Try using an online trip planner to help you find the best route from your point of origin to Las Vegas. AAA Trip Tik and Yahoo! Trip Planner are the most highly rated, according to the Road Trip America website. Although you may choose to simply trace a route for yourself on a map, these trip planners do much more. They recommend attractions along the way, offer suggestions and reviews for food and fuel stops, and give you the option to choose between the quickest route and most scenic route. An online trip planner should also trace your chosen route on a printable map.
Decide on your rest stops along the way. If you are coming from Los Angeles or somewhere else in the Las Vegas vicinity, you can skip this step, but many road trips will require you to stop at a hotel overnight. Try to time these stops in cities or regions of interest to you. For example, if you are coming from the northwestern United States, you might choose to drive along the coast and stop in San Francisco, or you may wish to see the Rocky Mountains and stop in Utah or Colorado. From the Southeast, visiting Texas or New Mexico could be a welcome addition to your travel itinerary. Again, online trip planners can aid you in figuring out driving times between points of interest and in booking hotels.
Check road conditions for your trip. This can be done ahead of time through sites such as Safe Travel USA, which offers up-to-date information that can help you prepare for your trip or help you choose alternative routes to blocked or unsafe roads.
Prepare your vehicle. Make sure it is in good shape before you take it out on the road. Prepare an emergency kit in case you encounter any problems. Double check that you have a spare tire and a gas can, as well as plenty of water and non-perishable food. Travel with a cell phone so that you can call for help. Be prepared in case of any emergency.
Choose a Las Vegas hotel or resort. There is a wide range of hotels in Las Vegas to suit any style or budget, so this is up to you, though online trip planners and sites such as Vegas.com and Visit Las Vegas offer helpful suggestions and reviews. Because you are taking a road trip, remember to make sure the hotel you are staying at offers parking.
Note the attractions in the area surrounding Las Vegas. Half the fun of taking a road trip to Las Vegas is the freedom of having a car to explore outside the city. This could mean taking a drive in the Mojave Desert, exploring Hoover Dam or even seeing the world's largest thermometer in Baker, Nevada. Leave time for these detours, because you never know what might catch your eye.
If you have a GPS system, program it with your known destinations. When you make a detour, your GPS will take this into account and can always put you back on track. If you are not using a GPS, make sure you have all relevant road maps and directions close at hand for yourself or your navigator. Once you know where you are going, you are all set to hit the road.
