City guide · United States
Las Vegas
Las Vegas, colloquially shortened to Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.
4 ready itineraries · 3, 5, 7, 10-day plans
Las Vegas, colloquially shortened to Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. It is the 24th-most populous city in the United States, with 641,903 residents at the 2020 census.
The Las Vegas metropolitan area has an estimated 2.4 million residents and is the 29th-largest metropolitan area in the country. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city, known primarily for its gambling, shopping, fine dining, entertainment, and nightlife.
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want Las Vegas without a car. The 3-day plan stays inside walking range of City.
- Skip if
- Skip Las Vegas if you only want a beach week or an airport layover. This cluster is for people who will walk most days.
Pick a trip length
One plan per length — open it and walk the days in order.
- 3days3-day itineraryA long weekend walking Las Vegas.Open plan →
- 5days5-day itineraryPopularA first visit to Las Vegas with room for one extra neighborhood.Open plan →
- 7days7-day itineraryA slower week in Las Vegas, with one day outside town.Open plan →
- 10days10-day itineraryFirst-time visitors who want a full Las Vegas trip with day trips.Open plan →
5-day preview
Skim the walking days, then open the full plan.
- 1
City
Walk City in Las Vegas. Start at Highland Valley Park, then Bethel Baptist Church and Bread of Life Ministries of His Glory. Stay on foot.
Highland Valley Park · Bethel Baptist Church · Bread of Life Ministries of His Glory · Calvary Foursquare Church · …
- 2
City
Walk City in Las Vegas. Start at Ebenezer Church of God in Christ, then The Way to Christ Lutheran Church and Faith Temple of Church of God in Christ True Holiness. Stay on foot.
Ebenezer Church of God in Christ · The Way to Christ Lutheran Church · Faith Temple of Church of God in Christ True Holiness · First Church of God · …
- 3
City
Walk City in Las Vegas. Start at First Southern Baptist Church, then Grace Immanuel Baptist Church and Greater Carver Baptist Church. Stay on foot.
First Southern Baptist Church · Grace Immanuel Baptist Church · Greater Carver Baptist Church · Greater New Jerusalem Church · …
- 4
City
Walk City in Las Vegas. Start at Holy Cross Baptist Church, then Iglesia Internacional de las Vegas and Iglesia Pentecostal Unida Hispana. Stay on foot.
Holy Cross Baptist Church · Iglesia Internacional de las Vegas · Iglesia Pentecostal Unida Hispana
- 5
Day trip toward Hoover Dam
Leave Las Vegas for the day. Come back to the same bed.
Hoover Dam · Boulder City · Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Where to stay
Bases that fit the walking plan.
The centre
3 to 5 nights
First-time visitors
Stay inside walking range of the first-day stops in Las Vegas.
Getting there & when to go
Lock timing and airport basics early.
Best time
Las Vegas works year-round for a walking trip. Shoulder months are easier on crowds and hills.
- Shoulder months
- High season
- Low season
- Rain days
Airport
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
If traveling along the Strip, walking is a reasonable option as the hotel-casinos are close to each other. However, what may look to be a short walk of only a couple hotel-casinos away may be farther than you expected as the resorts often look closer than they are due to their large size. In most cases, hotels are connected to each other either by bridge or underground or in the case of Excalibur, Luxor, and Mandalay Bay, by a complimentary rail shuttle. During the summer, the oppressive heat during the daylight hours may make walking a very uncomfortable activity.
- Public transit from LAS30 to 60 minutes · Local ticket price. Check the operator the week you fly.
- Taxi or licensed ride hail20 to 45 minutes · Treat any number you see online as an estimate, not a quote.
Practical notes
Short reads before you book.
Understand
500px|thumb|The Strip at night Compared with other American cities, even those in the western United States, Las Vegas is a relatively recent arrival. It was founded in 1905 and for many years was a fairly small settlement.
However, several pivotal events in the early- to mid-20th century catapulted Las Vegas to prominence and set it on the path to grow into what it is today. First was the construction of nearby Hoover Dam from 1931 until 1936, which brought thousands of workers to the area.
Get in
thumb|Welcome to Las Vegas! thumb|Welcome to the real City of Las Vegas! Southern Californians crowd I-15 every weekend going back and forth to Vegas, and from the Bay Area the quickest route comes down Interstate 5 through the Central Valley, takes State Route 58 east from Bakersfield, and joins Interstate 15 at Barstow.
If you are traveling the I-15, you are crossing a desert where gas and food occur infrequently, and should carry (and drink) ample amounts of water, especially on hot summer days where temperatures can reach 110°F (43°C). Expect this drive to be crowded and frustrating, unless you can come and go at off-peak hours; you may find air travel to be a better option with service to major California airports and many smaller ones as well.
Get around
If traveling along the Strip, walking is a reasonable option as the hotel-casinos are close to each other. However, what may look to be a short walk of only a couple hotel-casinos away may be farther than you expected as the resorts often look closer than they are due to their large size.
In most cases, hotels are connected to each other either by bridge or underground or in the case of Excalibur, Luxor, and Mandalay Bay, by a complimentary rail shuttle. During the summer, the oppressive heat during the daylight hours may make walking a very uncomfortable activity.
Stay safe
The LVMPD is the primary law enforcement agency within Las Vegas and the unincorporated area of Clark County. There is also smaller agencies such as Henderson, North Las Vegas PD and city marshals along with state police.
Be vigilant and do not leave any valuables visible in your car. If you are lucky enough to win a large jackpot, you can ask the casino to hold your winnings in its safe or to pay you with a check so that you are not walking out the door with a large amount of cash.
Related guides
Helpful next pages for Las Vegas.