Traffic on the Las Vegas Strip is awful, especially if you’re traveling during rush hour or attempting to navigate the Strip on a weekend evening. Here are our recommendations on navigating the Strip without a car. Yes, Uber and Lyft are options, but make sure you check traffic conditions before you hop in a cab—if the Strip is gridlocked, which is very common, you will end up stuck in traffic and with a hefty bill.
The Las Vegas monorail runs the 4-mile route between the MGM Grand and the SLS Las Vegas/W Hotel. The route parallels the Strip between Tropicana and Sands Avenues and then cuts east to the Las Vegas Convention Center and Westgate Las Vegas before continuing to the last stop at the SLS/W Hotel. Trains run about every 10 minutes between 7 a.m. and midnight on Monday, until 2 a.m. Tuesday–Thursday, and until 3 a.m. on weekends. Riding from one end of the line to the other takes about 15 minutes and includes seven stops. The fare for a one-way ride is $5; a better deal is a one-day fare (24 hours from first use) at $14 or a three-day unlimited fare for $30. Check lvmonorail.com for special rates. The monorail is a godsend to convention and trade-show attendees commuting from Strip hotels to the Las Vegas Convention Center and the Sands Exposition Center.
Note that the Strip monorail stations are located at the far rear of the host casinos, so, for example, the walk from the Strip entrance of the MGM Grand to the station is about 7–10 minutes. The MGM Grand station is the closest station to the Excalibur on the west side of the Strip. From your guest room at the Excalibur, it will take about 25–30 minutes to walk to the MGM Grand station.
The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) provides reliable bus service at reasonable rates. One-way fares along the Las Vegas Strip are $6 for the double-decker Deuce. An all-day pass for the Strip costs $8. The pass is good for 24 hours from the time of purchase. Exact fare is required; children ages 5 and under ride free. RTC buses are equipped with wheelchair lifts and bicycle racks, both provided free. Disabled persons who are certified in their home state for door-to-door service should call 702-676-1834 or 702-228-4800 for reservations; those not certified in their home state are ineligible for door-to-door service in Las Vegas. For general route and fare information or to request a schedule through the mail, call 702-228-7433 or visit rtcsnv.com/transit. Deuce service is offered 24 hours a day and operates every 12 minutes. There is a stop near every resort on the Strip.
Las Vegas Strip Casino Shuttles and Trams
Traffic on the Strip is so awful that the hotels, both individually and in groups, have created alternatives for getting around, as follows:
1. On the west side, a shuttle tram serves the Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, Four Seasons, and the Delano.
2. Coast Casinos operates a shuttle connecting the Gold Coast, The Orleans, and the LINQ.
3. M Resort provides shuttle service to and from the airport and Tropicana.
4. A tram connects the Spa Tower of the Bellagio to the Monte Carlo with an intermediate stop at Crystals shopping complex at CityCenter.
5. A tram connects TI and the Mirage, though the hike to the tram takes more time than to commute back and forth on the Strip.
6. The Palms has shuttle service to Caesars Palace and the Forum Shops from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
7. Rampart Casino runs a shuttle to and from Fashion Show Mall.
8. Red Rock Resort provides shuttles to and from the airport and to Fashion Show Mall.
9. Sam’s Town provides shuttles to the Strip and Downtown.
10. The Silverton provides shuttles to the airport and the Forum Shops.
11. There is a shuttle service between Harrah’s and the Rio from 10 a.m. until 1 a.m. No luggage is allowed.
For more information on how to get to and around Las Vegas, check out The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas by Bob Sehlinger. If you enjoyed this post, sign up for our newsletter here.
