Salt Lake City to Las Vegas

[1995hoo]

I was looking at the NHL schedule and noticed the opportunity to fly out to Salt Lake City, see the Capitals play there, then drive to Vegas to see the Capitals play there two nights later before flying home the next day. Conceivably the trip could be longer on either end depending on how the work schedule is looking closer to then and on what sort of arrangements we're able to make for our cat.

It looks like it's around 425 miles from central Salt Lake City to the arena in Vegas, which seems like it ought to be an easy drive (especially with the 80-mph speed limit). Would weather in the mountains be a concern in late March? That's not something I think about much living on the East Coast, but the only time I've been to Salt Lake City was for a roughly 20-minute connection at the airport heading home from Vancouver, so I have no sense at all for that part of the country.

I suppose my other question is what we should consider seeing if we extend the trip on either end. Hoover Dam struck me as a possibility near Las Vegas. I don't have much of a feeling for Salt Lake City. We're thinking about going out there in two years when they offer public tours of the Mormon Temple just to see the inside of it before it's closed again, but that's kind of moot at this point because it won't be open yet.

[Rothman]

I was looking at the NHL schedule and noticed the opportunity to fly out to Salt Lake City, see the Capitals play there, then drive to Vegas to see the Capitals play there two nights later before flying home the next day. Conceivably the trip could be longer on either end depending on how the work schedule is looking closer to then and on what sort of arrangements we're able to make for our cat.

It looks like it's around 425 miles from central Salt Lake City to the arena in Vegas, which seems like it ought to be an easy drive (especially with the 80-mph speed limit). Would weather in the mountains be a concern in late March? That's not something I think about much living on the East Coast, but the only time I've been to Salt Lake City was for a roughly 20-minute connection at the airport heading home from Vancouver, so I have no sense at all for that part of the country.

I suppose my other question is what we should consider seeing if we extend the trip on either end. Hoover Dam struck me as a possibility near Las Vegas. I don't have much of a feeling for Salt Lake City. We're thinking about going out there in two years when they offer public tours of the Mormon Temple just to see the inside of it before it's closed again, but that's kind of moot at this point because it won't be open yet.

Personally, I wouldn't be too concerned about driving between SLC and Vegas in March, but some usual winter weather would probably come your way one way or another.

[hbelkins]

I was looking at the NHL schedule and noticed the opportunity to fly out to Salt Lake City, see the Capitals play there, then drive to Vegas to see the Capitals play there two nights later before flying home the next day. Conceivably the trip could be longer on either end depending on how the work schedule is looking closer to then and on what sort of arrangements we're able to make for our cat.

It looks like it's around 425 miles from central Salt Lake City to the arena in Vegas, which seems like it ought to be an easy drive (especially with the 80-mph speed limit). Would weather in the mountains be a concern in late March? That's not something I think about much living on the East Coast, but the only time I've been to Salt Lake City was for a roughly 20-minute connection at the airport heading home from Vancouver, so I have no sense at all for that part of the country.

I suppose my other question is what we should consider seeing if we extend the trip on either end. Hoover Dam struck me as a possibility near Las Vegas. I don't have much of a feeling for Salt Lake City. We're thinking about going out there in two years when they offer public tours of the Mormon Temple just to see the inside of it before it's closed again, but that's kind of moot at this point because it won't be open yet.

Zion National Park is said to be neat. I haven't been, but my brother has several times.

[1995hoo]

Zion National Park is said to be neat. I haven't been, but my brother has several times.

Good point. My mother was there last year or the year before as part of a tour she took. The tour also included Bryce. She spoke highly of both of them and I think she said Bryce was particularly spectacular. Those areas might be a reason to extend the trip after the game in Las Vegas to drive back up there.

[Rothman]

If physically able, there's nothing like being on top of the Fin of Angels Landing in Zion.

[Max Rockatansky]

Zion National Park is said to be neat. I haven't been, but my brother has several times.

Good point. My mother was there last year or the year before as part of a tour she took. The tour also included Bryce. She spoke highly of both of them and I think she said Bryce was particularly spectacular. Those areas might be a reason to extend the trip after the game in Las Vegas to drive back up there.

The short trail at the east Mount Carmel Tunnel portal is worth a stop.  Just as good a view as Angel's Landing but with way less people. 

https://flic.kr/p/JFfGx4

https://flic.kr/p/DY34n2

[Max Rockatansky]

Plus the Bigelow Tunnel which was part of US 91 near St. George is worth a stop at.

https://www.flickr.com/gp/151828809@N08/619c79aFQ4

The Beaver Dam Mountains alignment of US 91 is pretty nice if you aren't up for I-15 in the Virgin River Gorge:

https://www.flickr.com/gp/151828809@N08/VCX408nGfV

[Rothman]

Zion National Park is said to be neat. I haven't been, but my brother has several times.

Good point. My mother was there last year or the year before as part of a tour she took. The tour also included Bryce. She spoke highly of both of them and I think she said Bryce was particularly spectacular. Those areas might be a reason to extend the trip after the game in Las Vegas to drive back up there.

The short trail at the east Mount Carmel Tunnel portal is worth a stop.  Just as good a view as Angel's Landing but with way less people. 

The view from the Fin has no equal in my book.  The only place where my jaw has dropped.

[Max Rockatansky]

And if you want some Auto Trail detour stuff then Valley of Fire State Park and the Arrowhead Trail is the way to go:

https://www.flickr.com/gp/151828809@N08/4mR90S2LWW

[Max Rockatansky]

Zion National Park is said to be neat. I haven't been, but my brother has several times.

Good point. My mother was there last year or the year before as part of a tour she took. The tour also included Bryce. She spoke highly of both of them and I think she said Bryce was particularly spectacular. Those areas might be a reason to extend the trip after the game in Las Vegas to drive back up there.

The short trail at the east Mount Carmel Tunnel portal is worth a stop.  Just as good a view as Angel's Landing but with way less people. 

The view from the Fin has no equal in my book.  The only place where my jaw has dropped.

Both are in that album.  That was a Jessica bucket list item the year I took those pictures.  I'm trying to find some time to go back off season for Kolob Canyon.

[Scott5114]

March is probably the best time of year to visit Las Vegas, weather-wise. Highs are typically in the 70s all month. Las Vegas has enough to do that you can't conceivably get absolutely everything in one trip. Not knowing your personal tastes, I can't predict what attractions you would like, and travel guides exists that probably do a better job than I could do anyhow. So here are the high points from a roadgeek perspective.

The Hoover Dam interior tour is expensive, but is worth it to do at least once. There is also a parking lot where you can go up to the I-11 bridge and get an excellent overview of the dam. A more easily-overlooked infrastructure-geek thing is the stormwater drainage system throughout the Las Vegas Valley. Several of the city parks, especially in the northwest, do double duty as stormwater-detention basins, so you can get a good up-close look at one of them if that sounds interesting.

I haven't made it to Valley of Fire yet, but it looks gorgeous in pictures.

The Neon Museum has a lot of older neon signs salvaged from demolished and remodeled casinos. If you go after dark, they even turn them on.

NV-159 is a nice, easy clinch that gives you a nice view of the Spring Mountains from a low elevation. The Red Rock Scenic Loop charges admission, but it's easily accessed from NV-159. The three NV routes in the mountains, in Kyle and Lee canyons, are worth the time, but they are somewhat high-elevation, so if you're not comfortable with mountain driving and/or the weather up there is bad, it might be a good idea to skip them.

Las Vegas has a large number of older-style illuminated street signs, which I find particularly fascinating, since I grew up without such niceties. I don't think they're that common on the East Coast, so you might like them too. I have an overview of them over in the Pacific Southwest forum that might be handy.

If you want to gawk at an Exit 0, NV-613 has one. Cheyenne Avenue has an interesting stoplight-bypass-lane setup between CC-215 and Rampart Boulevard.

It should be noted that Las Vegas is the wild west in terms of driving. Traffic laws are barely enforced, especially outside of the resort corridor, so be sure to drive defensively. It's common practice among locals to wait a few moments before going at a green light, as red light running is common.

[pderocco]

Earlier in that trip, I recommend the Nebo Loop from Payson down to Nephi, as an alternative to I-15.