Guide to Walking the Las Vegas Strip
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The best way to experience the Las Vegas Strip is to walk it. No matter how many times you have been to Vegas, the audacity and playfulness of the Strip – along with its endless people-watching possibilities – will entertain you.
You can’t get lost! Las Vegas Boulevard (The Strip) is one long, 6-lane avenue. The sidewalks are wide. Raised pedestrian bridges with escalators make crossing back and forth between casinos simple. However, once out on the Strip, it is easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people, attractions, and entertainment choices.
Our guide to walking the Las Vegas Strip will help you catch all the must-see sights.
For those of you who prefer organized tours, check out these excursions:
Las Vegas: Nighttime Sightseeing Tour by Open-Top Bus
Las Vegas: Go City All-Inclusive Pass with 30+ Attractions
Las Vegas: High Roller Ride at the Linq
For information on visiting Las Vegas read our posts on:
Las Vegas Guide to 7 Sinfully Good Days
Las Vegas Guide for First Time Non-Gamblers
Guide to Top Las Vegas Attractions
Las Vegas Convention: Top Tips & Things To Do
Walking Route Distance: Our Las Vegas walking route is 3.3 miles. It begins at New York – New York Hotel and Casino and ends at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino.
Time of Day to Walk:
Day Time: The crowds are generally lighter, tamer, and more family-oriented. However, in the warmer months the temperature is often above 100’degrees and uncomfortable.
Night Time: The neon on the Strip morphs from garish to spectacular. It’s hard to resist the energy that begins to buzz. On the downside, the later in the evening it gets, the more ‘adult’ the Strip becomes.
Personal Safety: Always, be aware of your personal safety. Travel in groups. If alone, tell someone where you are going. Keep valuables in a zipped pocket or a front-facing cross-body bag. Stick to populated areas until you learn the lay of the land. Be aware that you may see nudity, aggressive sales, panhandling, and people who are under the influence.
Las Vegas Walking Tips
Wear comfortable walking shoes. The route is 3.3 miles, but you will walk more stopping to explore the casinos, restaurants, shopping malls, and attractions. If you get a blister, pop into one of the many pharmacies along the Strip for Band Aids and flip flops.
Pack a couple of bottles of water. It’s important to stay hydrated in the dry heat (especially if you have been drinking more than usual). If you run out, buy extra from a convenience store (not on the street!).
Bring a sweater, the temperature fluctuates abruptly between the sidewalk and inside the resorts (where the temperature is kept at 60 degrees).
Only cross the street on crosswalks and pedestrian bridges. The traffic is fierce, drivers are often distracted by the action of the strip, and there is a hefty fine for jaywalking.
In Clark County, Nevada, where the Strip is located, it is legal for adults 21 years or older to have open containers of alcohol while walking along the Las Vegas Strip. However, it is illegal to have an open GLASS container of alcohol or any other beverage. Note: It is illegal to drive with an open container of alcohol at any age.
Las Vegas Strip Walking Route: This route can be completed starting in either direction. It can also be broken up into two parts and done on separate days. If you split the route, we recommend doing Stops 7-11 (our favorite stops) on the first walk; and 1-6 on the second.
STOP 1: Begin your walk at the New York – New York Hotel and Casino. Walk through the resort’s public spaces to see replicas of the Empire State Building, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Grand Central Terminal.
STOP 2: Walk south toward the colorful red and blue turrets of the Excalibur Hotel and Casino. In the distance you will see the Luxor Resort pyramid and golden Mandalay Bay Resort in the skyline. At the corner of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard, you will find one corner of a four-way pedestrian walkway connecting New York-New York, Excalibur, The Tropicana, and the MGM Grand. Take the escalator and walkway to the Excalibur, then the Tropicana, and finally onto the MGM Grand. You will be crossing the strip and making a “U” turn. Enjoy the views from the bridges. Walk through any of the atriums or casinos that draws your attention.
STOP 3: When you are ready, walk north past the specialty stores and restaurants. At Planet Hollywood stop to admire the crazy neon signs. If you are a shopper, make a pit stop to peruse the resort’s Miracle Mile Shops.
STOP 4: Continue up the block to Paris Las Vegas. See the 540’ replica of the Eiffel Tower (for a fee you can climb to the top of its observation deck). Also, see recreations of the Louvre, Paris Opera House, the Arc de Triomphe, and Moulin Rouge-inspired casino. If it is after dark, there is a free light show every half hour.
STOP 5: From here, walk up the block to the Flamingo Hotel and Casino. Enjoy the kitschy pink décor and be transported back to classic 50s Vegas. Visit the free 15-acre Flamingo Wildlife Habitat filled with exotic animals, birds, and tropical plants.
STOP 6: Back on Las Vegas Boulevard, walk north. Just after the Margaritaville Restaurant take a detour down the LINQ Promenade. This pedestrian entertainment district is lined with fun shops, outdoor bars, and restaurants. Here you will find zip lining and the High Roller Observation Wheel.
STOP 7: Returning to Las Vegas Boulevard, walk past Harrah’s to the main entrance of the Venetian Resort. Plan to spend at least an hour strolling through the resort’s public spaces. Modeled after the Italian city, there are meandering canals, beautiful frescoes, and sculptures to view. You can take a gondola ride and be amazed at replicas of the Rialto Bridge and San Marcos Square. The wonderful Shoppes of the Grand Canal connects the Venetian to the Palazzo Hotel.
STOP 8: From the Venetian, take the overhead walkway to the Treasure Island Resort (cross the Strip and make another “U”). Here, you will begin walking south again.
STOP 9: At the Mirage Hotel and Casino veer in. Walk through the tropical gardens in front of the complex. If it’s after dark, stay to watch the volcano show (usually on the hour). There are explosions and blasts of fire set to a music and light show.
STOP 10: Next, continue walking south until you reach Caesars Palace. Take some time to explore this complex. There are colossal statues of Greek and Roman gods and elaborately decorated foyers and atriums. There is a free Fall of Atlantis show and a 50,000-gallon aquarium to see. The Forum Shops are filled with hip shops and restaurants. This is a fun place to visit.
STOP 11: When you are ready walk south to the Bellagio Hotel and Casino. We have saved the romantic Bellagio for the final stop. Walking in the main lobby, check out the spectacular Chihuly glass ceiling. Then, find the magnificent (and free) Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Plan to have a meal here, stroll the shops, and see the world-famous (free) fountain show.
Enjoy your stroll, Laura and Randy
For information on visiting Las Vegas read our posts on:
Las Vegas Guide to 7 Sinfully Good Days
Las Vegas Guide for First Time Non-Gamblers
