Thinking of Driving instead of flying to Vegas. Cost wise it's going to be about the same if I went with Allegiant. What's the drive like it will be mid Aug. Is it going to be hot the whole way. Is it really only 16 1/2 hours likes maps says? Where is the best cheapest town to stay in to break up the trip? Any suggestion or comments will help. Thanks

I'd stop in Albuquerque. Just remember the desert is tough on vehicles in the summer time. I remember seeing signs in the desert near Vegas telling you to turn off your air conditioning to avoid overheating the engine.

We drove to Vegas from OKC a couple of years ago, and it was a blast. We stopped for the night in Albuquerque at the Route 66 casino. There's a lot to site see along the way which is why we decided to drive. We went towards the end of August, and it wasn't too bad.

Thinking of Driving instead of flying to Vegas. Cost wise it's going to be about the same if I went with Allegiant. What's the drive like it will be mid Aug. Is it going to be hot the whole way. Is it really only 16 1/2 hours likes maps says? Where is the best cheapest town to stay in to break up the trip? Any suggestion or comments will help. Thanks

New Mexico typically isn't as hot because of the high elevation.

You should also stop in Flagstaff, Arizona. That is an absolutely beautiful place.

Did it in April a few years ago... All my friends said they hated the drive... I loved every second of it!

Didn't spend the entire time on I-40 either... Took several scenic detours.

And as said above.... Save some time for Flagstaff and from their cut over to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

I've always thought about it, but depending on your party and length of vacation, after gas, lodging, and food along the way, plus probably 2 days of driving out to Vegas and 2 days of driving back, I've always opted for a Southwest direct flight. I can be in Vegas in 2.5 hours, versus 2.5 days from OKC, and a quicker flight even on the way back. Also keep in mind, if you stay on the strip, most of the casino/resorts now charge for daily parking which can add up quickly.

I struggle with the fly vs. drive quite often. Made the drive from OKC to LA a few years back, stopping in Flagstaff overnight. We had 4 people to rotate driving shifts and made to LA in 1.5 days. I think 2 people driving to Vegas could do it in a day. If you can leave OKC at 7:00 AM, you'd be in vegas by 11:00PM. Each person must drive two 4-hour shifts. Not too bad really.

Hell, me and a buddy drove to Richmond, VA last Fall. Left on a Thursday at 4:00PM, back in OKC Monday morning about 9AM. THAT was rough!!

Yeah here to Flag is every bit of 12-13 hours depending how much you stop. Vegas is a little over 4 hours give or take from there. I did this drive last year. It's easy but man it can get really tough as there is literally nothing is most of the drive. In and out of Flag is probably the best part of the drive, with area around Albuquerque a close 2nd.

Yeah here to Flag is every bit of 12-13 hours depending how much you stop. Vegas is a little over 4 hours give or take from there. I did this drive last year. It's easy but man it can get really tough as there is literally nothing is most of the drive. In and out of Flag is probably the best part of the drive, with area around Albuquerque a close 2nd.

I was thinking of staying in Gallup NM which looks about 10 hours and then 6 1/2 to Vegas. It looks like hotel options are limited if you want to break up the drive. It's either Albuquerque, which i can drive further in a day than that, Gallup or Flagstaff. Unless someone has another place to stay.

If you have AAA use them for hotel/motel discounts along the way.

We have a condo in Vegas ....West Vegas-Summerlin, and plan to retire there in the future!!! We(wife and I ) have driven it a million times and flown to Vegas. Make a reservation for a NICE hotel in Gallup. We usually get a Holiday Inn on the East end of Gallup right along I-40 . We like the Denny's next to it for dinner when we arrive and sometimes breakfast when we leave. Believe it or not....all Denny's serve it....Denny's has very good spaghetti!!!! Visit the Denny's in downtown/Fremont Vegas and they serve liquor and have a wedding chapel.

**I don't know how old you are or if you "like" to drive. Pushing it to Flagstaff is do-able but you might be a little road-worn by the time you get there*** If you decide to push on to Flagstaff have a reservation made. We use to stop at the Holiday Inn on Lucky Lane(street name) next to the interstate. Denny's and Cracker Barrel are next to it.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Holiday+Inn+Express+Flagstaff/@35.1926725,-111.6217518,16z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xb517090a6693a644!8m2!3d35.19 36457!4d-111.6227174


*** We now stop at Gallup and move on the next morning*** We usually leave around 7-ish and arrive in Vegas at 2/3-ish. There is a new road that by passes the town of Boulder,NV and it is very smooth....we drove it in March 2019.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Holiday+Inn+Express+%26+Suites+Gallup+East/@35.529956,-108.665696,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x7116af0ac8763bcf!8m2!3d35.52 9956!4d-108.665696

***At Kingman, Arizona....make sure your tank is full of gas. There is only one little hole in the wall gas station from Kingman to Vegas on 93 Highway....you might make it to Boulder but I always make sure my gas tank is filled and we usually stretch at Kingman.

Going home: When we leave Vegas..7-8am we drive to Albuquerque and spend the night. It's a nice drive and we don't push past Albuquerque. We stay at the Holiday Inn offthe interstate...I think...Old Town Holiday Inn. It's right next to a Starbucks that is owned by a Pueblo tribe and looks like a "Santa Fe" style home.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Holiday+Inn+Express+%26+Suites+Albuquerque+Histori c+Old+Town/@35.107764,-106.6601067,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x284c9e5b9576ec6a!8m2!3d35.10 88128!4d-106.6582828



I cannot stress enough.....MAKE HOTEL RESERVATIONS NOW. You'll be dealing with families on vacation, people just traveling, and truckers who want hotel rooms. With Holiday Inn we get points and upgrades or free rooms and my wife likes clean and comfortable hotels. Me....by myself...Motel 6...:cool:

Any detailed or more questions about Vegas or Albuquerque just ask. Heat....yes it will be warm through and to Flagstaff. Kingman to Vegas it will be VERY WARM to HOT. In mid to late August you might see some dust devils past Flagstaff and I have counted 7 dust devils one drive (1999) from Kingman to Vegas. Keep the tank full of gas and a charged up phone and you'll be fine.

HAVE A BLAST IN VEGAS!!!

We have a condo in Vegas ....West Vegas-Summerlin, and plan to retire there in the future!!! We(wife and I ) have driven it a million times and flown to Vegas. Make a reservation for a NICE hotel in Gallup. We usually get a Holiday Inn on the East end of Gallup right along I-40 . We like the Denny's next to it for dinner when we arrive and sometimes breakfast when we leave. Believe it or not....all Denny's serve it....Denny's has very good spaghetti!!!! Visit the Denny's in downtown/Fremont Vegas and they serve liquor and have a wedding chapel.

**I don't know how old you are or if you "like" to drive. Pushing it to Flagstaff is do-able but you might be a little road-worn by the time you get there*** If you decide to push on to Flagstaff have a reservation made. We use to stop at the Holiday Inn on Lucky Lane(street name) next to the interstate. Denny's and Cracker Barrel are next to it.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Holiday+Inn+Express+Flagstaff/@35.1926725,-111.6217518,16z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xb517090a6693a644!8m2!3d35.19 36457!4d-111.6227174


*** We now stop at Gallup and move on the next morning*** We usually leave around 7-ish and arrive in Vegas at 2/3-ish. There is a new road that by passes the town of Boulder,NV and it is very smooth....we drove it in March 2019.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Holiday+Inn+Express+%26+Suites+Gallup+East/@35.529956,-108.665696,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x7116af0ac8763bcf!8m2!3d35.52 9956!4d-108.665696

***At Kingman, Arizona....make sure your tank is full of gas. There is only one little hole in the wall gas station from Kingman to Vegas on 93 Highway....you might make it to Boulder but I always make sure my gas tank is filled and we usually stretch at Kingman.

Going home: When we leave Vegas..7-8am we drive to Albuquerque and spend the night. It's a nice drive and we don't push past Albuquerque. We stay at the Holiday Inn offthe interstate...I think...Old Town Holiday Inn. It's right next to a Starbucks that is owned by a Pueblo tribe and looks like a "Santa Fe" style home.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Holiday+Inn+Express+%26+Suites+Albuquerque+Histori c+Old+Town/@35.107764,-106.6601067,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x284c9e5b9576ec6a!8m2!3d35.10 88128!4d-106.6582828



I cannot stress enough.....MAKE HOTEL RESERVATIONS NOW. You'll be dealing with families on vacation, people just traveling, and truckers who want hotel rooms. With Holiday Inn we get points and upgrades or free rooms and my wife likes clean and comfortable hotels. Me....by myself...Motel 6...:cool:

Any detailed or more questions about Vegas or Albuquerque just ask. Heat....yes it will be warm through and to Flagstaff. Kingman to Vegas it will be VERY WARM to HOT. In mid to late August you might see some dust devils past Flagstaff and I have counted 7 dust devils one drive (1999) from Kingman to Vegas. Keep the tank full of gas and a charged up phone and you'll be fine.

HAVE A BLAST IN VEGAS!!!

Wow thanks for the great info. Just what i was looking for. I'm late 40's moved to OKC 2012. Before then I was from South Bend IN and my dad lived in Wichita Falls. So as far as long driving been there done that. it's about 15 1/2 hours from there to the falls. Making a trip end of this months. It's 13 1/2 hours from my moms door to my door. I usually break it up and do 5 hours after work then 9 the next day. If I'm not working I do 10 then 3 1/2 that way I'm not tired when I get there. I have do it though without stopping many times. I could push it to Flagstaff but in many ways I'm not seeing the point just to save 2 hours the next day. Can't check into hotel probably until 2 or 3 anyway so if i just left from Gallup around 8 I should be getting into Vegas just in time for check in.