Originally Posted by MSPeconomist

Yeah there should be some flights on this route for about $80.

Otherwise you can avoid the $75 close in booking fee by getting your award tickets more than 21 days in advance of travel if you want to use AA miles and aren't an AA elite.

You could drive from LA to Vegas but I suspect that several days of parking at some of the casino hotels on the strip would cost more than $80 including tips.