Lisaandtoby

My son and I are spending one night in Palm Springs, we will drive early morning from LA. We are planning to go on the cable car. The next day we are heading to Las Vegas but wanted to ask if it would be sensible to drive through Joshua Tree national park , twenty nine palms and on through Amboy towards LV.

I would like an interesting drive and have all day to do it so thought it might be preferable to getting back to the main interstate highways.

Any thoughts? It will be April 2013.

tomfuller

Amboy is on the National Trails Highway which is the old Rt. 66. Amboy is the inspiration for Radiator Springs in Cars.
Turn north east of Amboy to cross I-40 at Exit 78.
Continue north through the Mojave National Preserve.
http://www.nps.gov/moja/index.htm
There are many things to see in MNP on the way to I-15 at Exit 272. If you are running late and don't want to go into LV, you can stay at Buffalo Bill's in Primm (exit 1). For a real thrill ride the roller coaster.

Lisaandtoby

HI tomfuller that's great as we are actually booked in for our first night in the LV are in Buffalo Bill's in Primm, then 2 nights on the Strip. Thanks for the info, I am glad there's lots to see, it seems a shame to stay on main highways and miss the beauty around! Are there regular gas stations and snack stops etc? Thanks

tracys2cents

There is nothing in tiny Primm except for the rollercoaster which is shut down when it's windy (often), three grimey casinos where a child is not allowed, and a dying shopping mall. Please reconsider and drive the extra 30 minutes into Las Vegas.

If you are still driving an RV for this trip, be very careful about getting off the main highways and exploring. Do plenty of research about your route as you can easily end up on narrow mountain roads, or take one wrong turn and end up in the middle of nowhere. With no cell phone signal. Are you going to be driving back to Los Angeles in that RV? Choose your route wisely, the Cajon Pass, which is part of the major 15 freeway, is treacherous.

logandog

I agree that Primm is not a travel destination.With Las Vegas only 40 miles away there is no reason to stay there.
Going through Amboy takes you on some lonely stretch of desert highway but it is interesting.Look for the volcanic cinder cones as you approach beautiful downtown Amboy.

janisj

I agree w/the other that Primm is not a nice/fun place to stay. it is pretty sad actually.

janisj

>>I agree w/ the others

tomfuller

Have any of the 3 of you ever spent more than 1 night in Primm?
I prefer Buffalo Bill's to anyplace I ever stayed in Barstow. I also will never spend another night in Baker.
For a $25-30 hotel room it is not too bad.
The cheapest gas that I saw in LV was out on Charleston toward Red Rocks.
The casinos don't have much of a problem with children on the casino floor unless one of them touches a one-armed bandit.
There are a couple of fair places to eat breakfast just off the casino floor. Miss Ashley's is an all you can eat buffet.

tracys2cents

That said, tomfuller, if you were on a once-in-a-lifetime mother and son drive around the west, would PRIMM be one of your selected overnight spots? And Miss Ashleys buffet one of your chosen dining spots rather than one of the 1500 choices in Las Vegas?

Would "it's not too bad" be your idea of the type of hotel that a mother and son would be looking for on such a trip? When for $5 more on weeknights you could stay IN las vegas? And if they're sleeping in the RV.....really? Primm? I don't think so.

Lisaandtoby

HI All
I will be in a car now - have swapped the RV due to driving conditions. The reason for staying at Buffalo Bills was purely for the rollercoaster! my son's a big fan

janisj

"I prefer Buffalo Bill's to anyplace I ever stayed in Barstow. I also will never spend another night in Baker."

That is certainly damning w/ faint praise

Primm is an armpit - Barstow and Baker are other/smellier body parts

tomfuller

Buffalo Bills has free parking for RV's out back. I was very recently shopping for an overnight room in LV and could not find anything for less than $65.
The only RV park on the Strip is next to Circus Circus.
In the other Terrible's casino on the east side in Primm, I saw Bonnie & Clydes shot up car and a couple of other famous old cars. There is a free shuttle tram between the 3 casinos.
I have also eaten breakfast at the casino in Jean which is not any better than Miss Ashley's. My favorite LV buffet is upstairs at the Golden Nugget along Fremont Street.

logandog

I have stayed at Whiskey Pete's and Buffalo Bill's. Nothing at all special about either.
You can stop and enjoy the coaster without spending the night.

clarkgriswold

If it's a weeknight in April, the rollercoaster may be down. They don't have enough customers to pay for staffing. If it's a friday or Saturday you may be in luck, but there is a great rollercoaster in Las Vegas as well. Primm is a bit of a ghosttown during the week.

janisj

As logandog says, if the coaster is running you can easily ride it w/o actually staying IN Primm. Stop in Primm on the way to LV and ride it, have a meal, ride it again . . . then head on to Las Vegas.

Tom: she isn't renting an RV. RV parking is not an advantage.

Lisaandtoby

So if I just stop by in Primm for the rollercoaster (assuming it's running) do you think the saved night should be spent in Palm Springs or Las Vegas or somewhere on route to take more time exploring the parks? I am spending 1 night in P3 and 3 in LV, in LV I am taking one whole day to do a grand canyon trip and the next day to the airport home so have one day for activities in LV. Any thoughts?

logandog

April is a good month to visit Joshua Tree National Monument.
There are good motels near the entrance and it is right on your way to Vegas.
Two nights in Las Vegas is plenty. I tend to get burned out.

Tomsd

Not really that big a fan of Joshua Tree Natl Monument - but do love the roller coasters in Las Vegas. The one in Primm is fine - old style - but if your son really wants a fun one - take the one at NY NY - http://www.newyorknewyork.com/attrac...r-coaster.aspx - which has a snap barrell turn toward the end and you feel like you have just pulled the stick over on a jet fighter.

Great stuff that one.

There is also one at Sahara's? - if it's running, and a little thrill ride - but what a location - way up on top of the Stratosphere. http://www.stratospherehotel.com/Tower/Rides/X-scream

And here are some other pics of Vegas Roller Coasters. http://tinyurl.com/chfr532

And there are other things to do in and around Las Vegas - including a 20 minute drive out to the very pretty Red Rock Canyon - where they also have a nice visitor's center and you can stop at various places on the drive and go for walks.

Tomsd

It's also a stunning sight to get drive down and past Henderson to the big Hoover dam, and it's a great tour inside/down into the bowels of the huge dam if you have time. http://www.vegas.com/attractions/out...hooverdam.html

Tomsd

Your son might also like the tanks et at the Patton Museum - about 45? minutes east of Palm Springs. http://www.desertusa.com/mag99/feb/stories/paton.html

That part of the desert was a HUGE armored warfare training ground in WWII - and I loved the pic of the GI's frying an egg on the side of their tank - in mere 107 degree weather.