Thinking of changing up our wine trip this year and heading west from Vegas to the Coast and visiting some Central Coast wineries, etc.  before heading north to Napa/Sonoma.   We've never driven to or from LV.Â

Any ideas, tips or words of advice?

My memory is that it is about 4 to 5 hours from LV to LA. I might be wrong. To me it's a dull drive. However, it's more interesting to go from LV north and over to Death Valley and then up to Tahoe or over to Yosemite and through one of the passes. But, that's not the way you're going. The Eastern Sierras is a great place to visit if you ever have the chance.

From LA you will have another 2 hour drive or so to Santa Barbara. Unless you have lots of time, I would recommend flying from LV to LA, or LV to Santa Barbara and rent a car from there.

Kpak, what Tanglenet says. It is such a dull drive that it would be a waste of your time.

Also depends on when you're going... you probably aren't going to be taking one of the passes during the winter, given quite a few of them are closed unless you go up to Tahoe and cut over on 50 or 80.

go from LV via 15 & 40 /58 To Bakersfield CA, and then on to Paso Robles

It is a 5 1/2 hr trip, and will be cheaper and less than connecting up with flights, and auto rentals.  For the time you need to spend at the airport early, you will be 1/3 > 1/2 of way to Central Coast.

From there you can bug out from LAX of SFO just a few hours away.

Took it that way about 5 years ago.

If you happen to take the Eastern Sierra route, I am a fun wine dinner stop half way to Napa

That's tempting.  Will let you know when we finalize our itinerary.


If it stays dry, this might be the year for Yosemite in the winter...

Updating this with our latest plans...

Leaving Las Vegas on 1/28 and heading west.  Will leave the routing up to the weather gods, but hope to arrive in Yountville or St. Helena by 02/02.    Spending a few days that side (Cindy's, Terra, Brix?) before a visit to northern Sonoma, RRV, and final stop at the Doubletree on 02/08.   Departure from Santa Rosa on 02/10 (or 02/11)  haven't decided yet...Â

Sounds like a fun trip. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we are looking forward to seeing you in Sonoma.