Arriving in Las Vegas: Harry Reid Airport to the Strip (Your Transfer Options)

Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) — renamed from McCarran in 2021 — sits 5 km south of the Strip. It is one of the busiest airports in the United States and the logistics of getting out of it are worth thinking about before you land. There is no single best option. The right choice depends on your hotel location, group size, and whether you arrive during peak hours.

Rideshare: The Default Option

Uber and Lyft both operate from the airport. The pickup area is on Level 2 of the garage, a short walk from baggage claim. Expect to pay $15–25 to a mid-Strip hotel, $25–35 to hotels at the northern end (Wynn, Encore) or downtown (Fremont Street).

The main complication: Las Vegas is a high-demand market for rideshare and surge pricing applies at busy times — Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons in particular. If you see a $50 price for a five-mile journey, it is not an error, it is demand pricing. Either wait 20 minutes or take a taxi.

Taxi

Taxi stands are on Level 1 of the airport. Metered fare to the mid-Strip is approximately $20–30 with tip. Taxis cannot surge price. At busy arrival times when rideshare prices are elevated, a taxi is often cheaper and faster than Uber or Lyft.

One caveat: Las Vegas taxis have a history of "long-hauling" — taking the freeway route instead of the direct surface route, which costs $10–15 more. If you're going to the Strip, the surface route via Swenson St is shorter and cheaper. You can ask for it directly.

Airport Shuttle

Shared shuttle services run from the airport to most Strip hotels. Cost: $8–15 per person each way, but they operate on a shared basis, stopping at multiple hotels. The journey can take 60–90 minutes even though the distance is short. Only makes sense if price is the priority and you have no luggage urgency.

Resort Corridor: The Monorail Connection

The airport has its own people mover connecting to the Mandalay Bay end of the Strip (the Mandalay Bay/Delano stop), operational 24 hours. This is free and takes about 5 minutes. From there, the Las Vegas Monorail (separate system, ticketed) runs north along the back of the Strip to the convention centre. The monorail doesn't reach most hotel front entrances, but if you're staying between Mandalay Bay and the Sahara area and don't have excessive luggage, it is an option.

Our Take

Rideshare if there's no surge. Taxi if there is. The shuttle is slow. The monorail system is free as far as Mandalay Bay but the Strip walking distance from there is significant. Most people take Uber to the door and it costs $20 — which, in context of a Las Vegas trip, is not the place to save money.