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Las Vegas is one of the few American cities where a visitor can comfortably function without renting a car — as long as they stay on the Strip and understand the transportation options available.
Walking
The Strip is 4.2 miles long from Mandalay Bay to the STRAT. Most visitors stay within a 2-mile radius of their hotel, which is walkable. Warning: Strip distances are systematically underestimated — what looks like a 5-minute walk is often 15–20 minutes in the heat, and the entrances to casinos are set far back from the sidewalk.
Uber/Lyft
The primary transportation method for most visitors. Base Strip rides cost $8–20. Surge pricing applies from midnight to 2:30am (leaving clubs), Friday/Saturday afternoons (arrivals), and major event days. Budget $15–30 for a typical late-night ride.
Free Trams and Buses
- Mandalay Bay–Luxor–Excalibur tram (free, south Strip)
- Aria–Vdara–Bellagio walkway (free indoor connection)
- The Deuce bus ($6/2-hour pass) runs the full Strip 24/7
- Strip & Downtown Express ($6/2-hour pass) — faster service
The Monorail
The Las Vegas Monorail connects 7 stations on the east side of the Strip. The problem: it doesn't connect to casino entrances (stations are on the convention center side) and it doesn't reach the south Strip or Downtown. $5 per ride or $13/day pass. Useful primarily for convention-center access.