Road Trip Route: LA to Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon

In just four days, you can experience two major American cities and the West’s most famous natural attraction. But you’ll be doing a lot of driving. With a full seven days, you can add a day to each place to experience them more fully.

Day 1: Los Angeles

If you have just one day in Los Angeles, don’t try to do it all; you’ll end up spending most of your time on the freeway. Instead, focus in on the part of town that interests you the most. Movie fanatics should go to Hollywood to wander the Walk of Fame. Outdoors lovers should target one of the beach towns (Malibu, Santa Monica, or Venice Beach) to enjoy the sun and sand. Families will most likely want to head to the house of the mouse (better known as Disneyland).

Day 2: Driving from Los Angeles to Las Vegas (270 Miles/5 Hours)

Take I-10 East out of Los Angeles, and then use I-15 North for the majority of your drive.

Las Vegas

You’ve only got one night in Las Vegas, so spoil yourself. Stroll the Strip, popping into casinos like The Cosmopolitan, Bellagio, and Caesars Palace for food, drinks, a show, gambling—or all of the above. End your night at the Mandarin Bar, with its glittering view of the Strip.

Las Vegas sign

 

Day 3: Driving from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon (280 Miles/5 Hours)

This desert drive follows US-93 South and I-40 East to the Arizona town of Williams. From there, take AZ-64 North to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

The Grand Canyon

Walk along the park’s Rim Trail for outstanding, accessible views of the canyon. In Grand Canyon Village, stop into the Hopi House to see Native American art and the Lookout Studio, where you can use telescopes set up on the outdoor terrace to get better views of canyon features. Get a meal and spend the night at the El Tovar Hotel, the national park’s most elegant lodging option.

 

sunset over Grand Canyon

Day 4: Driving from the Grand Canyon to Los Angeles (500 Miles/8 Hours)

The eight-hour trek from the Grand Canyon to Los Angeles is a grueling desert drive. Take I-40 West to Barstow. From Barstow, take I-15 South, then take I-10 West into the heart of L.A. Be prepared to slow down when you hit the L.A. traffic.

Stuart Thornton

About the Author

Stuart Thornton fell in love with California while working the Big Sur Ranger Station after college. At work, he provided visitors with all sorts of information about the region, from the best places to camp to the best meal in the area. On his days off, he took his own advice and regularly sought out the top spots for hiking, backpacking, surfing, and snorkeling along that striking coastal region.
 
Stuart later moved to nearby Monterey to become a staff writer for the Monterey County Weekly, where he is still a contributor. He is the proud author of Moon Coastal California, Moon Santa Barbara & the Central Coast, and Moon California Road Trips. In addition, Stuart has contributed to National Geographic Education, and Relix Magazine.
 
Stuart spends his time off searching for the next secluded beach, uncrowded wave, or mountaintop vista. Learn more about his adventures and projects by visiting stuartthornton.com.
 
Kayla Anderson is a freelance writer based in Northern California. She grew up in Redding, received a journalism degree from California State University-Chico, and now lives in North Lake Tahoe. For the last 10 years, she has been writing press kits for ski resorts and golf courses as well as articles about businesses, people, and places in Lake Tahoe and Northern California.
 
Currently, she contributes to Enjoy Northern California Living magazine, Tahoe Weekly, the Sparks Tribune, and the Nevada Travel Network. She continues to be impressed by what she discovers in Redding, Humboldt County, Yosemite, Sacramento, and the lesser-known places like Weaverville and Mono Lake. You can find her work at http://www.kaylaanderson.org/writing.

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