I-15 @ Littlefield / Milepost 7.7 (south end of the gorge)
Las Vegas to Duck Creek
Las Vegas to Duck Creek: plan your mountain trip
About 200 miles via Cedar City. Start with the drive, then choose the guide for your plans.
The short version
Start here
Allow about 3.5 hours of driving in good conditions, plus stops. Two nights gives you a full day nearby; three nights leaves room for separate Bryce and Zion days. If Zion Canyon is your main destination, staying in Springdale reduces the daily drive.
Duck Creek Village is a small mountain community in Dixie National Forest at about 8,400 feet. From Las Vegas, follow I-15 north through Mesquite and St. George to Cedar City, then take SR-14 east into the mountains. Utah is one hour ahead of Nevada, so include the time change in your arrival plan.
Cedar City is a useful stop for groceries and fuel before the climb. SR-14 is a winding mountain road; snow, wildlife, road work and slower vehicles can add time. Check current conditions before leaving, and download directions while you have reliable service.
Use the guides below to plan a cabin weekend, a park visit or a specific activity. Day-trip times are estimates to the destination, before parking, shuttle waits and stops. Seasonal access matters, especially around Cedar Breaks and the forest roads.
- I-15 north to Cedar City, then SR-14 east — about 200 miles
- Route
- About 3.5 hours in good conditions, plus stops
- Driving time
- Utah is 1 hour ahead of Las Vegas
- Clock change
- Cedar City, before the SR-14 climb
- Supply stop
- SR-14 reaches roughly 9,900 feet
- Highest section
Live road conditions
Driving from Las Vegas to Duck Creek
Use the route map and available road reports to check the mountain section before departure. Camera images and condition reports may have different update times; check the official UDOT link for current restrictions and closures.
The green line is the real route — I-15 north, then SR-14 east. Tap a camera pin for a live view anywhere on the drive: the Strip, Mesquite, both ends of the Virgin River Gorge, and the SR-14 climb. Road colors are current UDOT surface conditions.
Leg by leg from the Strip
- I-15 N
Las Vegas → Mesquite
Follow I-15 north from Las Vegas. Traffic leaving the city can add time. Mesquite is an option for a break, food or fuel before the Virgin River Gorge.
- I-15 N
Mesquite → St. George
Continue through the Arizona section of I-15 and the Virgin River Gorge into Utah. Follow posted speeds through the canyon. Utah is one hour ahead of Las Vegas.
- I-15 N
St. George → Cedar City
Stay on I-15 north to Cedar City, then follow directions through town to SR-14 east. Stop for groceries and fuel before leaving the city.
- SR-14 E
Cedar City → Duck Creek
SR-14 climbs through Cedar Canyon before reaching the plateau and Duck Creek. Expect curves, changing weather and limited cell reception. Watch for wildlife and allow extra time after snow.
Driving up from Las Vegas? Watch the whole I-15 route live
Live DOT cameras along the 202-mile drive from the Strip to Duck Creek Village, in drive order: Nevada’s I-15 through Las Vegas to Mesquite, Arizona’s two Virgin River Gorge cameras, then Utah’s I-15 and the SR-14 climb. Images refresh about once a minute while you watch.
The Virgin River Gorge, live: both ends of the canyon
The gorge is the stretch everyone asks about — about 20 miles of I-15 threaded through a narrow canyon between Littlefield, Arizona and the Utah line, with no fuel or food and patchy-to-no cell signal. Arizona DOT operates exactly two cameras on this stretch, one at each end, and none inside the canyon itself — so slow or stopped traffic in these two views is your best early warning that something is wrong in between.
I-15 @ the Utah line / Milepost 28.1 (north end of the gorge)
If a crash closes the gorge, traffic detours over old US-91 through Beaver Dam and Utah Hill — plan on at least 30–45 extra minutes, more when everyone else is rerouting too. Arizona incident alerts live at az511.gov.
Leaving Las Vegas: the Strip to Apex & Mesquite
I-15 @ Tropicana Ave / the Strip
I-15 @ the Spaghetti Bowl (I-11/US-95)
I-15 @ Speedway Blvd
I-15 @ Mesquite / Sandhill Blvd
Show all cameras on this stretch (7)
I-15 @ Flamingo Rd
I-15 @ Craig Rd / North Las Vegas
I-15 @ Apex / Milepost 60
After Apex, I-15 runs about 60 miles through the Moapa Valley with no cameras at all — the next live view is Mesquite, just before the Arizona line.
Utah: St. George to Cedar City & the SR-14 climb
I-15 @ St. George / Milepost 5.3
I-15 @ Black Ridge / Milepost 37.3
I-15 @ Cedar City / Milepost 57
SR-14 @ Duck Creek Village / Milepost 31.06
Show all cameras on this stretch (6)
SR-14 @ Milepost 8.12 (Cedar Canyon)
SR-14 Summit @ Milepost 17.3
Camera images are provided by the Nevada, Arizona, and Utah Departments of Transportation and refresh about once a minute. Full networks: nvroads.com · az511.gov · udottraffic.utah.gov
The last leg climbs into the high country
SR-14 reaches roughly 9,900 feet before descending to Duck Creek at about 8,400 feet. Conditions near the summit can differ from Cedar City and the village. Check the mountain forecast as well as the road report.
Before the mountain section
Include the time change
Utah is one hour ahead. A 2 PM departure from Las Vegas with 3.5 hours of driving means about 6:30 PM in Utah before stops. Leave earlier if you want to reach the village in daylight.
Buy groceries in Cedar City
Cedar City has full-size supermarkets and a wider choice than the village. Plan breakfast and arrival-night food around the facilities in your room or cabin.
Check winter conditions
Snow and ice can affect SR-14 and local access roads. Read current restrictions, confirm the route to your lodging and allow flexibility if a storm changes the plan.
Fuel up and save directions
Cedar City is a convenient fuel stop before SR-14. Save your lodging address and offline directions before heading into areas with limited reception.
Where Duck Creek fits
Mountain weather
Duck Creek is generally cooler than Las Vegas in summer. Check the village forecast and the forecast for higher destinations separately; bring layers for mornings and evenings.
Several day-trip options
Bryce Canyon, Cedar Breaks and Navajo Lake can each be visited from Duck Creek. Choose one main destination per day to leave time at the stop.
Stargazing near Cedar Breaks
Cedar Breaks is an International Dark Sky Park. Check road access, cloud cover, moonrise and the current ranger-program calendar before planning an evening visit.
A small village base
Expect limited shopping and dining compared with Cedar City. Check opening hours and plan meals before arriving, particularly outside the summer season.
Pick your trip
Choose a guide for the activity or destination you have in mind.
Weekend Getaways from Las Vegas
A two-night plan with one full day for Bryce, Cedar Breaks, a lake visit or a trail ride.
See guide
Cabins Near Las Vegas
How to choose a cabin, plan meals and leave time to use the space you book.
See guide
Cool Weather Getaway from Las Vegas
Plan for cooler mountain days, cold evenings and changing weather at higher elevations.
See guide
Mountain Town Near Las Vegas
What to expect from a small forest village, including supplies, dining and nearby outings.
See guide
Zion from Las Vegas
Compare Duck Creek and Springdale, and plan around the east entrance, canyon parking and shuttles.
See guide
Bryce Canyon from Las Vegas
A full Bryce day from Duck Creek, with route details, viewpoints, shuttle advice and time for a walk.
See guide
Zion and Bryce from Las Vegas
Compare one Duck Creek stay with split lodging, and give each park its own day.
See guide
ATV Weekend from Las Vegas
Plan a Markagunt riding day with current route maps, operator requirements and transport arrangements.
See guide
Family Road Trip from Las Vegas
A family plan with a supply stop, one park day and a shorter local day.
See guide
Stargazing Getaway from Las Vegas
Plan around moonrise, clouds and seasonal Cedar Breaks access, with a nearby overnight stay.
See guideOfficial planning sources
Check before you drive
Check current road conditions, seasonal access and park shuttle information before departure.
fs.usda.gov
Duck Creek Visitor Center and area overview
Forest Service overview for Duck Creek location and elevation context.
Visit siteudottraffic.utah.gov
UDOT traffic and road conditions
Road alerts and current highway conditions.
Visit sitenps.gov
Zion National Park directions
Official Zion access and airport distances.
Visit sitenps.gov
Bryce Canyon directions
Official Bryce airport and route guidance.
Visit sitenps.gov
Cedar Breaks dark-sky viewing
Official dark-sky guidance for Cedar Breaks.
Visit sitefs.usda.gov
Markagunt OHV trail map
Official OHV trail map for the Markagunt system. Riders should still check the current MVUM.
Visit siteBefore you drive from Las Vegas
Driving time, park access and what to expect in the village.
How far is Duck Creek from Las Vegas?
Roughly 200 miles, or about 3.5 hours of driving in good conditions, via I-15 and SR-14. Add time for traffic, groceries, weather and the one-hour clock change into Utah.
Is Duck Creek better for Zion or Bryce?
Bryce is the shorter park drive, about an hour in good conditions. Zion Canyon takes longer, with additional time for parking and shuttles. Springdale is more convenient if most of your trip is in Zion Canyon.
What should I check before choosing dates?
Check UDOT for SR-14 conditions, the Cedar Breaks conditions page for seasonal SR-148 access, and the relevant park pages for shuttle schedules and closures.
What can I do near the village?
Nearby options include Aspen Mirror Lake, forest walks and a drive to Navajo Lake. Access varies by season. The village also works as a base for longer outings to the parks and OHV routes.
Stay in Duck Creek
Find a room or cabin in Duck Creek
Compare the available stays once you have chosen your dates and route.