2 ways to get from Los Angeles to Las Vegas

Whether you’re looking to hit the craps tables, take in a show, party it up poolside, or shop ’til you drop, Angelenos know that a quick getaway from Hollywood’s glitz and glamor to Las Vegas’ shimmering strip is always a good idea.

From amazing museums and interactive shows to world-renowned restaurants and hotels, Las Vegas has it all. Plus, it’s one of the most affordable vacation destinations around. Five-star accommodations that would go for $800/night in NYC or San Fran can be booked for $100/night, and the dining is top notch. Getting to Sin City from LA is also easy and affordable. What you do with your dollars once you get there, however—that’s up to you.

Flights from Los Angeles to Las Vegas are among the most inexpensive in the United States. A one-way flight can usually be booked for between $30 and $250, depending on the airline and how far out you book. Flying is also the quickest way to get from LA to the Strip, as it takes just shy of three-and-a-half hours gate to gate, plus a 15 minute cab or rideshare service into downtown Las Vegas.

Several airlines, including Southwest and JSX, fly from LAX to Las Vegas’s airport hourly, but SkyWest Airlines, WestJet, and Aeromexico also have reliable flights between the two cities. Depending on where you are in LA, you may want to trade LAX for a smaller (read: less crowded) airport, like Burbank Airport to the north of Los Angeles or John Wayne Airport in Orange County, to cut down on your time in traffic and security lines.

The drive from Downtown Los Angeles and Las Vegas is around 4.5 hours spread over 266 miles—264 of which are spent on Interstate 15 if you opt to drive straight there. But we say take the winding route, with a detour onto Route 66. Dubbed “the mother road” by John Steinbeck, it remains America’s most iconic road trip route nearly 100 years after its creation. Take the section from Victorville, CA, to Barstow, CA, to stop at antique shops, burger joints like Emma Jean’s Hollandburger Cafe and Peggy Sue’s ’50s Diner (just past Barstow in Yermo, CA), quintessentially quirky attractions like Elmer Long’s Bottle Ranch, and abandoned vintage gas stations for photo ops.

For outdoor enthusiasts, detours to the San Bernardino National Forest, Mormon Rocks, or the Mojave National Preserve may be more up your alley.

If you’re renting a car, expect to pay $25 to $200 depending on which route you take and the style of your vehicle. And remember: The last 60 miles of the LA-to-Vegas route are sparse desert. Take it in and enjoy it—because the minute you hit the Entertainment Capital of the World, your senses will be on overdrive.

The cheapest way to get from Los Angeles to Las Vegas without a car is by bus, which takes approximately five to six hours on a direct route (or longer if you’re taking a circuitous route). It’s super easy to book your bus tickets online with FlixBus and Busbud (which has tickets from Greyhound and Tufesa on offer), and there are always savings to be found if you book in advance. Prices hover around $40 to $60.