How to Get to Las Vegas

Las Vegas is one of the easiest cities in the US to arrive in. The airport is right at the south end of the Strip, and most hotels are ten to twenty minutes away.

By air

Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) has two terminals: Terminal 1 for most domestic airlines and Terminal 3 for international flights and some domestic ones. Taxis use flat-rate zones from the airport to the Strip, set by how far north your hotel is, so the fare is predictable. Rideshare pickups are in the parking garages; follow the signs. RTC public buses also run from the airport, and the CX route goes to Downtown. Rental cars are collected from a separate rental car centre, reached by a shuttle bus.

By car

From Los Angeles, the I-15 crosses the Mojave Desert in four to five hours without traffic. On Friday afternoons into Vegas and Sunday afternoons back to California, traffic can add hours. Carry water and fill up before long empty stretches. A high-speed train from Southern California, Brightline West, is under construction but not expected before late 2029.

Getting around the Strip

Walking works for neighbouring resorts, but the Strip is long and the heat is real. The Deuce, a double-decker RTC bus, runs the length of the Strip to Downtown around the clock. The Las Vegas Monorail runs behind the resorts on the east side of the Strip, from MGM Grand to Sahara, with stations deep inside the hotels. It's quick once you find it, but it doesn't go to the airport or Downtown.

The Vegas Loop

The Boring Company's tunnels carry passengers in Tesla cars between the Convention Center and north Strip resorts such as Resorts World, Encore, Fontainebleau, Westgate and Sahara. New stations keep opening, and a tunnel to the airport is planned but has no date yet. Useful mainly if you are going to a convention.

Rideshare and taxis

For most trips across the Strip or to Downtown, rideshare is the simplest option. Each resort has a signed pickup area, usually near the parking garage rather than the main entrance, so allow time to walk there. For the desert parks, see our day trips guide, where a rental car makes sense.

Entry

International visitors need an ESTA or a visa before flying. Our travel guide has the details.