Las Vegas Airport: Your 5-Step Strip Guide

Step 1: Pick the way that fits your hotel and your bags

A taxi is the easiest way from Las Vegas airport to the Strip, and the city bus is the cheapest. Rideshare cars and robotaxis sit in between. For more on a taxi Las Vegas ride or on getting around once you check in, see our getting-around guide.

Your choice depends on three things: where your hotel is, how much you carry, and how much you want to watch the fare. The table sums up the five steps in this guide.

Key Takeaway The monorail does not stop at the airport, so every ride to the Strip starts with a taxi, rideshare car, bus or robotaxi.

The airport lists a rental car option too. All rental cars are at the Rent-A-Car Center, and free shuttles take you there from the terminals, according to the airport's own page on all options. A car makes sense for day trips, but Strip resorts charge for parking, so skip it if you stay put.

The best ride from an airport is the one you can price before you step in.

Step 2: Find your pickup spot at Las Vegas airport

Your pickup spot depends on the terminal, and the signs inside the building point the way. Las Vegas airport has Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, and you cannot walk between them.

• Taxi: At Terminal 1, the stand is outside baggage claim on the east side, near doors 1 to 4. At Terminal 3, it is outside on Level Zero, near door 52.
• Rideshare (Uber and Lyft): At Terminal 1, the pickup is on Level 2 of the parking garage. At Terminal 3, it is on the Valet Level of the garage.
• Robotaxi: Zoox rides leave from Level Zero at both terminals, and you book in the Zoox app. Waymo has pickup zones on Level Zero too, but only existing Waymo riders can use them for now.
• Bus: The RTC stop is at Terminal 1, Level Zero. From Terminal 3, a free inter-terminal shuttle takes you to Terminal 1.

The airport's taxi and rideshare page lists these spots, and its bus page covers the stop. The free shuttle between terminals runs about every 20 to 30 minutes.

Pro Tip If your phone has no US number, do the Zoox or Uber setup on the plane's Wi-Fi or in the baggage hall, before you walk to Level Zero or the garage.

Step 3: Check the taxi fare before you ride

A taxi from Las Vegas airport to the Strip costs a flat fare that depends on which part of the Strip you go to. The Nevada Taxicab Authority sets three zones. Zone 1 runs from Sunset Road north to Tropicana Avenue and costs $22.25. Zone 2 runs from Tropicana north to Flamingo and costs $26.25. Zone 3 runs from Flamingo north to The STRAT and costs $30.25.

Flat fares apply only to direct trips. Any stop outside the zones goes on the meter, so tell the driver your hotel before you get in. The same regulator page lists an airport pickup fee of $2.40 and a card fee of $3.00, and taxes are added to all fares. Read the full list on the Nevada Taxicab Authority's fare page.

Rideshare prices change with demand, and the airport page gives no fare. Open the app at the pickup spot and see the price before you confirm. Zoox riders reported about $23 to MGM Grand and $26 to Bellagio in news reports, but those prices vary too.

Step 4: Weigh the $2 bus against a ride

The RTC bus costs $2 and is the cheapest way from the airport, but it will not drop you on the Strip. In the 2026 Las Vegas Travel Cost Study, a single ride on RTC bus 108 from Terminal 1 cost $2 on 24 October 2026, and the route runs on Paradise Road east of the Strip, so most Strip hotels need a walk or a second bus.

The airport lists two routes at Terminal 1: Route 108 on Paradise Road and the Red Line on Maryland Parkway. Road works on the connector tunnel lanes run through December 2026, says the airport, so allow extra time for any ride.

The bus is a good fit if you travel light, stay near Paradise Road, and are not in a rush. It is a poor fit with heavy bags, a late flight or a hotel on the Strip itself.

Can you walk instead? No. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority puts the airport just over 2 miles from the Strip, and the airport pages list no walking route or footpath. Do not plan on it, least of all with luggage. Pick one of the four rides above.

Step 5: Plan your first evening without a rental car

Do the airport ride on your own and add a tour for the evening. A taxi at a flat $22.25 to $30.25 or a $2 bus is cheaper and faster than any tour for the transfer itself. A tour earns its price later: it gives you a guide, a fixed route and the driving done for you, which a visitor without a rental car cannot easily get. You do not need a car to enjoy your first night, because many trips pick you up. Things to Do in Las Vegas's count of GetYourGuide listings in October 2026 found that 107 of 309 Las Vegas listings, about 35%, include hotel pickup, so you can book them without a car.

Start with the night. The open-top night bus tour is from €53 per person and takes about two hours past the Bellagio fountains and the neon signs. It is run by Big Bus, has no hotel pickup, and you choose one of two meeting points when you book. The listing states no group size, and free cancellation runs up to 24 hours before. For a view from above, the night helicopter flight over the Strip is from €88 per person, and the listing lets you add hotel pickup on some options. It is run by Papillon Helicopters in groups of up to 24 people, the flight time depends on the option, and the meeting point does too.

If you have a free day, the Hoover Dam small-group mini tour is from €62 per person, takes about three hours and picks you up from select Strip hotels, in groups of up to 14 people. The listing says downtown hotels are not covered, and tips are not included. Entry to the dam and bottled water are included.

Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 24 October 2026.

If you land late, a South Strip stay keeps the ride short. Home2 Suites by Hilton Las Vegas Strip South is rated 9.0 on Booking.com, and Mandalay Bay is rated 8.1. Check the room price and the resort fee on the final booking page before you pay.

How far is it? The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority says the airport is just over 2 miles from the Strip, or about 5 miles to the main resort area, and a taxi or rideshare ride takes about 10 to 15 minutes. No official page gives a time to each hotel, so check the app or ask your driver on the day.