Vancouver to Vegas: The Road Trip Guide
DRIVE: You can do the quick run or take the scenic route, but whichever way you go have fun
If you’ve got the time or aren’t a fan of flying, the drive from Vancouver to Las Vegas takes a little less than 24 hours and there are a couple of different routes you can take, but before you get on the road, you need to make sure you’re doing your road trip right.
No matter whether you’re driving on your own, riding in tandem or cruising with several people, there are some basics that you need to have covered.
In terms of vehicle selection, everyone has their favourites, but consider an SUV — you’ll get cargo room for all your luggage, a fair amount of space (unless you’re gigantic) and a vehicle that can handle whatever conditions you may encounter on the road. You’ll want to make sure your chariot has a navigation system and SiriusXM Radio. Air conditioning is also a must.
No one likes heading down the road, making a wrong turn and ending up in the middle of nowhere, so the GPS will keep you headed toward the lights in the Nevada desert.
As for the satellite radio setup, it affords you tons of options for not a lot of effort. Gone are the days of shuffling CDs or scanning the dial for the right frequency; all you need to do is find your genre and crank up the volume. Once your mood changes, so does the station.
Travel snacks are essential, but everyone has their favourites, so outlining specific munchies to bring is tough. Personally, I’m a candy guy, especially Sour Keys and Mike and Ikes, maybe with some M&M Peanuts mixed in for good measure. In terms of beverages, fill up a couple of water bottles when you leave and refill them whenever you stop.
Once you’re on the road, Seattle becomes the starting point for your Pick Your Path adventure on the road.
If you’re looking for the shortest journey, venturing through central Washington, into Idaho and then down into Nevada is tagged as the quickest route, clocked on Google at just under 20 hours and just over 2,000 km.
Central Washington can be scenic and the run down through Nevada will have picturesque moments as well, but you’re also running through Idaho where there is … um … yeah.
The middle distance route registers at 2,056 km and 21.5 hours and heads from Seattle to Portland and down through Oregon before entering Nevada and driving down to Sin City through the centre of the state, including a stretch through Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
If time isn’t necessarily a concern and you want to take the most scenic route to Las Vegas, travelling down the coast is the way to go.
Listed at just short of 2,400 km and 24 hours, the westernmost route also goes Seattle to Portland, but instead of going through central Oregon, you’re headed to Eugene and then down to Sacramento before starting to head east once you get to about Barstow, Calif.
That drive Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau made in Swingers? This is the closest approximation you’ll get without having to fly to Los Angeles and taking the exact same ride.
No matter what route you take, be sure to plan ahead, pick out some cool places to stop along the way and start shouting, “Vegas, Baby!” as soon as you see the lights on the horizon.