7 Fun Stops On The Drive From Los Angeles To Las Vegas

Instead of flying, why not drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Make it a road trip and take the scenic route through the Mojave Desert, you won’t be disappointed.

I was coming from Long Beach California, which is about 30 minutes past Los Angeles. If you drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas without stopping it’s about 4 and a half hours. But to break it up, here are a few places to stop on the way to Vegas.

Even if you don’t want to make any stops, the drive to Las Vegas is pretty incredible. You’ll get to travel through the vast desert terrain, with its beautiful mountainous backdrop, and along the infamous Route 66. These are the top things you’ll want to see on a road trip to Vegas!

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

Drive To Las Vegas Tips

Although the drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas is only 4 and half hours, you have to plan your road trip itinerary accordingly. You might think you have a lot of extra time during the day to see everything but every stop adds up.

There’s surprisingly a lot of places to stop on the way to Vegas that we had to skip some of them at the end of the day because we didn’t have enough time.

We didn’t realize how much time you have to add for each stop. It takes time getting off the highway, figuring out where to go, and then actually seeing the attraction and taking your pictures. Even if you think it’ll only add 5 minutes, it’ll probably add closer to 30 minutes.

I’d recommend choosing the top things to see on a drive to Las Vegas that most interests you beforehand so you can prioritize those stops.

Places To Stop On The Way To Vegas

Stop #1: Route 66 Museum

Route 66 Museum turned out to be my favourite stop on the drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. It’s a volunteer run museum all about Route 66.

The Route 66 Museum is made up of three rooms filled with donated Route 66 paraphernalia, more than you could even imagine. There are props you can take pictures with, choose a song to play on the jukebox, and learn a little bit about life in the 60s.

The staff was also super friendly and helpful, you can tell they really care about what they do. Ask them anything about the 60s and Route 66 and I assure you they’ll have an answer. Be sure to ask them for other suggestions for other things to see driving to Vegas along route 66.

As if this stop could get even better, it’s also completely free. All they ask is that you give a small donation or buy a souvenir from the gift shop to support them.

*Accepts card with $10 minimum

Lunch Break @ Emma Jean’s Diner Drive To Las Vegas

Emma Jean’s diner was a recommendation from the volunteers at the Route 66 Museum. If you’re in the mood for a classic 50s dive, you’re in luck. Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Café is right off Route 66 in an adorable aqua painted house. It’s the perfect mid day stop driving to Vegas from LA.

There are only a handful of tables, but we didn’t have to wait too long for one to open up. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a seat at the bar where you have a direct view of the chefs at work.

With such good prices, we couldn’t believe the portion sizes we got. Unless you really want to try two different meals, I recommend sharing.

Emma Jean’s Diner is known for their Brian burger – it’s like a giant burger grill cheese. It’s even been featured on several shows on the Food Network. 

As fun and delicious as the experience was, I did feel out of place there. It’s a very local joint so as two pasty white Canadians, we definitely did not blend in. But the food is still worth it!

*Accepts card

Stop #3: Bottle Tree Ranch Free Things To Do Road Trip To Vegas

A bit farther down along Route 66 is Bottle Tree Ranch. This is a free art installation made from, you guessed it, bottles.

It’s on the other side of the road so it’s easy to miss. Once you spot it, pull over and park. Just be careful when you cross the road, it’s still a highway and cars can come out of nowhere.

Once inside, get lost in the forest of recycled beer bottles. Find local and international bottles, or even random trinkets.

Make sure to take a bottle of water with you. I mean, you are in the middle of the desert at this point so it’s important to stay hydrated and wear sunscreen. We weren’t able to last long outside here, it’s HOT!

P.S. Looking for a reliable water bottle to keep you hydrated the entire drive to Las Vegas with cold water? I love the 1.2L Thermoflasks I don’t travel without them anymore! You can get them on Amazon. See updated prices here.

Stop #4: EddieWorld Top Places To Stop On The Way To Vegas

In Yermo California, you have to stop at EddieWorld gas station on your drive to Las Vegas. You might be thinking, why would I want to stop at a gas station?

Well, this is quite possibly the best gas station I’ve ever stopped at, and we didn’t even fill up with gas here. When you’re driving by, you’ll start to see the top of an ice cream sundae. That’s when you know you’ve made it to EddieWorld!

Walking inside EddieWorld, it’s like all my childhood dreams coming true. There are isles filled with candy, snacks, and toys.

We opted to try the homemade ice cream (I mean, we had to know if it warranted the giant sundae out in front). The verdict was unanimously YES! I tried the English toffee, and my partner went for Oreo…I don’t think ice cream has ever tasted this good.

The only thing that would have made this SoCal road trip stop better would be if you could actually go inside the giant sundae. But hey, there’s always room for improvement!

*Accepts Card

Stop #5: Drive By The World’s Tallest Thermometer

In Baker California (close to Death Valley), you can see the world’s tallest thermometer.

If you’re strapped for time, you don’t have to actually stop at this attractions on the way to Vegas because you can easily see it from the road (which is what we did). It rises high above the rest of the town.

The thermometer was put up to commemorate the day Death Valley hit a whopping 134 degrees in 1913. That’s why it stands 134 feet tall (one foot per degree). It’s a neat place to stop driving to Vegas from LA because you’ll have proof of how hot it was when you were there. For us it only reached 110 degrees…

Stop #6 Driving To Vegas From LA – Bonnie & Clyde’s Death Car

I really wanted to stop at this one, but we didn’t have enough time either (we may have spent a bit too long at EddieWorld. It’s an odd spot for a piece of history, but it’s definitely real.

45 minutes outside of Vegas, at Whiskey Pete’s Casino, you’ll find the real Bonnie and Clyde death car. And yes, this is the real one with 168 real bullet holes in it. It still amazes me that a casino in the middle of nowhere ended up with it (read about how here).

While you’re there, you can also see Clyde’s ripped and bloodstained shirt. Fun activity, right!?

Oh also, it’s one of the completely free things to see driving to Vegas!

Driving To Las Vegas From LA: Extra Stops Along The Way

There are a few other stops you can make during your road trip from SoCal to Las Vegas. Some of these I stopped but found others more worthwhile. I still thought I would let you know about these in case they interest you more, you can swap them out. 

Repurposed Railway Station

This stop comes after Emma Jean’s Diner on your drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. It’s an old railway station that’s now home to several fast food chains – most notably, the McDonald’s. They also have a few shops inside.

But other than that, there’s isn’t much there. It’s a good bathroom stop, or to refill your water.

Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner

If Emma Jeans didn’t tickle your fancy, you can stop at Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner (it’s right before EddieWorld.

For us, after stopping at Emma Jean’s, an actual diner from the 50’s, this just seemed so gimmicky. And it’s cash only.

But, if you’re a fan of 50’s memorabilia, then I recommend making this pit stop on your SoCal road trip. They have a great shop for different 50’s themed knick knacks and souvenirs.

Calico Ghost Town

After you’ve picked up your favourite snacks and ice cream form EddieWorld, you can visit the Calico Ghost Town. I think this is a great activity for the family, and if it was 10 degrees cooler, we would’ve stopped here. I think at this point during our drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas the heat was starting to get to us!

Calico used to be an old mining town (you can tour the mine) but now it looks like the set of an old western. It’s 8$.

Seven Magic Mountains

This is one of the last places to stop before getting to Vegas. It was set up in 2016 as a temporary exhibit, but never left. It’s become a very popular place for the ultimate Instagram shot just outside Las Vegas.

I was so upset, because it was closed for restoration when we were there. But we were still able to see it from the highway (you can actually see people working on it if you zoom in).

P.S. Need A Place To Stay In Las Vegas?

We booked the MGM Grand for our stay in Las Vegas (view rates & availability on Booking.com), but there’s no shortage of hotels in Vegas! Here are some alternative accommodation options I’d also recommend.

For a truly unique stay, book a room at the Venetian Las Vegas Resort. Why not pretend like your in Venice for a few days!? See room rates & availability on Booking.com.

If you want to be truly pampered during your stay, book a room at the Four Seasons Las Vegas. Every room features either a mountain or strip view so you won’t be disappointed! See room rates & availability on Booking.com.

If you’re looking for a hotel just off the Strip but not too far, book the Home2 Suites by Hilton Las Vegas City Center. Perfect for longer stays with a kitchenette, and breakfast is always included! See room rates & availability on Booking.com.

See more accommodation options in Las Vegas on Booking.com.

My Amazon Road Trip Essentials

Other Useful Guides!

• Where To Stay in Las Vegas: MGM Grand Hotel Review
• 5 Las Vegas Money Saving Hacks
• How To Use the MyVegas App To Save Money in Vegas
• Travel Guide: Los Angeles
• Top 50 Long Distance Road Trip Tips For A Safe & Easy Drive

Psst! Booking your stay through my link sends a bit of extra money my way… at no extra cost to you! 

Last update on 2024-11-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API