Why write an article on how to get around Las Vegas when practically all the main attractions of the city are located along the famous and endless Strip that all the luxury hotels and themed hotels in Las Vegas overlook? Well, maybe you don’t know this, but Las Vegas is practically an oasis in the Mojave Desert. In the summer, the heat is stifling to say the least and no sane person would advise you to explore the over 4 miles of the Strip on foot for a long time. In the winter, spring, and fall, the weather is milder, but getting to know how the public transportation system works can always come in handy.
Since it is not good to arrive unprepared in a new city – in addition to advising you to read our article on the best time to visit Las Vegas – today I want to give you some advice about the Las Vegas Monorail and all the other ways to get around the Las Vegas Strip and other parts of the city. You’ll also find information on how to get around Downtown and Fremont Street and how to get from the airport to Las Vegas.
Contents
How to Get around Las Vegas
These are all the means of transportation you can use in Las Vegas:
- Las Vegas Monorail
- Las Vegas Free Tram
- The Deuce, SDX, and WAX buses
- The Downtown Loop
- Airport shuttles
Las Vegas by Car: Do You Need A Car?
We talked more extensively about this topic in this other article, but I still think that providing a summary may be useful. Basically, the answer to the question tends to be yes, having a car is convenient in Las Vegas, but as long as you do not use it to explore the hotels on the Strip, Fremont Street, or other tourist areas of the city. The car is necessary to get from Las Vegas to the parks and surrounding areas, to reach the hotel as soon as you arrive from the previous stop, but not for any other reason.
I found out when I was driving up and down the Strip by night. It was a mistake, because there was a lot of traffic and it didn’t seem worth it to me to stop the car to visit the various attractions, and on top of that, the hotel parking lots were full! For more information about car rental in Las Vegas (when to book, where to pick up your car, and other tips), read the article in the link below.
Best Way to Get around Las Vegas with Public Transportation
The best way to get around Las Vegas is undoubtedly the Las Vegas Monorail, which runs for 4 miles along the Strip and has 7 stations that allow you to reach all the most famous hotels and attractions in a short time. The Monorail is the most complete, useful, and most used means of transportation in Las Vegas. In addition, it is very scenic, because it is elevated and offers a beautiful view of the city. From south to north (and vice versa), it connects the MGM Grand to the SLS Las Vegas, along the east side of the road. The 7 stations are all indoors and close to the hotels and the various retail areas and buildings in the surrounding area.
If your intention is to reach Fremont Street, the best option is to take the SDX Bus, followed by the Deuce Bus. If you want to travel for free, use the Las Vegas Free Tram, but keep in mind that the route does not have as many stops as the Monorail.
Before going into detail about these means of transportation, I would like to mention that if you have not yet chosen a hotel in Las Vegas, I invite you to read our article at the link below.
Tips on where to stay in Las Vegas
Below, you will find the route of the various means of transportation and information about stations, prices, and schedules.
Las Vegas Monorail
Get all the information about using the Las Vegas Monorail and buying discounted tickets in our article entirely dedicated to the Las Vegas Monorail.
Las Vegas Strip Free Trams
The Monorail is not the only option in Las Vegas. There are also 3 trams that, unlike the Monorail, run along the west side of the Strip. They make shorter routes but are free. They may be useful if you want to go from one hotel to another, but know that not all of them are connected by the same line and that the trams pass less frequently than the Monorail. From south to north, here are the various trams:
Mandalay Bay Tram
The Mandalay Bay Tram provides two distinct services with different schedules. The stations are always well indicated and are located inside (Mandalay) or outside the hotels (Excalibur and Luxor). Trams run every 3-7 minutes.
- All Stops Tram (south to north): In order, the stops are Excalibur – Luxor – Mandalay Bay. The tram is in operation from Thursday to Saturday (9:00 am-2:30 am) and from Sunday to Wednesday (9:00 am-12:30 am);
- Express Tram (north to south): It only stops at the Excalibur and at Mandalay Bay and is active Monday to Friday (11:00 am-12:30 am) and Saturday and Sunday (11:00 am-2:30 am).
The AIR Express Tram
The stops are as follows: Bellagio, CityCenter, and Park MGM Tram. It will be useful if you plan to visit the ARIA, Bellagio, Vdara, The Cosmopolitan, Park MGM Las Vegas, and Crystals.
The tram runs every 15 minutes and is in operation from 8:00 am to 4:00 am (in other words, it is active all day except for the four hours from 4:00 am to 8:00 am). The stations are outdoors but they are sheltered from the sun.
The Mirage – Treasure Island Tram
This tram connects the two hotels and has no other intermediate stations. The trams run every 8 minutes and are active Sunday to Thursday 9am to 1am, and Friday to Saturday 9am to 2am.
Las Vegas by Bus: Deuce, SDX, and Other Bus Services
The Deuce and SDX are not exactly normal bus lines; they operate mainly for tourists, and like the whole city, they are designed to impress. The first one, Deuce, is a golden double-decker bus. The second one, the SDX, looks more like a train than a bus, yet it travels on the road. If you buy a ticket for the Deuce, it will also be valid for the SDX.
In addition to these buses, the Downtown Loop and WAX (Westcliff Airport Express) are also available. Let’s compare and contrast all of these options.
Deuce
The Deuce stops along the Strip at almost every major casino hotel, but the golden double-decker buses in Las Vegas can also be useful for those who want to head north from the Strip to the wild Fremont Street Experience, the other main point of interest in downtown Las Vegas.
- The cost of the ticket is $6 for 2 hours, $8 for 24 hours. Reduced fares are available. It can be purchased at the machines or on the bus, but you will have to give the exact amount of money. This also applies to the SDX.
- Buses run 24 hours a day, approximately every 15 minutes from 7:00 am to 2:00 am and then from 2:00 am to 7 am, the buses pass every 20 minutes.
- The schedule is reduced (midnight to 9:00 am) for the following stops (all stops south of Mandalay Bay, the last casino hotel on the southern stretch of the Strip): Welcome to Las Vegas Sign, Sunset, Town Square, LV Premium Outlets – South, South Strip Transfer Terminal (SSTT).
SDX
The Strip & Downtown Express (SDX), another luxury bus line, resembles a train inside and out and, just like a train, it moves faster than the Deuce, thanks to a system of preferential lanes and fewer stops on the Strip. SDX buses also lead to the Fremont Experience and get there quicker than the Deuce does. Below I will tell you the stops and differences between the two bus lines.
- The cost of the ticket for the SDX is also $6 for 2 hours, $8 for 24 hours, and also allows you to use the Deuce buses in the selected time frame. The conditions are the same as above.
- The SDX buses run from 9:00 am to midnight and pass every 15 minutes.
Downtown Loop
If you also want to visit downtown Las Vegas (including the Fremont Experience), you can use this free shuttle. Here are the stops:
- Bonneville Transit Center (101 E Bonneville Ave)
- The Arts District (between Art Way and Boulder Avenue)
- Pawn Plaza (Las Vegas Boulevard, south of Garces Avenue)
- Fremont East Entertainment District (on the north side of Fremont Street, west of Sixth Street)
- Mob Museum (300 Stewart Ave)
- Fremont Street Experience – Main Street (south of Fremont Street)
- Las Vegas North Premium Outlets (South Grand Central Parkway, between Nautica and Tommy Hilfiger Kids)
The Downtown Loop is active from Monday to Thursday from 11:30 am to 8:30 pm, on Friday and Saturday from 3:00 pm to 12:00 am, and on Sunday from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. The shuttle runs approximately every 20-30 minutes.
Best Way to Get to Vegas Strip from Airport
The McCarran International Airport is not far from the Strip (just 2.5 miles from the nearest hotels on the Strip), but you still need to take a means of transportation to get there. Besides the classic taxi, the 2 other options are the WAX bus or the airport shuttle.
WAX (Westcliff Airport Express)
The advantage of the WAX is that it’s inexpensive. Because this bus makes an urban route (residential route) and not a tourist route, the fares are not as high as those of the Deuce and SDX. In fact, the cost is $2 per ride ($3 for 2 hours, $5 for 24 hours). The disadvantage is that the bus makes only one stop on the Strip (Tropicana & Las Vegas Blvd), so it is convenient if you want to reach the MGM Grand, Tropicana, Excalibur, and the New York-New York.
To get to the other hotels, you will have to take the Monorail (5 minutes walk from MGM Station). The bus can be taken outside Terminal 1 and 3. Tickets can be purchased at the machines near the bus stop or on board the bus, but in this case, the driver gives no change, so you must come prepared with the exact amount.
Las Vegas Airport Private Transfer to Strip
If your hotel is not on the WAX bus route, or if you want to be taken directly to the hotel with your luggage, you can choose to book a private transfer service. The price makes it a very attractive choice.
Taxi and Uber
Taxis leave from Terminals 1 and 3. The cost of travel to the various hotels on the Strip can range from $20 to $35 depending on distance, traffic, and payment method used. For example, if you use a credit card, you will also pay a fee of $3. However, please note that many taxi drivers in Las Vegas do not accept credit card payments. Another possible alternative option to taking a taxi is Uber, which can be a convenient way to get around Las Vegas, especially if you are traveling in a group and you want to split the expenses.
I am traveling to Las Vegas and I am bringing my motorized wheelchair. Does all of the public transportation you have written about here take motorized wheelchairs? I’m staying at The D on Fremont can I take the wax from the airport straight to the D? My plane gets in at 11!pm.
Hi Janet, as you can read here, “all RTC buses are fully accessible with lowered floors and wheelchair access ramps”.
I appreciate this so much! Thank you for taking the time to write something so informative .
best article, thank you for sharing
Do you know if a bus can take you from the Paris hotel to the Las Vegas motor speedway and pick you up post race and bring you back? Cost? Thank you.
Hey Dennis, I don’t think there is a shuttle service from the Strip. Some time ago the 604 route was active, but I don’t know if it works now.. Otherwise, you’ll have to take a cab, but keep in mind that the Motor Speedway is not close by.