Should I fly or should I drive now?

I get the status thing, Basil. Understandable. Then why is driving even on the table?

 

Sonya pretty much nailed it: new experience is the appeal. Just wondering if the reality will be much worse than the idea

 

4.5 drive is more accurate than 6. We have done that from Phoenix and we live 15-30 minutes from sky harbor airport so add that on. We stop at least once sometimes twice for bathroom break.

Going over Hoover dam on bridge has made a difference. Also taking 17 out of Phoenix then turning on carefree highway is a short cut. Comes out 10 miles from wickenburg

 

What's the "experience"? Watching desert roll by for a few hours then traveling in darkness? Don't get me wrong, it takes us 6+ hours to get to Vegas, we've done this very road trip many times, and I've chatted up our/my annual lengthy road trips on many occasions, so Driving R Us. But since you're not really partaking of anything along the way other than controlling your destiny behind the wheel, how does that "experience" balance against picking up what you've said might be a needed leg for your mileage plan?

P.S. Wickenburg is way cool, but that's not exactly something that works into your need to get to Vegas timely.

 

And much like Sonya, you just hit the reason not to....

 

3 hours?? Is that a fucking joke?
My daily commute to work is 2-2:30 each way!

 

Don't know how you do it buddy

 

I live in AZ. 4/4.5 is the correct drive time.

Once out of PHX, easiest drive of your life.

I always “pre-game” after fueling up in Kingman, and then the 90 minutes or so of anticipation begins.

The arrival to Las Vegas is cool at night. You see the lights, and can identify the Strip from about 10-15 miles away. A Must-See “Swingers” like moment everyone should do once in their lifetime. “Vegas, Baby”

 

I love this drive and recommend it. However I haven't done it in 20 years and defer to the crowd on whether there is road construction these days. That would be the decider for me.
The scenery is sublime imho and the gas station/convenience store in Kingman had an interesting selection of critters preserved in glass at last check. Also the new bridge.

One other thing. I don't know what it is like to drive where you live, but it might be a novelty to drive at a 70 or 75 mph speed limit. Anyone know what the limit on route 93 is nowadays?

Also the railroad pass casino in Boulder City may still have a $1 craps table. If they don't, joker's wild does on weekdays.

 

Agreed. An hour to get out of the Vegas airport after landing = you must have stopped for a meal and some beers. I can see getting to the airport an hour before the flight boards.

 

Well those don't sound like very much fun at all. Get a mustang, Camaro or other v8 they are more fun to drive

 

Money...a shitload of it, haha.

 

How about adding a little side trip to Delgadillo's and route 66?

 

I'm a New Englander, and we drove from Vegas to San Antonio to New Hampshire. We absolutely LOVED the scenery in Arizona. It was spectacular, and unlike anything I had ever experienced. It was several years ago, and we still talk about it. I would do it just for the experience, and if you are able to get out of work earlier that day, even better. That said, I personally wouldn't even consider the hassles of flying for such a short trip.

 

Yes, this is underrated. There's a spot near the top of Railroad Pass (on I-11 now, used to be just Hwy 93 when I last drove it) where you crest that hill and the Strip in all its illuminatory glory first becomes visible in the distance. It's a great moment that will send a chill up your spine.

 

This definitely!

Driving to Vegas in a Sonata or Altima is just fine! I take my Elantra all the time and love it. It’s not about being showy, but about the experience. I say go for the drive.

 

I've driven into Vegas in a Porsche, Corvette, International Scout, Camry, Cadillac, Taurus, A6, Ridgeline, Passat, F-150 and quite a few other vehicles. All were just right.

 

Last fall when I drove down to Laughlin on the new I-11 from Boulder City to the Dam and then on down the Arizona side to AZ 68 just north of Kingman, the speed limit once you got away from the Dam was 65, and nobody was obeying it. After getting passed constantly, I just kicked up the cruise control on the rental car to 74 until I got to the AZ 68 turnoff.

 

Official highway speed limits in the west = posted speed + 9mph

But don't try this in the ticket-happy realm of the Evergreen State. Oh, and the we-have-only-one-Congressional-rep states recognize 9 as something more like 15.

 

These days I’d rather drive 5 hours than fly. I fly several times a year and I think it’s miserable.