A car is not necessary in this town if your primary objective is to see the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas Boulevard and downtown; taxis, buses and the monorail will be fine for getting around Las Vegas. But if you're planning a trek to Hoover Dam, Mount Charleston, Red Rock Canyon or any of the areas beyond the Strip, your best bet is by automobile.
Getting Around Las Vegas by Taxi
The Las Vegas Valley has 16 cab companies in operation, and rides aren't cheap. There's an initial charge of $3.30, plus $1.20 when you're riding from the airport, then $2.20 per mile. So if you're traveling from McCarran to the south Strip (Luxor or Mandalay Bay), expect to pay $9.50 to $12; to center Strip (Caesars, Mirage, Flamingo), it'll run $12 to $15; to the Sahara and Stratosphere, $13 to $17; and to downtown, $17 to $20. To avoid being ripped off, ask for an estimated fare before getting into a cab and request a receipt.
For more information, contact the Taxi Cab Authority at 702-668-4000 or visit http://www.taxi.state.nv.us. Local cab companies include:
ANLV/ACE/Union/Vegas-Western
702-736-8383
Checker/Yellow/Star
702-873-2000
Desert Cab Company
702-386-9102
Western Cab Company
702-736-8000
Whittlesea/Henderson
702-384-6111
Getting Around Las Vegas by Limo
Personal driving services can be surprisingly affordable, considering they charge by the hour (from $42 for a limo, from $35 for a sedan). If you have a long journey, a limo may cost less than a taxi. Because taxis are limited to carrying only five people, limos and sedans are also ideal for a larger group. Local companies include:
Ambassador/Ritz
702-889-4242
Bell Trans
702-739-7990
C.L.S.
702-740-4050
Executive Las Vegas
702-646-4661
Getting Around Las Vegas by Bus
Las Vegas buses are operated by RTC of Southern Nevada (800-228-3911).
The double-decker Deuce runs from the south end of the Strip to downtown and tends to be packed on weekends. Tickets are $2 each way, or you can buy a 24-hour pass for $5.
If you're headed off the Strip, Citizens Area Transit (CAT) buses travel all over town. Although most routes are in service from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. seven days a week, a few routes run 24 hours. The fare is $1.25 for adults 18 and older, 60 cents for seniors 62 and older and children ages 6 to 17, and free for children 5 and younger riding with an adult. Monthly passes are $40.
The Metropolitan Area Express (MAX) travels along Las Vegas Boulevard North, connecting downtown with Nellis Air Force Base. The sleek, bullet-like bus is a cross between a bus and a rail system. The fares are the same as the CAT.
Getting Around Las Vegas by Monorail
The Las Vegas Monorail travels along the east side of the Strip and stops at seven stations, mostly within casinos: Sahara, Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas Convention Center, Harrah's/Imperial Palace, Flamingo/Caesars Palace, Ballys/Paris and MGM Grand. It's clunky and slow, but it beats walking or taking a cab if you're alone and traveling a fair distance.
The monorail operates from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday and from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. Friday through Sunday. Ticket prices are $5 for a one-ride ticket, $9 for a two-ride ticket and $40 for a three-day pass. Children 5 and younger ride free. Check the website for special deals. For more information, call 702-699-8200 or visit www.lvmonorail.com.
Getting Around Las Vegas by Car
Navigating Las Vegas is relatively easy, even for newcomers. The city is a giant grid, and east and west are divided by Las Vegas Boulevard. Interstate 15 and US 93/95 run north and south, while the 215 makes a giant loop around the city. Most residents get around by car, which means the roads can get pretty clogged. Because it's a 24-hour city, with shifts ending throughout the day and night, traffic can get backed up at any time; it does so dependably during the week from 7 to 9 a.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m.
Parking is also pretty easy here, particularly at casinos. The large ones offer free valet parking and also have garages for self-parking.
If you're flying into Las Vegas, you'll retrieve your rental car from the McCarran Rent-A-Car Center (702-261-6001). Shuttles to the center leave the airport about every five minutes. Companies at the hub include:
Alamo / National800-GOALAMO
800-CAR-RENT
Avis
800-331-1212
Budget
800-922-2899
Dollar
800-800-4000
Enterprise
800-RENTACAR
Hertz
800-654-3131
Thrifty
800-367-2277
