Las Vegas is home to a significant number of major American conventions and trade shows. Global giants like the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), SEMA, and the NAB Show all call Las Vegas home, attracting thousands of influential business professionals each year. There’s always a lot going on in this city, so what’s the best way to actually get around in Las Vegas?
No matter which show you’re exhibiting at, being stranded or late because of transport difficulties is not an option. Your budget and event objectives are on the line, and there’s no excuse not to familiarize yourself with all the different ways you can travel between your venue and your hotel.
With all that in mind, let’s explore how to get around in Las Vegas using the most effective transport methods in the city, from the famous Monorail to local ridesharing options.
Where Do You Arrive In Las Vegas?
Non-Nevadans arriving to take part in a Las Vegas trade show are likely to land at Harry Reid International Airport, the primary airport serving Las Vegas. It caters to nearly 160 combined international and domestic cities with direct flights, so there’s a good chance you’ll land here.
The airport itself is located just 3 miles south of Las Vegas Boulevard (the Strip), 3.5 miles from the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), and 2.5 miles from Mandalay Bay Convention Center. As there’s a high chance you’ll be staying in hotels located along the strip, it all works out to a short radius you’ll be travelling in. How convenient!
Once you’ve landed, you’ll find taxi, bus, and ride-sharing services from the Las Vegas airport to nearby hotels. Take a look at our CES Las Vegas hotels guide to find the best accommodation for your needs and budget.
Once you’ve got your flights and accommodation sorted out, you can move on and start planning your travel.
What Public Transport Is There In Las Vegas?
Las Vegas may be car-centric like most other cities in America, but public transport is becoming surprisingly commonplace around the Strip. If you’d prefer to avoid renting a car, consider one or more of these methods to navigate the city:
- Las Vegas Monorail
- Las Vegas Loop
- Mandalay Bay Tram
- Aria Express Tram
- RTC Transit Bus
Las Vegas Monorail
Now over twenty years old, the Las Vegas Monorail shuttle is one of the most convenient ways to travel along the Las Vegas Strip. It has seven stations running north from MGM Grand to Sahara Las Vegas, with a convenient stop at the Las Vegas Convention Center along the way (Boingo Station).
The monorail operates every 4 to 8 minutes, making it a quick and easy way to get around the city. It’s particularly useful for avoiding traffic in the peak hours surrounding a trade show.
Positives:Quick rides, stops off at the LVCC, easy access from hotels, reliable.
Negatives: Somewhat expensive (Monorail tickets are $6 for one ride).
LVCC Loop
More controversial is the LVCC Loop, an underground tunnel car shuttle service that connects the central, south, and west halls of the venue. Pioneered by Elon Musk, it also connects to the Encore and Westgate Las Vegas resorts at each end.
Additional expansions are planned all the way down to the Harry Reid International Airport, and each Tesla taxi is expected to become an autonomous vehicle at some point in the future. For now, each car is driven by an employee.
Positives: Convenient for LVCC attendees.
Negatives: Unfinished concept, irrelevant for anyone beyond the LVCC.
Mandalay Bay Tram
Mandalay Bay is more than just a luxury resort and casino. It’s also home to the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, a major nexus for national and global events. Staying at the hotel guarantees you easy access to the exhibition venue, but owners MGM Resorts now have a travel option for other attendees as well.
Enter the Mandalay Bay Tram, a short-distance people mover that travels from the Tropicana-Strip intersection down to Mandalay Bay, with stops along the way at the Luxor and Excalibur hotels.
If you want to get from Harry Reid International Airport to Mandalay Bay quickly, you’ll want to consider this option. It’s only a 7-minute taxi ride from the airport to the north stop, and the tram will take you the rest of the way.
Positives:Free, close to the airport.
Negatives: Irrelevant for anyone not travelling below Tropicana Avenue.
Aria Express Tram
With the success of the Las Vegas Monorail and the Mandalay Bay Tram, it’s no wonder another free shuttle emerged in Las Vegas. The Aria Express was built by the same company that brought the Mandalay Bay Tram to life, and operates similarly.
The Aria Express stops at three stations, connecting four hotels and a shopping mall. The hotels served are:
- Bellagio
- Vdara
- Aria
- Waldorf Astoria
- Park MGM
Positives: Free, practical.
Negatives: No direct link to an event venue, no link to the Mandalay Bay Tram.
RTC Transit Bus
Whether people movers aren’t your thing or you need a bit more practicality, the Las Vegas RTC Transit network has you covered. A total of 51 routes are spread out across the city, with 17 of those operating non-stop. You can find a map of all the major routes here.
Since most business activity in Las Vegas happens in or near The Strip, there are two 24/7 RTC (Regional Transportation Commission) bus services you should be aware of: the CX Centennial Express and The Deuce.
| Service | Route | Bus Type |
| CX Centennial Express | Centennial Hills (north west) through downtown to Harry Reid International Airport (south) | Standard |
| The Deuce | Downtown and Fremont Street (north) to Gilespie Street (south, below Harry Reid airport) | Double-decker |
Both services charge similar fares ($2-$6) and have similar intervals (5-20 minutes), but The Deuce offers more flexibility for busy show professionals thanks to an LVCC link. Unfortunately, it only stops at the car rental area near the airport.
That’s where the CX Centennial Express comes in. Unlike The Deuce, CX has direct service to Harry Reid International Airport Terminals 1 and 3, making it most convenient for getting in and out of Vegas.
Positives: Affordable ride, flexible, wheelchair-accessible (ADA compliant).
Negatives: Time-consuming (not immune to traffic), not the most comfortable.
What’s The Best Way To Travel By Car In Las Vegas?
Unless you’re a Nevada local, chances are you won’t be driving your own car around the strip to get between events and hotels. You can still drive yourself, however, thanks to multiple local car rental and ridesharing options.
Car Rental
Rental cars are available as soon as you land at Harry Reid International Airport and at several standalone rental sites around the city. You can combine a rented car with the aforementioned public transport options for the most flexibility.
Of course, there are some downsides, like getting stuck in major traffic along the strip in peak hours. Parking can also be a challenge, although many hotels offer free parking for guests. Unfortunately, this does not extend to the popular trade show venues in Las Vegas, which offer paid parking only.
Ridesharing
A cheaper, more convenient alternative to renting a car is ridesharing. Several ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft are widely available in Las Vegas, making it easy to get around without a car. You won’t have to pay parking fees either, though traffic can still hold you up!
Can You Bike In Las Vegas?
Biking is an unconventional way to get around Las Vegas, especially if you’ve seen the layout of the city before. Traffic is intense, car drivers aren’t used to cyclists, and pedestrian congestion is a challenge in some areas.
All that being said, it’s still possible to explore Downtown Las Vegas and the surrounding areas with a bicycle. The city has its own bike-sharing program called RTC Bike Share, with plans starting at $5 a day.
Can You Walk In Las Vegas?
We’ll cut right to the chase on this one: walking around Vegas to get from place to place is possible, but not usually advisable.
The reason why has less to do with the infrastructure and more to do with the climate. July and August are the hottest months in Vegas, and temperatures of up to 100°F are not uncommon at night. During a summer day, walking any distance is neither practical nor wise.
The good news? Things change when winter sets in firmly around December and January. Temperatures drop, and walking becomes possible. Just be aware of the automobiles on the busy roads; pedestrian accidents are on the rise in Las Vegas.
Make Your Next Trip To Las Vegas A Breeze
Between world-class trade shows, glamorous hotels, and exhilarating nightlife, there’s a lot to explore when visiting Las Vegas. Getting around can be a headache, but a rich selection of transport options means you can make the most of your time in the Entertainment Capital of the World. Plan your trip carefully!
Now that you’ve got all the info you need on how to get around in Las Vegas, why not start planning your next trade show booth design? At Booth Exhibits™, we take pride in delivering impactful, high-quality trade show stands that win business for exhibitors in Vegas.
How to get around Las Vegas without a car?
You can get around Las Vegas without a car using public transportation options, like the Monorail shuttle, or ridesharing using an app like Uber.
How to get around Las Vegas cheap?
One of the cheapest ways to get around Las Vegas is to use the RTC Transit bus network, which you can access for only a few dollars in some cases.
