Tools for the Future
Getting to the Conference
Travel by Taxicab
Taxis are a popular form of transportation for visitors to Las Vegas. Sixteen different taxicab companies serve the Las Vegas valley, however, fares for all companies have been standardized by the Nevada Taxicab Authority:
First 1/8th mile: $3.20
Each additional 1/8th mile: $0.25
Waiting time per hour (when cab
is moving less than 8-12 MPH): $22.00
McCarran Airport pickup fee: $1.20
Source: Nevada Taxicab Authority
Taxicabs in Las Vegas do not accept Credit Cards as a form of payment. Fares are the same for 1 to 5 passengers.
Hailing a Cab at the Airport
At McCarran Airport, taxicabs are available outside on the east side of baggage claim. Airport personnel are available on the taxi curb to assist individuals.
Approximate cost of a taxi ride from McCarran Airport to:
South Strip: $8.50 - $12.00
Center Strip: $10.00 - $14.00
North Strip: $11.00 - $15.00
Downtown: $15.00 - $19.00
Boulder Strip: $13.00 - $17.00
Source: A2Z Las Vegas
Note: The above estimates are provided as a courtesy and are not guarantees of actual fares. Traffic conditions during your stay could result in higher fares than those quoted above.
Around the City
Typically, taxicabs are readily available at the front entrance of any hotel/casino on the Las Vegas Strip and at most intersections in or around the Fremont Street Experience.
If you find yourself in another part of the city and can't find a taxi to flag down, you can call any of the 16 cab companies serving the Las Vegas valley. Here's the contact info for each:
A-Cab Co.
702-369-5686 Ace Cab Co.
702-736-8383
A-North Las Vegas Cab
702-643-1041 Checker Cab Co.
702-873-2227
Deluxe Cab Co.
702-568-7700 Desert Cab Co.
702-386-9102
Henderson Taxi
702-384-2322 Lucky Cab Company
702-732-4400
Nellis Cab Co.
702-252-0201 Star Cab Co.
702-873-8012
Union Cab Co.
702-736-8444 Vegas Western Cab Co.
702-736-6121
Virgin Valley Cab Co.
702-737-1378 Western Cab Company
702-736-8000
Whittlesea Blue Cab Co.
702-384-6111 Yellow Cab Co.
702-873-2000
Travel by Bus
Citizens Area Transit (CAT) bus service has 49 routes throughout the Las Vegas Valley. The cost for a one-way fare on the Strip is $2 (Route 301). Strip routes run 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Off-Strip fares are $1.25 one-way.
Downtown Transit Center
300 N. Casino Center Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89101
Telephone: (702) 228-7433 or CAT-RIDE
For more information...
CAT maintains a complete guide to bus routes, including times and the locations of stops throughout the Valley, on its website.
While you're there, you can also check out a complete map of the entire CAT route system.
There's also plenty more about fares, including transfer information and suggested routes for schools, government offices, libraries, hospitals, community resources, activities, museums, shopping malls, and cultural/community centers, on CAT's Fare and Transfer Info page.
If you'd like to arrive in town prepared to hop on the first available bus, CAT even provides its customers with the option of pre-purchasing tokens and passes directly from its website. To get your passes now, go to CAT's Buy Passes and Tokens page.
This is just a small sample of the information available on the CAT website. To learn more, visit CATRIDE.com.
Rental Cars
The advantages of driving yourself...
Due to the vast sprawl of the city, many visitors to Las Vegas opt to rent a car during their stay. The properties on the Strip are much farther apart than they look, and getting back and forth between downtown and the Strip can get costly if you do it more than once or twice.
An added bonus of driving yourself is parking. Most casinos on the Strip provide valet free parking for visitors (regardless of whether or not you're staying in that particular hotel). And if you don't want to fork over $1 or $2 to tip the valet, you can always opt for the self-parking garages located at just about every Strip casino.
Downtown parking is another story, as most parking areas located near the Fremont Street Experience are pay lots. If you're willing to do a little searching while you're there, however, most of these lots will accept validation from a few specific casinos. Validation machines are usually located near the cashier's cage on the casino floor.
Of course there are drawbacks...
If you rent a car, you'll have the pleasure of dealing with Las Vegas's ongoing traffic woes. With the population explosion that has occurred in the last 15 years, local governments have built plenty of new roads to handle the added vehicles, but the problems remain far from solved. And with so much new development, road construction is a way of life here, even on brand new highways.
As a general rule, avoid driving on the Strip. On the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard, Koval Lane is often a better alternative for driving between casinos. On the west side, Frank Sinatra Drive and Industrial Road can provide similar relief. During rush hour, however, these streets often become just as congested as the Strip, so avoid traveling during peak hours unless absolutely necessary.
Where to rent...
Just about every major car rental company does business in Las Vegas. As a result, you can do quite a bit of comparison shopping when choosing a vehicle.
If you're arriving by air, the easiest way to pick up your car is to visit your rental company's customer counter at McCarran International Airport. Counters are located around the outside of the baggage claim area. In addition, some off-airport rental services may be accessed by a bank of free telephones, also located in the baggage claim area. All cars are located outside of the terminal area, and every rental agency provides their own airport courtesy shuttle to transport customers to and from their lots.
The following rental car companies have on-site locations at McCarran International Airport:
Avis (702) 261-5591
Dollar(702) 739-9507
Sav-mor (702) 736-1234
Budget (702) 736-1212
Hertz (702) 736-4900
Thrifty (702) 896-7600
Enterprise (702) 261-4435
Alamo / National (702) 261-5391
US Rent-A-Car (702) 777-9377
Payless (702) 736-6147
