Getting Around the Strip
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The Las Vegas Strip looks compact on a map, but it's deceptively large — about 4.2 miles end to end, with hotels so big that getting from your room to the sidewalk can take ten minutes on its own. Knowing your options for getting around saves time, money, and a lot of sore feet. Here's every way to move around the Strip, and when each one makes sense.
First trip? See our first-timer's trip-planning guide for the full picture, plus how many days to spend and the best time to visit.
Start with the map
Before you choose how to travel, get oriented. The Strip is one long boulevard, but distances between hotels are bigger than they look, and the right transport depends entirely on how far apart your stops are. The interactive Las Vegas Strip map shows every hotel, restaurant, and attraction along the boulevard, so you can group nearby stops and see at a glance whether a destination is a short walk or a monorail ride away.
Walking
Best for: short hops within a section of the Strip; soaking in the atmosphere.
Walking is the quintessential Vegas experience — the lights, the energy, the people-watching. Within a cluster of hotels it's almost always the fastest option, since traffic on the Strip is slow and rideshare pickup points can be a long walk from the casino floor.
The catch is scale. Crossing from the north Strip to the south Strip on foot can take well over an hour, and the heat (see the best time to visit) makes long summer walks brutal. Use the map to judge real distances before committing to a walk.
The Las Vegas Monorail
Best for: longer distances along the east side of the Strip, skipping traffic.
The monorail runs behind the resorts on the east side of the Strip, connecting several major properties. It bypasses street traffic entirely, which makes it the fastest way to cover long distances at peak times. Single-ride, 24-hour, and multi-day passes are available — the multi-day unlimited pass is the best value if you'll ride often.
Its main limitation is coverage: it only serves the east side, so you may have a walk on either end of your trip.
Free hotel trams
Best for: quick, free hops between specific resort clusters.
A few resort groups run free trams connecting their properties. They're limited in where they go, but if your hotels are on a tram line, it's the cheapest and easiest short hop available. Check the map to see whether your stops line up.
Rideshare and taxis
Best for: crossing the Strip quickly, late nights, and airport trips.
Rideshare and taxis are convenient and cover everywhere the other options don't. Two things to know: prices surge during big events and late at night, and resorts have designated rideshare pickup zones that can be a sizable walk from where you are inside. For door-to-door convenience — especially after a night out — they're hard to beat.
The Deuce and SDX buses
Best for: budget travel along the full length of the Strip and downtown.
The Deuce is a double-decker bus running the length of the Strip and continuing to downtown, while the SDX (Strip & Downtown Express) makes fewer stops. Passes are inexpensive and good value for budget travelers, though buses can be slow and crowded in heavy traffic.
Driving and parking
Best for: day trips beyond the Strip.
You generally don't need a car if you're staying on the Strip — all the options above cover it. A rental makes sense mainly for excursions like the Grand Canyon or Hoover Dam. If you do drive, factor in that some resorts charge for self-parking and valet.
Getting from the airport
Harry Reid International Airport sits just a few miles from the Strip. Rideshare and taxis are the fastest way in; hotel shuttles are cheaper but stop at multiple properties, so they take longer. For a first arrival with luggage, most visitors opt for rideshare or a taxi.
Putting it together
For most trips the winning combination is simple: walk within a section, and use the monorail or rideshare to cross between sections. Plan your days by area rather than zig-zagging across the city, and lean on the interactive Strip map to group nearby stops — it's the single best tool for turning the Strip's deceptive distances into an efficient day.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to get around the Las Vegas Strip?
Walking is the best way to get around within a section of the Strip, combined with the monorail or rideshare for longer hops. Most first-timers walk for nearby stops and use rideshare or the monorail to cross between the north, mid, and south Strip.
Do you need a car in Las Vegas?
No. Most visitors who stay on the Strip don't need a car — walking, the monorail, free hotel trams, the Deuce bus, and rideshare cover everything. A car only makes sense if you plan day trips like the Grand Canyon or Hoover Dam.
How much is the Las Vegas Monorail?
The monorail runs along the east side of the Strip and sells single-ride, 24-hour, and multi-day passes. Multi-day unlimited passes are the best value if you'll use it often; check current fares before you buy.
Can you walk the entire Las Vegas Strip?
You can, but it's about 4.2 miles end to end and the hotels are huge, so walking the whole thing in one go takes hours. It's better to walk within a section and use the monorail, trams, or rideshare for longer distances.
How do you get from the airport to the Strip?
Harry Reid International Airport is only a few miles from the Strip. Rideshare, taxis, and hotel shuttles all serve it; rideshare and taxis are the fastest, while shuttles are cheaper but make multiple stops.