Are you saying you are drving to Las Vegas? I have never been able to make much sense out of the traffic going to Vegas. It has taken me as little as 5 hours or so..and as much as 9... (driving from Orange County) They do road work often and it makes it one lane and it is a nightmare..or it can be free and clear...

Hi dawnnoelm:

Yes, I'm driving from Palm Springs to Vegas via the "desert route" (through 29 Palms, Amboy, etc.), so I'll miss much of the fun & excitement of the 15. Nevertheless, I remember that many of you SoCal people have said that the 15 can be a nightmare on weekends/holidays, and I didn't know if that could extend to well east of San Bernardino (where I'd be picking it up). And, while we have hot weather and loads of traffic jams here in DC, I'm not crazy about being stuck in a traffic jam in an oven out in the middle of nowhere!

Thanks!

Last year I went from LA to Las Vegas on Memorial Day. All of the traffic is going the other direction (back into LA). You might hit some westbound from Palm Springs, but assuming you are leaving early in the day it shouldn't be too bad.

PS, don't speed on the way to Las Vegas. That stretch is notorius for tickets!

mlgb:

THANKS. That's what I was figuring.

You've GOT to be kidding! It's the middle of nowhere!!! They really patrol it that close??? Is it just the CHP or are the Nevada cops also that way?

Well, on my last few trips to CA, I must say that the CHP is more lenient than the Maryland State Police, and FAR more lenient than the Ohio Highway Patrol!

That reminds me of a line in a movie (forget the name) . . . "remember, no state has the death penalty for speeding . . . although I don't know about Ohio!" :)

It's the people who speed "out in the middle of nowhere" they get the most money from...they ain't stupid.

I think the CHP has an especially strong turnout on the holiday weekends. I don't think I did see any Nevada police come to think of it, but don't rely on my memory!

They are pretty adept at running the airplane in conjunction with several patrol cars along those long, desolate stretches. It's pretty much an unbeatable combination in terms of tickets that stick.

Yes, the CHP does have a lot more "coverage" on holiday weekends, which includes memorial day.