Driving from LA-good/bad idea?

The extended clan (Mr DL,Dragonbaby, Dragonelders,Dragonbrother and myself)need to travel from LA to Vegas in August. The plan had been to fly from SNA (or LAX at a push) but I'm now wondering if it might be easier to drive rather than do this? A one way rental is possible in the van we'll have in LA (some hideous 8 seater).Any advice either for or against please [:D].

[Scrooge]

It's an ok drive..figure on around 5 hours in a van from SNA...

Please remember..it's August, it will be hot, very hot.

There is country radio to listen to..so make sure you get a van that has satellite radio.

Are you sure you want to spend that amount of time in close confines with all those people?

[Darren Wheeler]

I've done the route across the desert between the 2 but only as a passenger, and apart from the M40 between J9 and Birmingham, IMHO, it has to be one of the most depressing drives ever. Long, very dull and once out of the Greater LA area not a lot to see other than desert. By the time you hit Barstow, you'll wish you had flown.

Flying is probably cheaper too as some hire companies with charge an extra fee for one-way hires. LAX to LAS is about 45 minutes by TED,.

[Scrooge]

Pretty much true, though I do find it relaxing

[Darren Wheeler]

Not too relaxing I home. [|)]

OK, cruise control and locked steering you could have a nap.

[Scrooge]

Only on the Victorville Straight...no it's a boring, long drive..but with family to keep you company....well plenty of desert to bury them

Originally posted by Scrooge
It's an ok drive..figure on around 5 hours in a van from SNA...

Please remember..it's August, it will be hot, very hot.

There is country radio to listen to..so make sure you get a van that has satellite radio.

Are you sure you want to spend that amount of time in close confines with all those people?

The heat was a worry for me too.Is that 'country ' or 'country AND western' Dave [:D]?? Close confines but like you say plenty of desert in which to bury them.
I know the drive will be boring (no extra cost for one way rental) but it may be less traumatic than getting my one lunged wheezing stepfather and aeroplane hating brother through another airport (we will be flying from LAS to SFO though).How far into the journey is Barstow and is there much there? If we do drive will we hit much LA traffic (plan would be to leave early before it gets really hot)?We're staying at the Holiday Inn in Buena Park.

It's not that bad a drive...

yes it's long and hot but I do think it's worth doing, if only once.

There's an assumption here you've got a decent car with refreshments etc and that you all get on and someone likes driving.

Some of the views are really impressive, and having done it with a geologist, they were very excited!

Also there's something cool about driving into Vegas - can't explain why, there just is.

Go for it - make an ipod playlist of road tunes and you'll have a blast!

Andrew

[preiffer]

I spy, with my little eye, something beginning with S.....


'Sand?'

'YES!'





[y]

[Scrooge]

You need to remember..in August, once up in the high desert..the low's are in the 100's..at 4 am..there is no cool part to the day.

Barstow...errr..nothing there 'cept fast food joint and outlet malls.
It's about half way between LA and Vegas.

Originally posted by DragonLady

The heat was a worry for me too.Is that 'country ' or 'country AND western' Dave [:D]??

Should be alright with a modern van and aircon though - I don't think there are any of those long inclines where you're advised to switch your aircon off because the engine will overheat..

Things may have changed, but it was Alan Jackson rather than Hank Williams that dominated the airwaves. Big Hats all around.

It's worth doing the drive the once to say you've done it...

Originally posted by DragonLady
How far into the journey is Barstow and is there much there?

ISTRC there's an In-N-Out Burger and not much else.

Paul

[fozzyo]

In my mind there's a face
On my lips there's a name
In my life there's no place
For the man that I love

'Cause I'm livin my life
Just to sing and be free
From L.A. to New York
From New York to L.A.

Sorry ... couldn't resist, the temptation was too great!

[Scrooge]

Wrong song Matt, the traditional VF song for this trip is...

When I wake up well I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who wakes up next to you
When I go out yeah I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who goes along with youIf I get drunk well I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who gets drunk next to you
And if I haver yeah I know I'm gonna be
I'm gonna be the man who's havering to youBut I would walk 500 miles
And I would walk 500 more

I vote for the drive - It's not often us limeys get to drive across a desert, and I do find it very relaxing too. The climb up from LA has some impressive mountain scenery and then after that it is certainly different from your average trip down the M1.

[Scrooge]

That it an understatement, also the 15 is now 3 lanes most of the way.

Originally posted by phantomtwin
It's not that bad a drive...

yes it's long and hot but I do think it's worth doing, if only once.

There's an assumption here you've got a decent car with refreshments etc and that you all get on and someone likes driving.

Some of the views are really impressive, and having done it with a geologist, they were very excited!

Also there's something cool about driving into Vegas - can't explain why, there just is.

Go for it - make an ipod playlist of road tunes and you'll have a blast!

Andrew

The modern car will be Dollars latest offering for an 8 seater van (so something NOT on the TG 'cool wall'). All get on ? Hmmmm[:?]. A holiday row back in the 1990s led to MR DL and DL the Elder not speaking for 3 months ( a record broken a couple of years ago when they didn't speak for nearly a year and a half). Yeah we all get along just fine!! Bar Dragonbaby, we all drive so this may make the journey a bit easier. I love the playlist idea. We've got the Proclaimers and Patsy Gallant and I'll add Chris Rea (the Road to Hell for obvious reasons [:0]). Any other suggestions?

[Darren Wheeler]

How about 'shut up and drive' by Rhianna?

Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
How about 'shut up and drive' by Rhianna?

Marvelous idea[y]

Per johnvscrew's suggestion here, as you come into Vegas it has to be Elvis and 'Viva Las Vegas'. Could also throw in 'Who Are You?' for that CSI moment.

Leaving LA it has to be something quintessentially 'West Coast', so Don Henley's 'The Boys Of Summer', Randy Newman's 'I Love LA' or some 'Rumours' era Fleetwood Mac.

In between there has to be some Chuck Berry - 'Promised Land' springs to mind.

Paul

Definite yes vote for the drive. Quite an experience.

Barstow is worth a fifteen minute stop - have a bite to eat at the rail-road cars in the mini-mall. Also take a side-trip to the preserved Calico Ghost town.

Look out for the signposts for the amazingly named Zzyzx - the last word in the English language.

Also I enjoyed StateLine as a brief stop.

FM

P.S. On investigation it would seem Stateline is now known as Primm - interesting place.

OK -you've convinced me that this is the way to go. Are there places to pull over and swap drivers apart from when we arrive in Barstow?

We did it last year with a stop at Palm Springs, really enjoyed it.
Good to be able to drive at 75mpg in the US.

Originally posted by jimbob247

Good to be able to drive at 75mpg in the US.

What car were you driving - that is excellent fuel economy

FM

U2's Joshua Tree has to on the play list!

[HighFlyer]

Barstow was cool [y] I'd not seen real tumbleweed before [:D]

Thanks,
Sarah