Las Vegas or Los Angeles for Vacation? How to Decide

Wendy Mullennix Updated on

If you’re beginning vacation planning but are torn between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, you may be looking to learn a little more about each destination. They’re both exciting, both have great climates and – fortunately – they are not too far apart. A drive from Las Vegas to LA might be just what you need to get an unforgettable experience from both cities.

Las Vegas or Los Angeles for Vacation? 

There’s no need to choose just one. Start in Las Vegas for a leisurely afternoon at the swimming pool and a dazzling night out on the town. Later the next morning, a four-hour drive in the tranquil desert will lead you to Los Angeles, a town full of picnics at the beach, legendary Hollywood sites, and high-end shopping.

We’re going to explore this question by starting with the idea of hitting both cities in one trip. Upon reading about both destinations, you may also decide that you’d rather make this trip a one destination stop. That’s okay too. You can always visit the one you didn’t choose on your next trip west.

Las Vegas or Los Angeles?

A Day in the Life of Las Vegas

Both the cities are known as two of the top entertainment destinations in the world, filled with fun things to do and lots of famous celebrities to bump into if you’re lucky.  For this virtual journey, we’ll choose Las Vegas as the starting point.

A Day in Las Vegas

Get started by driving down the one-and-only Las Vegas Strip . The Strip is approximately four miles long and is one of the most famous travel destinations in the world. Both sides of the Las Vegas Strip are filled with huge casinos, attractions, and non-stop entertainment.  Start at the iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada” sign and head north into the middle of the Strip.

Here are just a few ideas of things to do and see along the Vegas Strip:

  • Stop for a baguette and cafe au lait at the quaint French café. It’s located near the base of the massive Eiffel Tower replica at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. Be sure to catch the view of the Strip from the top of the tower to get a lay of the land. Get tickets here for the Eiffel Tower view.
  • The Bellagio Hotel and Casino is located across the street and is one of the most upscale hotels in all of Las Vegas. Don’t miss the amazing glass ceiling in the hotel lobby created by artist Dale Chihuly. This a spectacular spot to admire the huge glass sculptures. And don’t miss the fountains out front; depending on what time of day you are there, you can expect a show every 15 to 30 minutes. Learn more about the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in our article here.
bellagioceilingv1
Glass Ceiling at the Bellagio
Available here as a fine art decorative photograph
  • Art and design enthusiasts will also be fascinated with the whimsical Spanish-themed lobby and mosaic floors as well as the impressive fountain in the luxurious Hotel Wynn Las Vegas.
  • Tour downtown Las Vegas to find some of the brightest neon-clad casinos in Old Vegas. Very retro. While downtown, check out the numerous antique neon signs which are located at the Neon Museum. Read here to learn more about the Neon Museum on our website.

Keep an eye out for celebrities wherever you go, especially in the evenings at the bigger casinos.

A Night in Las Vegas

Le Cirque at Bellagio offers numerous dining options, while Twist at the Waldorf Astoria receives the highest rankings on its excellent cuisine. Or have dinner at a restaurant that offers an amazing view of the Bellagio Fountains.

After dinner, don’t miss one of the most amazing shows in town performed by Cirque du Soleil. Visit here (vegas.com) to see all the different Cirque du Soleil shows currently playing in Las Vegas.

Go to the upscale XS Nightclub at Wynn afterward, or quaff a private label drink at the Voodoo rooftop bar at the Rio. To call it a night, sip a cocktail, overlooking the city lights in the 107 Sky lounge found on the 107th floor of the Stratosphere Tower.

If you’d like to know more of the Best Things To Do in Las Vegas, check out this comprehensive list of tours and the list below for some different ideas:

Who Should Visit Las Vegas?

Travelers who enjoy the following should choose Vegas as their next holiday destination:

  • Nightlife
  • Entertainment
  • Unique cuisines
  • Amazing shows
  • 24/7 party atmosphere

If you are energetic and fascinated with lights, music, entertainment and over the top displays of abundance, then vibrant Vegas is the place for you.

Vegas keeps changing at a fast pace with new entertainment options sprouting up daily.  Whether it’s your first trip to Las Vegas or you’ve visited many times before, there are always new things to do and see here.

Weather in Las Vegas

Vegas is a perfect travel destination throughout the year be it spring, summer, fall, or autumn.  The weather is lovely throughout the year (wikipedia).  The scorching heat can make it a bit on the warm side during summer but that’s the best season of the year for poolside activities. 

The temperature may reach as high as 110˚F in the summer. However, if you enjoy lounging poolside, you can still spend your day in the luxurious shade of the cabanas, safe from the scorching sun.

Vegas weather could be a drawback to some visitors during summer, but hotel pools and day clubs grab a huge crowd and offer an endless pool party. 

In winter, the climate is very pleasant.  Overall, rainy days are quite scarce throughout the year. The truth is, there is no “off” season in Las Vegas. Las Vegas is a year-round destination.

Check out average Las Vegas temperatures month by month here (vegas.com).

Sight-Seeing Places Close to Vegas

Just a short drive North of Las Vegas, is Mount Charleston, a green oasis in the middle of the desert.  Mount Charleston can keep you entertained with:

  • Hiking Trails
  • Ski Area
  • Campgrounds
  • Picnic Sites

So in less than an hour’s drive from Las Vegas, you can visit a completely different kind of landscape at Mount Charleston in the Spring Mountain range.

There is also an abundance of National Parks located near Las Vegas.

  • Zion National Park in Utah:  within 160+ miles and 2.5 hours away from Vegas 
  • Death Valley National Park in Eastern California: within 120+ miles and 1.5 hours away from Vegas 
  • Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona: within 120+ miles and 2 1/2 hours away from Vegas 
  • Joshua Tree National Park in California: within 190+ miles and a little over 3 hours away from Vegas

A Grand Canyon Day-Trip from Vegas

If you’d like to see one of the most magnificent sites nearby, you can travel to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon. Just 2 ½ hours away from Vegas, the West Rim is one of three distinct but completely separate areas you can visit at the Grand Canyon. The West Rim is the closest to Las Vegas. This is a spectacular place to admire the beauty of nature.

You can drive your own vehicle, rent a car (find out if you should rent a car in Las Vegas in our article here), or take one of the many guided tours to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas.

Here’s a list of just a few things you can see and do on a trip to the West Rim of the canyon:

  • Grand Canyon Skywalk – A glass bottom, horseshoe-shaped bridge that juts out over the Grand Canyon.
  • Eagle Point
  • Grand Canyon West zipline
  • Helicopter tour over the canyon (see our article here to choose the best helicopter tour company)

The fact is you can spend two days, a week or more in Las Vegas, have a great time, and still not see everything. How long you spend just depends on how much time you have because there’s always more to do and see in and around Las Vegas.

Now that you have an idea of what you can expect from a Las Vegas trip, let’s jump in the car and see what Los Angeles has to offer.

A Day in the Life of Los Angeles

When you’ve had your fill of Las Vegas, hop in the car and drive about four and a half hours (depending on traffic) to the California City of Los Angeles.

My best tip: If you’re driving from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, plan your trip so you’re not leaving Vegas on a Sunday. Sundays are when most people leave and the traffic to Los Angeles can be especially heavy.

Now that you’re heading to Los Angeles these are some of the top sights you should consider seeing:

  • Disneyland
  • Universal Studios
  • Hollywood Walk of Fame & Grauman’s Chinese Theater
  • Beverly Hills & Rodeo Drive
  • Santa Monica Pier
  • Hollywood Sign

But don’t stop your exploration at just the major tourist attractions, there is so much to see and do in Los Angeles.

Keep in mind, however, that the greater Los Angeles area is spread out over a wide distance and one city spreads into the next. For instance, it will take at least an hour of driving (could be much more) to get to Disneyland from Hollywood depending on the traffic. So plan accordingly.

A Day in Los Angeles

Here’s how you could spend a day in Los Angeles (L.A.).

  • Go on a fun drive to the beautiful shores of Santa Monica beach, through popular Beverly Hills. Relax on the beach, before enjoying a trendy brunch in one of the many restaurants overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
  • Explore the Getty Center Art Museum and its magnificent grounds for some L.A. arts and culture or the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where modern art is on display at the largest art museum in the Western U.S. (source)

The museum is located near The Grove, an elegant shopping area and the Original Farmers Market, which is open all week. It’s a favorite location for fresh and gourmet goodies.

  • Explore the innovative Art museum called The Broad, to the northeast of downtown L.A. The art installation named the Infinity Room gets great reviews. Also, in the same neighborhood is the Grand Central Market and food vendors selling artisan sandwiches and other delicious bites.
  • You can enjoy visiting Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park with many astronomy exhibits and one of the locations used in the movie “La La Land.” Griffith Observatory is also a great place to see the downtown skyline of Los Angeles.
  • At the north-west edge of the park is the famous Hollywood sign. Take the winding streets of Hollywood Hills to Lake Hollywood Park for the best view of the sign.

A Night in Los Angeles

Here are some tips on how you can spend your afternoon and evening in L.A.

  • Head toward the Pacific Ocean via iconic Mulholland Drive–the scene of so many movies! Then head towards Malibu.
  • Experience the fresh seafood at Geoffrey’s oceanside restaurant in Malibu and enjoy spectacular views of the ocean at sunset as you dine.
  • If the moon is out, take a walk along the water at Zuma beach.
  • Alternatively, stay in town and dine at République, with its traditional French menu or Bestia with its creative Italian dishes. Both make fantastic dining choices in the city center.  The places are always fully reserved so you may have to book a place well in advance.
  • After dinner, you could pay a visit to the glamorous Bar Marmont in West Hollywood, the legendary Château Marmont (an evening destination for decades), or feel the rhythm in The Edison nightclub in trendy downtown L.A.

Making the Trek from Los Angeles to Disneyland

You just about can’t come to Los Angeles without planning a visit to Disneyland.

Disneyland is THE most popular family-friendly destination in southern California! Disneyland is packed with fun and excitement that you just wouldn’t want to miss. 

Disneyland is located in the City of Anaheim, California. It’s about an hour away from downtown Los Angeles depending on traffic (it could take much longer if the traffic is bad).

Disneyland, now known as Disneyland Park, was designed, built, and completed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. It was open to the public in 1955 (source).

Though there are 12 other Disney Theme Parks in the world, this park is the original. Nowadays Disneyland consists of two different theme parks that are located next to each other.

  • Disneyland Park
  • Disney California Adventure Park

These two parks have different entrances and require different tickets.<