Can I have a moderately lively, none-too-crowed Las Vegas New Year celebration?
December 21, 2010 4:02 PM Subscribe
I'm thinking of going to Las Vegas for New Years Eve with Mrs. filthy light thief, to visit a friend of hers who lives out there and ring in the new year. EXCEPT: we're looking to avoid crowds. And traffic. Is this actually possible?
My wife's friend moved out to Vegas a few months back, and there was talk of going out to visit her around the holidays. Now that it's holiday time, we're having second thoughts about it really being worth the hassle.
We live 6 or 7 hours away by car, but we're looking at driving in on December 30th, and back home on the 1st or 2nd, which sounds like the same time that everyone else will be on the roads. There are direct flights from area airports, but where there were oddball $50 flights, at other times in the year, it's all in the $300+ per person range.
I'm interested in the lights and the noise, but not if that means venturing alone while my wife and her friend hide out at home. Are there interesting areas that won't be full of huge crowds of people, off-off-strip or in surrounding communities? I'd love to hike in that area, but the outdoors really isn't the goal for this trip (unless there are seasonally amazing places to be, right around New Years and no other times).
In short:
1. How will the drive be from central coast California to Las Vegas?
2. Are there any urban-ish areas in/around Vegas that is interesting for New Years, but not really crowded and noisy?
I'm expecting the answers to be "bad" and "no," but I have some outside hope for more positive answers. And I realize it may be only as bad as I think it is, but two 7+ hours of driving sounds already like a lot of driving for two day of not driving, even with fun times ahead.
My wife's friend moved out to Vegas a few months back, and there was talk of going out to visit her around the holidays. Now that it's holiday time, we're having second thoughts about it really being worth the hassle.
We live 6 or 7 hours away by car, but we're looking at driving in on December 30th, and back home on the 1st or 2nd, which sounds like the same time that everyone else will be on the roads. There are direct flights from area airports, but where there were oddball $50 flights, at other times in the year, it's all in the $300+ per person range.
I'm interested in the lights and the noise, but not if that means venturing alone while my wife and her friend hide out at home. Are there interesting areas that won't be full of huge crowds of people, off-off-strip or in surrounding communities? I'd love to hike in that area, but the outdoors really isn't the goal for this trip (unless there are seasonally amazing places to be, right around New Years and no other times).
In short:
1. How will the drive be from central coast California to Las Vegas?
2. Are there any urban-ish areas in/around Vegas that is interesting for New Years, but not really crowded and noisy?
I'm expecting the answers to be "bad" and "no," but I have some outside hope for more positive answers. And I realize it may be only as bad as I think it is, but two 7+ hours of driving sounds already like a lot of driving for two day of not driving, even with fun times ahead.
er south west...
posted by NeonBlueDecember at 4:19 PM on December 21, 2010
posted by NeonBlueDecember at 4:19 PM on December 21, 2010
I used to go to school at UCSB and drove to visit momma for the holidays. That was in the mid 80s and I haven't been on the road from SB to Victorville via Bakersfield, but it wasn't too bad. The bad news is the 15 between Barstow and Vegas is the as it was back then but even on a non holiday weekend it is really crowded. If there's weather or a wreck it can be a pain. Once you get to the Nevada border another lane opens up and it is smooth sailing until you hit Vegas.
Depending on where your friend lives, you'll probably be OK on I15 coming from California until you get to the 215 beltway. I15 north of the beltway to the "spaghetti bowl" can be a nightmare during rush hours and holiday time periods. Nowadays I make the trip from San Diego to Vegas for the holidays.
Getting there on the 30th is better than the 31st trafficwise. But if I were you, I'd want to get an early arrival in the afternoon. The trick is to get there before all the Angelenos get on the road.
I agree with NeonBlueDecember that the Station casinos (Green Valley Ranch if your friend lives in Green Valley/Henderson, or Red Rock if in Summerilin) will be much more of a mess than anything on the strip.
posted by birdherder at 4:43 PM on December 21, 2010
Depending on where your friend lives, you'll probably be OK on I15 coming from California until you get to the 215 beltway. I15 north of the beltway to the "spaghetti bowl" can be a nightmare during rush hours and holiday time periods. Nowadays I make the trip from San Diego to Vegas for the holidays.
Getting there on the 30th is better than the 31st trafficwise. But if I were you, I'd want to get an early arrival in the afternoon. The trick is to get there before all the Angelenos get on the road.
I agree with NeonBlueDecember that the Station casinos (Green Valley Ranch if your friend lives in Green Valley/Henderson, or Red Rock if in Summerilin) will be much more of a mess than anything on the strip.
posted by birdherder at 4:43 PM on December 21, 2010
Have you considered Lake Tahoe and/or Reno?
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:51 PM on December 21, 2010
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:51 PM on December 21, 2010
Response by poster: The reason to go to Las Vegas is the friend who lives there, and staying with her for free, though going somewhere in that area could be nice. Good idea!
posted by filthy light thief at 10:12 AM on December 22, 2010
posted by filthy light thief at 10:12 AM on December 22, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
2) Try any of the Station Casinos away from the downtown area, like Aliante, Texas, Santa Fe, Green Valley Ranch maybe or Red Rock. Here is a list of events at Station Casinos
posted by NeonBlueDecember at 4:18 PM on December 21, 2010