LA Southwest Road Trip: 4 Days
Four days out of LA adds real breathing room to the Vegas and Death Valley loop: a second Strip night before the long drive home instead of pushing straight through. Only chasing Vegas alone? Drop to 3 days . Want the Grand Canyon’s West Rim added too? Move up to 5 days , or read the full LA to Vegas, Zion and Death Valley guide .
Book these before you go
- A rental car in LA , you’re covering over 700 miles this trip
- A Strip hotel in Las Vegas for both nights bookending Death Valley
- A Furnace Creek hotel , book this before the Vegas rooms, it sells out first
Day 1: LA to the Strip
Clear the Inland Empire and Cajon Pass early, then settle into 270 miles up I-15, 4 to 4.5 hours to the Strip. Check in, note the resort fee immediately (typically $45-55 a night), walk one stretch of the Strip, and catch the free Bellagio Fountains before an early night.
Day 2: Vegas to Death Valley
About 2 to 2.5 hours off the Strip to Furnace Creek. Entry runs $30 per vehicle for seven days, cashless at every gate. Check the park’s official NPS page for current heat advisories before you leave. Spend the afternoon at Zabriskie Point and Badwater Basin, 282 feet below sea level, and overnight at Furnace Creek, the park’s only real lodging.
Day 3: Death Valley back to the Strip
Catch sunrise at Dante’s View before the heat builds, then drive back to Vegas, the same 2 to 2.5 hour leg reversed. This buys you a second Strip evening rather than a rushed departure, use it for whatever you skipped on night one, a show, a different casino, an actual sit-down dinner instead of a quick bite before bed. The official Las Vegas visitor site lists current show schedules if you want something ticketed.
Day 4: Back to LA
The full 270 miles and 4 to 4.5 hours down I-15, longer if you’re leaving on a weekend. Fill the tank before you leave Vegas, prices along the desert stretch of I-15 run higher the farther you get from the city.
Is a second Vegas night worth it, or should you just drive straight home from Death Valley?
Worth it if the extra day is available. Driving straight from Death Valley to LA is the harder version, 4.5 to 5 hours after already touring the park that morning, while routing back through Vegas splits that same distance into two easier legs and gives you a proper night off before the final push home.
At a glance
| Day | Distance / drive time | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | LA to Las Vegas, 270 mi / 4-4.5 hrs | Strip check-in, Bellagio Fountains |
| 2 | Las Vegas to Death Valley, ~120-125 mi / 2-2.5 hrs | Zabriskie Point, Badwater Basin, overnight Furnace Creek |
| 3 | Death Valley to Las Vegas, ~120-125 mi / 2-2.5 hrs | Sunrise at Dante’s View, second Strip night |
| 4 | Las Vegas to LA, 270 mi / 4-4.5 hrs | Drive home |
Book Furnace Creek before either Vegas hotel, the park’s lodging is genuinely limited and it’s the piece of this trip most likely to sell out first.