Las Vegas Layover Guide

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Vegas is an easy layover: the airport is minutes from the Strip, half the best stuff is free, and some of the best of it is an hour out of town in the desert. Here is how to do a day off like a local, not a first-timer.

Getting in from Harry Reid (LAS)

Rideshare or taxi: the airport is only 5 to 6 miles from the Strip, about 10 to 15 minutes in normal traffic.
The Deuce: the 24-hour double-decker bus runs the length of the Strip and downtown if you want it cheap. There is no train.

The must-sees (free and paid)

The Strip after dark: walk it once, top to bottom, it is free and it is the show.
Bellagio Fountains: the choreographed water show out front, free every 15 to 30 minutes into the night.
Fremont Street Experience: downtown under a giant LED canopy, free live music and the SlotZilla zipline overhead.
A Cirque du Soleil show: the one splurge worth it. Book KÀ at MGM Grand.

Get out of town (the best day trips)

Grand Canyon West: the big one, and stunning by helicopter. Book a helicopter tour.
Hoover Dam: an easy 40 minutes out. Book a dam tour.
Red Rock Canyon: a stunning scenic loop 20 minutes from the Strip, most crew never see it.
Valley of Fire: red sandstone and petroglyphs about an hour northeast, worth the drive.

Hidden gems for your day off

The Neon Museum: a boneyard of vintage Vegas signs, best on an evening tour.
Area15 and Omega Mart: a trippy immersive-art playground minutes off the Strip.
The STRAT SkyJump: a controlled freefall from the 108th floor for the brave.
Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art: rotating real exhibitions (Monet and Picasso have shown here), the genuine art stop.
The Sphere: the giant immersive venue at The Venetian, worth catching a show if the calendar lines up.

Captain AL’s tip: the best of Vegas is either free (the Strip at night, the Bellagio Fountains, Fremont Street) or an hour out of town. Rent a car for a half-day and drive Red Rock Canyon or Valley of Fire, you will remember the desert long after you have forgotten the slot machines.

Eat like a local

A proper buffet, at least once.
An In-N-Out just off the Strip.
A celebrity-chef dinner if you are treating yourself.
A cheap shrimp cocktail downtown, an old Vegas tradition.

Best time to go

Spring and fall: warm, dry, and ideal for the desert trips.
Summer: brutal heat, often over 40 degrees, so stay hydrated and skip midday hikes.
Winter: mild days and cool nights, pack a layer.

Stay sharp

The desert heat is dangerous in summer, carry water everywhere, especially on day trips.
Watch the extras: resort fees and Strip drink prices add up fast, so check the fine print on any deal.