Should we avoid Las Vegas on our Phoenix to Eugene, OR trip?

[Caram44]

Hi experienced travelers!

In a we will be leaving the Phoenix area on a Friday morning in early June to head to Eugene, OR. We work, so we cannot choose a different departure date. We plan to stop two nights. Google maps shows the fastest route to be through Las Vegas then Reno. I expect these are busy places this time of year and I don’t like towing in traffic. The estimated travel time through Parker > Topock > Tonopah > Winnemucca > Lakeview is about 2 hours longer, but I would expect less traffic. Any advice on the route?

Thanks!
Cara

[Hittenstiehl]

Traffic flows by on the freeway without problem. Maybe don't pick morning or evening rush hour as in any large city. Our Phoenix traffic is much worse.

[Mollysdad]

I've been to Vegas several times and I-15 always seems to be flowing. I wasn't towing but even with events the highway skirts downtown and I've never encountered problems. (except getting off for an 'In-N-Out' double double!)

[Boxite]

Las Vegas is not much different than most other high-desert metropolitan areas…except for all-night lights … and higher incidence of foolish tourists. Drive-On!

[field & stream]

A few years ago freeway construction was a nightmare, but now the improvements are in place. Definitely avoid rush hours, and you will be fine.

[Pete B55]

Just did this route- no issues. Drive from Susanville to north of Mt shasta is beautiful

[drboyd]

The speed limit while you are towing a trailer is 55mph!

[Caram44]

Originally Posted by Pete B55

Just did this route- no issues. Drive from Susanville to north of Mt shasta is beautiful

Good to know! Thank you.

[Pete B55]

Um…only while in California, not in AZ, NV, or OR, which is the majority of this route

[Ken G]

Las Vegas is not so bad however earlier this year I read of extreme accident causing potholes on I40 east of Kingman. You might want to check current conditions or if repairs are causing slowdowns.

[Genebuilder]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

I've been to Vegas several times and I-15 always seems to be flowing. I wasn't towing but even with events the highway skirts downtown and I've never encountered problems. (except getting off for an 'In-N-Out' double double!)

Oh yes! Make it Animal Style!

[coasttocoast]

OK, if anyone is headed to Vegas, check out The Sphere.

[Life is a Highway]

And the roads were horrible on the trailer for us. At least heading up to Vinnies Airstream

Originally Posted by drboyd

The speed limit while you are towing a trailer is 55mph!

[davetoregon]

We've gone from Sedona to Redmond, OR a number of times. Now we go from Tucson to Redmond.

Las Vegas was busy but as others have stated the flow of traffic was good. You need another person besides the driver and GPS to watch for turns and exits.

We enjoy going up through Flagstaff, Kanab, Heber City, Boise then home. But that is way out of your way.

We done up through Las Vegas, Tonopah, Winnemucca, Burns, Redmond. Lake Mead RV Park is good, Beatty(NV) RV park is very basic but sometimes a necessary stop. Frontier RV Park is Winnemucca is a nice one. Goose Lake State Park is good near Lakeview, OR.

[Caram44]

Originally Posted by davetoregon

We enjoy going up through Flagstaff, Kanab, Heber City, Boise then home. But that is way out of your way.

We done up through Las Vegas, Tonopah, Winnemucca, Burns, Redmond. Lake Mead RV Park is good, Beatty(NV) RV park is very basic but sometimes a necessary stop. Frontier RV Park is Winnemucca is a nice one. Goose Lake State Park is good near Lakeview, OR.

We may go home through Boise > Kanab > Flagstaff. Thanks!

[Coloradobus]

If you are coming up to Las Vegas from interstate 11 or from up from Searchlight NV, on Hwy 95 once on I-515 there is road construction. As you get closer to I-15, there are narrow jersey wall boarders with lane shifts that are tight. So tight it not possible to keep yourself between the lines if youre rig is long. The humpiness of road surface in these areas requires a slower speed. Some cases Less than 40. This causes traffic backups, to the point our GPS keeps telling us to get off. Also this area seems to cause lots of accidents, binding up traffic more. We travel this route all winter every 2 weeks commuting between Colorado and Palm Springs. We waste most of our travel time in the Vegas area

[MikeAnkorage]

We stored our rig in Vegas for years. June can be hot - like gawdawful hot. Away from "the strip" it has many services you may need. The Airstream dealer there has been particularly helpful. Tire service and vehicle service are also better than par. The road north along the eastern Sierras was particularly delightful and overnighting in Goldfield was a highlight for one of our trips. Plan to see the car forest there.

[mythbuster88]

As a general when planning a trip: stay off the interstate.
Way more fun!

[ROBERT CROSS]

We have always avoided Vegas on our cross-country trips...after all it's just a Cruz-ship that can't sink.

Bob
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