There were four ways to travel south out of Jerusalem. There are no real hints in the text to tell us which one they chose. One was significantly farther out of the way, and there is no reason to believe that they would take the more difficult journey. Although Yahweh told Lehi to flee, it does not appear that there was an active pursuit. We must also remember that in antiquity it was much more difficult to identify a stranger. There were no photos. To be recognized, someone would have to know who you were. This suggests that there was probably no reason not to take the more expeditious route.
The difference in Lehi’s journey is that rather that continuing to Egypt as was the historical destination of those fleeing Jerusalem for whatever reason, Lehi headed down the Sinai Peninsula. Even that path, however, was well known. Lehi would have followed the Frankincense trail, a generalized path that linked watering locations for the trading caravans. The scarcity of water in the region required that Lehi’s family follow the trail rather than attempt to blaze their own.
Hugh Nibley noted that it was possible that Lehi had done business in the region. It is interesting that it was no problem for Lehi to acquire the needed provisions and tents. Either through Yahweh’s coaching, or his previous experience, Lehi appears to have known what would be required for their journey and accumulated it before they departed.