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We’ve taken road trips from Los Angeles to Las Vegas countless times. And there are a few things to see and places to stop along the way.
Though the drive through the Mohave Desert may not be very scenic, we try to make the most of it. From diners to abandoned places we’ve experienced, there are fun gems.
I’ll also share what to know and personal photos from our adventures. This might help you plan your own trip!
Traveling from LA to Las Vegas
There are a couple of ways to get to Nevada from California, but my focus will be on the I-15 North. The whole drive is about 270 miles and takes about 4 hours without stopping.
Driving through the Mojave Desert will take you through a vast stretch of highway.
After passing the outskirts of LA, you’ll notice that dining options and gas stations will become sparse. Although lately, I noticed more subdivisions popping up.
Once we reach San Bernardino, the views get unremarkably pretty. If you leave in the morning, you can see the sun shining through the mountains.
Places to Stop on a Road Trip to Vegas
There are a few places you can check out along the way to Vegas. Some of these places require more than a few minutes to explore.
But those areas are well worth visiting. We have done this over many trips through the desert, because stopping at all of them on one trip would be too much.
Barstow Shopping Outlets
Barstow, CA
In Barstow, you’ll come to many shopping outlets and the California Welcome Center. We like to get off on Exit 178 to fill up on gas.
Besides shopping, they have restaurants and hotels. I used to come here a lot with my aunts back in the day.
My uncles ate the casino buffets while my grandmother played the slots. So, we’d leave very early in the morning.
There are a few shopping centers on the way to Vegas, and we’ve been to all of them. But this is the one where we’ve found the best discounts.
Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner
Yermo, CA
Another stop along the way is Peggy Sue’s. While driving down the I-15, you’ll see the Ghost Town Road, Exit 191.
Across the street, there’s a Marine base. So we always see vehicles, as it’s military storage. If you see this, so you know you’re in the right place.
Old diners that are no longer in business dot the highway to Vegas, and you’ll find some here. But Peggy Sue’s is an old diner that is still running.
We have stopped here a few times to eat. They serve burgers, fries, pies, and ice cream. We’ve found the service and food okay.
The thing we like about it is the 50s-themed diner. So, if you don’t want to eat, you can look around in their store, which is on the left side when entering.
There are a lot of cool vintagey things that you can buy or just browse. They have a lot of candy!
Calico Ghost Town
Yermo, CA
On the other side of Ghost Town Road, you can visit California’s Silver Town. If you exit off the I-15 and turn left, you’ll reach Calico Ghost Town.
We explored the ghost town on one of our trips, and we enjoyed ourselves. If you have a couple of hours to spend, why not?
You could actually spend the whole day here learning about the history. There are museums, attractions, restaurants, and stores.
They have a campground too, so I’d like to return to do some van camping. You can check out my post about our trip there and what we saw.
Rock-A-Hoola Waterpark
Newberry Springs, CA
You might see something that looks like an abandoned park while driving near Exit 206. We always drive past the old Lake Dolores Water Park.
It used to be a fun family waterpark in the midst of the Mojave Desert from the 1960s to 1990s. It got renovated in the late 1990s, but closed in the 2000s due to a waterslide accident.
I remember driving through here years ago, and you’d be able to see more of it standing along the freeway. But on our last trip, we stopped off to take pictures.
Well, the whole area is tagged up and damaged pretty good. You can at least see the remnants of this historic place.
Although I see videos of people exploring online, it’s fenced off. So, we didn’t go on the property, but I took pictures.
I wonder if there’ll be anything left of this place in a couple of years. From the West, you’ll take exit 196 toward Yermo Road.
Alien Fresh Jerky
Baker, CA
I don’t know why we have to stop here every time we pass it. It’s like a habit. On Exit 246, you’ll find the huge thermometer, a few gas stations, and eating places.
Many places look deserted in this area, as they have gone out of business. But Alien Fresh Jerky is nestled right in there and growing.
So this is an interesting place to stop because you can get gas and snacks here. Everything is alien-themed, and it’s fun to look around.
You’ll find many people taking pictures and shopping around. Of course, they have jerky, and they also have hot sauce, candies, and a lot of fun drinks.
I’ve seen this place expanding in the last couple of years. I asked one of the workers about what they were building in the back, and she said it was a hotel.
It’d be fun to see this exit become a whole Alien Jerky neighborhood. I’m curious to see how this business grows!
Valley Wells Rest Stop
Nipton, CA
This is another place we stop at, and a good place to take a break. Exit 270 has the Valley Wells rest stop, and it’s very popular.
It’s so popular that sometimes there are lines to use the bathrooms. Sometimes they have portables out.
Many people travel on the I-15 to Las Vegas, and there aren’t many public rest areas.
And this is one of the few that will let you sleep overnight. We van camped here on our way to Zion National Park, and it wasn’t too bad. Just keep all your “camping” inside.
We felt safe, but there was a lot of traffic going in and out. Plus, we found semi-trucks running their engines all night too.
If you walk around to the back of the rest area, you can view Clark Mountain. It’s the highest mountain in the Mojave Desert. I also found people flying drones back here.
So if you need a place to stop for a break, this is the spot. Plus, they have information about places to visit in the region, so I was able to jot down ideas for future trips.
Seven Magic Mountains
Las Vegas, NV
Once you’ve reached Nevada, you’re in the home stretch. Off to the side of the road, you may see big colored rocks stacked on each other.
For the longest time, I thought this looked like ice cream from a distance.
Well, they’re not. They are the Seven Magic Mountains, which are an art installation.
It’s free to check out, and if you have a couple minutes, I say stop. People like coming here for the photos.
We took Exit 12, and if you look carefully, you’ll see a little sign on the side of the road to exit. If you don’t get off on this exit, you’ll have to take the next exit and drive back.
Follow the signs to the art installation. The road runs parallel to the I-15. There is a parking lot, which can get filled.
They have signs at the entrance, and the first sign I saw asked people not to vandalize the art. Sad that they have to post this.
You’ll take a short walk on an unpaved trail to the multi-colored mountains. They were pretty cool.
When I went, it was crowded with people, with some flying drones. So maybe it’s best to come early in the morning or during the week to avoid the masses.
Zzyzx Road to Soda Springs
Baker, CA
If you drive the I-15 often enough, like we do, you might wonder about that Xxyxz Road exit. Well, we took Exit 239 to explore the area.
Note, we didn’t do much research before going there. We just wanted to see what was down there.
If you drive through the Mojave Desert for a few miles, you’ll come to Soda Springs. It’s a deserted health spa that a self-anointed doctor created years ago.
Other than that, it’s a quiet desert oasis to explore. It was such a treat to walk the historic area without crowds of people.
If you have at least an hour to kill, you’ll want to check it out. I like to explore deserted areas, so if you’re like me, you’ll find it interesting, yet beautiful.
I created a blog post you can check out, so you know what to expect before going.
Travel Notes
Summer can be hot in California and Nevada, especially when driving through the Mojave Desert. You’ll want to leave early because even with air conditioning, the heat can get brutal.
Just know that you can meet bad traffic when heading back from Vegas to LA. Leaving Sunday afternoon and evening is the worst time.
So if you can leave early Sunday morning or even Monday, you’re better off.
Note that many commuters drive West towards Los Angeles during the week in the morning. They head East in the late afternoon, starting at around 3 p.m.
I was one of those commuters, so I know firsthand how it is. You’ll want to plan accordingly.
On holidays and weekends, the traffic to and from Vegas can be really bad. We’ve literally sat in one spot on my freeway for over an hour, especially when there are accidents.
Final Thoughts
A road trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas can be filled with fun places to explore. It’s a long stretch, but you can find ghost towns, abandoned areas, and thriving areas too.
But there’s so much to explore, and as we do more, I’ll update the blog. If you are not in a rush to reach the strip, take time to stop and smell the desert roses.
More Travel Adventures
I have many other related posts on my blog. You may want to check them out.
- If you’re planning a stay in Las Vegas, why not visit the Hoover Dam? It’s not too far away.
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is another desert in California, full of historic and interesting places to see.
I’d love to hear about your travel adventures!
Originally published: July 27, 2025
