Los Angeles To Las Vegas: Best Stops For Your Road Trip

The drive from L.A. to Vegas isn’t just about getting from point A to B—it’s packed with fun stops along I-15 you won’t want to miss. Here’s your ultimate road trip itinerary! From retro diners and ghost towns to desert art and natural wonders, this route is full of surprises that make the journey just as memorable as the destination.

L.A. To Las Vegas Road Trip Details

• Distance: 314 miles
• Drive Time: 5.5 hours
• Stops Include: Victorville, Oro Grande, Yermo, Baker, Goodsprings

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Rental Cars: If you need to rent a car for your road trip, we recommend Enterprise who always have the best rates and great customer service! But if you would prefer to shop around, you can use RentalCars.com to compare rates between different rental car companies.

Campervan and RV Rentals: If you’re traveling on a budget, consider renting an RV or campervan for your road trip. Although campervans and RVs are a little more expensive than renting a car, you’ll save money in the long run since you won’t need to stay in a hotel room. See RVs and campervans on Outdoorsy.

The drive from L.A. to Las Vegas isn’t just a straight shot through the desert—it’s a road trip filled with retro diners, bizarre roadside attractions, ghost towns, art installations, and stretches of vast desert beauty. This itinerary covers the quickest and most direct route to Las Vegas via I-15, without detours to Death Valley or Joshua Tree, making it perfect for travelers who want to make the most of a single day on the road.

Interstate 15 is the fastest way to get from Southern California to Las Vegas, covering roughly 270 miles and taking about 4–5 hours without stops. But why rush through the Mojave Desert when there are so many hidden gems along the way? While the route may look desolate on a map, it’s packed with offbeat charm and unexpected photo ops that turn a routine drive into a highlight of your trip.

Each stop listed below includes practical info and a bit of backstory to help you decide whether to hop out and explore. If you want to see them all, you’ll need to start early and limit your time to about an hour per stop—this guide is designed to be completed in one full day.

And if you have extra time, you could consider adding on a visit to Mojave National Preserve or Death Valley, but those side trips really deserve at least a full day of their own.

🚗 Prefer a more nostalgic route? You can also reach Las Vegas via historic Route 66 through Needles and then head north on U.S. 95. Check out our Route 66 to Las Vegas itinerary here.

Best Stops Between Los Angeles and Las Vegas on Interstate-15

California Route 66 Museum

Victorville might surprise you. This Mojave Desert city is one of the largest along historic U.S. Route 66, and it’s home to the beloved California Route 66 Museum—a must-stop for anyone chasing nostalgia along the Mother Road.

Located in Old Town Victorville, this museum showcases a rich collection of vintage memorabilia, from glowing neon signs and classic advertisements to a 1917 Ford Model T. It’s a fun and educational stop that brings the heyday of Route 66 to life.

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Run by passionate volunteers, the museum offers a personal touch. Staff are always eager to share stories and insider info about Victorville’s role in Route 66 history.

How to Get There:From I-15, take the D Street exit and drive straight into Old Town Victorville. The museum is located right on D Street.

Good to Know:

• Open Thursday through Monday
• Admission is free (donations appreciated!)

Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch (Oro Grande, CA)

If you’re a fan of quirky roadside attractions and Americana charm, Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch is an absolute must-see on your Route 66 road trip. Located just north of Victorville in the high desert town of Oro Grande, this unique forest of metal “trees” adorned with colorful glass bottles is one of the most whimsical art installations in California.

The late Elmer Long began creating the bottle trees in the early 2000s using a vast collection of bottles he and his father had gathered over decades. The result is a dazzling and surreal landscape of glinting glass and rusted steel—a true labor of love that continues to delight visitors from all over the world.

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Set aside at least an hour to wander the ranch, snap some photos, and take in the creative details. It’s a peaceful and fascinating place that feels like stepping into a dream.

How to Get There:From Victorville, take D Street/Route 66 northeast for about 15 minutes. Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch will be on your right. It’s an easy detour off I-15, especially if you’re already stopping at the nearby California Route 66 Museum.

Read: Visit Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch: A Glass Forest On Route 66 In The California Desert

Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner (Yermo, CA) 🍔

Pull off the freeway and time-travel straight into the 1950s at Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner, one of the quirkiest and most beloved roadside stops between L.A. and Vegas! This nostalgic roadside stop is worth checking out for its retro charm, kitschy decor, and classic American comfort food.

Once you step inside the giant jukebox façade entrance, you’ll find life-size statues of Elvis, Betty Boop, and Marilyn Monroe, while Buddy Holly and Frankie Avalon croon from the retro jukebox. It’s not just a diner—it’s a full-on experience, with walls covered in vintage memorabilia, checkered floors, and neon signs glowing with rock ‘n’ roll energy.

The menu is classic Americana comfort food like thick milkshakes, meatloaf, patty melts, homemade apple pies, and more—many of them playfully named after Hollywood icons. You’ll find dishes like the Marlon Brando Mushroom Cheeseburger, James Dean Dog, and Elvis Presley Shake.

If you’re a fan of roadside oddities, you won’t want to miss the Dinersaur Park out back—yes, there are dinosaurs here too. Whether you’re stopping for a meal or just looking for fun photo ops, Peggy Sue’s is a nostalgic roadside stop that captures a slice of vintage Americana, making it a memorable part of any road trip through the California desert.

Peggy Sue’s is located just off I-15 in Yermo. Take the Ghost Town Road exit and follow the signs—you really can’t miss it. Whether you’re hungry, curious, or just craving a slice of the good ol’ days, this stop is pure retro road trip magic.

Step back in time at this retro 1950s diner—complete with jukeboxes, giant dinosaur sculptures, and old-school comfort food. It’s kitschy, weird, and totally unforgettable → Read more about Peggy Sue’s 50s Diner here.

🏜️ Calico Ghost Town (Yermo, CA)

Step back in time to the Wild West at Calico Ghost Town, a once-booming silver mining town turned roadside attraction just minutes off I-15. Founded in 1881 during California’s last great silver strike, Calico produced over $20 million in silver and was once home to more than 500 mines. But like many mining towns, it fizzled out in the 1890s when silver prices tanked—leaving behind dusty streets, boarded-up buildings, and a true ghost town.

That all changed in the 1950s when Walter Knott (yep, the Knott’s Berry Farm guy) purchased the town and began restoring it to its Old West glory. Today, Calico is a California State Historic Landmark and a quirky roadside stop packed with character and charm.

Visitors can stroll through wooden boardwalks, explore the old Maggie Mine on a self-guided tour, pan for gold, visit the old schoolhouse, or check out exhibits on the geology of the Calico Mountains. You might even catch a staged gunfight on weekends!

Plan to spend at least an hour here. There are gift shops, two restaurants—including Lil’s Saloon, which surprisingly serves up some tasty pizza—and even a campground if you want to extend your stay under the desert stars.

Read: Calico Ghost Town Campground: Camp At An Abandoned Mining Town That Dates Back To 1881

🏜️ Zzyzx Road (Mojave Desert, CA)

No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you—Zzyzx Road is a real place, and it’s one of the most bizarre and intriguing stops along Interstate 15. Located deep in the Mojave Desert between Barstow and Baker, this strange-sounding exit leads to a palm-lined oasis with a wild backstory.

Originally established in the 1940s as a health spa and religious retreat by self-proclaimed doctor and radio evangelist Curtis Howe Springer, Zzyzx (pronounced Zye-zix) was marketed as a miracle healing destination. But behind the scenes, it was an elaborate scam built with the labor of homeless men Springer recruited from L.A.’s Skid Row. Eventually, the government caught on, and Springer was booted from the land in the 1970s—earning him the unofficial title of “super squatter.”

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Today, what remains is a beautiful desert oasis surrounded by palm trees, a spring-fed lake, and remnants of the old Zzyzx Mineral Springs resort. The area is now part of the Desert Studies Center, run by a California State University consortium. It’s open to the public for short visits and nature walks.

To get there, take the Zzyzx Road exit and follow the paved road four miles to the end, skirting the edges of the stark white Soda Dry Lake. There are a few scenic pullouts along the way where you can snap photos of the salt flats and possibly spot bighorn sheep in the nearby Soda Mountains.

This offbeat detour is definitely worth it if you’re craving a strange, scenic, and surprisingly peaceful stop on your L.A. to Vegas road trip. Don’t forget your camera—this place is as photogenic as it is peculiar.

Read: Zzyzx Road: Discover A Lush Oasis in the Mojave Desert on Your Way To Las Vegas

🌡️ World’s Tallest Thermometer (Baker, CA)

No road trip from L.A. to Vegas is complete without a quick pit stop in Baker, home to one of America’s quirkiest roadside attractions: the World’s Tallest Thermometer. Standing an impressive 134 feet tall, this giant landmark towers over the Mojave Desert and is visible from miles away along Interstate 15.

While it’s easy to spot from the freeway, don’t just drive by—take the Baker exit to see this weird and wonderful monument up close. Built in 1991 by local businessman Willis Herron, the towering thermometer commemorates the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth—134°F in nearby Death Valley.

Herron, who once owned the Bun Boy restaurant next door, wanted to create a roadside attraction that would put Baker on the map (and rival KFC’s iconic spinning bucket). So he built a thermometer as tall as the temperature record. It’s bizarre, brilliant, and just the kind of oddball Americana that makes road trips fun.

Snap a selfie with the towering structure, then pop into the adjacent gift shop, where you’ll find all kinds of temperature-themed souvenirs and fun facts about Baker’s blazing-hot history.

Read: World’s Tallest Thermometer: The Story Behind Interstate-15’s Iconic Roadside Attraction

🥃 Pioneer Saloon (Goodsprings, NV)

Want to grab a drink in a real-deal Wild West saloon? Pioneer Saloon in Goodsprings, Nevada is a legendary roadside stop just 25 miles southwest of Las Vegas—and well worth the short detour off I-15. Built in 1913, it’s the oldest bar in southern Nevada and one of the last remaining saloons made with original stamped tin siding.

Step inside and you’ll feel like you’ve time-traveled to the early 1900s. The bar itself is a gorgeous cherrywood piece from the 1860s, and the tables have been there since opening day. It’s not just the setting that’s historic—Hollywood legends Clark Gable and Carole Lombard are tied to the saloon through a tragic plane crash that occurred nearby. A small museum inside shares newspaper clippings, photos, and artifacts from that fateful event.

The Pioneer Saloon is located in Goodsprings, a semi-abandoned mining town that’s technically a ghost town, even though a few hundred residents still call it home. You’ll find plenty of historic charm here, and it’s a fun place to explore whether you’re a history buff or just looking for a unique detour.

The saloon serves food daily from 9am to 9pm, with breakfast available until noon—perfect if you’re starting your road trip in Vegas and want to fuel up before hitting the highway. And good news: you don’t have to eat or drink to enjoy your visit. Families are welcome, though anyone under 21 can only enter the dining area.

How to Get There: From I-15, take the Jean exit and follow Goodsprings Road for about five minutes. The Pioneer Saloon and the old-fashioned Goodsprings General Store will be on your right when you roll into town

🎨 Seven Magic Mountains (Near Las Vegas, NV)

One of the most Instagram-famous stops on the drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, Seven Magic Mountains is a vibrant art installation that brings color and creativity to the Mojave Desert. It features seven towering stacks of neon-painted boulders, each more than three stories tall, creating a surreal contrast against the stark desert backdrop.

Created by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, this large-scale public artwork is both unexpected and unforgettable—perfect for a photo op and a quick stretch of the legs.

The installation is located about 20 minutes south of the Las Vegas Strip, making it a super convenient stop whether you’re starting or ending your road trip.

How to Get There:

• From Los Angeles: Take I-15 north and exit at Jean (Exit 12). Turn right on NV-161, then left on South Las Vegas Boulevard. Drive 5 miles and look for the installation on your right.
• From Las Vegas: Take I-15 south and exit at Sloan (Exit 25). Turn left on Sloan Road, then right on South Las Vegas Boulevard. Drive 7 miles—the art installation will be on your left.

Read: Seven Magic Mountains: What Do They Mean?

Las Vegas, Nevada

The final stop on your road trip is Las Vegas. However your adventure is only just beginning because Las Vegas has TONS of things to do, even for the non-gambler!

While this desert metropolis has more casinos than anywhere else in the world, there is also a copius amount of attractions and entertainment options here that will delight almost every type of traveler.

Not only that, but there are also plenty of natural attractions, national parks, and other amazing places to see nearby. Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, the Valley Of Fire, and Death Valley National Park are all easy to visit on a day trip from Las Vegas.

If it’s your first time visiting Las Vegas, cruising the strip is a must! Don’t miss seeing the Fountains of Bellagio or the Venice Canals at the Venetian Resort. Other popular things to do include riding an elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower and taking a spin on The Linq’s High Roller.

But there are so many other exciting experiences to have here, even if it’s your fifth time visiting “The Entertainment Capital of the World”.

HOTELS IN LAS VEGAS

The hotels in Las Vegas are some of the most impressive in the world! From lavish five star properties to hotels that have been built to replicate the pyramids of Egypt and the Eiffel Tower in France, you will for sure have a hard time deciding between the many great lodging options in Sin City. Here’s a quick guide to some of the best hotels in Las Vegas.

Recommended Hotels:

• Lavish: Fontainebleau Las Vegas
• Quirky: New York New York Hotel & Casino
• Convenient Location: The Bellagio
• Budget Travellers: Circus Circus and The Linq Hotel

Looking for a place to stay in Las Vegas? Use the interactive map below to find hotels, motels, and other lodging in Las Vegas, Nevada. Recommended hotels and other points of interest are also marked on the map.

Tips for this los Angeles to Las Vegas road trip

• Expect heavy traffic if you depart Los Angeles on Friday afternoon or if you depart Las Vegas on Sunday evening. If you leave during these times, a five hour road trip can easily turn into a seven hour drive.

• Since you’ll be travelling through the remote Mojave Desert, it’s always best to be prepared in case your car breaks down. The most important thing to bring is plenty of water as it can get dangerously hot out here. You might want to bring snacks too, especially if you don’t want to stop to eat.

Read More on California & Nevada

Kelso Dunes: Conquer the Tallest Sand Dunes in Mojave National Preserve

Visit Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch on Route 66: A Glass Forest in California’s Desert

Peggy Sue’s 50s Diner: A Retro Road Trip Stop Between LA and Vegas for Kitsch & Comfort Food

Wagon Wheel Restaurant is a Hidden Gem on Route 66 in California

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