Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is one of the few airports where a layover can be fun. The south end of the Strip is about 2 miles from the terminals, there are seven lounges behind security, and slot machines run right up to the gates. What you do with the time comes down to how long you have.
Quick Answer: How to Spend a Layover at Las Vegas Airport (LAS)
- Under 2 hours: Stay airside. Eat, use a lounge if you have access, or play a few slots if you're 21 or older.
- 2 to 4 hours: A lounge is the better bet. A Strip run is possible, but the security line on the way back decides whether it works.
- 4 hours or more: Go. A taxi gets you to Mandalay Bay in about 10 minutes and to the Bellagio in 15 to 20.
- Lounges: Seven airside, five of them in the D gates, which you reach by tram from either terminal.
- Bags: There is no luggage storage inside the airport, so sort your bags out before you leave.
Can You Leave Las Vegas Airport During a Layover?
Yes. Mandalay Bay, at the south end of the Strip, is about 2 miles from the airport, and the Bellagio is 3.5 to 4 miles out. A taxi or Uber takes 10 to 20 minutes depending on traffic.
Give yourself at least 4 hours between flights before you leave. Under 2 hours, stay in the terminal. Between 2 and 4 hours, check the live security wait times before you decide.
How Much Time Do You Need to Leave LAS Airport?
Add it up: 10 to 20 minutes each way in the car, time to eat or walk around, the security line on the way back, and the walk or tram ride to your gate. On weekend evenings the ride can stretch to 25 minutes each way.
Through December 2026 the airport is repaving the airport connector tunnels, with lane closures in both directions, so build in extra time for the drive back. LAS has five TSA checkpoints, three in Terminal 1 and two in Terminal 3, and the airport posts live wait times for each one. The checkpoint for the C and D gates is open 24 hours.
Getting from Las Vegas Airport to the Strip
Your travel time depends on which part of the Strip you're headed to. Mandalay Bay is about 10 minutes by taxi. The Bellagio or Caesars is closer to 15 to 20.
| Option | Time to the Strip | Cost | Good for a layover? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi | 10 to 20 min | Flat zone fare, $22.25 to $30.25 plus extras | Yes, and no garage walk |
| Uber or Lyft | 10 to 20 min | Varies with demand | Yes |
| RTC bus (Route 108 or Red Line) | Much longer | See rtcsnv.com | No, neither route runs along the Strip |
Airport taxis charge a flat fare by zone, set by the Nevada Taxicab Authority: $22.25 to hotels between Sunset Road and Tropicana Avenue, $26.25 up to Flamingo Road, and $30.25 up to the Stratosphere. A fuel surcharge, a $3 card fee and 3% tax go on top.
Things to Do Inside Las Vegas Airport During a Layover
The terminal is more interesting than most. A few things worth knowing:
Slot machines run throughout both terminals, including the gate areas, and you have to be 21 to play. LAS is one of the few airports in the world that has them. Smokers can use the enclosed gaming lounges at the B, C, D and E gates.
Food and drink: both terminals have sit-down restaurants, bars and grab-and-go counters. The airport's dining directory shows what is near your gate.
Massage and stretching: XpresSpa has locations near Gates B15, C24, D32 and E3, and Chiroport is near Gates B17 and C24.
Wi-Fi is free across the airport. There is also a kids' play area on the tram level between the D gates and Terminal 3.
Airport Lounges at Harry Reid International
LAS has seven lounges behind security, and five of them are in the D gates. Here's where each one is and who gets in:
| Lounge | Where | Who gets in |
|---|---|---|
| The Centurion Lounge | D gates, opposite Gate D1 | Amex Platinum and Centurion cardholders; Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholders flying Delta |
| Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge | D gates, a short walk from the Centurion Lounge | Amex Platinum cardholders, and Delta SkyMiles Reserve cardholders flying Delta, within 90 minutes of departure |
| Capital One Lounge | D gates | Eligible Capital One cardholders |
| United Club | D gates | United Club members and eligible United passengers |
| The Club LAS | D gates, second level near Gate D33 | Priority Pass members, or buy a day pass at the desk |
| The Club LAS | Terminal 3, across from Gate E2 | Priority Pass members, or buy a day pass at the desk |
| Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club | C gates, Terminal 1 | Select Chase Sapphire cardholders |
| USO lounges | Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, before security | Active, Guard, reserve and retired military and their families |
The Centurion Lounge is open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. and is the most complete option if you have access, with a shower suite, cocktails and a chef-designed menu. The Chase Sapphire Lounge opened in December 2025 in the C gates and is open 4:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., with a champagne parlor, quiet zones and work by local artists.
The two Club LAS lounges take Priority Pass regardless of airline and sell day passes at the front desk. The USO lounges are before security, so use them before you screen.
What to Do on the Las Vegas Strip During a Layover
If you have 4 or more hours, a quick Strip run is realistic. A few things that work well in a short window:
Grab a meal at a casino restaurant. You don't need a reservation at a lunch counter or casual restaurant inside MGM Grand, Aria, or Bellagio. Give yourself an hour and you'll eat well without rushing.
Walk through a hotel. The Bellagio conservatory changes with the seasons and takes 15 minutes. The casino floors at Caesars, Aria, or the Venetian are worth a walk-through just for the scale.
Have a drink at a casino bar. Free if you're playing, reasonably priced either way, and the bartenders at the better casino bars are good at their jobs.
Watch the Bellagio Fountains. The show is free and runs two to four times an hour, depending on the time of day. The Bellagio website has the full fountain schedule if you want to time your visit.
Skip clubs, pool parties and anything that needs a reservation made days out.
Luggage Storage at Las Vegas Airport
Harry Reid has no luggage storage or lockers inside the airport. If you have a long layover and want to leave bags while you go to the Strip, book an off-site service ahead of time. Bounce lists partner shops near the Strip that hold bags by the day.
Las Vegas Airport Terminal Layout: What to Know
Harry Reid has two terminals and a separate D-gates concourse between them:
Terminal 1 has the A, B and C gates. Southwest, Delta, American, Allegiant and Sun Country check in here.
Terminal 3 has the E gates. United, Alaska, Frontier, JetBlue, Hawaiian, Breeze and most international airlines check in here.
The D gates connect to both terminals by tram. Five of the seven lounges are here, so it's worth the ride even if your flight leaves from another concourse. The official Harry Reid Airport site has terminal maps if you want to check your gate before you land.
Tips for Making the Most of a Layover at LAS
Stay airside to reach a lounge in another concourse. After security, trams link the A through E gates, so you can ride to the D gates from Terminal 1 or Terminal 3 without screening again. If you leave the secure area, you go back through security.
Know where the cars are. At Terminal 1, Uber and Lyft pick up on Level 2 of the parking garage, and taxis wait outside baggage claim near doors 1 to 4. At Terminal 3, ride-share pickup is on the Valet Level of the garage, and taxis are on Level Zero near door 52.
Centurion guests cost $50 per adult. Children aged 2 to 17 are $30. Platinum cardholders bring two guests in free only after spending $75,000 on the card in a calendar year. An Additional Platinum Card for a partner costs $195 a year, so it beats the guest fee once you share four or more visits.
Sidecar is for the last hour and a half. Sidecar by The Centurion Lounge opened in March 2026 and runs 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. It only lets you in within 90 minutes of your departure, so save it for a drink and a small plate right before boarding.
Taxis can beat ride-share at peak times. Taxis load right outside baggage claim, so you skip the walk to the garage. On busy weekend evenings, when ride-share prices climb, the flat zone fare can work out cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
Can You Leave Las Vegas Airport During a Layover?＋
Yes. Mandalay Bay, at the south end of the Strip, is about 2 miles from the airport, and a taxi or Uber gets you there in 10 to 20 minutes. Give yourself at least 4 hours between flights before you leave, and stay in the terminal if you have less than 2.
How Much Time Do You Need to Leave LAS Airport?＋
Plan on at least 4 hours. Count 10 to 20 minutes each way in the car, time on the Strip, and the security line on the way back, which you can check live on the airport's website. Road repairs in the airport tunnels run through December 2026, so allow extra time for the drive.
What terminal is the Centurion Lounge at Las Vegas?＋
It's in the D gates (Concourse D), opposite Gate D1. You reach it by tram from Terminal 1 or Terminal 3 after security, and it's open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Does Las Vegas have a Chase Sapphire lounge?＋
Yes. The Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club opened in December 2025 in the C gates of Terminal 1. It's open 4:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., and select Chase Sapphire cardholders get in at no charge.
Is there Wi-Fi available at Las Vegas Airport?＋
Yes. Wi-Fi is free throughout the airport, and the lounges have their own networks for guests.
