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McCarran International Airport (LAS  IATA) is the main airport of Las Vegas. The gate areas are famously full of slot machines, fittingly enough for Sin City.

Understand

Gates at LAS

For departing flights:

  • Allow plenty of time for security screening, especially on those days when major conventions end. Or schedule your flight at another day or time if you can.
  • Curbside check-in counters can save time, but will cost you $4 per bag + tip, and if you are flying an "open" ticket, you won't be allocated a seat number until boarding time — likely an undesirable one.

Flights

Map
Map of Harry Reid International Airport
  • Terminal 1: Most domestic flights
    • A Gates: Allegiant
    • B Gates: Southwest, Spirit
    • C Gates: Southwest
    • D Gates: Delta
  • Terminal 3: All international flights, with service to Canada, Mexico, the UK, Germany, China and South Korea among other places, as well as domestic flights from certain airlines
    • D Gates
      • International: Air Canada
      • Domestic: Cal Jet, Frontier, Hawaiian, Sun Country Airlines, United
    • E Gates
      • International: Aeromexico, British Airways, Condor, Copa Airlines, Edelweiss, Eurowings, Hainan Airlines, Interjet, Korean Air, Norwegian, Virgin Atlantic, Viva Aerobus, Volaris, WestJet
      • Domestic: Alaska, jetBlue, OAI, Virgin America

The D gates are physically located in between terminals 1 and 3. All gates are connected to each other airside (you may have to ride a people mover).

(Terminal 2 closed in 2012 and has since been demolished.)

Ground transportation

To travel between the airport and your Strip hotel:

By taxi

  • Taxis cost $10–20 from the airport to a Strip location. The taxi line is well organized and the city taxi dispatcher will direct you to a numbered space along the curb. You need not tip the taxi dispatcher. There is some debate on whether the taxi driver should or should not be taking any Strip-destination passengers through the tunnel when exiting the airport. Most taxi drivers prefer to take the tunnel because (surprise, surprise) it produces a higher bill. The general consensus seems to be that taking the tunnel is 5–10 minutes shorter, but will cost you $5–10 more; and not taking the tunnel is 5–10 minutes longer, but will cost $5–10 less. Some people prefer to save the money as the time savings isn't that huge. You have the right to tell the driver if you do not want to take the tunnel. And do not let them tell you they need to take the tunnel to avoid the "big accident" if that is not your preference. If you feel you have been taken advantage of by the taxi driver, take down the driver's license number and call the Nevada Taxi Cab Authority.
  • Limousines cost ~$35.

By bus

The Las Vegas monorail famously does not extend to the airport and possibly never will, but there are other options

  • RTC Transit operates routes (see Airport Transit Routes for further details):
    • Bus 108 costs $2 each way (regular Residential Route fare) and departs every 20–30 minutes from Terminal 1. The bus travels along Paradise Road to the Convention Center and the LV Hilton, taking about 20–25 minutes. At the intersection of Paradise Road and the Strip (Las Vegas Boulevard), you can switch to the Deuce shuttle bus, traveling north to downtown or south to other hotel casinos.
    • Westcliff Airport Express (WAX) bus runs from Terminal 1 and 3 to Tropicana and Las Vegas Blvd, the MGM Grand Casino, Excalibur, New York-New York, the Bonneville Transit Center and downtown Fourth street and Carlson. A regular one-way ticket costs $2, a 2-hr ticket $3 and a 24-hr ticket $5 (regular Residential Route fare).
    • Centennial Express (CX) runs from Terminal 3 to the University of Las Vegas, Wynn resort, Palazzo, TI, Fashion Show Mall, before serving Bonneville Transit Center and downtown Fourth street and Carlson like the WAX bus.
    • Bus 109 Southbound runs from Terminal 1 and goes to the South Strip Transfer Terminal (SSTT) where you have to change to the Strip & Downtown Express (SDX). Since this involves a non-residential bus, you should buy a Strip & All Access Pass (2-hr ticket for $6 or a 24-hr ticket for $8).
At Terminal 1, the RTC Transit bus stop is located at Ground Level Zero. Take the escalator down from the baggage claim and walk towards the parking garage. The covered bus stop is on the right. At Terminal 3, the bus stop is located on the west end of Level Zero. Exit the terminal from doors 51-58, turn left and follow the orange public transport signs.
  • Shuttle Buses will take you to any hotel on the Strip (around $15 return) or downtown (around $18 return). Some hotels offer their own shuttle service.

By rental car

The McCarran Rent-A-Car Center (7135 Gillespie Street) is located off-site, about three miles south of the airport across I-215. Shuttle buses circulate between Terminals 1 and 3 and the Rent-A-Car Center approximately every five minutes; the trip takes approximately seven minutes each way.

  • Arriving passengers should follow the signs for Ground Transportation and board the shuttle at the designated bus stops at Terminals 1 and 3.
  • Departing passengers should follow the signs for Rental Car Return, then board the bus to either Terminal 1 or 3 from the Rent-A-Car Center main lobby. Since travel and wait times may vary by traffic conditions and passenger volume (e.g. after a major event), passengers should allow sufficient time to return their car and catch the shuttle in time to check in for their flight.

By ride hailing app

Lyft/Uber pickup is on level 2 of the parking garage in Terminal 1, and on the valet level of the parking garage in Terminal 3.

Get around

An Automated People Mover arriving at a station.

A free shuttle runs every 12-15 minutes between the terminals before security. It has the McCarran logo on it.

At Terminal 1, the shuttle bus stop is located on Level Zero. From baggage claim, take the elevator or escalators down one level and exit the terminal building. Take the pedestrian crosswalk toward the covered parking garage to the courtesy shuttle stop.

At Terminal 3, the shuttle bus stop is located on Level Zero in the center of the curb.

A tram (people mover) ride is required for flights to and from concourse D. When departing from Concourse D, passengers flying with Air Canada, Cal Jet, Frontier, Hawaiian, Sun Country Airlines, or United take the Red line from Terminal 3. Other airlines take the Blue line from Terminal 1. The only other tram, the Green line, is used to speed up travel between Terminal 1 and Concourse C.

All three tram lines are airside, which means that you can move between any of the gates during a layover without having to go through security again. If you have a long layover and want to use the tram to explore other concourses, make sure you leave yourself enough time, as Terminal 1 in particular is quite confusing to navigate. Some of the signs that claim to point to other gates in fact point out of the secure area, so pay attention. If you get lost, remember that the blue line connects the D gates with the C gates, which you must pass by if you're trying to get to/from A or B. (Or look at the map.)

Wait

Slot machines at the airport.

The airport is one of the few in the world to have slot machines in it, meaning you can lose your entire vacation budget within minutes of stepping off the plane. There's not much else to do after security...maybe that's to encourage you to waste your money at the slot machines.

There are a few small massage/spa parlors scattered around the airside area.

  • Aviation Museum (Main exhibit in Terminal 1, Level 2 above baggage claim. Other exhibits sprinkled throughout the airport), ☏ +1 702 455-7968. (updated Jan 2018)

Eat and drink

Drinking water fountains can be found throughout the airport.

  • 1 Moe's Southwest Grill, Gate A15. 5AM–1AM daily. Burritos, burrito bowls, nachos, and quesadillas, surprisingly tasty as evidenced by the occasional lines stretching out the entrance. Like Chipotle, you choose which ingredients you want added to the burrito and the person behind the counter adds them. The veggie burrito is perhaps the best vegan option at LAS (if you ask them to leave off the cheese). $12–19 including a drink. (updated Mar 2020)

Buy

Jewelry, Vegas souvenirs, and the usual selection of travel necessities, plus "duty-free" shops with brand-name cosmetics, alcohol, etc.

Currency exchange is outside security in Terminal 1 and Terminal 3.

Connect

The airport provides free Wi-Fi without registration.

There's a post office in Terminal 1.

Cope

Lost and found offices are on level 2 (landside) of each terminal.

Sleep

Nearby

This huge airport travel guide to Harry Reid International Airport is a usable article. It has information on flights and ground transportation as well as some complete entries for food and beverage options at the airport. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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