Las Vegas does not need any special kind of introduction. It is a city known all across the globe, drawing 49.5 million tourists almost every year. And while you might have already called the number of professional movers Las Vegas with the wish of moving there, this last information might have shaken your determination. That is a lot of people in one single city, and just the traffic would take plenty of your time, not to mention the traffic jams everywhere. But this is normal for a city this big, and something that you should accept if you want to move here. If you lived in big cities before, it won’t come as a surprise. But you don’t have to be living in the city for 10 years to know how to avoid Las Vegas traffic. All you need is our guide.
Avoid rush hour in Las Vegas
Rush hour happens here around the same time it happens in all other cities, so if you moved with local movers Las Vegas from another big city, you know what we are talking about. Expect traffic jams during morning hours from 7 am to 9 am, and evenings from 4 pm to 6 pm, as well as at weekends. It is standard rush hour traffic that really cannot be avoided if you decide to travel at that time. This is simply due to people going and coming back from work. However, what is specific to Vegas is that traffic becomes heavy in tourist areas after 4 pm. The Strip tends to be slow-going most of the time, with the tendency of turning into a virtual car park when the town is busy, which is almost always. If you want to avoid the biggest traffic jams, you simply need to pick another time to hit the road.
The busiest parts of Las Vegas
Here is the fact mostly known to experienced movers Paradise NV, as they use these roads regularly: the I-15 is the most congested road in Las Vegas. That is why Project Neon is a step away from realization, having the goal of improving the busiest stretch of highway in Nevada. This will improve the traffic in Las Vegas, but likely just in this part of the city. This part sees 300,000 vehicles a day, and 25,000 lane changes per hour. This upgrade will connect carpool lanes on US Highway 95 to the Interstate 15 express lanes with that signature flyover bridge you probably have seen before.
Avoid this street in Las Vegas…
What you might not know is that the city you plan on moving to is also home to the busiest street intersection in the world. This can discourage you from moving to Nevada, but simply avoiding this part of the city is not so difficult. Unless you have a business on this specific street, you can easily go around it. It lies between Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana Avenue. The streets are indeed wide, but the traffic is nonetheless heavy and always busy since it is a popular street for both locals and tourists alike. Crossing it as a pedestrian at ground level is simply impossible, so don’t even attempt it. The only way to get across is by using the overpass bridges that are provided, some having escalators. It is a very useful investment from the government, making it possible for pedestrians to cross this otherwise impossible to cross street.
…And these intersections
If you plan on driving after your move to Las Vegas, you might want to consider avoiding the intersection of Charleston Blvd and Lamb Boulevard. This intersection has been deemed the most dangerous in this city, as it holds the record for most car accidents than any other intersection in Las Vegas. This is mostly due to the inconveniently large number of cars passing through it at all times. But if you drive carefully and observe the vehicles around you, you can pass through this area without any problems. It might take a considerable amount of time, but you will get to your destination safely.
Another one to look out for is the intersection between Sahara Avenue and Rainbow Boulevard. This one is followed by the entire stretch of Tropicana Avenue from east to west. These streets and intersections should be your last options when it comes to driving in Las Vegas. And, if you use them, make sure to employ extreme caution. Again, if you don’t have business exactly on these streets, you can easily avoid the biggest crowd. Do this by using the surrounding streets. The bad thing is that the majority of locals do that. This results in jams in the surrounding streets as well.
A few tips to help you avoid Las Vegas traffic
While navigating through Las Vegas can be challenging due to large crowds, especially if you are driving, there are still ways to avoid heavy traffic. You might not manage to do it right in the beginning, but with time you will learn to navigate the LA traffic. Here are some tips to help you out:
- Try using parallel roads. Las Vegas Boulevard, otherwise known as The Strip, is by far the most popular road in the city. Skipping it is a smart move if you are in a hurry. However, you don’t have to change your whole route but simply go for any of the roads parallel to it to bypass the traffic. Some of them are Paradise Road and Kaval Lane on the eastern side, and S. Industrial Road, Frank Sinatra Drive, and Dean Martin Drive on the west end.
- Use the Las Vegas Monorail. It stops at some of the major Las Vegas resorts along Las Vegas Boulevard, having various ticketing options. This will allow you to find the perfect option for your Vegas Trip. Some stops include the MGM Grand Station and The LINQ/Harrah’s Station. It is a great solution for anyone who wants to get around without a car.
- Consider the Desert Inn Road. It is possible to bypass the Strip altogether even if you are checking out the local scene in Las Vegas. Simply take Desert Inn Road. This is one of the longest streets running from both sides of the valley. It will get you to your destination in no time.
- Take a ride on the Beltway Bypass. Another great way to avoid the Strip is to take the Beltway Bypass. It wraps three-quarters of the wall around the valley, providing easy access to the outskirts of town.
Great sources for traffic patterns in Las Vegas
Hitting traffic in Sin City is virtually a guarantee. However, a well-informed traveler has better odds of avoiding Las Vegas traffic. With this handy guide, you will go through the adjustment phase easier, avoiding traffic jams like a resident of the city. With that said, here are some great resources that will help you navigate roadways here. It will allow you to be fast and efficient when and where possible:
- NDOT’s 511 Nevada Travel Info system will provide you with real-time road conditions. It is handy for avoiding traffic jams when you want to get somewhere in a hurry. National Weather Service is your reliable source of weather conditions. The subtropical hot desert climate of Las Vegas doesn’t see much bad weather anyway.
- NDOT also has traffic cameras that will give you an eye on the road both in Las Vegas and Reno areas.
- The road maps from NDOT will certainly help you make your travels through Nevada easier.
- Not to mention that the Travel Nevada page will help you understand where you are going in the first place when visiting Nevada.
Final thoughts
To avoid Las Vegas traffic, you will have to know your way around town a bit. This won’t come overnight after moving with apartment movers Las Vegas. After a few weeks of driving, you will start to get the hang of it. And after a few months, you will be a real professional. However, what is of utmost importance when driving here is that you make sure to avoid anything that could distract you while driving. Mobile phones are a big distraction all the time, not just when driving. They cause many accidents, that is why you should never use them while driving. Remember where you are, and look out for pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles. And all those famous tourists who come to this mecca for a chance to hit it big and go home rich. Tourists don’t know their way around here either, so you will have to take care of them as well. Learning the roads is always good. As accidents often occur, you always want to have a backup plan. We wish you good luck and an easy adjustment time!