Los Angeles to Las Vegas Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Los Angeles, CA to Las Vegas, NV (270 miles). Connects LA's port complex to Las Vegas's convention/hospitality freight base via I-15.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Los Angeles to Las Vegas?
Los Angeles to Las Vegas is a 270-mile lane paying about $608 - $716 per load, near $2.25 - $2.65 a mile. The lane data lists transit as same-day, 4-5 hours. Freight is mostly consumer goods, convention and trade show freight, and construction materials. Deadhead risk runs 15-20%, among the lower rates on this list, thanks to steady freight in both directions.
- Distance
- 270 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $608 - $716
- Rate per mile
- $2.25 - $2.65
- Transit time
- Same day / 4-5 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 15-20%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and shift with fuel prices and port volume. See our dispatch fee structure.
Los Angeles to Las Vegas
Los Angeles to Las Vegas is a 270-mile run on I-15, about 4 to 5 hours of driving, an easy same-day trip. The Los Angeles end sits next to the two busiest US container ports: the Port of Long Beach moved a record 9.9 million TEU in 2025, and the Port of Los Angeles was on pace to top 10 million TEU the same year, its third-best year on record. Heading northeast, I-15 climbs through the Cajon Pass before dropping into the Mojave Desert, where summer heat regularly tops 115°F around Baker and Barstow. The Nevada weigh station south of Las Vegas near mile marker 25.5 opens without much warning, so keep your paperwork current through the whole run.
Origin
Los Angeles, CA
Destination
Las Vegas, NV
Distance
270 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 4-5 hrs
Average Rate
$608 - $716
Rate per Mile
$2.25 - $2.65
270-mile lane, typically a same-day run on I-15
Starts near the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach, the two busiest US container ports
Climbs the Cajon Pass before crossing the Mojave Desert to Las Vegas
Los Angeles to Las Vegas: route facts a driver should know
North Las Vegas is one of the fastest-growing logistics clusters in the Southwest
The North Las Vegas industrial zone along I-15 has grown into one of the largest and fastest-growing logistics clusters in the Southwest, with major distribution campuses serving e-commerce, retail and hospitality supply chains.
Source: WARP, Las Vegas freight shipping overview. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
A short lane: you likely won't need the 30-minute break
FMCSA requires a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving without one. This 270-mile lane runs about 4 hours, so most drivers can finish it without a required break.
Source: FMCSA, Summary of Hours of Service Regulations. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Los Angeles to Las Vegas?
About $324.75 this week. The lane is 270 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 42 gallons, and diesel is averaging $7.82 a gallon on this lane (week of October 19, 2026). The U.S. average diesel price is up 10 cents this week.
An estimate. It uses EIA's weekly average for the two regions this lane connects, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 270 mi
- Diesel needed
- 42 gal
- Price used
- $7.82/gal
- Fuel cost
- $324.75
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, convention freight and construction materials fill the trailers heading northeast.
- Consumer Goods
- Convention/Trade Show Freight
- Construction Materials
What makes the Los Angeles to Las Vegas lane difficult?
The Cajon Pass adds grade and, in winter, occasional snow or high-wind closures
The Cajon Pass adds grade and, in winter, occasional snow or high-wind closures.
Mojave Desert heat around Baker and Barstow regularly tops 115°F in summer
Mojave Desert heat around Baker and Barstow regularly tops 115°F in summer.
Port congestion at either LA-area terminal can add hours to a pickup
Port congestion at either LA-area terminal can add hours to a pickup.
What freight moves on the Los Angeles to Las Vegas lane?
What travels between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and when the busy weeks fall.
Primary Commodities
- •Consumer Goods
- •Convention/Trade Show Freight
- •Construction Materials
Secondary Commodities
- •Port drayage and transload freight from Long Beach and Los Angeles
- •Gaming and hospitality equipment
- •Regional construction materials
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (Q4 holiday import surge)
- •Convention and trade show freight (tied to the Las Vegas show calendar)
- •Construction materials (steady, with a spring uptick)
When is the Los Angeles to Las Vegas lane busiest?
Port import timing and the Las Vegas convention calendar both set the peaks.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
January softens as the holiday import surge fades, though CES and other early-year Las Vegas conventions keep some freight moving.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Port volume and Las Vegas retail freight both climb from October through December, tightening capacity on this short lane.
Produce Season?
Not a big factor here. Port and convention freight drive this lane more than harvest timing.
- •Major Las Vegas convention weeks
- •Q4 holiday import surge at the ports
- •Spring trade show calendar
Hurricane Risk?
None. This is an inland desert route; winter storms in the Cajon Pass and summer heat in the Mojave are the real weather risks.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
Distribution freight into Las Vegas runs steady year-round, tracking the metro's ongoing warehouse growth more than any single season.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Los Angeles to Las Vegas lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a weather or heat plan.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
2-3 days out is typical; book earlier during a major Las Vegas convention or a port import surge.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical convention freight and priority port drayage tend to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful pricing a winter Cajon Pass crossing without a weather plan, or a summer daytime run through Baker without a heat plan.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Los Angeles to Las Vegas
- •
Ask brokers about freight tied to the North Las Vegas industrial zone specifically. It's a genuinely fast-growing reload market.
- •
This lane runs about 4 hours, so it pairs well with a same-day return if the Las Vegas-side dock window cooperates.
- •
Confirm your truck's Clean Truck Check status before departing, since California enforces it on any truck operating on its roads.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Los Angeles to Las Vegas lane?
Return freight from North Las Vegas fulfillment centers back to the Inland Empire runs steady.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Las Vegas, NV
- •Regional distribution hubs near Las Vegas
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 15-20%
The lane data lists about one trip in five to six running empty on the way back, lower than most lanes on this list. Barstow's rail-adjacent transload facilities are a good backup if the direct freight is thin.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Return freight from North Las Vegas fulfillment centers back to the Inland Empire is steady. Carriers can also pick up secondary freight through Barstow's rail-adjacent transload facilities.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
North Las Vegas's growing distribution campuses give this lane real, expanding backhaul variety.
- •
Hospitality-connected freight adds a steady demand base beyond general e-commerce and retail.
- •
With about 4 hours of driving each way, a same-day round trip is realistic if you line up the return load first.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Los Angeles to Las Vegas lane?
Three notes to sort out before you cross the Cajon Pass.
Check Cajon Pass conditions in winter; CHP closes it in high wind or snow more often than drivers expect.
Carry extra water and check your cooling system before the Baker-to-Barstow stretch in summer.
The Nevada weigh station near mile marker 25.5 opens with little warning, so keep your logbook current the whole way.
Check the Las Vegas convention calendar before booking a tight delivery window.
Before you book Los Angeles to Las Vegas, ask whether your freight connects to North Las Vegas's growing industrial zone, since that submarket has grown fastest.
Los Angeles to Las Vegas Lane FAQs
Answers on driving time, the Cajon Pass, and the Nevada weigh station.
The lane data shows about $608 - $716 per load, or $2.25 - $2.65 a mile, across 270 miles. It is a competitive, high-volume lane, so compare the offer with the board before you accept.
It can, in winter high wind or snow. CHP closes sections of I-15 through the Cajon Pass more often than many drivers expect, so check conditions before a winter run, especially overnight.
Very. The Port of Long Beach moved a record 9.9 million TEU in 2025, and the Port of Los Angeles was on pace to pass 10 million TEU the same year, its third-best year on record. Expect gate lines and congestion around both terminals, especially during an import surge.
Nevada runs a weigh station on I-15 south of Las Vegas near mile marker 25.5. It opens without much notice, so keep your logbook and paperwork current for the whole run.
Easier than on many lanes. Deadhead risk runs 15-20%, lower than most Las Vegas lanes, because return freight from North Las Vegas fulfillment centers to the Inland Empire is steady, and Barstow's rail-adjacent transload facilities are a fallback.
Other California freight lanes we dispatch
- Los Angeles to San Francisco
- Los Angeles to Phoenix
- Los Angeles to San Diego
- Los Angeles to Sacramento
- Los Angeles to Fresno
- Los Angeles to Dallas
Local resources
Also serving the other end of this lane
Dry Van owner-operator, West Coast: +$2,010/week after moving to $2.62/mi on general freight / consumer goods freight.
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