Getting Around Las Vegas
The Strip is bigger than it looks and the sun is no joke. Here's how to get from the airport to your room, up and down the Boulevard, and out to the desert — without wrecking your feet or your budget.
Updated June 2026
Here's the thing nobody tells you before your first trip: the Las Vegas Strip is much, much bigger than it looks. The resorts are giants, the sidewalks are long, and the desert sun does not negotiate. Getting around well isn't about one magic option — it's about knowing when to walk, when to ride, and when to skip the car entirely.
This is our honest, local-friend rundown for anyone who'd rather save their feet and their budget. We'll cover the airport run to your hotel, how far the Strip really stretches, the Monorail, the free resort trams, the Deuce bus, rideshare and the Vegas Loop, and the one question everyone asks — do you actually need a rental car? (Short answer: mostly just for day trips.) Sort your hotel first over on Where to Stay, because location shapes everything that follows.
Getting from LAS to your hotel
Harry Reid International is closer than almost any major-city airport — just a few miles from the south end of the Strip.
Trains, trams & the bus
You can cover almost the whole Strip without a car — here's what each ride does best.
Do you need a rental car?
For a Strip-and-Downtown trip, almost certainly not. For the desert beyond, almost certainly yes.
If your whole trip is hotels, shows, dining and a little gambling, a car is mostly a liability. Strip traffic is slow, self-parking and valet often carry fees, and a rideshare beats hunting for your car in a 3,000-space garage. Skip it and ride.
Where a car earns its keep is the open road. The best scenery near Vegas is out in the Mojave — Red Rock Canyon (about half an hour), Hoover Dam (roughly 45 minutes), Valley of Fire (about an hour) and the various rims of the Grand Canyon (two and a half hours and up). Those reward having your own wheels and your own schedule. If you'd rather not drive, plenty of guided tours run from the Strip and handle everything — see all of it on our Day Trips guide. One smart play: stay car-free in town, then rent for just the day (or two) you head out of the city.
Where to go next
Now that you can move around, here's where to point yourself.
Where to Stay
Your hotel's location decides how much you'll walk and ride. We break down the Strip, Downtown and off-Strip.
The Strip
The four-mile neon spine of Las Vegas, resort by resort, and how to walk it without burning out.
Day Trips
Red Rock, Hoover Dam, Valley of Fire and the Grand Canyon — by rental car or guided tour.
Best Time to Visit
When to come and what the desert weather means for how much walking you'll really want to do.
Common questions
How do I get from the Las Vegas airport to the Strip?
Harry Reid International (LAS) sits just a few miles from the south end of the Strip, so it's a short trip. Rideshare (Uber/Lyft) and taxis are fastest at roughly 10 to 25 minutes, shared shuttles are cheaper but slower with multiple stops, and the RTC public bus is the rock-bottom budget choice (check current routes and fares). The Monorail does not serve the airport.
Can I get around Las Vegas without a car?
Yes, easily, if you're sticking to the Strip and Downtown. Between walking, the Monorail, the free resort trams, the 24-hour Deuce bus and rideshare, most visitors never need a car in town. A rental mainly pays off for day trips out to Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam, Valley of Fire or the Grand Canyon.
How long does it take to walk the Las Vegas Strip?
The Strip runs roughly four miles end to end, and walking the whole thing can take a couple of hours or more once you factor in crowds, crosswalks, escalators and the sheer size of the resorts. Distances feel much longer than they look on a map, and in summer heat over 100°F you'll want to break it up with the Deuce, the Monorail or the free trams.
Is the Las Vegas Monorail worth it?
It can be, depending on where you're staying. The Monorail runs along the east (back) side of the Strip from Sahara to MGM Grand and is great for skipping traffic, but its stations sit behind the resorts, so you'll still walk a bit. If your hotel is near a station and you'll ride several times, a multi-day pass can be good value; otherwise the Deuce bus covers more ground including Downtown.
What is the Vegas Loop and how does it work?
The Vegas Loop is an underground tunnel system from the Boring Company where you ride in a Tesla between stations with no surface traffic. It currently links spots like the Convention Center, Resorts World, Westgate, Encore and Fontainebleau, with more planned. Rides between Convention Center stations can be free while other point-to-point trips carry a small fare; it's handy for those specific stops rather than a way to cover the entire Strip.
Do I need a rental car for Las Vegas day trips?
It helps a lot. Destinations like Red Rock Canyon (about 30 minutes), Hoover Dam (about 45 minutes), Valley of Fire (about an hour) and the Grand Canyon (2.5 hours and up) are far easier with your own vehicle and schedule. If you'd rather not drive, guided tours leave from the Strip and handle transport; a common approach is to stay car-free in town and rent only for the days you head out.