The Las Vegas Interstate 15 Corridor
[image: flickr]
I can’t tell you how many times in my life I’ve been up and down Interstate 15, or as it’s more commonly called, the I-15! The I-15 is a transcontinental north-south interstate highway that runs through Montana, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California.
Having grown up in northern Utah with grandparents in southern California, the I-15 was the fastest and most direct route for Thanksgivings, Christmases and Easters spent with extended family. The drive wasn’t terribly spectacular, usually starting obscenely early in the morning and ending late at night with a whole lot of flat desert landscaping in between, but we always got to the Las Vegas valley in full daylight and it was always a treat for my siblings and me.
Oddly enough, this city that I had no connection to and never in a million years would have thought I’d live in one day holds a lot of memories! I remember stopping at Strip hotels that no longer exist for lunch, bathroom breaks, and a chance to stretch our legs. I remember the hope of getting to stay at Circus Circus on our way back from California one trip, though in the end getting home faster trumped a night in the hotel!
If you’re traveling at night the interstate is fully lit, making the late hours a little more comfortable and secure. There is also ample space on the shoulder for car emergencies and other necessary stops (taking pictures of the Strip isn’t one of them!).
The speed limit is 65, though many drivers feel the need to go much faster, so be extra vigilant with lane changes! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people have to jerk back into the lane they just tried to leave because a speed demon has snuck up beside them.
The I-15 crosses with the US-95 junction at the Spaghetti Bowl interchange to take you into the more residential northwest areas of Las Vegas, and as far north as Carson City (via US 50), Reno (via I-80) and beyond.
The Las Vegas Interstate 15 corridor still offers a lot of great services for travelers, and it goes without saying that holds just as true now as it did 20+ years ago!
[image: wikipedia]
Tags: arizona, california, history, Hotels, i-15, information, interstate 15, Las-Vegas, local transportation, locals, nevada, Resources, short trips, speed limit, travel tips, us-95, UtahRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Getting Around - Local Transportation, History & Information, Resources, Scenic & Short Trips, Sound Like a Local - Local "Speak", Travel Tips - General Information
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2 opinions for The Las Vegas Interstate 15 Corridor
Ryan Rodriguez
Jul 21, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Heather,
I stayed at Mandalay Bay and for a short time when we left, my brother and I felt a moment of sorrow. Where Mandalay now stands, there used to be a Texaco gas station connected to a Denny’s that we would always go to when we were kids. The I-15 had many wondrous little gems. The cute little chapels and motels which lined the entrance to the strip are all re-located or torn down. The place where my parents got married is gone.
But the I-15 is definitely magical still. Calico Ghost Town, and Baker are little diamonds in the desert.
Heather, do you remember the joy you would get when you saw the big Circus Circus sign with the clown and the moments your parents pulled in? Oh yeah, they would say… “alright, we’ll stay just for a little bit.”
Heather
Jul 21, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Hi Ryan! I do still remember the thrill of seeing Circus Circus! I remember thinking there were actually clowns and trapeze artists inside the hotel and how neat it must be to stay there. I try to recapture that sometimes when we drive past it but it’s just not the same as it was then — too many years gone :D
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