Getting Around Las Vegas

Walking — free, but mind the distances

Walking is how you'll cover most short Strip hops, and it's part of the experience — but manage your expectations. The full Strip is roughly four miles, resorts are deceptively large (crossing a single mega-resort can take 15 minutes indoors), and pedestrian bridges route you up and over the big intersections. What looks like a five-minute stroll between two hotels can easily be twenty.

The free trams — the best-kept secret

Several groups of resorts are connected by free, air-conditioned trams that most first-timers don't know about. They're the best-value transport in the city because they cost nothing:

• South Strip line: Mandalay Bay ↔ Luxor ↔ Excalibur.
• Aria Express: Park MGM ↔ Aria/CityCenter ↔ Bellagio (via the Shops at Crystals).

If your journey lines up with a tram route, take it — especially in the heat. They run frequently and save a hot walk.

The Las Vegas Monorail

The Monorail is a fast, fully air-conditioned train running along the east side of the Strip. It covers its 3.9-mile route in about 15 minutes, with trains every 4–8 minutes, and it completely bypasses road traffic.

The seven stations

MGM Grand, Horseshoe-Paris, Flamingo-Caesars, Harrah's-LINQ, Boingo at the Convention Center, Westgate, and SAHARA. Note it runs along the back (east) of these properties.

Hours & tickets

• Hours: from 7am, closing around midnight on Mondays, later (up to 2–3am) the rest of the week. Confirm current hours before relying on it late at night.
• Tickets: single rides start at around $6, with 1- to 7-day unlimited passes available — a multi-day pass works out cheaper than repeated single fares or rideshares if you'll use it a few times a day. Online e-tickets are usually cheaper than the machines.
• Nevada residents can get $1 single rides with valid state ID (limits apply).

The Deuce bus — Strip to downtown

The Deuce is the double-decker public bus run by the RTC. It's the workhorse for getting between the Strip and Fremont Street / downtown — the trip the Monorail can't do. It runs 24 hours, stopping at major resorts and attractions along the Strip and continuing down to the Fremont Street Experience.

• Tickets: buy a time-based pass (e.g. a 24-hour pass) at the on-street kiosks, on the RTC app, or on board. It's the cheapest motorised way down the Strip.
• Trade-off: it's cheap and frequent but slow in Strip traffic and can get crowded. Great for the downtown run; less ideal if you're in a hurry.

Uber & Lyft

Rideshare is widely used in Vegas and often the most practical door-to-door option, especially in a group, at night, or in the heat. A few local quirks worth knowing:

• Pickups are centralised. Big resorts route rideshare pickups to designated areas, usually in the parking structures — follow the signs, as it can be a walk from the casino floor.
• Surge pricing is real. Fares spike sharply when a big show, concert, sporting event or convention lets out. If everyone's leaving at once, expect to pay a premium or wait.
• For short Strip hops in traffic, walking or the tram can genuinely be faster than a car stuck on Las Vegas Boulevard.

To & from Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)

The airport is close — just a few miles from the south Strip — which is a real Vegas advantage. Options:

• Rideshare / taxi: the quickest door-to-door. Note the airport has designated rideshare pickup zones; taxis are metered. Neither the Monorail nor the trams serve the airport.
• Ride-share is usually cheaper than a taxi for the Strip run, though airport surge and fees apply.
• Hotel shuttles exist but are slower, stopping at multiple properties.

Should you rent a car?

For most first-time visitors staying on the Strip or downtown: no. Between walking, trams, the Monorail, the Deuce and rideshare, you can reach everything — and a car brings daily parking fees ($15–40 at many Strip resorts), traffic, and the hassle of not being able to drink and drive.

Rent a car only if you're planning day trips — Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, Hoover Dam, or the Grand Canyon. For those, a car (or an organised tour) is the way to go. For the Strip itself, skip it.