Phoenix to Las Vegas is about 312 miles (503 km) by road and 256 miles in a straight line. The drive takes around 5 hr 35 min. The distance is the same in reverse, from Las Vegas to Phoenix.
What This Distance Means for Your Trip
At 312 miles, this is a driving distance rather than a flying one — and a train or bus is often an option too. A scheduled flight would cover only about 256 miles in the air, and once you factor in getting to the airport, checking in and clearing security, that airport time alone cancels out anything saved aloft. For a trip this length, driving is almost always the practical choice.
Want the full side-by-side on time, cost and hassle? See our drive-or-fly breakdown for Phoenix to Las Vegas.
How we calculate these figures
Straight-line distance uses the great-circle (haversine) formula between each city's centre coordinates. Road distance applies a circuity factor of roughly 1.2–1.4× to reflect that roads are not straight. Driving time assumes typical blended speeds for a trip of this length, and flight time is the great-circle distance at about 875 km/h cruise plus around 30 minutes for taxi, climb, descent and approach. The door-to-door air estimate adds about three hours for airport access, check-in, security and boarding. Real figures vary with your exact route, traffic, weather, aircraft and connections.
Phoenix to Las Vegas is a classic Southwest drive — about 290 miles through the Mojave Desert and over the Colorado River at Hoover Dam. The scenery is dramatic and the route passes through historic Kingman, Arizona.
The route via US-93 offers the option to cross the iconic Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge at Hoover Dam, with striking views of the dam and Lake Mead.
Stops Along the Way
A Route 66 landmark town with good food options and access to the original Route 66 through Hackberry and Oatman — a worthwhile detour.
One of America's great engineering achievements — well worth the 30-minute stop to walk the bridge and look down at the Colorado River.
Meeting someone from Las Vegas? Find the exact halfway point between Phoenix and Las Vegas so neither of you drives the whole way — or plan evenly-spaced rest and fuel stops along the route.
Tips for This Trip
The Hoover Dam stop is worth it
The bridge viewing platform over Hoover Dam is genuinely impressive. Budget 30–45 minutes — it's one of the Southwest's great sights.
The Route 66 detour through Oatman adds 1 hour but is iconic
Wild donkeys roam the streets of Oatman, AZ — a genuine Route 66 ghost town experience.
Summer temperatures are extreme
This route crosses some of the hottest terrain in North America in summer. Carry extra water and check your vehicle's cooling system.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Las Vegas is about 255 miles (410 km) from Phoenix in a straight line, and approximately 290 miles (467 km) by road via US-93 north through Kingman, Arizona, and over the Colorado River at Hoover Dam.