Las Vegas Airport Transportation 2026: Harry Reid to the Strip

Harry Reid International Airport (LAS, formerly McCarran) is unusually close to the Las Vegas Strip, so getting to your hotel is quick whichever way you choose. The choice is mostly about price, group size and luggage. This guide covers every option with the official pickup points and, where they are published, official fares. Everything was checked on the airport's and the Nevada Taxicab Authority's websites in September 2026.

Your Options at a Glance

Know which terminal you arrive at before you land: pickup points differ between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. Free shuttles run between the terminals every 20 to 30 minutes, a ride of about 10 minutes.

Taxis and Official Zone Fares

Where to find one

• Terminal 1: right outside baggage claim on the east side, near outside doors 1 to 4.
• Terminal 3: outside on Level Zero, near door 52.

What it costs

Trips from the airport to the Strip are charged at flat zone rates set by the Nevada Taxicab Authority, so traffic and route don't change the fare. The Authority lists:

On top of the zone fare, the Authority lists a fuel surcharge ($1.00 per zone ride at the current tier), a $3.00 fee for paying by credit or debit card, and a 3% excise tax on all rates and fees. Tip is extra; 15 to 20% is customary. As a rough guide, a Zone 2 ride (the center Strip, such as Bellagio or Caesars Palace) paid by card comes to about $31 with the fuel surcharge, card fee and tax, before the tip.

Trips outside the Strip zones, including downtown and off-Strip hotels, run on the meter. The Authority lists a $5.50 flag drop, which works out to $8.21 for the first mile and $2.96 for each additional mile, $32.40 per hour of waiting time, and a $2.40 airport pick-up fee. It also approves special surcharges for big events such as EDC, F1 and New Year's Eve, so fares are higher on those dates.

Tips

• Know your hotel's zone so you can spot a wrong fare. On a zone trip the meter should not be what sets the price.
• Long-hauling, taking a longer route to raise a metered fare, is a known problem. Note the cab number and contact the Taxicab Authority, (702) 668-4000, if you think you were overcharged.
• Because the fare is per cab, not per person, a taxi is often the cheapest option per head for a family or small group.

Uber and Lyft

App-based rides pick up in the parking garages, not at the curb:

• Terminal 1: Level 2 of the parking garage.
• Terminal 3: the Valet Level of the parking garage.

Follow the signs from baggage claim; the walk takes a few minutes, so request the ride when you have your bags. Rideshare fares change with demand, so there is no fixed price. Before you choose:

• Compare both apps and the taxi fare. With no surge, a solo rider often pays less than a cab. At busy times (big conventions, fight nights, holidays), the taxi's flat zone fare can be cheaper.
• Groups: for three or four people with bags, an XL ride and a taxi are close; the taxi has no surge.
• Leaving Vegas: rideshares drop off at the departures curb like any car, which is the easy direction.

Shuttles and Limousines

Shared shuttles

Group shuttles make several stops at Strip hotels and other destinations. They are usually the cheapest door-to-door option for one person, but the stops can add a lot of time, especially if your hotel comes last. The airport lists three operators:

• AWG Ambassador: awgambassador.com, 1-702-740-3434
• BellTrans Charter: airportshuttlelasvegas.com, 1-702-739-7990
• Kaptyn: kaptyn.com, 1-800-990-0417

At Terminal 1, shuttles are on the west side of baggage claim at doors 7 to 13. At Terminal 3, they are on Level Zero: the west end for domestic arrivals and the east side for international. Fares and booking are set by each company; check their websites.

Limousines and private SUVs

Walk-up limo, SUV and private shuttle service needs no reservation. At Terminal 1 it is on the west side of baggage claim outside doors 7 to 10; at Terminal 3, on Level Zero at each end of the building. If you have pre-booked, the driver meets you in baggage claim. The airport lists AWG Ambassador, Bell Limousine and Kaptyn; ask for the total price, including gratuity and any fees, before you set off. For a group of six or more with luggage, a private SUV or van can cost less per person than two taxis.

Vegas Loop and Robotaxis

Two newer options appear on the airport's website:

• Vegas Loop: The Boring Company's tunnel service lists rides to and from the airport. At LAS, Loop drop-offs are at the departures curbs of Terminals 1 and 3, and pickups are on Level Zero of both terminals. Check the Vegas Loop site for stations, fares and hours.
• Zoox: the airport says Zoox offers autonomous rides between the airport and select Strip destinations. Availability and booking are through Zoox.

Public Bus (RTC)

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) runs two routes from the airport:

• Route 108 (Paradise)
• Red Line (formerly Route 109, Maryland Parkway)

The stop is at Terminal 1, Level Zero: from baggage claim, go down a level, exit the building, cross the pedestrian walkway and bear right to the covered RTC stop. From Terminal 3, take the inter-terminal shuttle to Terminal 1 first.

Neither route runs along Las Vegas Boulevard, so for most Strip hotels you would change to a Strip bus such as the Deuce. The bus is by far the cheapest way into town but also the slowest, and it is awkward with big suitcases. It suits light packers heading to an address on either route. Check the RTC website for current fares, schedules and the older Centennial Express (CX) route, which some guides still mention but the airport no longer lists.

Rental Cars

Rental companies are not at the terminals. They share the Rent-A-Car Center at 7135 Gilespie Street, about three miles south of the airport, reached by free shuttle buses (all ADA equipped):

• Terminal 1: follow Ground Transportation signs to Level 1, then the Rental Car Shuttle stop outside doors 10 and 11.
• Terminal 3: follow signs from baggage claim to Level Zero; shuttle stops are at both ends of the terminal.

The airport lists ten companies at the center: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt and Thrifty. Off-site agencies pick up in the center's south lane.

Do you need one?

If you are staying on the Strip and plan to stay there, probably not: most Strip resorts charge for parking, and taxis, rideshares, the monorail and walking cover the Strip. A car pays off if you plan day trips to Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire or Hoover Dam, or you are staying off-Strip. Remember that the advertised daily rate is not the full cost: taxes, airport fees, insurance and hotel parking are added. Our Las Vegas parking guide covers what resorts charge.

One alternative is to use a taxi or rideshare from the airport and rent a car only for the day of your trip out of town. To compare rates, see car rentals in Las Vegas.

Which Option Should You Choose?

Practical Tips

• Terminal first. Every pickup point depends on it. Check your airline's terminal before you fly.
• Children's car seats. Nevada requires child restraints for young children. Taxis and rideshares generally don't supply seats, so bring your own or reserve one with a rental car or private car service.
• Accessibility. The rental car shuttles are ADA equipped, and RTC runs Paratransit by reservation (702-228-4800). Ask a shuttle or limo company about accessible vehicles when you book.
• Going back to the airport. Allow for check-in and security as well as the drive, and more on holiday weekends and big event days.
• Ignore touts. Use the marked taxi, rideshare and shuttle areas. Unofficial drivers offering rides inside the terminal are not licensed for airport pickups.

Once you arrive, our Las Vegas transportation guide covers getting around the Strip and beyond, and our first-timer's guide helps with the rest of your trip.