Five miles may not sound like a lot, but even on a relaxing day, such a trek can wear you down. When you’re in Vegas, you don’t want to waste all your energy on walking.
The five-mile stretch of the Las Vegas Strip is undoubtedly walkable, but local transportation options reduce travel time and allow you to conserve your energy. But what’s saved time and energy if your wallet is being drained?
Despite being a city of affluence, not everything in Sin City is expensive. If you’re not looking to walk to everything but want to save a little on trips between resorts, Vegas has several cheap transportation options on the Strip.
While not every option will get you from the southern edge of Las Vegas Boulevard to the northern end, some simply cut down on the walking time or make it easier to move from one resort to a neighbor.
Cheap Transportations Options on The Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Deuce
Not only is the Las Vegas Deuce one of the cheapest methods of getting from Point A to Point B, it’s also one of the most scenic. The Deuce is a double-decker bus that runs 24/7, transporting travelers from the South Strip Transit Terminal just south of Harry Reid International Airport.
Related: Strip vs. Downtown
From the terminal, The Deuce cruises up The Strip every 10 to 15 minutes and makes stops at locations like Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, Harrah’s, The Wynn, The STRAT, and all the way up to the Fremont Street Experience. The stops southbound are a little different, but the frequency doesn’t change often.
Passes are available in 2-hour, 24-hour, and 3-day options, with a reduced fare offered to local students, veterans, children aged 6 to 17, disabled travelers, and seniors 60 and older. Fares for riding The Deuce are as follows:
Fare:
- 2-Hour Pass: $6 regular / $3 reduced
- 24-Hour Pass: $8 regular / $4 reduced
- 3-Day Pass: $20 regular / $10 reduced
The Deuce is a convenient and scenic means of traversing The Strip, though its frequent stops may deter some travelers looking for a quicker method of getting to their destination. Because it stops so often, though, you have a number of options when deciding where to travel to.
The Monorail
The quickest way to travel The Strip, the Las Vegas Monorail rides along the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard. Its track is tucked behind resorts, so it’s not the most convenient to get to, but once you’re on, you can go from MGM Grand straight down to Sahara Las Vegas.
The Monorail doesn’t stop frequently, so you have to plan your route accordingly. And because it’s only on the east side of the street, if you’re trying to get to a resort across the boulevard, there will be a lot of walking. For example, you can ride the Monorail from the Las Vegas Convention Center to closer to New York, New York, but you’re still walking from the MGM stop.
The Monorail doesn’t run 24 hours, but the comfortable and clean trains arrive approximately every 4 to 8 minutes on the following schedule:
Hours:
- Monday: 7 am – 12 midnight
- Tuesday: 7 am – 2 am
- Wednesday: 7 am – 2 am
- Thursday: 7 am – 2 am
- Friday: 7 am – 3 am
- Saturday: 7 am – 3 am
- Sunday: 7 am – 3 am
Ticketing for The Monorail is offered as unlimited rides for 24 hours, so you’re paying the same regardless of whether you’re riding it once to a resort two stops away or all day to multiple stops.
Tickets:
- 24-hour Pass: $13.45
- 2-Day Pass: $23.75
- 3-Day Pass: $29.95
- 4-Day Pass: $37.00
- 5-Day Pass: $44.50
- 7-Day Pass: $57.50
The Free Trams
It doesn’t get much cheaper than the three free trams offered on the west side of Las Vegas Boulevard. There are three separate trams that help cut down on travel time, though they’re mildly inconvenient if trying to use them to get from the very south to the northern end of The Strip.
The three trams are as follows:
Mirage to Treasure Island
From 7 am to 2 am, this short tram connects the two resorts, despite being right next to each other. It’s a convenient ride that runs every 15 minutes that can help cut down on your time in the sun or other uncomfortable conditions.
The tram starts in front of The Mirage and snakes past the Treasure Island pool into a corridor at the neighboring resort.
Bellagio to Park MGM (ARIA Tram)
From 8 am to 4 am every day, this tram connects the Bellagio with Park MGM, with one stop at City Center along the quick ride.
The comfortable tram arrives every 7 minutes in the Bellagio Spa Tower and lets out at Crystals at City Center and the Street of Dreams shopping center in Park MGM.
Mandalay Bay to Excalibur
With a stop at Luxor, this tram connects the most southern resorts quite conveniently. The full trip from Mandalay Bay to Excalibur lasts about 7 minutes, and trains arrive every 3 to 7 minutes. If you’re riding from Excalibur to Mandalay Bay, you’ll bypass Luxor.
Hours:
- Express from Excalibur to Mandalay Bay: Daily from 9 am to 10:30 pm
- All-Stop from Mandalay Bay to Excalibur: Daily from 11 am to 10:30 pm
The Vegas Loop
This very specific method of transportation takes you from the Las Vegas Convention Center to Resorts World, though future expansions plan on including the airport, Allegiant Stadium, Downtown Las Vegas, and additional resorts on The Strip.
It’s the most interesting means of travel as riders hop in a Tesla and enjoy a comfortable ride underground. However, it gets a little confusing as hours of operation change from day to day. Refer to the official Vegas Loop site (lvloop.com) for future scheduling.
Fare:
- Day Pass: $4.50
What About Ridesharing?
Ridesharing (Uber and Lyft) has become a primary means of travel on The Strip, and while it’s not necessarily expensive, it’s definitely not the cheapest. You can expect to spend more than $15 just to go down the road, and that’s not including gratuity.
Pricing does fluctuate based on peak hours and whether there’s an event in town. While it lets you customize your ride to stop wherever you need it, ridesharing should be your last option if you’re looking for the most economical method.
Tom Hamiliton - Author/Editor Vegas Q&A
Hey there! I'm Tom, and Las Vegas holds a special place in my heart. Whether I'm lounging by the pool, getting lost in captivating shows, or taking a chance at craps, I'm all about embracing the thrilling vibes of Sin City.
Through this website, I aim to be your trusted companion, answering common Vegas Questions and sharing money-saving hacks to ensure you have an unforgettable and wallet-friendly vacation in the dazzling world of Las Vegas.
