Calgary to Las Vegas is about 2,200 km (1,350 miles) each way, with an international border in the middle. Albertans make the trip for a winter in the desert, a move, or a long holiday, and the smartest way to do it is often to ship the car and fly. Your vehicle is delivered to your door in Nevada while you skip days of driving, winter roads, hotels and wear on the car. If you’d still like to see the West from behind the wheel, drive one way along our historic ghost-town route and let us ship the car home. This guide covers both.
Why ship your car from Calgary to Las Vegas
- Save time: the drive takes at least three long days each way. Shipping takes 4 to 7 days while you’re already there.
- Avoid winter driving: the route crosses mountain passes in Alberta and Montana, where snow and ice are common from October to April.
- Save wear and costs: no fuel, hotels or meals on the road, and no extra kilometres on your car.
- Arrive rested: fly into Las Vegas and have your car delivered to your home, condo or RV park.
Your options
1. Ship your car and fly
We pick up your car anywhere in Alberta, take it south on I-15 across the Coutts–Sweetgrass border, and deliver it to Las Vegas, Henderson, Mesquite or elsewhere in Nevada, typically in 4 to 7 days.
2. Drive one way, ship it back
Take the scenic route below once, then fly home while we ship the car. You get the adventure without the long drive back.
3. Snowbird season
Many Albertans winter in southern Nevada and Arizona. We can ship your car south in the fall and back in the spring. See our snowbird auto shipping service and top places for snowbirds.
For more on shipping from the province, see our Alberta car shipping page and shipping a car from Alberta to the USA.
Border rules for an Alberta car in Nevada
- One-year rule: US Customs allows nonresidents to bring a vehicle in duty-free for personal use for up to one year. It can’t be sold in the US.
- Documents: passport, Alberta registration, and insurance that covers you in the US. Keep the original registration in the glove box, plus proof that you’ll return to Canada.
- Shipped cars: remove all personal belongings and leave about a quarter tank of fuel.
- Coming home: a Canadian car returning to Alberta pays no duty, GST or RIV.
- If you’re moving to Nevada permanently: the car must meet US EPA and DOT standards and may face the 25% Section 232 tariff.
See what US Customs requires from Canadian snowbirds, how to import a car from Canada to the US, and our tariffs page.
If you drive: the Desert Trails & Ghost Towns route
This 7-day route trades the interstate for the historic West: mining towns, Pony Express trails, ancient bristlecone pines and red-rock canyons. It runs south from Calgary to Las Vegas, or north in reverse. Some days are long, so build in rest stops.
Day 1: Calgary to Fernie, BC
Head into the Rockies through the Crowsnest Pass and stop at the Frank Slide, where a 1903 rockslide buried part of the town of Frank in under two minutes. Overnight in Fernie.
Day 2: Fernie to Missoula, Montana
Cross into the US at the quiet Roosville border, stop at Lake Koocanusa, and continue to Missoula. For a splurge, The Resort at Paws Up nearby offers luxury glamping.
Day 3: Missoula to Twin Falls, Idaho
Tour the copper-king mansions of Butte, Montana, then continue south through Idaho to Twin Falls and the Snake River Canyon.
Day 4: Twin Falls to Virginia City, Nevada
A long drive across northern Nevada brings you to Virginia City, Mark Twain’s old stomping ground, where the saloons, boardwalks and steam train feel frozen in the 1870s.
Day 5: Virginia City to Great Basin National Park
Follow US-50, the “Loneliest Road in America,” along the old Pony Express route. Detour to Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park, a ghost town alongside fossils of marine reptiles more than 200 million years old. End among Great Basin’s bristlecone pines, some nearly 5,000 years old, under some of the darkest skies in the country.
Day 6: Great Basin to Valley of Fire
Head south past the clay spires of Cathedral Gorge to Valley of Fire State Park, in time for sunset on the swirling red sandstone of the Fire Wave.
Day 7: Valley of Fire to Las Vegas
One last desert sunrise, then it’s under an hour to the Las Vegas Strip. Fly home from Las Vegas while we ship your car back to Alberta, or stay for the season.
More ghost towns to add
- Rhyolite, Nevada: the Bottle House and gold-rush ruins near Beatty
- Belmont, Nevada: a well-preserved courthouse in the high desert
- Virginia City, Montana: a restored 1860s gold camp, an easy detour from Butte
Driving tips for the route
- Use the quieter Roosville or Carway–Piegan crossings if you’re driving; wait times vary by season
- Carry your passport; a NEXUS card speeds things up
- Declare firearms, alcohol, tobacco and fresh food
- In winter, carry chains and check Alberta, BC and Montana road reports
- Fuel up before long empty stretches on US-50
Prefer the canyon-and-casino version of this trip? See our companion guide, Alberta to Nevada: The Wild West Road Trip.
Plan your trip
Whether you ship both ways, drive one way, or move south for the season, you don’t have to drive 2,200 km twice. For more snowbird planning, see the best time to book snowbird car shipping, our snowbird auto transport cost guide, and the snowbird vehicle transport checklist. For a similar route from BC, read our Arizona to British Columbia snowbird guide, or get a free quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to ship a car from Calgary to Las Vegas?
Typically 4 to 7 days door to door, depending on the exact pickup and delivery addresses and the season. Book 4 to 8 weeks ahead for the fall and spring snowbird peaks.
Is it cheaper to ship my car or drive from Calgary to Las Vegas?
For many people, shipping comes out close to driving once you add fuel, hotels, meals, and wear on the car for a 2,200 km trip, and it saves several days. Get a quote to compare for your vehicle.
Can I drive one way and ship my car back?
Yes. Many travellers drive one way for the experience, then fly home while we ship the car back across the border.
How long can my Alberta car stay in Nevada?
US Customs allows nonresidents to bring a vehicle in duty-free for personal use for up to one year. It can’t be sold in the US and must leave within that time.
Which border crossing do carriers use from Calgary?
Carriers heading to Las Vegas usually cross at Coutts–Sweetgrass on Highway 4 and I-15, the most direct route south. Drivers on the scenic route may use Roosville or Carway–Piegan instead.
Do I pay duty when my car comes back to Alberta?
No. A Canadian-registered car returning home isn’t an import, so there’s no duty, GST, or RIV. Show your registration and ID.
Can I leave luggage in the car while it’s shipped?
No. Remove all personal belongings before pickup. They aren’t covered by transport insurance and can cause problems at customs.
Should I choose enclosed transport?
Open transport suits most vehicles. Enclosed is worth considering for luxury or classic cars, or to protect your car from winter road salt.
Ready to Ship Your Car from Calgary to Las Vegas?
Get a free, no-obligation quote, and we’ll handle everything from pickup
at your door to delivery at your winter home, customs paperwork included.
