Getting Around Las Vegas: Monorail, Trams, Bus and Rides

The Short Answer

The easiest way to get around Las Vegas is to mix several options instead of relying on one. Walk between neighboring resorts, ride the free MGM trams where they help, use the Las Vegas Monorail along the east side of the Strip, take the RTC’s Deuce bus for longer runs, and keep taxis or rideshare for late nights and awkward routes.

The reason is scale. According to Visit Las Vegas, walking from the STRAT at one end of the Strip to Mandalay Bay at the other is about 4.5 miles on foot, and that is before detours into the resorts themselves. Each resort is also a large complex, so a property that looks close on a map can still mean a long indoor walk to the nearest exit.

This guide covers what each option costs and where it goes as of October 2026, how to combine them across a trip, and how to budget for transport before you arrive. It focuses on moving along the Strip and between the Strip and Downtown. For the trip from the airport, see the separate airport guide linked near the end. Fares, hours and routes change, so confirm them with the operator before you travel.

Your Options at a Glance

Las Vegas has six main ways to move around the resort corridor. They differ in coverage, cost and hours, so the table below lists each with verified details as of October 2026. Prices are in U.S. dollars and come from each operator’s own pages unless noted.

Rideshare is the seventh option, but its prices change with demand, so no fixed figure is listed. The Deuce is cheaper than rideshare, according to Visit Las Vegas, which is one reason it suits longer runs along the Boulevard. Because the options overlap, there is rarely one correct choice. Distance, time of day, heat and group size usually decide it.

How Each Option Works

Walking is free and often fastest inside a cluster of resorts. Each resort is a large complex, so allow extra time at both ends of a walk. Summer heat is the main walking hazard, and Visit Las Vegas advises plenty of water in summer and detours into air-conditioning.

MGM Resorts lists two express trams. The Aria Express Tram travels between Aria, The Shops at Crystals, Bellagio and Park MGM, and the Mandalay Bay Express Tram connects Mandalay Bay, Luxor and Excalibur. MGM’s own pages have posted different hours for the Aria tram, so check the day’s hours with MGM before relying on it late at night.

The Monorail runs on the east side of the Strip. Its seven stations are MGM Grand, Horseshoe/Paris, Flamingo/Caesars Palace, Harrah’s/The LINQ, the Las Vegas Convention Center, Westgate and SAHARA Las Vegas. None of the seven stations is at the airport. Unlimited passes start counting at the first use at a fare gate, and each day equals a 24-hour period. Children five and under ride free, and Nevada residents pay $1 a ride with valid ID.

The Deuce is the RTC’s frequent bus along the Strip and into Downtown. The RTC says visitors must pay Strip and All Access fares, which also work on its residential routes. Single rides are $4. The RTC’s 2026 pocket guide notes that passes can be bought through the rideRTC app, local vendors or select ticket vending machines, and that vending machines accept cash only.

Taxis use meters. The Nevada Taxicab Authority lists a $5.50 initial charge, $0.37 for each additional 1/8 mile and a 3% excise tax on fares and fees. Card payments add a $3.00 fee, according to the Authority’s fare page, and fuel surcharges can apply.

Planning Your Days and Budget

A workable plan treats the Strip as clusters. Spend one stretch on the south end, where the Mandalay Bay tram links three resorts, another in the middle, where Bellagio, Aria and Park MGM are tied together by the Aria tram, and another on the north end. Between clusters, use the Monorail on the east side or the Deuce on Las Vegas Boulevard.

Check the Monorail’s posted notices before you go. As of October 2026 it lists extended hours of 6 am to 2 am on November 3 to 5 and 6 am to 3 am on November 6 for the SEMA Show, and shorter hours on several dates between late November and mid-December. For seasonal timing, see the best-time guide linked below. Special events change transit schedules, and the RTC’s 2026 pocket guide lists special Deuce schedules for Formula 1 week.

Budget transport on purpose. The example below is hypothetical and uses verified fares as of October 2026. It assumes a three-day trip with no car, one RTC 3-Day Strip & All Access pass and two taxi rides of about two miles each.

where: pass cost = $20; rides = 2; estimated fare = ($5.50 + 2 × $2.96) × 1.03 = $11.76 before tip, card fee and surcharges; parking = $0. So $20 + (2 × $11.76) + $0 = $43.52. Keep this separate from the gambling budget you set in advance, and treat gambling as paid entertainment, not a way to cover trip costs.

Monorail, Bus, Taxi and Car Compared

The comparison below uses explicit criteria: published fare, coverage and posted schedule as of October 2026. No option is ranked, because the right choice depends on where you are staying and where you are going.

On those figures, the RTC three-day pass is $13 cheaper than the Monorail’s $33 three-day pass. The Deuce reaches Downtown, while the Monorail’s seven stations run from MGM Grand to SAHARA Las Vegas. A car adds parking on top of rental and fuel costs, which this table does not price. The $60 figure is three nights at the $20 hotel-guest self-parking rate MGM lists, before tax.

Tips and Common Mistakes

A frequent mistake is judging distances by the map. Resorts are bigger than they look, and the walk from a room to the street can add a long stretch before you reach the sidewalk. Plan extra time at both ends of any walk, especially with children, mobility needs or luggage.

Another is buying the wrong pass. Monorail passes begin counting at the first fare-gate use, so activate one only when you are ready to ride. RTC fares require exact payment on board, and ticket vending machines accept cash only, so keep small bills or use the rideRTC app.

Visitors also forget parking. MGM Resorts lists self-parking at $20 Monday to Thursday and $25 Friday to Sunday for visitors, $20 for registered hotel guests, with up to three hours free for Nevada residents except during special events. Check each resort’s posted fee before you drive in.

Finally, keep transport and gambling money separate. Decide the gambling budget before you leave, stick to it, and do not let a taxi fare or a missed bus tempt you to chase losses. Rules and fares differ by operator, so read the current terms before you travel.

Quick Facts

Hours, fares and routes change, so confirm them on the operator’s official site before you visit.

Related Guides

If you are still deciding how you will arrive, the Las Vegas airport to the Strip guide compares taxis, rideshare and bus for that first trip. To choose a base, read Las Vegas Strip vs. Downtown, which affects how much transit you need.

For timing, the best time to visit Las Vegas covers weather and events that change how much you will want to walk. Then put your numbers together with the casino trip budget guide, and read about a specific resort such as Bellagio before you go.

Sources & References

• Las Vegas Monorail — Ticket Information (accessed October 2026)
• Las Vegas Monorail — Stations and hours (accessed October 2026)
• RTC of Southern Nevada — Fares & Passes (accessed October 2026)
• RTC of Southern Nevada — 2026 Transit Pocket Guide (accessed October 2026)
• Nevada Taxicab Authority — Approximate Fare Information (accessed October 2026)
• MGM Resorts — Parking at MGM Resorts (accessed October 2026)
• MGM Resorts — Transportation (accessed October 2026)
• Visit Las Vegas — Walking the Las Vegas Strip (accessed October 2026)
• Las Vegas Review-Journal — Trams on the Strip (November 2024; accessed October 2026)