Escaping Las Vegas, The secret route to L.A. and around the Sunday gridlock! | The Vegas Tourist
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- Опубліковано 29 тра 2021
- Traveling from Las Vegas back to Southern California after a weekend of fun can be a nightmare. Long, bumper-to-bumper traffic getting over the mountains. A stretch of Interstate that normally takes about ninety minutes, On Sundays can take you hours...
But there is an alternative. A "secret" backroad that is a little more scenic has much less congestion and will keep you moving.... Here is a look at that little-known route thru Topeca to Baker, California
Watch the second drive lap video.
Leaving Las Vegas Part 2 - The Back Way to Barstow bit.ly/3xDTtQS
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I just don't do weekends anymore....that's my secret. Come in on a Sunday leave on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.
I love the weekends I leave Los Angeles 8 a.m. get to Las Vegas 1 p.m. already made arrangement for my room to be ready. Going back that's a different story and the 90s we could get back to Los Angeles 4 and 1/2 hours now it's 6 hours and back in the 90s it was mostly two lanes all the way to Vegas some parts had 3
@@1990758 Yes, the 90's... and 80's. Back before the theme casinos came about. When gambling was the main focus. Weekends are just too crowded for me to enjoy my time there.
@@ooochakalaka but I remember back in 2019 2018 I came back from Vegas on the Sunday and I never experienced this much traffic and it was around Memorial Day or Labor Day
@@1990758 But you left on a Sunday... and not Memorial or Labor day.
that's a good strategy - but in some weird way I like the weekend crowds and lines in LV - increases the buzz & excitement for me in LV, but definitely your strategy is a good one that I would also follow. Just so glad to go back to LV nowadays.
I've been avoiding the traffic there since 1987. That's when I moved back to a rural area in the east. Life is good.
The REAL secret? Come back on Monday. Easy.
I live in Vegas... in the last two months I've driven twice to LA on a Monday and it was just as bad. Unfortunately driving late at night is always the best option.
I came back from Vegas to San Diego on Monday, 7/19. Took me almost 7 hours--about 90 minutes longer than in the past. It would seem other people have the same Monday idea now.
I left Vegas and drove back to LA on Monday, June 14. It only took me 4.5 hours.
Monday doesnt help Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are the best days.
@@scottyo64 Monday USED to work, but not anymore.
Thanks for telling everyone about a quiet back road few people have known about before. And, FYI, traffic on I-15 from Baker onwards (Barstow, Victorville, L.A.) is just as backed-up for many many miles as I-15 from Vegas - Baker.
@@lt4324 I have taken this route several times, nice drive and little traffic.
@@lt4324 maybe you should drive it sometime, or at least watch the video before making such a silly comment.
@@thevegastouristupdate I like my way better.
Saves hours regardless
@@milt6208 What is your way?
If only that high speed rail they have been talking about for the least three decades...
and will be discussing it for the next three decades.
@@toddrunyon Yea it sucks to live in a country owned by Exxon..
But SPENDING the $$$$ on themselves, since there is no ACTUAL train being designed.
Man who gives a shit about that stupid train
Most people are not going to get on that
I was stationed at Fort Irwin, CA for 5 years I used this way to get back from Las Vegas all the time on Sundays. Best kept secret from the L.A. hell traffic.
Me too. Lol. I left there in 2005.
Not a secret now!! 😂🤣
Stationed at ft Irwin? Sorry to hear that.
My secret is to leave Las Vegas or Los Angeles at 2:00 AM. Really an open road during those hours.
Word to the wise: watch for those stop signs in Baker.
And the drunk drivers.
And the highway patrol parked under dark underpasses on i-15 at 2am
@@mmytacist I leave around 3:30-4 am and make my trip just3:30 minutes to Los angekes doing a tad over 95-100kilomwtwrs per hour 😉
For long drives and where traffic can be an issue - I much prefer to depart 3-4 AM or 9-10 PM, driving in the dark easier on the eyes too - to and from I-15 LA-LV, and I-5 LA-NorCal
I prefer that time too. Leave at non-peak hours and beat all those that leave at the same time.
This is a great drive for any local or anyone who lives in the area!! Its beautiful any time of year
I thought it was going to involve a dirt side road through the hills with a spike strip and nuclear fallout mutants.
You can do that too! But you wouldn't want to in most vehicles.
I think I’ve mistakingly taken that road before. 🤣 It was not fun!
U could still see that
I would be hesitant to take this road alone, I would if I could recruit more travelers to follow me. This road is one of those you’re scare for your life; car jacked.
@@Gabriellariz u just scary
I always stay an extra day and headed back home on Monday. Sunday night rooms are low cost.
We check in Friday check out Sunday morning have breakfast or lunch head back home around 2 p.m. I've been to Vegas so many times but when I go I like to act like a tourist
Me too! In fact I usually book weeknights and Sunday nights lol. Avoid weekends usually unless I need to be in Vegas.
@@805NAVE for real
I do the same at time and head back early Monday or Late Sunday night
17:50 is where the magic happens. Also don't miss 28:50.
Thanks for the upload!
If I take this route that will be the actual speed. 😃
Just like KITT from Knightrider.
Same. Cbr2800 and I get to LA in just over an hour and a half
😂
The landscape is beautiful.
True. Prefer to be looking at the natural side of life, then looking at the car in front of me...
Looks like the road from the movie “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World?”
Solid advice, this is the route I take when I go to the beach. Nice video!
AWSOME! Thanks for sharing.
I took this route last weekend. It is legit! Had a stretch right before the mountain where we didn't see another car for about 30 minutes.
Thanks for the ride along I ‘really’ enjoyed it, best regards from Liverpool U.K. 👍🏻
Good to see the construction on 160 is finished.
That guitar riff at the end was great!
Reminds me of when my friend and I took a road trip from Cali all the way to NYC. It was pretty cool watching the environments changed. The worst part of it was driving through New Mexico and Texas. It took over 20 hours just to get through those states. And we did it when there was no GPS devices or cell phone internet services, it was just using MapQuest print outs and a Map.
Oh, those were the days! No GPS, we had the printouts and hoped they were current!! Yes, Texas and NM can be a very long and boring drive. Did a few too many times myself!
Hudson map book
I drove around with my dad who roofed for 45 years. When I was young, he taught me how figure out how too navigate our way to the job site everyday.
Times change...
Drove Cali to Florida couple times on the 10 fwy. El Paso to Beaumont Texas is a long long ride. When they say it’s bigger in Texas, you better believe it.. Great ride…
From the positioning of the sun, traffic, and type of traffic, I am going to say done on a Tuesday morning at 10am. Lol
I was going to point out the same thing. The shadows are inconsistent with it being in the afternoon.
This is cool data, thank you. My wife and I have a rule to be on the road actually driving by 8 am on Sunday (not needing to get gas, not needing to go to starbucks, 100% pointed HOME with no stops planned until Barstow or Victorville). This has worked out well five times, and not too horrible a sixth time. I'll keep this info in mind, crazy that I've only lived in Vegas and Los Angeles area since I was 4, but I never knew about this! Very cool data.
Thanks for the video. Enjoyed it.
Now everybody's going to know this route and you will have traffic on this route as well
Doubtful... most people aren't this adventurous... they'll still swear by the "real" route. Also -- at roughly 135k views so far... how many people do you think are going to actually take this route on a given Sunday afternoon?
Or South on 95 then West on 40 we use that for Laughlin, course... avoid during River Run! This way when you go around you're still headed south and it takes you back to the 15 and Barstow LOL
Yeah timing is better too
The River Run, thanks for those flashbacks!!
Serious question. What is this River Run you speak of?
@@shaund9503 Think of the west coast version of Sturgis. The motorcycle gathering...
And it is all highway, as opposed to hoping you don't get stuck behind a truck making the grade.
good to know! Thanks
Loved this!
If you had a navigation system in your car, bet you heard "recalculating route" a lot!!
The secret to getting out of Vegas on Sunday? Leave at 4 am
Facts
Even better, leave on Monday
And get home early enough to catch a nap while everyone else is stuck in traffic.
But check out time is not until 11 in the morning
I always leave at 8am on a Sunday. Still a good time to leave with no traffic and you get extra sleep.
This video is Gold!!! Thanks so much for sharing it 😊
Thank You for the kind words
I had no idea, pretty cool
I usually leave Sunday morning before 8am, and usually I don't hit any traffic.
Good idea, except that most folks like to party hard on Saturday nights in Vegas and are in no shape to be dressed and packed up to leave at 8am on Sunday morning. That's usually the time that they are getting back to their hotel room.
@@Spanky1 Yup that is true
The secret, visit during the week, don't leave Vegas on a Sunday or fly in/out to Vegas
Traffic wise, from So Cal, it's better to leave for Las Vegas on a Sunday - about 3am - 5am - and then leave Las Vegas on Friday in the afternoon.
Yep, if you're going, go any other days like even a thur/sat or sat/mon trip or what you said. Take a sick/personal day on Fri or Mon. That Friday drive there, Sunday drive back is hell.
I'm early riser, so I normally leave Vegas at around 5am on a Sunday to not only lessen the heat but to avoid that crazy ass traffic on the return trip.
We always leave Monday or Tuesday morning for Vegas then come back Thursday night before all the crazies get there 😆
@@NickL951 Best way to do it if you can.
thanks for the video.
OMG, I need this!
I can attest to this route saving time heading back to southern California. I took this route even when some locals in Vegas I know did not recommend it simply because it feels like an abandoned area as you drive through it. I left Las Vegas around 11AM and I saw traffic building up on the 15S heading to Primm and beyond. I programmed my GPS with this route. Head towards Red Rock Canyon, then towards Pahrump, then towards the CA127. Which meets the 15S right near the world's largest Thermometer in Baker. Only negative thing about this route is at times you will drive straight for over 60 miles in length. It may make you sleepy. However there were gas stations along the route you can stop off and refuel your car and yourself. I highly recommend this route as it saved me at least an hour sitting in traffic. I hit a little bit of traffic in Baker once I got on the 15S. Highly recommend this route especially on a 4 day weekend.
Amazingly, I'm pretty sure THIS alternate requires less driving and takes less time than one people are likely to know about -- US 95 out of Vegas to I-40. Once you get to I-40 you have to double back and drive west a couple hours, and the those two hours of driving only get you to Barstow.
Less mountains?
Take an extra day off work and you won’t have a problem.
I am retired now, I do not go into or leave LV on the weekends anymore...
@@richardfowler3254 , that’s even better for those who are retired. I live 40 miles South of Las Vegas and commute to Vegas for work and I feel for the people returning to SoCal especially on a holiday weekend. I get caught in the traffic and my commute does from 45 min to 1:45 which isn’t near what what they experience.
You have to take 2 extra days off now 😂🤣
true lol and its cheaper to get a hotel for extra 2 days too.
I always go to Vegas on Thursday night, which is great and come back on Monday afternoon. Never a problem. Also, we don't go during any holidays. You can always tell the busy times just by the price of the hotel rooms. I pick weekends where the rooms are the cheapest. Still, I think this might be fun to do for the fun of it.
Great video. I've often thought about taking this route. Now I will have to. I drove yesterday to socal and back. Traffic was thick coming back. I have driven across the desert from LV , TO SF, TO OC my entire life. I know all the roads like back of my hand.
Thanks for the info. One time traffic was backed up big time going to Vegas from the Baker area. Took the road by the Mad Greek restaurant , headed to Pahrump. That was a really cool drive.
I had a fuel pump break on my car and I was stuck on the side of I-15 for 4 hours waiting for AAA during the 4th of July weekend...Lucky I had food and water...Don't you get stuck out there without it!
Exactly when we leave in the morning or Sunday I get up at 6 in the morning and fill up the gas tank I always drive in that far left lane. Until after Stateline
When we lived in LV in the late 80s/early 90s, we carried 5 gallons of water (Igloo cooler) and food at all times regardless of destination. Came in handy for us and the ill-prepared.
I love driving videos!
I went to vegas for the first time last month and i had no problem leaving Sunday morning at 7🙂🙂
I don't knw man that drive has Hills have eyes written all over it...lol
lock your doors and keep moving forward... :)
By far, that is the longest shortcut there is. Lived in rural San Bernardino County for several years, and know of several paved routes to Barstow that are much shorter. Oh, and the only good thing about Baker is “The Mad Greek”. At least it was 8 years ago. Time for more coffee.
ok. spill. watchu got?
Yes their real ice cream. it’s a must stop
Yeah drive from Vegas to Needles and Needles to Los Angeles.
Alien Beef Jerky Store
👽👾🛸
@@danamcwhite That's not shorter, actually... and it's also not a guaranteed time-saver. But it is absolutely a viable option.
Pretty cool 😎
Wow, that’s all I can say. Nice video.
you can also go through Henderson down the 95 to the 40 and to Barstow from there.
Done that too!
I live in Henderson. This alternate 95 to I-40 to Barstow is my route when Interstate - 15 is backed up either way, which is often.
@EVS Yes I did it on New Year's Eve once
I often took that route from Palm Springs (Via 62 - Twenty Nine Palms). It was absolutely empty then and not a single cop car, which allowed me to do over 100 MPH. Only killed one rabbit once. Yhere was a "gas station" on the was that looked like ghost town material.
Yep! I’m in Henderson a couple miles from the turnoff to go towards searchlight. We go that way all the time when we travel during heavy traffic days
Well I hope that you enjoy your company on your “secret route” now that you’ve felt compelled to share it on UA-cam.
Reeeeeeeeeee
@@JAMESWUERTELE reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Lol
Oops doh!
Good video... I love that Baker is considered "civilization"...
relatively speaking!!
I am definitely trying this route.
Try US Route 95 to Needles, California then Interstate 40 to Barstow, California. An additional 90 minutes than Las Vegas to Barstow direct but might be worth trying if I-15 traffic is really congested.
Never thought of that way
I’m sure it would be worth it, than being stuck for 6+ hrs
My wife and I did this one a few years back. Thought we were in The Hills Have Eyes country. Then we got stuck waiting on the train to go by. Pretty nerve wracking, lol
I have taken that route too, it gets pretty lonely out there, so make sure you have a full tank of gas like the man said lol
Google Maps monitors traffic when calculating a route. Sunday July 25 at 3:00 PM with a 1 hour delay at Primm, Nevada the difference was only 2 minutes in favor of driving US Route 95 Las Vegas to Anaheim.
FYI Google maps (in GPS/navigation mode) will recommend this route if it's faster due to traffic, so it's always a good idea to check your route there even if you already know the way. I've gone this way a few times for that reason. Generally, like many of the others here, I just get up early and take 15.
Thanks for verifying. I was going to ask if Waze would suggest this route.
@@jaymez858 just leave early at 5 am you’ll get home to SoCal 10 11
@@vailst875ebk5 No patience anymore. Either fly JSX or drive “on a Tuesday.”
Amtrak use to come to Vegas but the airlines took care of that and besides not that many people took the train here when it was available the high speed rail is only going to Barstow last I saw on the local news here in vegas
@@jaymez858 How do u like JSX? Is it expensive? I know I can google it but Id like to hear more from an experienced person 😊
Been there,done that and it is scenic.
Good to know thank you for the information gracias!!!
It would have been nice to know if you took this trip on a Sunday afternoon! Also, should have shown the Speeds Changes you spoke of! It wouldn't of hurt to show the temperature changes also!
Yes, It was taken on a Sunday
I've taken 4-different routes out of Vegas and do believe the best one is 93 to Searchlight, right hand turn to about half way to 15 then a left hand turn to a road that takes you to Barstow then catch 15 there.
I'm gonna try this! Thanks 👍
@@skorpio88 One time we drove back to San Diego going down 93 following the river until we got to HWY 8 and then took that back toward the west. Even though it was a fun drive I promised myself (and my wife) I would never do that again. LOL
That sounds like an outstanding alternative.
Take 93 from Boulder City to Searchlight and then take the 164 from Searchlight through Nipton to the 15. Will save you hours.
@@KeithKman Even though I like that route on a normal day when the 15 is backed up 164/15 junction is still backed up. Thanks for the comment.
That intro tho.. lol 🤣🤣🤣 man you made me laugh. ❤
I've driven every road you are showing. Just set your watch
Right you could have taken the secret route back to los angeles after the July 4th weekend and avoided those tickets driving on the shoulder of the road
How many miles, and how many hours to drive this route?
from I15/160 to baker be about 2 hours speed limit, worse part the traffic lights if hit all red and have to wait, 11 miles or 15 lights i believe, speed limit is 55 depending traffic.
Thanks for the info I’ll try that route
Great tip. The Sunday after July 4th took us 8 hours form LV to LA.
Sunday June 27th it took us seven hours to get home an hour and a half just to get to Stateline
Took me 40 minutes … Southwest
I would only take this detour during the day...it would be pretty hazardous driving this during the night. I can see many fallen asleep at the wheel! Just sayin...
Why would anyone use this shortcut at night when there is no traffic.
@@jinjitsu4350 Hmmmmm, good point!
If you go at night you get to see the UFOs 🛸
@@onewingedangelsephiroth1561 Oh my gosh! How right you are. It would make the drive just a little bit more interesting!
Take the Kelso turn off to hwy 40 then west to Barstow.
Ron W.
I do that whenever I have to go to or from Vegas, I can usually count on one hand how many other cars I see going through the preserve. I’m
great route thanks had no idea great in case of emergency.....my favorite route is the 15 leaving LV at 5am....no traffic
Thanks for the flash to my youth days the site is better if 2 or 3 days after some rain the colors bloom
this is one for sure.. we know there are a few if we are talking from the cajon pass to vegas.. but the REAL secret is picking the right time to drive.
...Or day!
Very wise ol Gnome 👍
Can you imagine crossing that in a oxen driver wagon?
Some good geology on that route and some good fossil locations
Shhh... Its our little secret!!
Thank you for this. Im near that Target on blue diamond
It’s beautiful but my luck I’d get lost and end up jerky in that desert.
i like "jerky;" accompanied with morning wood...
Yep! A secret route going out from vegas...its a bad experience for us coz i was driving pitch black around the mountains like around 9 or 10 am , you know its dark but were talking about pitch black around the mountain and its so scary crap out of me and my family.. and i never doing short cuts again...
I've actually driven this to the fabulous Tecopa Hot Springs. I guess many don't exactly live the desert but I do. I have often imagined how it would be to live out there. Of course, in summer it's tough with the relentless heat.
Thank you.
I love to drive . Stuck at home, was fun. Need to see a nap. Confused.
Oh the City known as "Viva Lost Wages"!
A reliable car is needed on this car ride.. I saw NO gas stations.. Gets kinda lonely if you have to walk
That's why he says in the beginning of the video to gas up and get plenty of water and snacks.
sounds good thanks for you tips jejejej thanks
thank you
You should taken the 215 to Durango and then to Blue Diamond. Would’ve been faster.
There is another way out of there which is much faster and shorter....if you have an AWD with good tires.
Which is?
🤨 full gas…. Thank you I didn’t know that! 😂🤣 thank you grandpa!
this would be a trip worth taking. i love those hills. and i could drive as fast as i like. and that's fast.
I have better way- 95 south, route 66 west, I 40 west then to I 15 Barstow. 75 miles longer but 3 hours faster from Vegas to Barstow.
Yes sir !!!
How long did this take as opposed to taking 15?
That is a herd of cars!
Nice
Nice route, but there are some others that save even more time with less traffic. Recall Newsome and get a governor that will widen I-15.
@James Doolittle The have to keep the roads leaving the state bottled necked to slow the mass exodus.
I’ve took en that route once before. How did I find out I don’t know. I took it a few years back
don't forget your aerial fire works as LV souvenir
did that a while back we enjoyed it.
Just leave late at night or at 4am....simple.
Agreed... I work the night shift and usually get out at 3 or 4am. When I wanna take a trip to LA, I leave straight after work. Easy breezy...
Or Just Fly there.
The real problem is, that people who stay the weekend in Vegas, want to check out of their hotels at 11am and go and have breakfast and look at more sights. Just wake up at 4:00am, shower up, and hit the road. Trust me, you'll be glad you did.
Thanks using tomorrow
When I worked at Ft Irwin and lived in Vegas, I came home every weekend. My route of choice each Sunday afternoon was south to Searchlight, then take the Nipton Rd to the Mojave Preserve turn off. Good road all the way to Kelso...option to turn right at Kelso to head for Baker, or left to head down to I40. Sometimes I took 40, sometimes I just stayed on old Rt 66. I was NEVER in a hurry.
So you drive all those miles out of the way just to end up back on the 15 with all the traffic?
Most of the traffic is at the Nevada/Cal state line where the Nevada 3 lane road reduces to 2 lanes because California won't widen the damn road. After the fruit inspection the traffic flows fairly smooth.
@@russellupsumgrub9633 Big time for sure. I worked/lived in Primm for a few years and saw jams so bad that we would advise guests checking out on Sundays that it would be better for them to kill a few hours before even trying to get on I-15.
@@nvmcrider8475 All those good ole' California gas taxes everyone pays and they do NOTHING concerning their road infrastructure. It's pathetic.
@@russellupsumgrub9633 CA NEEDS to get rid of that man you call the governor. He is destroying that state and I HOPE he does get recalled.
Lmao
US95 south to I40 west is also a good option to Barstow.
True. I-40 is used a lot by caravans and truckers..
I live in Victorville so how that workd
I miss Vegas
An early start out of Vegas on Sunday morning works too (think before sun up).