Bus or train from Los Angeles to Flagstaff, Arizona

P. EVERETT, HAWKS NEST

Bus is another option. Greyhound greyhound.com pegs this as a 12-hour, 25-minute journey if you were to leave Los Angeles on their 8:15am departure, which would mean  you could take in the scenery along the way and arrive at a not too late hour in Flagstaff. What you won't be seeing is the Sierra Nevada. The bus route from Los Angeles to Flagstaff follows Route 40, which circles the southern perimeter of the Mojave National Preserve, but well south of the Sierra Nevada. 

Probably the most convenient Greyhound bus station for you is going to be the one at 1716 E 7th Street, Los Angeles. This is at the heart of Downtown LA and any hotels in that area would put you within just a short taxi ride of the bus terminal. A better place to look for accommodation would be the Beverley Hills/West Hollywood/Mid-Wiltshire district, about 15 kilometres from the bus terminal. Taxi from your hotel would be the best way to get to the US terminal. 

Several car rental operators including Avis, Budget, and Enterprise have agencies in downtown Flagstaff, most likely close to wherever you'll be spending the night.