Las Vegas (LAS) Airport Taxi Cost — Strip Fare Guide 2026
USD 20-30 metered cab to the Strip. Plus the resort shuttle hotels that include free pickup — and why CES, EDC + F1 weekend surge Uber 2-4×.
Quick Answer
Metered yellow cab LAS → Strip: USD 20-30 + USD 2 airport surcharge + 20% tip = ~USD 28-38 total, 10-20 min. To Downtown Fremont: USD 25-40. Uber/Lyft USD 12-35 off-peak but surges 2-3× during conventions (CES, EDC, F1). Many MGM + Wynn + Westgate resorts offer FREE shuttle for booked guests. RTC bus Route WAX: USD 4 in 20-50 min.
LAS to Strip + Downtown — Options Compared
| Option | Price | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow taxi (metered) | USD 20–30 to Strip / USD 25–40 to Downtown | 10–25 min | ✓ Doorstep at any Strip resort + Convention Center; LVT-regulated meter. ✗ USD 2 LAS airport surcharge; meter only — no flat rate to specific resorts. |
| Uber / Lyft | USD 12–35 | 10–25 min | ✓ Cheapest off-peak; pickup at LAS Terminal 1 Ground Transport Lot 2nd floor. ✗ Surge 1.5–3× during major conventions (CES, EDC, F1 weekend), boxing/UFC nights, Fri-Sun evenings. |
| Resort shuttle | USD 0–15 (varies by hotel) | 15–45 min | ✓ Many Strip resorts run free or low-cost shuttle for guests. ✗ Shared, slow, scheduled — not on-demand. |
| RTC bus (Strip & Downtown Express) | USD 4 (2-hour pass) | 20–50 min | ✓ Direct LAS T1 → Strip via Las Vegas Boulevard (Route WAX). Every 15-30 min. ✗ Multiple stops; not luggage-friendly during peak hours. |
| Pre-booked sedan / SUV | USD 40–95 | 10–25 min | ✓ Meet-and-greet, fixed fare, large SUVs available for 6+ pax. Stretch limo USD 75-150. ✗ Premium pricing; only worth it for groups + casino-comp arrivals. |
The "long-haul" scam
Las Vegas taxi drivers sometimes route through the I-15 tunnel (longer + faster meter) when the surface route via Paradise Road or Tropicana Avenue is shorter. The longer route can add USD 10-15 to the fare. When you get in, politely request: "Surface streets please — Tropicana / Paradise." Drivers respect this; saves USD 10-15 typically.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Las Vegas (LAS) taxi to the Strip cost in 2026?+
Average metered fare from Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to a Strip resort (Bellagio, Caesars, MGM Grand, ARIA, Wynn): USD 20-30 + USD 2 airport surcharge + 20% tip = ~USD 28-38 total for the 5-7 km trip, 10-20 min. The Las Vegas Taxi Authority regulates the meter (USD 3.50 flag-fall + USD 2.76/mile + USD 28 hourly waiting). Drivers occasionally try the "long-haul" route through the tunnel — request the surface route (Tropicana Ave or Paradise Rd) which is shorter.
Uber/Lyft surge during conventions — how bad?+
Severe during major events. CES (January): surge 2-3×, queues 20-45 min. EDC (May): surge 2-3.5× during late-night peak. F1 weekend (November): surge 2-4× across the entire city. Super Bowl (if hosted): unprecedented surges. UFC fight nights at T-Mobile Arena: surge 1.8-2.5× for the post-fight outbound rush. For these events: pre-book a transfer, take RTC bus, or use the resort shuttle if available.
Resort shuttle from LAS — which hotels offer it?+
Free or low-cost airport shuttles are offered by: ARIA + Bellagio + Vdara (MGM Resorts) — free for booked guests; Mandalay Bay + Excalibur + Luxor + NY-NY + Park MGM (MGM family) — free; Wynn + Encore — free for booked guests; Caesars Entertainment properties (Caesars Palace, Paris, Flamingo, etc.) — shared shuttle USD 12; Westgate — free for booked guests. Off-Strip resorts (Red Rock, Green Valley Ranch): usually free shuttle. Check at hotel booking.
LAS taxi vs Uber — which is faster?+
Taxi: ground floor outside baggage claim, queue 5-15 min off-peak / 20-40 min during peak conventions. Uber/Lyft: 2nd floor of Terminal 1 Parking Lot (10-min walk from baggage claim), wait 3-10 min typical. For solo travellers + Strip resorts: Uber wins on price + similar speed off-peak. For groups of 3-4: taxi wins (flat per-trip price). During conventions: pre-book transfer wins on certainty.
LAS Terminal 1 vs Terminal 3 — which one are you?+
LAS has 2 terminals: Terminal 1 (Southwest Airlines, JetBlue, some international like Volaris, AeroMexico) and Terminal 3 (American, Delta, United, Spirit, Frontier, most international long-haul). They are 1.5 km apart with free shuttle bus every 5-10 min. Cars, taxis, Uber, resort shuttles all pick up at each terminal's assigned zones — confirm your terminal at booking.
RTC bus from LAS — actually worth it?+
RTC bus Route WAX (Westcliff Airport Express) runs LAS Terminal 1 → Las Vegas Strip in 20-50 min for USD 4 (2-hour pass). For solo + Strip hotel: extraordinary value. Catch: limited to bag carry-on size (no oversized luggage), peak hours can be standing-room-only. Not recommended for 3+ pax with checked luggage. From Terminal 3: walk/shuttle to T1 first (15-20 min).
Las Vegas Strip resort ranges — fare differences?+
North Strip (Wynn, Encore, Treasure Island, Resorts World, SLS): USD 22-30 cab, slightly farther. Center Strip (Bellagio, Caesars, Paris, Cosmopolitan, Cromwell): USD 18-25. South Strip (Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, NY-NY, MGM Grand): USD 18-25, closest to LAS. Downtown Fremont (Golden Nugget, The D, Plaza, Circa): USD 25-40 — farther from LAS than the Strip.