Getting Around Las Vegas

Getting around Las Vegas can be challenging and sometime a little confusing. Fortunately for you, Vegas offers several options that are both affordable and efficient.

The Las Vegas Monorail

The monorail runs along the East side of the Las Vegas Strip. It starts at the MGM Resort and goes up to the SLS Hotel. One nice feature of the monorail is that it is climate controlled. So on a hot Vegas summer day, it does provide relief from the Vegas heat. There is plenty of standing and sitting room on each train, so you'll typically never have to wait on another train when one arrives.

The monorail is ADA compliant and children 5 and under ride for free. The monorail has both armed and unarmed security personnel, so you should find the train safe most of the time.

The monorail offers an affordable option for traveling Las Vegas as well. Below are the most recent ticket prices.

Single Ride Ticket $5
Unlimited 24-Hour Pass $12
Unlimited Two-Day Pass $22
Unlimited Three-Day Pass $28
Unlimited Four-Day Pass $36
Unlimited Five-Day Pass $43
Unlimited Seven-Day Pass $56

Tickets can be purchased online via their website, or can be purchased in person or at their customer service ticketing offices located at the following stations: MGM Grand Station, Bally’s/Paris Las Vegas Station, Flamingo/Caesar’s Palace Station, Harrah’s/The LINQ Station, Westgate Las Vegas Station and SLS Las Vegas Station.

Taking a Taxi

Regardless on where you are going and at what time of day, taxis provide the most flexibility. There are taxi cabs everywhere in Las Vegas. Each hotel has their own dedicated taxi stand and so do most restaurants, venues, attractions and stand alone facilities.

Don't try to wave down a taxi in the middle of the Strip, you'll be unsuccessful. Depending on where you are going, most trips from hotel to hotel along the Strip will cost between $10 - $25. If traffic is heavy, then the price can increase. To get from a Strip hotel to a hotel downtown, the fare will range between $25 - $40, again depending on traffic. When you share the fare with other people in your party, taxis can be an affordable transportation solution.

For the most part, taxi drivers are safe and responsible. They do have to be properly trained and pass background checks in order to drive taxis. We do encourage tipping the drivers 15% - 20% of the total fare. We've taking 100's of taxi rides in Las Vegas and only twice have we had any problem.

Taxis do offer credit cards as a form of payment, which is convenient, but comes with a price. There is an additional charge of about $3.50 to use your credit card, so we advise paying cash.

Uber & Lyft (Rideshare)

After a long debate, Las Vegas finally approved Uber and Lyft as an option of getting around Las Vegas. For those unfamiliar with them, they’re both forms peer transportation where drivers will pick you up in their personal car and transport you to your destination. The cost varies depending on where you want to go, which type of car you want and what time of day it is. They do give you a fare estimate before you confirm the pickup.

We have found that Uber and Lyft are a more affordable alternative when they are not in a price surge. Your app will tell you when this is occurring. Plus, your app will tell you where your pickup location is if you are at a hotel. The drivers do a good job staying in touch with you.

Always be aware of when surge pricing is in effect as you could end up paying way too much for a trip that could have cost way less if using another type of transportation. There are certain areas at hotels where Uber and Lyft can pick you up. Make sure you know the pick-up location before you request a ride through the app.

Click here to see more about our experience with using Uber in Las Vegas.

Buses

We've discovered that buying bus passes is a very affordable way to get around Las Vegas. As long as you can be flexible with timing and drop off & pick up locations, this is a great way to move around Las Vegas. The Deuce is probably the most popular bus line in Las Vegas. They run 24 hours a day and go all the way from Fremont Street in Downtown to the Mandalay Bay on the south side of the Strip. They stop roughly every 1/4 mile so you'll be close to where you want to go. Click here to learn more about The Deuce and the scheduled stops around Las Vegas.

We've used the Big Bus Tour before and really enjoyed it. The tour guide gives some great trivia about Las Vegas and you can hop off and hop on all day long. One day tickets start around $40, but a great bargain considering the cost of parking and taxis fare in Las Vegas. Click here to learn more about the Big Bus Tour.

Renting a Car

If you know in advance that you'll be visiting a lot of different hotels and visiting attractions off the Strip, then renting a car is an affordable solution. Keep in mind, that Las Vegas is not the easiest to navigate, but can be overcome. With the recent introduction of parking fees at most all the major hotels in Las Vegas, this can eat into your vacation budget. Make sure to call the hotel you are staying in advance and ask about their parking fees.

Daily rates for car rentals range between $15 - $30 per day depending on time of year and size of car. Most hotels offer free valet (but please tip the valets) and you won't burn a lot of gas just driving from hotel to hotel. If you plan on drinking during your trip, we don't encourage you to rent a car. Don't drink and drive... ever.

Check prices online before you land in Vegas. You can usually get the best rates prior to your trip, not when you land. If you are driving to the Grand Canyon or somewhere outside of Vegas, most hotels have car rental agencies inside them that you can rent a car for the day.

Private Sedans & Limos

If you have the means then we highly recommend renting a private transportation service to get around Las Vegas. Especially when arriving/departing at the airport. This make the hassle very minimum and who doesn't love to be treated like a VIP in Las Vegas.

If you are traveling with a big party, then a limo or SUV might make sense so you can all ride together and enjoy the trip even more. For weekend parties or other occasions, limos can be a fun and safe way to get around Las Vegas.

There are dozens of limo companies around Las Vegas. We've always use and recommend Personal Sedan Services West Coast. They have very reasonable rates and their service is first class.

Walking

The Strip (from the Stratosphere to the Mandalay Bay) is 4.2 miles in distance. Walking the whole way is doable, but can be exhausting. On a hot Vegas day when temperatures are over 100*, walking can be tough.

If you are simply going to adjacent hotels, then walking is fine. If you need to go from the MGM to the Wynn, then the monorail, rideshare or a cab would be your best bet.

As with any big city in the USA, be careful when you are walking. The same risks are prevalent in Las Vegas as any other city. If can be fun to see all the street performers and other entertainment along the Strip, but be mindful of your belongings. The Strip can get very crowded, especially at night, so if you are in a hurry, then plan accordingly.