Getting Around Las Vegas

By Car
The major route into Las Vegas is I-15, which passes through the city from southern California to Arizona and Utah. Other routes are US 95 from the northwest, which becomes the Las Vegas Expressway in the downtown area, and US 93/95 from the southeast.

Travelers from California should be prepared for desert driving, regardless of their departure point. Basic precautions include making certain that the car's engine and cooling system are working well, that tires are inflated properly, and that the gas tank is filled adequately. It always is prudent to carry extra coolant or water in case of overheating.

Air Travel
McCarran International Airport is about 5 miles south of downtown Las Vegas via Las Vegas Boulevard and 3.5 miles south of the Las Vegas Convention Center via Paradise Road, just a few minutes' drive from the Strip's southern end. One of the nation's busiest airports, it serves most major airlines.

From the airport rental car lots, take Kitty Hawk Way to Swenson Street, then Swenson north to Tropicana Avenue. Turning west on Tropicana will take you to the Strip and I-15. Taxi and limousine services also are available from the airport to the Strip and points downtown. Cab fare to the Strip hotels varies depending on traffic and routes taken, but in general, plan on $10-$15 to Tropicana Avenue (Luxor Las Vegas, MGM Grand, Excalibur, Tropicana and New York-New York); $11-$12 to Flamingo Road (Bally's Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, Flamingo Las Vegas); $13-$15 to TI-Treasure Island; $13 to the Stratosphere; and $16-$20 to the downtown area.

Street System
Las Vegas is compact, and even first-time visitors will have no trouble finding their way around. The two areas of interest to tourists are the Strip and downtown (also known as Glitter Gulch and Casino Center).

Las Vegas Boulevard parallels I-15 and is the main north-south thoroughfare. Fremont Street downtown is the dividing line for Las Vegas Boulevard North and Las Vegas Boulevard South addresses. The part of the boulevard constituting the Strip extends from Sahara Avenue south to Hacienda Avenue. All of the big resort hotels are along this 3.5-mile stretch.

Downtown, anchored by Fremont Street, is the original hotel/casino area. Almost everything of interest to visitors is located along Fremont between Main Street and Las Vegas Boulevard, or a few blocks to the north or south.

Paradise Road and Maryland Parkway are major north-south arteries east of the Strip. The area around the Las Vegas Convention Center, at Paradise and Desert Inn roads, is the location of the Las Vegas Country Club and several big hotels, notably the Las Vegas Hilton. The University of Nevada Las Vegas campus sits between Paradise Road and Maryland Parkway, a short distance north of the airport.

The main east-west thoroughfares south of Fremont Street (in geographic order from north to south) are Charleston Avenue, Sahara Avenue, Desert Inn Road, Spring Mountain Road/Sands Avenue, Flamingo Road and Tropicana Avenue. Residential subdivisions spread east, west and north of Las Vegas' core commercial area, bounded roughly east and west by Maryland Parkway and the Strip and north and south by SR 93/95/I-515 and the airport.

Note: Although distances are fairly short between any two points in greater Las Vegas, traffic is often heavy on I-15, Flamingo Road, Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard. The Strip is frequently bumper to bumper--especially at night--and crawling with pedestrians. Avoid driving on the Strip if possible, or use Paradise Road as an alternative.

Parking
Parking is rarely a problem in Las Vegas, as most of the hotels provide guest, valet and customer parking. Valet parking is a boon in a city where temperatures routinely top 100 F in the summer and the walk from an outer parking lot to the hotel's front door can take 10 minutes. The $1 or $2 tip is well worth it. If you have restaurant or show reservations, keep in mind that valet parking lots sometimes fill up.

Several downtown hotel and commercial garages are open 24 hours; rates average from $1-$2 per hour. Check hours of operation, as some lots close at 6 p.m. If you're staying on the Strip and want to visit the downtown area, it's much easier to use public transportation to get there.

Taxis and Limousines
Major cab companies include ABC Union, (702) 736-8444; Ace, (702) 736-8383; Checker/Yellow Cab/Star, (702) 873-2227; and Whittlesea Blue Cab, (702) 384-6111. Base fare is $3.20 for the first mile and $2 for each additional mile; trips to the airport incur a $1.20 surcharge.

Limousine service averages $40-$100 per hour; other fees may include a $5 airport pick-up charge or a fuel surcharge. Licensed limousine services include Ambassador Limo, (702) 362-6200; Bell Trans, (702) 385-5466; and Presidential Limo, (702) 731-5577.

Public Transportation
Citizens Area Transit (CAT) provides bus service to most parts of the city. Buses serving the Strip, or Las Vegas Boulevard, run every 7-10 minutes. Nine routes provide 24-hour-a-day service. The fare is $2 on the Strip or $5 for a 24-hour pass, $1.25 all other routes. Exact change is required; transfers are free. Buses serve other Las Vegas routes from 5:30 a.m.-1:30 a.m. The fare is $1.25. For schedule and route information phone (702) 228-7433.

Enclosed, air-conditioned trolleys run along the Strip every 15 minutes 9:30 a.m.-1:30 a.m. from the Stratosphere Hotel to Mandalay Bay, with stops at the major Strip resorts, for a fare of $1.75 per ride. Exact change is required. A $5 day pass also is available from the trolley driver. Phone (702) 382-1404 for information.

The Las Vegas Monorail operates daily 7 a.m.-2 a.m. and serves a 4-mile stretch of the Strip from the MGM Grand to the Sahara Hotel including the convention center; phone (702) 699-8200 for monorail information.