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LAS VEGAS
Ultimate Travel Guide · Las Vegas, Nevada

NEON,
DESERT &
ENCORES

The Strip after dark, red-rock canyons by morning, and a few tricks for paying less than everyone else in the casino. Your complete 5-day guide to Las Vegas and the desert around it.

🎰 Las Vegas, NV 📅 5 Days 🌡 Best Mar–May & Oct–Nov ✈ LAS
The Las Vegas Strip at sunset, with the Bellagio fountains, the Paris Eiffel Tower replica and the hotels of Center Strip
Center Strip at sunset · Photo: Stephen Leonardi via Pexels
The City in Brief

LAS VEGAS AT A GLANCE

The Strip is a single 4-mile stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard where the world's biggest resorts stand shoulder to shoulder. Downtown, 15 minutes north, is where the city began. Beyond both is the Mojave Desert, with some of the best day trips in the American West less than an hour away.

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Best Time
March–May and October–November: warm days, cool nights, ideal for the desert. Summer regularly tops 100°F (38°C). Winter days are mild but nights get cold.
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Getting Around
Walk within one section of the Strip. Use the 24-hour Deuce bus or the Monorail for longer hops, and the two free trams between neighboring resorts.
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Budget
Room rates swing wildly by day. Weeknights can cost a fraction of Saturday. Add a nightly resort fee of roughly $44–57 at most Strip hotels.
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How Long
Three nights covers the Strip and Downtown. Five lets you add Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire or Hoover Dam without rushing.
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Power
120V / 60Hz, Type A/B plugs. Most phone and laptop chargers handle this automatically; bring a plug adapter if you're visiting from abroad.
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Age Rules
You must be 21 to gamble or drink, and casinos check ID. Under-21s can walk through casino floors but can't linger at tables or machines.
Where Things Are

THE FIVE ZONES OF VEGAS

Distances on the Strip are deceptive: resorts are so large that "next door" can be a 15-minute walk. Pick a hotel in the zone where you'll spend most of your time.

SOUTH STRIP
Arenas & Icons
ResortsMandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, MGM Grand, New York-New York
Must-doWelcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign, a game at T-Mobile Arena
Good forConcerts, sports, value rooms
CENTER STRIP
The Postcard
ResortsBellagio, Cosmopolitan, ARIA, Paris, Caesars Palace, The LINQ, Venetian
Must-doBellagio fountains and Conservatory, High Roller, Sphere
Good forFirst-timers who want to walk everywhere
NORTH STRIP
The New Wave
ResortsWynn & Encore, Resorts World, Fontainebleau, SAHARA
Must-doThe STRAT tower's observation deck
Good forNewer resorts, pools, a calmer pace
DOWNTOWN
Old Vegas
HighlightsFremont Street Experience, Circa, Golden Nugget
Must-doThe Mob Museum, the Neon Museum's boneyard
Good forLower table minimums, cheaper rooms, vintage neon
OFF-STRIP
Where Locals Go
AreasArts District, Chinatown (Spring Mountain Rd), AREA15
Must-doFirst Friday art walk, a late-night Chinatown meal
Good forFood, bars and art without Strip prices
The Bellagio fountains lit up at night in front of the Bellagio hotel
The Bellagio fountains run from afternoon until midnight and cost nothing to watch. Photo: Eugenio Felix via Pexels
5-Day Plan

THE LAS VEGAS ROUTE

Two days on the Strip, one in old Downtown and two in the desert. Plan outdoor activities for the morning and save the Strip for after dark, when it's cooler and at its best.

Act I The Strip
01
Center Strip on Foot
Start at the Bellagio Conservatory, whose flower displays change with the seasons and are free to visit. Walk through the Cosmopolitan and ARIA, then cross to Paris and Caesars Palace. At sunset, ride the High Roller observation wheel at The LINQ, then come back for the Bellagio fountains once it's dark.
02
South Strip, Sign & a Show
Get to the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign early, before the photo line builds. Take the free tram between Mandalay Bay, Luxor and Excalibur. Spend the afternoon at a pool, then see a show: a Cirque du Soleil production or a residency at one of the big theaters. Book ahead.
Act II Old Vegas & Sphere
03
Downtown & the Neon Boneyard
Take the Deuce bus north to Downtown. Spend the morning at the Mob Museum, which is housed in a former federal courthouse. Book an evening slot at the Neon Museum, where old casino signs are displayed in an outdoor boneyard. Finish on Fremont Street, where the light shows on the overhead canopy are free.
04
Red Rock Canyon & Sphere
Drive 30 minutes west to Red Rock Canyon for the 13-mile Scenic Drive and a short hike such as Calico Tanks. Be back by mid-afternoon to rest. In the evening, catch a show at Sphere, the venue whose curved interior screen wraps over the audience. Its exterior is lit at night and visible from much of the Strip.
Act III The Desert
05
Valley of Fire or Hoover Dam
Choose one. Valley of Fire State Park, about an hour northeast, has red sandstone formations, arches and ancient petroglyphs. Hoover Dam, about 45 minutes southeast, can be paired with lunch in nearby Boulder City. Either way, leave early and carry plenty of water. Spend your last evening on the Strip.
Plan your days around the heat: desert sights and walking first thing in the morning, the pool in the afternoon, and the Strip after dark. — The one rule that makes a Vegas trip easier
Neon casino signs and a passing car on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas at night
Downtown's Fremont Street is where Las Vegas began. Photo: Joshua Santos via Pexels
Beyond the Neon

DESERT DAY TRIPS

Many visitors never leave the Strip, which means missing some of the best scenery in the West. Rent a car for a day. All three trips below are easy drives.

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Red Rock Canyon · 30 min west
A 13-mile one-way Scenic Drive past red and cream sandstone cliffs. From October 1 to May 31, entering between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. requires a timed-entry reservation on Recreation.gov. The entrance fee is $20 per car, and the America the Beautiful pass is accepted.
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Valley of Fire · 1 hr northeast
Nevada's oldest state park, with Fire Wave, Elephant Rock and Mouse's Tank petroglyphs. Entry is $15 per vehicle for non-Nevada plates. Many trails close from May 15 to September 30 because of heat, and the whole park closes December 1–14 each year.
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Hoover Dam · 45 min southeast
You can walk across the top of the dam for free. The Visitor Center and guided tours are ticketed, so check prices and times on the Bureau of Reclamation's site. Walk the bypass bridge for the classic view of the dam, then have lunch in Boulder City.
Red sandstone formations in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Red Rock Canyon. Photo: adnorf via Pexels
A sandstone arch among rock formations in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada
Valley of Fire. Photo: Andrew LaBonne via Pexels
Hoover Dam's powerhouses on the Colorado River below the arched bypass bridge
Hoover Dam and the bypass bridge. Photo: Jim Wilson via Pexels

Grand Canyon? The West Rim, home of the glass Skywalk, is about two and a half hours away by car. The South Rim, with the classic national park views, is about four and a half hours each way, so it's better as an overnight trip than a day trip.

What to Eat

THE LAS VEGAS TABLE

Nearly every celebrity chef has a Strip restaurant, but some of the city's best meals are cheap and off the main drag. Here's how to eat well at every budget.

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THE BUFFET
Bacchanal · Caesars Palace
The Las Vegas buffet is still an institution, and Bacchanal at Caesars Palace is the best known. Go on a weekday and arrive early, because lines grow fast at peak times.
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THE STEAKHOUSE
Throughout the Strip
Steak is the classic Vegas splurge, and almost every major resort has a well-known steakhouse. Book ahead for Friday or Saturday nights, especially during big events.
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SECRET PIZZA
The Cosmopolitan · unmarked hallway
An unmarked pizza counter at the end of a hallway lined with record covers. It serves big slices late into the night, and the hunt for it is half the fun.
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TIJUANA-STYLE TACOS
Tacos El Gordo · North Strip
Adobada tacos carved from a spit, quick and cheap. A favorite with locals and visitors, especially after a night out.
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CHINATOWN
Spring Mountain Road · 10 min west
A long stretch of Spring Mountain Road with Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Thai and Vietnamese restaurants. Many stay open late, and it's where many of the city's chefs eat after work.
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SHRIMP COCKTAIL
Golden Gate · Downtown
The Golden Gate on Fremont Street has served its famous shrimp cocktail since the 1950s. It's a small, inexpensive taste of old Las Vegas.
What to Pack

VEGAS ESSENTIALS

You'll walk more than you expect, the sun is strong and the air is very dry. Pack for the desert as well as the casino.

Hydration
INSULATED WATER BOTTLE
The dry desert air dehydrates you faster than you notice. An insulated bottle keeps water cold through a long Strip walk or a morning in Red Rock Canyon. Refill it at your hotel.
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Footwear
CUSHIONED WALKING SHOES
Walking from one end of a resort to the other can take 10 minutes, and Strip days can easily reach 10 miles. Comfortable shoes matter more than anything else you pack.
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Sun
MINERAL SUNSCREEN SPF 50
Desert sun is intense even in spring and fall, especially by the pool or on an open canyon trail. Reapply often, and pack a travel-size tube for day trips.
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Heat
COOLING TOWEL
Wet it, wring it out and drape it around your neck. It's a cheap, effective way to stay comfortable outdoors from May to September.
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Power
PORTABLE CHARGER
Maps, show tickets, rideshare and photos drain your phone quickly. A 10,000mAh power bank gets you through a long day and night.
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Eyes
POLARIZED SUNGLASSES
Glare off the desert, pool decks and glass towers is strong. Polarized lenses help with driving to Red Rock or Valley of Fire, and make the colors look better too.
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On the Ground

PRACTICAL LAS VEGAS

The details that save the most money and time. Prices change, so check the official sites before you go.

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Airport
Harry Reid International (LAS) is just southeast of the Strip, roughly 10–20 minutes to most resorts by taxi or rideshare depending on traffic.
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The Deuce & Monorail
The Deuce bus runs 24/7 from the South Strip to Downtown (2-hour pass $6, 24-hour pass $8; buy in the rideRTC app). The Monorail runs behind the east side of the Strip from MGM Grand to SAHARA (about $6 per ride, $15 for a day pass at the station, slightly less online).
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Free Trams
Two free trams link neighboring resorts: Mandalay Bay–Luxor–Excalibur, and Park MGM–ARIA–Bellagio. Hours vary, so check before relying on them late at night.
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Resort Fees
Most Strip hotels add a nightly resort fee, roughly $44–57. Under federal rules, booking sites must now show it in the total price, so compare totals, not headline rates.
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Parking
Most large Strip resorts charge for self-parking and valet. If you're only renting a car for a day trip, consider picking it up that morning instead of paying to park it all week.
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Watch the Calendar
Big conventions and events drive room prices up sharply. The Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix runs November 19–21, 2026, and also brings road closures on and around the Strip.
New and coming: The Wizard of Oz at Sphere has been extended into 2027. The Vanderpump Hotel has opened in the former Cromwell. Hard Rock's guitar-shaped hotel, on the site of the former Mirage, is scheduled to open in 2027. The Mirage–Treasure Island tram no longer runs. — Updated October 2026
Insider Knowledge

LAS VEGAS TIPS

Things most people only learn on their second trip.

Stay Sunday to Thursday
Vegas room prices are driven by weekends and events. Moving your trip a couple of days earlier can cut the room bill dramatically for the exact same hotel.
Join the Loyalty Programs
The big casino groups' rewards programs are free to join and often unlock lower room rates and offers, even if you never gamble. Sign up before you book.
The Best Shows Are Free
The Bellagio fountains, the Bellagio Conservatory, the Fremont Street canopy light shows and the Welcome sign all cost nothing. So does walking the Strip at night.
Respect the Heat
In summer, temperatures can stay above 90°F after dark. Drink water constantly, plan hikes for early morning, and never leave anyone or anything in a parked car.
Use Rideshare Zones
Every resort has a designated rideshare pickup area, usually in or next to the parking garage. Look up where it is before you request a ride, because it can be a long walk.
Try Downtown for Value
Downtown hotels and tables are usually cheaper than the Strip. If you're on a budget, a night or two on Fremont Street is good value.
The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign lit up at night between palm trees
The Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign is busiest midday, so go early or late. Photo: Luana Scorsoni via Pexels