Las Vegas Weddings · Travel Guide
Las Vegas Road Trip Guide
Best routes, timing, and travel tips for a smooth drive into the desert — from Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City.
270 mi
From Los Angeles
300 mi
From Phoenix
330 mi
From San Diego
420 mi
From Salt Lake City
The Drive Is Part of the Trip
Getting to Las Vegas by Car
More people drive to Las Vegas than fly. It sits within a day's drive of Southern California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada's own smaller cities — which is exactly why so many couples road-trip in for their wedding rather than book a flight.
The routes themselves are straightforward: one or two interstates, well-marked, mostly desert. The variables that actually matter are timing traffic around the weekend rush and being ready for genuine desert conditions once you're past the last town with a gas station.
Best Routes
Driving in From the Major Gateway Cities
Los Angeles, CA
~270 miles · 4–4.5 hours
Take I-15 North the whole way — the classic Vegas run. The bottleneck is the Cajon Pass out of LA and the California–Nevada state line at Primm, where three lanes of traffic funnel down on Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings. Leave before 10am or after 7pm on a Friday to skip the worst of it. Stop in Barstow for gas and food; it's the last major services for over 100 miles.
San Diego, CA
~330 miles · 5–5.5 hours
Head north on I-15 through Temecula and Corona, then merge with the LA-to-Vegas route past Victorville. Same Primm/state-line chokepoint applies on weekends. Fill up in Barstow — it's your last reliable gas stop before the Nevada desert stretch.
Phoenix, AZ
~300 miles · 4.5–5 hours
US-93 North through Wickenburg and Kingman is the fastest route, crossing Hoover Dam on the way into Nevada — a worthwhile 15-minute photo stop if you have the time. Traffic is lighter than the LA corridor, but summer heat on this stretch is intense; carry extra water and check your coolant before you leave.
Salt Lake City, UT
~420 miles · 6–6.5 hours
I-15 South the entire way, cutting through the dramatic Virgin River Gorge in Arizona's northwest corner — one of the most scenic stretches of interstate in the country. Watch for winter weather on the Utah portion near Cedar City; the Arizona and Nevada legs are usually clear year-round.
Before You Go
Timing & Travel Tips for a Smooth Drive
Avoid Friday afternoon and Sunday evening
These are the two heaviest travel windows on every route into and out of Las Vegas, especially I-15 from Southern California. A normal 4-hour drive from LA can stretch past 6 hours during peak exodus times.
Fill up before the desert stretches
Gas stations thin out fast once you leave the last major town on your route (Barstow, Kingman, Cedar City). Top off your tank there rather than risk running low in 100°F desert heat with no cell signal.
Drive early or late in summer
June through September, desert highway temperatures can exceed 110°F by early afternoon. Morning or evening driving is easier on your car and far more comfortable if you break down or need to pull over.
Check your car before you go
Coolant, tire pressure, and a spare — desert breakdowns are more common in extreme heat, and cell coverage is spotty on long stretches of US-93 and I-15 through the Mojave. A basic pre-trip check goes a long way.
Time your arrival around the marriage license bureau
If you're road-tripping in to get married, the Clark County Marriage License Bureau is open until midnight daily, including holidays — but give yourself a buffer for traffic delays so you're not rushing in at 11:45pm on your wedding day.
Road-Tripping In for the Wedding
Driving In to Get Married in Las Vegas
Nevada has no waiting period and no blood test requirement, which makes a road trip wedding genuinely realistic — drive in, get your license at the Clark County Marriage License Bureau (open daily until midnight), and get married the same day if you want to. Most couples still plan at least one overnight, though, so traffic delays don't turn a ceremony into a scramble.
Keep your license documents, attire, and rings with you in the cabin rather than buried in luggage — you don't want to be unpacking the trunk at the hotel an hour before your ceremony. A garment bag and a phone charger go a long way after four-plus hours on the interstate.
If your route brings you in through the desert already, consider skipping the Strip chapel entirely — Valley of Fire and Nelson Ghost Town are both within an hour of the highway and make the last leg of your trip part of the ceremony itself.
Common Questions
Las Vegas Road Trip FAQ
What is the best route to drive to Las Vegas from Los Angeles?
How long does it take to drive from Phoenix to Las Vegas?
Is the drive from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas scenic?
When should I avoid driving to or from Las Vegas?
Can I drive to Las Vegas, get married, and drive home the same day?
What should I pack for a road trip wedding to Las Vegas?
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