Transportation ideas to DLR from Las Vegas?

[winklet]

Best way to get to DLR from Las Vegas on New Year's day??

We are visiting family in Las Vegas over New Year's this year and will be heading to our DLR hotel on Jan 1. For now, we have a one way car rental booked for $170 with drop off on Katella. Flights that day from LAS to SNA are way above normal at $140/person, and there's 4 of us, which adds up to a big savings by driving.

How tough is that drive? Are there other transportation options that we should consider?

 

[CinderEmma94]

Best way to get to DLR from Las Vegas on New Year's day??

We are visiting family in Las Vegas over New Year's this year and will be heading to our DLR hotel on Jan 1. For now, we have a one way car rental booked for $170 with drop off on Katella. Flights that day from LAS to SNA are way above normal at $180/person, and there's 4 of us, which adds up to a big savings by driving.

How tough is that drive? Are there other transportation options that we should consider?

Be prepared to sit in traffic for hours with very limited places to stop for gas/bathroom/etc. Most of the drive is two lanes on each side of the highway. An accident can extend the drive by hours (and people drive like maniacs through the desert so it’s not uncommon) and even if there aren’t any accidents the sheer number of people driving in that direction makes it unbearable. Many many people go to Vegas for New Years and then drive back to CA on the 1st. I would fly even though it’s more expensive. I have made that drive many times in my life (grew up in southern ca and had family in Vegas) and I would avoid all major holidays/holiday weekends/etc driving if possible.

 

[winklet]

ugh. this sounds rough... I appreciate the honesty!

 

[CinderEmma94]

ugh. this sounds rough... I appreciate the honesty!

Of course! Everyone has to make the best choice for their situation of course, I just never want to sugarcoat it because it really can suck. It’s an easy drive or it’s the worst, there really is no in between and there’s no way around it once you’re stuck in it for a several hour stretch. It may be a good idea to price out other airports - LAX, BUR (Burbank). They’re farther and yes you’ll have to deal with southern ca traffic (either renting a car from the airport or ride share) but possibly cheaper. It may work better for your situation.

 

[winklet]

Tried all the LA area airports and just found LAS - LGB for $130/person. We're in Canada so it's STEEP with exchange rate for 4 people and we're already stretched pretty thin with this trip...
Ugh. I'll sleep on it and hope there's a magical airline seat sale tomorrow!
If we leave Vegas before 10am Jan 1 do you think traffic at risk of a jam?

 

[sjmac42]

Agree to avoid that drive on a holiday weekend. Also look at flying into Long Beach (LGB)
edit: just saw you checked LGB as well.
You‘d have to leave at like 4am to avoid the traffic returning to LA.

 

[BelleOftheBall16]

Tried all the LA area airports and just found LAS - LGB for $130/person. We're in Canada so it's STEEP with exchange rate for 4 people and we're already stretched pretty thin with this trip...
Ugh. I'll sleep on it and hope there's a magical airline seat sale tomorrow!
If we leave Vegas before 10am Jan 1 do you think traffic at risk of a jam?

Southwest currently has a flight Las-Sna leaving at 7:40am for $99

 

[winklet]

Thanks for mentioning Southwest. It wasn't coming up on my google flights searches. Found a 7:30am flight to ONT for $70/person. Will be arriving 8:30am New Years day and I'm assuming not too hard to get to DLR from ONT? Or worth it to spend the extra $120 for our party to fly into SNA (flight is $100/person) at same time?

 

[Cal-Pie]

Thanks for mentioning Southwest. It wasn't coming up on my google flights searches. Found a 7:30am flight to ONT for $70/person. Will be arriving 8:30am New Years day and I'm assuming not too hard to get to DLR from ONT? Or worth it to spend the extra $120 for our party to fly into SNA (flight is $100/person) at same time?

I would eat my own shoe before I would drive from Vegas to Disneyland on New Year's Day. Ground transportation at ONT can be expensive, unless you're renting a car.

 

[Malcon10t]

Thanks for mentioning Southwest. It wasn't coming up on my google flights searches. Found a 7:30am flight to ONT for $70/person. Will be arriving 8:30am New Years day and I'm assuming not too hard to get to DLR from ONT? Or worth it to spend the extra $120 for our party to fly into SNA (flight is $100/person) at same time?

Yes, from ONT it is about an hour drive.

 

[winklet]

I'm convinced! Thank you for saving us from a holiday disaster, disboards. Had no idea that would be hairy drive on New Years day and the more googling I do, the more I realize it could have been ROUGH! I got noon flights to LGB. Sounds like it's the right move for starting our DLR visit...

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I'm convinced! Thank you for saving us from a holiday disaster, disboards. Had no idea that would be hairy drive on New Years day and the more googling I do, the more I realize it could have been ROUGH! I got noon flights to LGB. Sounds like it's the right move for starting our DLR visit...

Smart move. I’d pay double what you’re paying in flights to not do that drive!

 

[RoseColored97]

I'm convinced! Thank you for saving us from a holiday disaster, disboards. Had no idea that would be hairy drive on New Years day and the more googling I do, the more I realize it could have been ROUGH! I got noon flights to LGB. Sounds like it's the right move for starting our DLR visit...

So glad you were able to find something for flights! Flying will be a safer option as well. Hope you have a wonderful trip!

 

[kristensideaoffun]

I'm convinced! Thank you for saving us from a holiday disaster, disboards. Had no idea that would be hairy drive on New Years day and the more googling I do, the more I realize it could have been ROUGH! I got noon flights to LGB. Sounds like it's the right move for starting our DLR visit...

Smart move. That drive is terrible on non-holidays, but a holiday weekend, especially New Years, is the worst. You’ll be so thankful you flew instead drove. You’re going to start your DLR trip much more relaxed.