I-15 through the Mojave Desert
Los Angeles to Las Vegas Route Weather
Plan the 270-mile drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas via I-15 through the Mojave Desert. The typical drive is 4.5 hours; compare Early morning with nearby windows when desert heat, crosswinds and blowing dust can change conditions.
270 miles
4.5 hours
High
Early morning
Route weather preview
DriveWindow
Check the current forecast in the app.
Route
Los Angeles → Las Vegas
Weather risk
High
Best window
Early morning
Summer heat and sudden desert storms can change the best departure window quickly. Key weather factors: desert heat, crosswinds and blowing dust, thunderstorm outflow near mountain passes.
- desert heat
- crosswinds and blowing dust
- thunderstorm outflow near mountain passes
Route facts
Los Angeles → Las Vegas
- Distance
- 270 miles
- Typical drive
- 4.5 hours
- Planning baseline
- Early morning
- Main weather risks
- desert heat · crosswinds and blowing dust · thunderstorm outflow near mountain passes
Route planning baseline
What this page can tell you
Use these route-specific facts to understand what can affect the drive. They are not a live forecast or a recommendation for a particular departure.
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Choose your travel date and compare departure windows, route timing, segment forecasts, and vehicle-aware risks in the app.
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What DriveWindow checks
Summer heat and sudden desert storms can change the best departure window quickly. Key weather factors: desert heat, crosswinds and blowing dust, thunderstorm outflow near mountain passes.
- desert heat
- crosswinds and blowing dust
- thunderstorm outflow near mountain passes
How to use this route forecast
Early morning
Start by comparing Early morning with nearby departure windows. On this corridor, desert heat, crosswinds and blowing dust can change the drive by hour, segment, and daylight.
High
Summer heat and sudden desert storms can change the best departure window quickly.
Before you leave
- Refresh the route forecast close to departure, especially if the risk level is moderate or higher.
- Compare at least one earlier and one later window when weather is changing along the corridor.
- Review the segment forecast instead of relying on the start or destination forecast alone.
- Use DriveWindow for weather timing, then check your navigation app and official sources for directions, road closures, traffic incidents, restrictions, and current local guidance.
I-15 through the Mojave Desert
Departure decision guide
Summer heat and sudden desert storms can change the best departure window quickly.
Cajon Pass and I-15 across the Mojave Desert
- desert heat
- crosswinds and blowing dust
- thunderstorm outflow near mountain passes
Route-specific planning
Where conditions can change on this drive
Representative forecast points
Los Angeles · Barstow · Las Vegas
Watch conditions most closely around
Cajon Pass and I-15 across the Mojave Desert
Official sources
Route planning answers
Common questions about this drive
Departure timing
What is the best time to drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas based on weather?
Weather risks
What weather should I check between Los Angeles and Las Vegas?
Drive time and distance
How long is the drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and how far is it?
Seasonal weather
How does weather change by season between Los Angeles and Las Vegas?
Route weather hubs
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195 miles · 3.5 hoursRoute weather FAQ
Is DriveWindow a navigation app?
No. DriveWindow is for pre-trip weather planning. Use your navigation app and official sources for directions, closures, traffic incidents, and current road rules.
Why compare departure windows?
Weather risk can change by hour. Leaving earlier or later may reduce exposure to heavy rain, snow, low visibility, high wind, freezing conditions, night driving, or alerts.
How does DriveWindow use traffic in route weather planning?
DriveWindow uses traffic-aware route ETA to estimate when you will reach each weather segment, then ranks departure windows by weather risk. Use official road and navigation sources for live incidents, construction, and closures.
What weather risks does DriveWindow check?
DriveWindow checks route-level risk for rain, snow, wind, visibility, freezing conditions, severe weather alerts, and night driving across sampled points along the route.
Can I use DriveWindow for RV, motorcycle, or winter driving?
Yes. DriveWindow includes driving profiles for car, motorcycle, RV/trailer, cautious, and winter driving so the route risk can reflect the kind of trip you are planning.
How close to departure should I refresh the forecast?
Refresh the route forecast close to leaving, especially before long drives, mountain routes, winter trips, or severe weather days. Premium also supports saved trips and reminders.
Does DriveWindow work for US and Canada routes?
DriveWindow is designed around US, Canadian, and cross-border route weather planning, including major highways, mountain corridors, weekend drives, and road trips.
What is included for free?
The free plan includes one route forecast per day. DriveWindow Premium unlocks unlimited route forecasts, more departure options, longer planning, full segment forecasts, saved routes, reminders, sharing, and Calendar export.
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