Things to Do Near the Las Vegas Strip Without a Car
7 min read
Renting a car in Vegas is usually a mistake. Between resort parking fees, valet tips, and the fact that the best stuff is clustered together, a car is more hassle than help for most visitors.
I get around Vegas without a car all the time. Here is how to fill a whole trip on foot, by free tram, by monorail, and with the occasional cheap rideshare.
Everything walkable on the center Strip
The center Strip, roughly from the Bellagio to the Venetian, is dense with free attractions you can walk between. The Bellagio Fountains and Conservatory, the Forum Shops at Caesars, the Venetian canals, the Flamingo habitat.
It looks close on a map but is bigger than it seems, so wear real shoes. Still, this single walkable stretch can fill a full day without any transport.
Use the pedestrian bridges to cross the Strip safely. Jaywalking the boulevard is both illegal and genuinely dangerous.
Free trams between resorts
Vegas has free trams that connect clusters of resorts. One links the Bellagio, City Center, and the Park MGM area. Another connects Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and Excalibur on the south Strip.
These are free, air-conditioned, and a lifesaver in summer heat. Learn where they run and you can cover long stretches of the Strip without paying or walking in the sun.
The monorail and the Deuce bus
The Las Vegas Monorail runs along the east side of the Strip from the MGM Grand up to the Sahara, with stops at major resorts and the convention center. Day and multi-day passes make it cheap if you ride often.
The Deuce is a double-decker bus that runs the entire Strip and down to Downtown. It is slow but cheap and covers the whole length, including the Downtown trip a car would otherwise handle.
Between the tram, monorail, and Deuce, you can reach almost everything without a rideshare.
Tours that pick you up
Want to see Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam, or the Grand Canyon without a car? Guided tours handle the driving and pick up right at Strip hotels.
This is actually the easier way to do these trips, since you skip the navigation and parking. Most depart in the morning, so book the night before from your hotel.
Stay central to make it all easier
The single best move for a car-free trip is staying on the center Strip. Pick a hotel between roughly the Bellagio and the Venetian and most of your trip is within walking distance.
From a central base you walk to the big attractions, hop the trams and monorail for the rest, and only rideshare for off-Strip food and Downtown. No car, no parking fees, no stress.
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Frequently asked
Do you need a car in Las Vegas?
No. Most visitors are better off without one. The best attractions cluster together, resort parking and fees add up fast, and trams, the monorail, the Deuce, and rideshare cover everything else.
What is the cheapest way to get around the Strip?
The free resort trams and walking. For longer hauls, the Deuce bus is cheap and covers the whole Strip plus Downtown. Rideshare only when you head off-Strip.
How do I get to Downtown without a car?
The Deuce bus runs straight there for a few dollars, or a rideshare takes about 15 minutes. Both are easy and far cheaper than parking a rental Downtown.
