are in no hurry but wouldn't want to be completely stuck in traffic the whole way with young kids.

 

[LuvTigger]

I don't think it will be at a standstill (accidents notwithstanding), it's just that there are an enormous number of cars on the road. For me personally, I just like to travel with fewer cars on the road when possible. I think going to LA from Vegas isn't as bad as going to Vegas from LA because there are fewer lanes as you get closer to Vegas, whereas going to LA, more lanes open up.

I think you will be fine sticking with I-15. Just be prepared for more cars on the road. We always bring a small cooler with drinks in it, and stop for bathroom breaks (esp. since you have children) when you can. There are rest stops along the way.