When is the Los Angeles to Las Vegas route most turbulent?

Check the monthly chart for exact patterns. Transatlantic and mountain routes are typically roughest in winter (Dec–Mar). Tropical routes peak during monsoon season.

LAX to LAS Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Los Angeles to Las Vegas flight turbulent?

The LAX–LAS route typically experiences smooth turbulence. Light turbulence may occur — mostly smooth with occasional bumps.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on LAX to LAS?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Boeing 737 · Airbus A320, that's rows 8–14. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from LAX to LAS?

The LAX to LAS flight takes approximately 1h 5m, covering 236 miles at 22,000 feet.

Is the Los Angeles to Las Vegas flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

LAX

→

LAS

Los Angeles · Las Vegas · 1h 5m

Turb Score

1h 5m

Duration

205 nm

Distance

22,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Smooth

Typical

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for LAX–LAS

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h1h 5m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the LAX–LAS route

The Los Angeles to Las Vegas route crosses the Rocky Mountains — one of the most turbulent regions in North America. Mountain wave turbulence occurs when strong winds blow over mountain peaks, creating powerful invisible waves that extend to cruise altitude. The worst turbulence typically occurs in the first 30–60 minutes when the aircraft is climbing over the range.

The route is served by Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines on Boeing 737 · Airbus A320 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 22,000 feet over a distance of 236 miles (205 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Mountain wave turbulence hits early. If flying over Rockies, expect the first hour to be bumpy.

Los Angeles to Las Vegas Flight Time

How long is the flight from LAX to LAS?

1h 5m

Flight Time

236 mi

Distance

22,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Boeing 737

Aircraft

The Los Angeles (LAX) to Las Vegas (LAS) flight takes approximately 1h 5m, covering 236 miles (205 nautical miles) at 22,000 feet. The route is operated by Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines. Actual flight time may vary by 10–20 minutes depending on wind conditions and routing.

Turbulence levels on LAX–LAS

What to expect at each phase of the flight

SmoothDeparture & arrival — climb and descent phases are generally calm

LightMinor bumps — drink stays in your cup, walking feels slightly unsteady

ModerateNoticeable bumps — stay seated with seatbelt on, service may pause

HeavyStrong jolts — unsecured items move, crew seated. Rare but possible

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Best time to fly LAX–LAS

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on LAX–LAS

Boeing 737

Front

Rows 1–7

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 8–14

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 15+

Rougher

Wing seats are over the center of gravity — least affected by turbulence.

What you'll see in the app

Full forecast, live map & seat recommendations

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

LAS → LAX

Las Vegas → Los Angeles

Smooth

LAX → SFO

Los Angeles → San Francisco

Light

LAX → PHX

Los Angeles → Phoenix

Light

LAX → JFK

Los Angeles → New York

Light

SEA → LAX

Seattle → Los Angeles

See all mountain routes →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

Track any flight in real time

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Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

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Mountain Turbulence

Why mountain routes are the bumpiest

→

Severe Turbulence

What it feels like and how to prepare

→

Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

→

Passenger Reports

I always expect the worst on longer flights but this one surprised me. Very little turbulence, only a few small bumps on descent. Manageable even for me.

Nervous flyer · June

Totally smooth June flight. The seatbelt sign came on once briefly on the climb out but nothing actually happened. Great trip.

Leisure traveler · June

Was nervous about this flight but honestly didn't need to be. Smooth the whole way, the 1h 5m went by fast.

First-time passenger · April

All LAX routes→ All LAS routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Los Angeles to Las Vegas flight turbulent?

The LAX–LAS route typically experiences smooth turbulence. Light turbulence may occur — mostly smooth with occasional bumps. The turbulence score for this route is 32/100.

When is turbulence worst on LAX to LAS?

Mountain wave turbulence hits early. If flying over Rockies, expect the first hour to be bumpy. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on LAX to LAS?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Boeing 737 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 8–14. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from LAX to LAS?

The LAX to LAS flight takes approximately 1h 5m, covering 236 miles (205 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly LAX to LAS?

The main airlines operating this route are Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, flying Boeing 737 · Airbus A320 aircraft.

Data Sources

PIREP — Pilot reports (PIREPs) submitted via FAA/ICAO systems, aggregated over 12+ months of historical data
SIGMET / AIRMET — Significant Meteorological Information bulletins from NOAA Aviation Weather Center
EDR data — Eddy Dissipation Rate measurements from commercial aircraft (ADS-B derived turbulence intensity)
Seasonal patterns — 5-year rolling averages of turbulence frequency and intensity by month for this route

Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data