You finally touch down in Las Vegas, then take a short taxi ride to your hotel.
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One of the first things you’ll notice about Sin City is that the distance between the airport and the Strip is very small. As you get settled in your hotel room and take a look out the window, you might also realize the entire city seems… tiny.
While Las Vegas has a larger-than-life reputation, the reality is that the city, including Henderson and North Las Vegas, has a population of around three million. The actual city of Las Vegas has under 700,000, for context. In other words, you might find that, by daylight, Vegas looks downright small.
The Vegas Strip, too, looks extremely walkable.
For example, the Cosmopolitan, Bellagio, Caesars Palace, and The Mirage are all located in a neat line down the Strip. You can easily see one location from another, creating the illusion that you can jump from one to the next with a little bit of walking. After all, who doesn’t like getting their steps in on vacation?
Here’s the truth: What looks like a ten-minute walk on the Las Vegas Strip is probably more like an hour-long hike. If you don’t believe me, here’s an Instagram post from templetontravels that shows you just how deceptive the distances can be.
So, can you walk the Las Vegas Strip? Yes—but that’s not the right question. You might want to ask, Should I walk the Las VegasStrip? Even with a few escalators and shaded walkways on your journey, it’s a doozy to traverse. Here’s how to get around Vegas without sweating through your clothes.
(Looking for more travel resources on Sin City? Check out the basics of casino etiquette, plus the coolest, funkiest things to do in the city.)
How to get around the Strip in Las Vegas: 5 options
Take a free self-driving taxi (Zoox)
Las Vegas has its very own self-driving taxis—and they’re free to hail (for now). Zoox is an autonomous vehicle that’s piloted by Amazon technology. The unique taxis, which have a carriage design where passengers face one another and no front seat, launched in early September 2025.
For now, the taxis are free, require a short wait, and only operate on a fixed route with limited service to major casinos and hotels. To take a free Zoox ride, download the app, then input your personal data. You’ll see a list of preloaded destinations that you can book.
Take a free shuttle (Downtown Loop, casino shuttles)
Las Vegas has multiple free shuttles that will take you around the Strip. The most well-known is the Downtown Loop Shuttle. The name comes from the route: It heads between Fremont Street, the Mob Museum, Brewery Row, and other stops before restarting at Fremont Street again. Just look for the pink Downtown Loop sign, then wait to get onboard. It runs every 20-30 minutes.
You can also take Strip Trams. There are trams that run every ten minutes or so and provide limited transportation between major casinos. For example, the tram between Bellagio-Park MGM-CityCenter runs every 15 minutes with free service.
Don’t forget that your casino might also have a free shuttle. Inquire when you arrive about the best way to get around the Strip—your casino will offer up its own shuttle services first.
Take public transportation (Monorail, RTC buses)
Yes, Vegas has its own public transportation—and it’s not too shabby. The Monorail is an elevated rail system that covers seven major destinations on the Strip and runs from 7 am until midnight, 2 am, or 3 am, depending on the day. The Monorail costs $5.50 online or $6 at the booth per ride.
Las Vegas also has RTC buses, which are the city’s official public transportation. However, the timetables are limited, and I’ve heard nightmare stories of visitors waiting for buses that never arrived.
I’d recommend taking The Deuce, a double-decker bus that stops at all major Strip casinos and runs every 15-30 minutes. If you’re not in a rush, it’s the cheapest way to get around aside from hailing a Zoox.
Order a taxi or rideshare (Local taxis, Uber, Lyft)
If you normally use Uber, Lyft, or like to hail a taxi, you can do so in Las Vegas. Just know that its traditional cabs won’t pull over if you try to hail one on the street.
Instead, thanks to the Strip’s size and design, all taxis must be hailed ahead of time. They’ll wait for you at the casino’s designated pick-up spot. You can ask the concierge to hail one for you—no need to use your app.
If you prefer to use your Uber or Lyft app, that’s also an option. Once again, you’ll wait for your taxi in a designated pickup zone in order to offset traffic congestion.
Rent a scooter (Go X)
If you need to get somewhere fast in Las Vegas, the best way to do so is with an electric scooter. Yes, you need to be safe, mindful of pedestrians, and be prepared to step off to use escalators. But in terms of total Strip dynamism, renting a scooter like Go X gives you speed and freedom. The only drawback is that prices are pretty high compared to other options.
