KEY TAKEAWAYS
Most visitors reach the Strip from Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) by taxi, rideshare or a pre-booked shuttle, and the best choice depends on how many people are traveling, how much luggage they have and which part of the Strip is the destination. Taxis charge posted flat fares between the airport and three Strip zones. Rideshare apps price each trip on their own, and the price can change with demand. Public buses stop at Terminal 1, and the airport also lists shuttles, limousines, a rental car center and robotaxi services. One thing the airport does not have is a direct monorail link, a point that surprises many first-time visitors who have seen the Strip monorail on maps.
This guide explains each option using information from the airport, the Nevada Taxicab Authority, the regional transit agency and the Las Vegas Monorail, all checked in October 2026. It shows where each pickup area is, how the posted taxi zones work, what a labeled example trip can cost, and how the airport transfer fits into the rest of a casino trip. Fares, roadwork and hours change, so confirm the details on the official pages listed at the end before you travel.
Your Options From the Airport to the Strip
Harry Reid International Airport has two passenger terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, and each has its own pickup areas. The airport’s ground transportation pages group the choices into taxis, rideshare, public buses, shuttles, limousines, rental cars, the Vegas Loop and robotaxis. The table below summarizes what the airport and the transit agency list, as of October 2026.
| Option | Where to find it | How it is priced |
|---|---|---|
| Taxi | T1: east side of baggage claim, doors 1–4. T3: Level Zero near door 52 | Flat fare to one of three Strip zones |
| Rideshare | T1: Level 2 of the parking garage. T3: Valet Level of the parking garage | Set by the app at the time of the request |
| Public bus | T1 Ground Level Zero: Route 108 and RED LINE | Transit pass from the vending machine at the stop or on board |
| Shuttles and limousines | Listed on the airport’s buses and shuttles page | Set by each provider |
| Rental car | Airport Rent-A-Car Center, reached by free shuttle | Set by each rental company |
| Monorail | Does not serve the airport | Not applicable |
The airport also lists Waymo rides for current Waymo riders in Las Vegas and a Zoox robotaxi service between the airport and select Strip destinations. Because the airport describes these as limited or expanding services, check the airport’s ground transportation page for current availability before counting on either one.
Taxi Fare From Las Vegas Airport to the Strip
The Nevada Taxicab Authority sets taxi fares. For direct trips between the airport and the Strip, it divides the Strip into three zones and charges a flat zone fare in both directions. The Tier 1 zone fares published by the Authority are shown below, as of October 2026. Hotels are grouped by zone on the Authority’s published list, and a few examples appear in the table.
| Zone | Area | Flat fare | Example resorts on the list |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | Sunset North to Tropicana | $22.25 | Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, Luxor, Excalibur |
| Zone 2 | Tropicana North to Flamingo | $26.25 | Aria, Bellagio, Paris, The Cosmopolitan |
| Zone 3 | Flamingo North to Stratosphere | $30.25 | Caesars Palace, The Venetian, Wynn, Flamingo |
The zone fare is not the whole bill. The Authority lists a fuel surcharge for zone rides of $1, $2 or $3, depending on which of three tiers is active, and it states that a 3% excise tax is added to all rates and fees. Its FAQ says a card fee may be charged in addition to the zone amount, and the base rate table lists a $3.00 credit or debit card fee. All taxi companies at the airport accept credit cards, according to the airport.
Zone fares apply only to direct trips. If a passenger asks for a stop outside the zones, the ride is charged at metered rates. The metered base rate lists a $5.50 starting charge, $8.21 for the first mile and $2.96 for each additional mile, and a $2.40 airport properties fee per pick-up. A second trip within a zone is charged as a new trip, and a driver may take the most direct route, including the freeway or surface streets, based on current traffic.
Planning Your Arrival
Start with the terminal. Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 are separate areas of the airport campus, and walking between them is not possible. The airport runs a free inter-terminal shuttle about every 20 to 30 minutes, with a ride of about 10 minutes, and an automated tram system links the terminals for passengers who are already past security. Ask your airline which terminal you will use, then follow the signs to the pickup area for your chosen option.
Roadwork is the second planning point. The airport has posted a notice of lane closures in the northbound and southbound airport connector tunnels through December 2026, due to repaving, and it asks travelers to allow extra time. The airport’s pages do not give a delay estimate, so build in a cushion, particularly for a connecting event, a show or a hotel check-in window.
Here is a labeled hypothetical. Suppose a traveler takes a taxi to a Zone 2 resort, pays a $1.00 fuel surcharge and uses a card with a $3.00 fee. The one-way total before excise tax is the zone fare plus the surcharge plus the card fee:
Where:
zone fare is the posted flat fare for the destination zone, fuel surcharge is the active tier amount for zone rides, and card fee is the charge for paying by card. A round trip of two such rides is 2 × $30.25 = $60.50 before the 3% excise tax and any tip. Keep this transport line in a separate part of the trip budget, and set the gambling budget in advance as its own figure. For example, a $600 gambling budget spread over 3 days with 2 sessions a day works out to $600 ÷ 6 = $100 per session.
Compared With Getting Around Once You Arrive
Once a traveler is on the Strip, the airport options give way to local ones. The Las Vegas Monorail runs parallel to the Strip with seven stations from MGM Grand to SAHARA Las Vegas, covers 3.9 miles and, according to its operator, takes around 15 minutes end to end. It does not go to the airport, so it complements a taxi or rideshare ride rather than replacing it. The table compares the airport options and the monorail by criteria that can be verified, as of October 2026.
| Criterion | Taxi from LAS | Monorail on the Strip |
|---|---|---|
| Serves the airport | Yes | No |
| Pricing | $22.25 to $30.25 zone fare before extras | $6.25 one ride, $5.75 with an eTicket |
| Passes | Not applicable | 1-day $15.50, 3-day $33 at full fare |
| Hours | Taxis available at both terminals | 7 am to midnight Monday, to 2 am Tuesday through Thursday, to 3 am Friday through Sunday |
| Frequency | Queue at the pickup area | Trains every 4 to 8 minutes |
The monorail’s published fares make the break-even easy to calculate. A 3-day pass at the full fare costs $33, while one-ride tickets at $6.25 total $31.25 for five rides and $37.50 for six, so six rides in the pass period is where the pass costs less. With eTicket pricing, the 3-day pass is $30.85 and one-ride tickets cost $5.75, so six rides cost $34.50 and the pass again comes out ahead. The Strip vs. Downtown guide compares the areas by fares and walking scale.
Tips, Rules and Common Mistakes
A common mistake is assuming that the monorail goes to the airport. The airport states plainly that it does not, so plan a taxi, rideshare, bus or shuttle for the first leg. Another is waiting at the wrong spot: rideshare pickup is in the parking garages rather than at the baggage claim curb, and the airport says there is no designated rideshare drop-off area, so drivers drop passengers at the departures curbs.
Check the zone before you ride. Match your hotel against the Authority’s zone list so you know which flat fare applies, and ask for the card fee and any fuel surcharge up front. If a driver does not charge the correct zone amount, the Authority’s FAQ directs passengers to file a complaint using the taxi number, taxi company and driver permit information.
Finally, remember that transport costs are only one part of a trip budget. Casino age limits, ID checks and resort fees apply once you arrive, and each resort publishes its own rules, so confirm them on its official site. Treat gambling as paid entertainment, decide the amount you are willing to spend before you leave, and keep it apart from the money for transport, lodging and food.
Quick Facts
These facts come from the sources listed below and were checked in October 2026. Confirm them on the official pages before traveling, because fares, hours and roadwork can change.
| Item | Detail (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Airport | Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), Terminals 1 and 3 |
| Taxi zone fares | $22.25, $26.25 and $30.25, plus surcharges, card fee and 3% tax |
| Rideshare pickup | T1 garage Level 2; T3 garage Valet Level |
| Public bus at T1 | Route 108 and RED LINE at Ground Level Zero |
| Terminal transfer | Free shuttle every 20 to 30 minutes, about 10 minutes |
| Roadwork | Connector tunnel lane closures listed through December 2026 |
| Monorail | Seven stations, does not serve LAS |
Before you go, check each official page named in Sources for the latest fares and notices.
Related Guides and Next Step
Once you know how you will arrive, decide where to base the trip. The Las Vegas Strip vs. Downtown: Where to Stay and Play guide compares the two areas by walking scale, transit fares, free entertainment, resort fees and age rules. If your plans center on a single property, the Bellagio Las Vegas: Casino, Hotel and Visitor Guide covers a Zone 2 resort in detail, including its casino floor, poker room, parking and visitor rules. Use both with the transport options above to build a complete arrival plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
- Harry Reid International Airport — Taxi & Ride share (accessed October 2026)
- Harry Reid International Airport — Taxis (accessed October 2026)
- Harry Reid International Airport — All options to & from Harry Reid (accessed October 2026)
- Harry Reid International Airport — Buses & Shuttles (accessed October 2026)
- Nevada Taxicab Authority — Approximate Fare Information (accessed October 2026)
- Nevada Taxicab Authority — Airport to Strip/Strip to Airport, Three Zones (accessed October 2026)
- Nevada Taxicab Authority — Airport and Strip Transit FAQ (accessed October 2026)
- Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada — Airport Transit Routes (accessed October 2026)
- Las Vegas Monorail — Ticket Information (accessed October 2026)
- Las Vegas Monorail — Route Map (accessed October 2026)
