Las Vegas Airport to the Strip: Rideshare, Taxi, Shuttle and Bus

Harry Reid International Airport is one of the closest big airports to a city's main attraction anywhere in the US. The south end of the Strip is only a mile or two away, and most resorts are a 10 to 20 minute drive. The hard part is not the distance but the choice: rideshare, taxi, shuttle, bus or rental car, each picked up in a different place at each terminal.

This guide takes you from the gate to your hotel lobby, with where to go at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, current fares, and which option fits your trip. For the rest of your stay, see our getting around Las Vegas guide, and use our Las Vegas Strip map with every hotel in order to see where your hotel sits.

Which terminal are you in?

Check your boarding pass before you look for a ride, because pickup points differ.

• Terminal 1: mostly domestic flights, including Southwest (B and C gates), Allegiant (A gates), Delta and American (D gates).

• Terminal 3: all international arrivals (E gates), plus United, JetBlue, Frontier and others.

The two terminals are not connected inside security. If you land at a D gate, you arrive in Terminal 1 by tram; follow the signs to baggage claim.

Option 1: Rideshare (Uber and Lyft)

Rideshare is the most popular way into town. Pickups are inside the parking garages, not at the curb, so follow the "Ride Share" signs.

Terminal 1 rideshare pickup

Take the elevator near Door 2 up to Level 2 of the Terminal 1 parking garage, cross the pedestrian bridge, and the pickup area is on your right.

Terminal 3 rideshare pickup

Take the elevator near Door 52, 54 or 56 to Level 1, cross the bridge into the Terminal 3 garage, then go down to the Valet Level.

The app quote includes an airport fee of a few dollars. Prices rise at busy times, such as Friday evenings, after big concerts and during conventions. If the quote looks high, compare it with a taxi's flat zone fare.

Option 2: Taxi with a flat zone fare

Taxis from the airport to the Strip charge a flat fare by zone, set by the Nevada Taxicab Authority. Long-hauling (taking a longer route to raise the fare) no longer pays for the driver, which takes most of the risk out of a cab.

• Terminal 1 taxi line: outside Doors 1 to 4, on the east side of baggage claim.

• Terminal 3 taxi line: Level Zero, at the west end, outside Door 52.

On top of the zone fare, expect a $2.40 airport pickup fee, a $3 fee if you pay by card, a 3% excise tax and a tip. For two or more people going to the middle or north Strip, a taxi is often cheaper than rideshare at busy times.

Option 3: Shared shuttle

Shared shuttle vans run from both terminals to the Strip hotels. Expect roughly $10 to $18 per person one way, cheaper as a round trip. They stop at several hotels, so allow extra time.

• Terminal 1: shuttle counters outside Doors 7 to 13.

• Terminal 3: Level Zero, east and west ends.

Shuttles make most sense for one or two people on a budget who aren't in a hurry. For a group, a taxi usually costs about the same and is quicker. No Strip resort runs its own free airport shuttle.

Option 4: The RTC bus (cheapest)

The RTC public bus is by far the cheapest way, but it takes longer and usually needs a transfer to reach the Strip. Its routes changed on August 23, 2026, so older advice online is out of date.

• What changed: the Centennial Express (CX) no longer serves the airport. The new RED LINE bus rapid transit route now links the airport with the South Strip Transit Terminal, UNLV and the Bonneville Transit Center Downtown. Route 108 also serves the airport.

• Where to catch it: Terminal 1, Level Zero. From baggage claim, go down to Level Zero and cross to the covered stop.

• Fares: an all-access pass that includes the Strip routes costs $6 for 2 hours or $8 for 24 hours. Buy it in the rideRTC app, with cash on board, or at ticket machines.

• Getting to the Strip: transfer to the Deuce double-decker bus, which runs along the Strip 24 hours a day.

Check the RTC's August 2026 service change page for current routes before you travel. The RTC has also proposed fare changes from January 2027.

Option 5: Rental car

All the rental companies are at the Rental Car Center, about 3 miles south of the terminals at 7135 Gilespie St. Free blue-and-white shuttles run 24/7 from both terminals, about every 5 minutes. Follow the "Rental Car Shuttle" signs from baggage claim.

A car only pays off if you plan day trips, such as Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam or Valley of Fire. On the Strip itself, parking fees add up, so check your hotel's rates before you book.

What about the Monorail and the Vegas Loop?

The Las Vegas Monorail does not go to the airport. Its southern end is MGM Grand. Our Las Vegas Monorail guide explains where it does go.

The Boring Company's Vegas Loop began limited airport rides in early 2026, but only for departing passengers (from Resorts World or Westgate to the terminal curbs), not for arrivals. Its plans for a station inside the airport are not final, so don't count on it for getting into town.

See the airport on the map

Open the interactive 3D map on Harry Reid International Airport, then pan north to your hotel to see the trip at a glance. You can tap Terminal 1, Terminal 3 and the Rental Car Center for their cards.