Travel to Las Vegas

Flying to Las Vegas

Airlines offering direct flights to Las Vegas from the UK include British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. Las Vegas is a year-round destination but if you hunt hard (and early), you can find cheaper flights. New Year is particularly expensive, whereas the exceptionally hot summers are often the best time of year to find cheap flights. Multiple airlines fly to Las Vegas from other cities within the USA.

Flight times

From London - 10 hours 20 minutes; New York - 5 hours 30 minutes; Los Angeles - 1 hour 15 minutes; Toronto - 4 hours 40 minutes; Sydney - 16 hours 30 minutes (including stopover).

Travel by road

Driving in Las Vegas is the easiest way to get around. Speed limits are 121kph-129kph (75-80 mph) on freeways, 105kph (65mph) on primary highways or multi-lane roads, and 48kph (30mph) in built-up areas. Traffic drives on the right. The minimum driving age in Nevada is 16 years (full licence) and proof of insurance is compulsory.

Drivers from outside the USA must possess a valid licence from their home country. An International Driving Permit is useful if your licence isn't in English.

The AAA (tel: +1 800 922 8228; www.csaa.com) provides emergency roadside assistance and a variety of automobile-related services.

Emergency breakdown services

AAA (tel: +1 800 222 4357).

Routes

Las Vegas is bisected by Freeway 15, connecting to Mesquite and Salt Lake City in the north and California (Los Angeles and San Francisco via Interstate 5) in the south. Freeway 515 connects to Fort Mojave Indian reservation in the south. Freeway 215 encircles most of the city, and is a convenient way to bypass rush hour congestion.

Coaches

Greyhound (tel: +1 800 231 2222; www.greyhound.com) operates intercity services out of Las Vegas, linking to major western destinations, including Salt Lake City,

Megabus (tel: +1 877 462 6342; www.megabus.com) runs buses from Las Vegas to Anaheim, Los Angeles and Riverside, California. Buses depart from the RTC South Strip Transfer Terminal, 6675 Gilespie Street.

Time to city

From Los Angeles - 4 to 5 hours; Salt Lake City - 6 to 7 hours; San Francisco - 8 to 9 hours.

Travel by Rail

Services

There is no Amtrak rail service to Las Vegas. The closest railway stations are Needles (CA) and Kingman (AZ).

Operators

Amtrak’s Southwest Chief runs daily between Chicago and Los Angeles, stopping at Kingman and Needles. Contact Amtrak (tel: +1 800 872 7245; www.amtrak.com) for timetables and tickets. When checking Amtrak’s website, don’t be confused with Las Vegas, New Mexico, which is a stop on the Southwest Chief route.

Journey times

To Kingman (AZ): from Chicago - 35 hours; Albuquerque - 8 hours; Los Angeles - 7 hours.

Transfer

Greyhound (tel: +1 800 231 2222; www.greyhound.com) runs coaches between Kingman and Las Vegas (journey time - 3 hours).