BREAKING UP THE DRIVE TO LAS VEGAS - Unique Stops On The Way From Fresno To Vegas
Why the Drive From Vegas Might Actually Be the Best Part of Your Trip
Driving to Las Vegas can feel like a heroic quest, especially if you’re powering through the desert with only caffeine, gas station snacks, and the vague hope that you’ll make it to happy hour. But let’s be honest—how exciting the drive back is really depends on what kind of Vegas trip you had. If you blew your budget, lost your dignity, and ate nothing but buffet shrimp, the return trip might be a quiet reflection on your life choices.
But, if you play your cards right (pun absolutely intended), the journey home can be weirdly delightful—especially if you make time for some of the strange, photogenic stops hiding in plain sight along the I-15. We scoped out four spots worth the pullover. No slot machines, no regrets.
We were way too rushed to sightsee on the way to Vegas, so we saved the fun for the return trip. Here are the spots:
Stop 1: Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System
You’ve seen it shimmering in the distance—those three blinding towers that look like something out of Close Encounters of a Third Kind. That’s Ivanpah, a solar power facility that covers 3,500 acres.
The setup: a bunch of high-tech mirrors (aka heliostats) reflect sunlight onto boilers perched atop 450-foot towers. The resulting steam powers turbines. Translation: sunlight → steam → electricity = air conditioning in homes.
You can drive right up to the fence for a closer look. Just take the Primm Golf Course exit. It’s dramatic, dazzling, and honestly a little dystopian in a way. You will want to have a telephoto lens for this place, as well as your widest angle lens.
Our photographer friend George Joblove stops just about every time—because it looks different depending on time of day, weather, and your personal level of awe. Check out more of his pictures below, all taken during different trips. Thanks for the pictures, George!
Stop 2: Baker – Because Nothing Says “Desert” Like Aliens and Jerky
Baker is where the desert gets extra weird. It has the world’s tallest thermometer. That way you can see how stinkin' hot it is outside of your air conditioned car, and pass on a pit stop in Baker. But the real gem is Alien Fresh Jerky, a roadside store that looks like it landed during Comic-Con and just stayed.
Inside: walls of jerky in every flavor imaginable, alien-themed souvenirs, unnecessarily spicy hot sauces, and enough neon signage to be seen from Mars. Outside: a spaceship hotel that might open someday if the stars align and the funding ever materializes. Click here to see what it looks like inside the store.
The place started in the early 2000s as a humble jerky shop in the middle of nowhere. Now? It pulls in three-quarters of a million visitors a year. Who knew aliens + beef was the secret to small business success?
Stop 3: Zzyzx Spring – Where Desert History Gets Weird
You've seen the sign for Zzyzx Road and thought, “Is that a typo?” Nope. It’s real, it’s weird, and it comes with an origin story so scandalous it deserves its own Netflix docuseries.
Back in the 1940s, a self-appointed health guru/radio evangelist built a “miracle spa” on the edge of Soda Lake—on land he absolutely did not own. He faked a mining claim, set up shop, and peddled the healing powers of his not-at-all-healing desert water.
Surprisingly, it worked. People came. The place thrived, until the feds caught wind and shut it down in the ’60s. Today, it’s the site of a legit research center run by the University of California, with remnants of the old spa still standing like ghost town leftovers.
You can’t go inside the buildings, but there’s a short, semi-scenic trail around the spring where you can soak in the bizarre backstory—and probably get a few cool photos that scream “post-apocalyptic spa weekend.”
If you have to give up one of these spots, sacrifice Zzyzx Road. It's the most time consuming, and least convenient to get to. If you do decide to go, please don't hold it against us.
Stop 4: Liberty Sculpture Park – Yermo, CA
From the highway, Liberty Sculpture Park looks like a roadside art installation with large-scale sculptures rising out of the sand. And sure, it is that—but it’s also a powerful, deeply emotional tribute to people who’ve suffered under oppressive regimes, especially in China.
Each sculpture tells a story. Some are intense, others heartbreaking. It’s not your average kitschy pit stop, and it’s definitely not “Instagram cute”—but it’s important. You’ll find detailed plaques explaining the meaning behind each piece, and chances are, you’ll leave thinking a little harder about the world.
We met Eric Cifani and Heather Perkins doing a video of Liberty Sculpture Park. They are rock hounds, miners, jewelry makers from North Las Vegas who have a great appreciation of the desert landscape and the treasures that it holds, both natural and cultural. Click here to see Eric's video about Liberty Park.
If you need a break from the absurdity of Vegas or just want a reminder that road trips can expand your mind, not just your photo roll, this is the place.
Final thoughts:
The next time you head to Vegas, consider saving some time and sanity for the ride home. There’s a whole lot of weird and wonderful sights along that desert highway—and none of it requires a cover charge or results in a hangover.
Look at the map:
We also have these spots listed on our Best Places to Photograph Near Fresno webpage, which includes a map of the stops along Interstate 15.
