Plan the Los Angeles, CA to Las Vegas, NV drive with route-aware weather, transparent fuel estimates, and a clear-eyed comparison of your alternatives.
Low-Moderate. Summer heat (June–Sep) creates extreme temperatures in the Mojave Desert. Check your coolant before driving.
Open the live RouteWeather planner → to see today's exact conditions for every waypoint on this drive.
This evergreen guide uses a 25 MPG example vehicle and a historical publishing assumption of $4.52/gal. Open the live planner for the current national weekly baseline or enter a price you observed.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Distance | 270 miles |
| Fuel needed (25 MPG) | ~11 gallons |
| Guide-only price assumption | $4.52/gal |
| Est. fuel cost | $28–$38 |
No station-level price or discount is claimed on this page. Use the live planner to find route-relevant station searches and verify the pump price before choosing a stop. How fuel estimates work.
Thursday evening or very early Friday for weekend trips. Return Sunday after 6 PM or Monday morning to bypass I-15 backup at Primm.
The LA to Las Vegas drive is approximately 270 miles along I-15 North and takes around 4 hours under normal conditions. Friday evening traffic can push this to 6–7 hours.
For solo travelers, flying at ~$70 can be cheaper when you factor in Vegas parking and fuel. For groups of 2–4, driving on I-15 is usually faster door-to-door outside of peak Friday times.
Extreme Mojave Desert heat (115°F+) is the primary hazard June–September. Ensure your vehicle coolant is topped, carry extra water, and do not ignore the temperature gauge on the Cajon Pass or Baker grade.