Tuscon to Las Vegas Drive in December

Old Dec 15th, 2014, 05:49 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Tuscon to Las Vegas Drive in December

My family is planning to drive from Tuscon to Las Vegas next week (December '14)

How is the drive in December in that route in general?

1. Would there by any snow?
2. I know the terrain for the most part is desert (and flat), but I have a fear of heights and am wondering if there is anything part of the trip where I would have to drive at cliff edges or anything that might induce the fear.

There might be some heights involved near Hoover Dam, right?

thanks
CityGuy.
CityGuy is offline  
Old Dec 15th, 2014, 06:16 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,714
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 4 Posts
If you are scared of the high bridge over Hoover Dam (US 93), you can take I-10 to Blythe CA (first exit in CA) and then take US 95 north to where it joins US 93 on the way to LV.
I've been told that once every 2-3 years it snows about a half inch in Las Vegas.
The high bridge has a pedestrian walkway with a 3 foot wall on the dam side of the bridge. Just watch the traffic in the lane in front of you and you'll be fine.
tomfuller is offline  
Old Dec 15th, 2014, 06:37 PM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
tomfuller:
Thanks for the reply, how is the drive between Phoenix and Hoover Dam?

Which could be more frightening the drive on the bridge on the dam, or the bypass road?

Anything to worry between Tucson and Phoenix itself?
CityGuy is offline  
Old Dec 15th, 2014, 07:17 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,714
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 4 Posts
When you get off I-40 in Kingman, fill the gas tank.
US 93 is a typical 2 lane US highway through a rather barren desert. drive sanely and if traffic piles up behind you, pull off at a safe place to let them pass.
tomfuller is offline  
Old Dec 15th, 2014, 07:35 PM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks again. I rather go across the dam than over the new bridge. Is traffic still allowed across the dam?
CityGuy is offline  
Old Dec 16th, 2014, 06:00 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,714
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 4 Posts
You have to go over the new bridge into Nevada to get to the old road down to the dam. You can drive across the dam to the second parking area which is free. The dam is worth driving down to see.
Coming back up from the dam, you can stop at a free parking lot that has the paved path to the walkway on the high bridge.
There is a security checkpoint several hundred yards before you get to the dam on the old highway.
If you're looking for a cheap place to stay, the Hacienda (2 miles from the dam) is cheaper than most places on the "Strip" in LV.
tomfuller is offline  
Old Dec 19th, 2014, 02:03 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 17,949
Received 22 Likes on 4 Posts
TUCSON is the correct spelling just in case you need to google it for something. It ends in SON and it's always sunny is a way to remember it. One year the local newspaper had a cartoon that showed how at Christmas Tucson is spelled like Tuscany,S before C, with all the out of state misspelled Christmas cards arriving in town. It's a Native American name. Enjoy your trip.
HappyTrvlr is online now  
Old Dec 21st, 2014, 09:14 AM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
HappyTrvlr:
Thanks for the correct spelling. I will remember that.

tomfuller:
Looks like my mind is made up , I am going to bypass the high/new bridge over Colorado river. From Kingman, I will take 68 towards Laughlin to join 95 to head up north towards Vegas.
CityGuy is offline  
Old Dec 21st, 2014, 07:29 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 555
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Searchlight is a small desert town. Nugget casino serves a good miner's breakfast. They are being investigated by the state gaming commission, again, for 'cooking the books', which makes them a charming stop over. They may be closed, again. We always stop here.
Terribles casino - basically a truck stop. Searchlight has small motels.

Anyway, the claim to fame in this barren town is that it is home to Senator Reid who is the Senate majority leader until January when Republicans take office

He is rarely to never there preferring his 4-star hotel suite in Washington D.C

Highway 68 from Laughlin. The pass is exceptionally scenic composed of contorted geological formations. Have camera ready.

Out of Laughlin to 95 - If you are an Indian petroglyph aficionado, Christmas Tree Canyon has a superb array of this rock art. Drive east from Laughlin to about milepost 10. Then turn north for about 4 miles (as I recall). A shot walk ends at the canyon entry. Don't walk back far as there is not much there.

Vaga
RVvagabond is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
flpat29
United States
4
May 3rd, 2016 08:36 AM
cheerful
United States
5
Jan 4th, 2007 05:55 PM
kathyvf
United States
5
Apr 9th, 2003 06:59 PM
Spider
United States
10
Mar 14th, 2003 06:01 AM
Jake
United States
7
Dec 26th, 2002 08:39 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -