Posted on Last updated:
Post may contain affiliate links; we may receive compensation if you click links to those products. This may impact how offers are presented. Our site does not include all offers available. See our Disclosure & Privacy Policy for more info.Content on page accurate as of posting date.
California has been known to put its foot in its mouth, which makes sense with the growing yoga craze, but not when it comes to false promises.
As a 10-year California resident, I’ve learned to take any exciting news in the “Golden State” with a grain of salt, not knowing if it will ever come to fruition or if it will simply remain a headline etched in time.
Take the newly-opened Gaylord Resort in my hometown of Chula Vista, for example. It’s the last place in San Diego County you’d expect a waterfront oasis, but it did actually open (albeit to a mixed bag of reviews).
California has been promising thrilling new train routes for years, but where are they?
Local sources in Los Angeles have released new details for a high-speed route that’s promised to connect the outskirts of LA, taking travelers across the desert at blazing speeds to reach “Sin City”.
Though, many questions remain, we at Travel Off Path are stoked to reveal all 4 stops slated for Brightline’s new venture, helping you decide if hopping aboard a train from LA to Las Vegas is worth it, or if the quick flight or 4-hour drive are more suitable.
Ever heard of Brightline? The relative newbie in the rail industry made a name for itself in recent years by connecting some of Florida’s most popular locales.
While Japan is the undisputed king of so-called “bullet trains”, Brightline has given American travelers hope to follow suit as the only true U.S. high-speed operator.
That’s not to say Amtrak’s time is up, especially since the iconic brand is launching new routes too, but Brightline is ready to set the West Coast abuzz with the task of cutting through California’s notorious red-tape stalemates.
That may be why travelers will have to wait a few years before the train is supposedly launched in December 2028.
Another downside is that the train will not go to LA proper — you know, Hollywood, Rodeo Drive, etc. — it departs from Rancho Cucamonga near Ontario, which is mostly known for being home to a great alternative airport to LAX.
From the LA outskirts toward Nevada, the whole route is set for launch as follows:
To reach the LA city limits for typical tourist attractions, there will be an option to connect from Rancho Cucamonga by MetroLink.
There’s no shortage of travelers going back and forth from the bright lights of Hollywood to the even brighter lights of the neon-lit Strip.
Factoring in expected max speeds of 218 mph, plus 2 stops in between, the train tops out at roughly half the speed of a commercial jet.
While you may not have to deal with the hassle of TSA at train stations, California to Vegas is also a popular road trip, though traffic is notoriously bad in both major cities.
So, let’s lay out the options here:
Then there will be Brightline, claiming to connect this pair of iconic cities in 2 hours and 10 minutes, but most tourists will find themselves bored in the ‘burbs upon arriving in Rancho Cucamonga.
There’s also the well-documented aspect that both LA and Las Vegas are struggling to draw visitors right now, which begs the question if these are the right cities to connect when there are ample ways to reach either city, neither of which is living up to their usual vacation hotspot reputation.
Here’s another doozy to consider — weighing costs has to come into consideration, too, when factoring in logistics.
While it’s tough to predict airfare 3 years from now, a quick Google search showed the cheapest LA-Vegas flight this weekend goes for $94 (Frontier).
You would get to Vegas in about an hour and pay less than what’s being reported.
One-way ticket prices are expected to be:
Sam Sears
Sam, our Lead Writer & Journalist based in San Diego has visited 36 countries and written over 1000 articles with a focus on sharing his own travel experiences and shining a light on lesser-known gems.
The Travel Off Path Advantage: Your Travel Toolkit
Our flagship tool. Solves your entire pre-flight travel planning in a few easy steps. From entry rules to hidden fees and safety.
An easy tool to check all the latest travel advisories from the U.S. State Department.
An easy tool to check all the entry requirements for your destination.
Unlock travel tips, hot destination insights, and exclusive flight deals.
With over 25,000 members on Facebook!
Subscribe To Our Latest Posts
Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path’s latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox.
Posted on Last updated:
Categories Travel, Travel News
Tags
These Are The 30 Fastest-Growing Tourist Destinations On Earth, But Which One Is For You?
Move Over Charleston! Lesser-Known Town Named South Carolina’s Most Beautiful Fall Getaway
Bob
Saturday 13th of September 2025
1 Hour flight? Not even close. You have to be at Ontario 60 minutes before flight and if at LAX, figure 90 minutes. So you are at 2 1/2 hours. Plus drive time to the airports, roughly equivalent to driving to Rancho Cucamonga or downtown LA to take the Metrolink. So that part is a wash.
Michael V
Friday 12th of September 2025
China has the most high speed trains in the world. And it isn’t even close. Accounting for about two third of the worlds high speed trains. Spain even has more high speed track than Japan, but not by much. Bullet trains did begin in Japan though in the 60s and are an extremely well known means of transportation there
David Achiro
Thursday 11th of September 2025
I will be residing at Trails End when this project is finished.
Shahdaroba Rodd
Wednesday 10th of September 2025
Hi Sam. Your comments about things that may happen should include anything to do with Bright line. Why? They just defaulted on a payment that justifies questioning their long term survival.
Norman S.
Friday 12th of September 2025
@Robert,
Robert
Thursday 11th of September 2025
Speaking for myself, I would love to take that train to Las Vegas. By car, it is not practice, it takes to long to get to get there, facing too much traffic, bad for the environment & etc.
I may go once a month. I may comeback on the same day or the next day. I am seriously even moving to to Las Vegas. Having access to the train, i can afford to investigate at the city. It will be a fantastic a weekend get a way rather than a trip to Vegas in several years.It will be win to California’s and to Nevedans.
Our Network
Privacy Policy & Terms
Editorial Guidelines
Home
About
Travel News
Work With Us
Contact Travel Off Path
Copyright © 2025 Travel Off Path
