The Cheapest Way From LAS Airport to Your Hotel (and When to Skip It)
Harry Reid International Airport sits just 1 to 3 miles from the Strip, a 10 to 20 minute drive with no traffic. And yet getting from the airport to your hotel is where a surprising number of Vegas trips start with an overcharge. The honest answer to “what's cheapest?” depends on how many of you there are and how much luggage you're dragging.
Here are the four real options, cheapest first, with the prices that apply right now.
Cheapest: The RTC Bus
The bus is the cheapest way, full stop. Strip and All Access fares run $4 for a single ride, $6 for a 2-hour pass, $8 for a 24-hour pass, and $20 for a 3-day pass. Board at Terminal 1, Level Zero.
The routes that matter: the RED LINE, launched August 23, 2026, which replaced Route 109 on Maryland Parkway; the Centennial Express (CX), which serves both Terminal 1 and Terminal 3; and Route 108 along Paradise, serving Terminal 1. If you land at Terminal 3, take the free inter-terminal shuttle to Terminal 1 to catch the bus.
The catch: The Deuce does NOT board at the airport. Most Strip hotels require a transfer to the Deuce at the South Strip Transit Terminal, and the whole trip runs 30 to 60 minutes. For one person with a backpack, it's perfect. For a family with four suitcases, read on.
Simplest Fixed Price: Taxi Flat Rates
Taxis from LAS to the Strip run on flat zone fares set by the Nevada Taxicab Authority, updated September 2026:
Zone 1, the South Strip from Sunset to Tropicana (Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, MGM Grand), is $22.25.
Zone 2, the Center Strip from Tropicana to Flamingo (Aria, Cosmopolitan, Bellagio, Paris, Caesars), is $26.25.
Zone 3, the North Strip from Flamingo to the STRAT (LINQ, Venetian, Wynn, Resorts World, Fontainebleau), is $30.25.
Add a $3 fee if you pay by card, plus tip. Taxi stands are on the east side of Terminal 1 at doors 1 through 4, and at Terminal 3, Level Zero, door 52. The beauty of the flat rate: no meter anxiety in traffic, and no surge pricing.
Usually Competitive: Rideshare
Uber and Lyft typically run $15 to $35 to the Strip, but surge pricing can push that to $30 to $50 or more — and far higher during big events like F1 or CES. Pickup is inside the parking garages: Terminal 1 parking garage Level 2, and the Terminal 3 Valet Level. A $4.50 airport fee is built into the fare.
Always check both apps before you book. Prices between Uber and Lyft can differ by $10 or
more for the same ride, and the cheaper one flips by the hour.
The One to Skip Unless You're Solo: Shared Shuttle
Shared shuttles run $13 to $20 per person, which sounds cheap until you multiply it by your
party — and then wait through everyone else's hotel stops. A multi-stop shuttle can take up to an hour to reach your hotel. For a solo traveler it's fine. For two or more people, a taxi flat rate usually wins on both price and time.
The Verdict
Solo, light luggage: RTC bus. $4 to $8 and you're there.
Couple with bags: Taxi flat rate or rideshare, whichever is cheaper in the moment. Expect $22 to $35.
Family of four: Taxi flat rate. One $22 to $30 fare beats four bus fares on time, and it beats a shuttle on both.
One thing that doesn't exist: There is no train or monorail link to the airport. Anyone selling you a rail option is confused, and the Monorail starts on the Strip, not at LAS.
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