Late arrival into Vegas and need to get Downtown

We will be arriving into Vegas via Allegiant on a Thursday night about 10pm. We are staying at MSS and I would like some advice on getting downtown that late at night. I know the WAX from McCarren would be the way to go but because of our late arrival, I am concerned about timing for catching the bus and also late night passengers we may be sharing the ride with. I know the other alternative would be one of the shuttles (bell or showtime) and for me the taxi is out of the question(way to expensive). I looked online at the bus schedule for the WAX and noticed that if we miss the 10:18 bus, we would have to wait quite a while for the next bus at 11:18. That makes a long day even longer for us.
Dewey, I know you are the board’s resident expert on bus routes. Have I missed an alternative route for the bus? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

If you miss the 10:18 WAX, you can catch the CX at 10:40(ish). The CX drops off downtown at the same place as the WAX (4th @ Carson, right across the street from The D). The only catch is that the CX ONLY picks up at Terminal 3, not Terminal 1. Price is the same at $2 one way.

 

I like the CX plan, but I don't know much about it. There is supposed to be a free shuttle between the terminals and it is not supposed to take long to get there.
Another way is to take the 108 to the BTC and then transfer at the BTC to any of the buses that go downtown. Some folks might walk from there to downtown, but at night with luggage I think you are a target for trouble. I won't.
The 108 might be a way to shorten a cab ride and fare. A cab from the BTC should not be much. I'm a bit unsure how you call one from there, but someone would know on the board, or if you call the BTC or a cab company before leaving, they could tell you how to do it.
One advantage to this plan is that you wait at the same stop as the WAX. So if you get lucky and catch the WAX, you are okay, and otherwise you wait a bit for the 108, but not long, at most a half hour. Late night moving from bus to bus at the BTC is safe as it is well lighted and there will be people around even at that hour; This is not true of late night moves where an isolated bus stop is involved.
You can also use the 109 to get to the BTC.


Now, to be honest I find waiting for the WAX usually means the shortest trip to the destination. That is because the WAX is so fast it beats all the other bus routes, beats the shuttles and beats the cabs. So you wait until 11:18, but in 30 minutes on the bus you are at Binions. I'd always rather wait on the bench for the bus (or maybe in the airport AC for a while and then on the bench) rather than wait while 108 or 109 stops at every stop.

 

Last September we arrived after the last wax and took the 108 (no rental car this trip). Never again. Way to many stops. Take shuttle would be my advice. 3 guys in their 40's did walk the couple of blocks to Fremont from the stop. I'd probably do it alone, we weren't the only ones making the hike.

 

Don't know if this works anymore, but I've approached the shuttle folks a few times & asked if they had any shuttle buses going direct to downtown & skipping the strip. One time they said "yeah - but it's stopping at Rio first. Got right on...left about 3 minutes later & got downtown in short order...$9+tip.
I've never tried the WAX, but I'm planning to do so on my upcoming trip. That will be a Terminal 3 arrival, so I'll report back how that goes for me.

 

I've done the 108 to downtown and have to agree with Dewey. It's better to wait and catch the WAX. Plus, the new location of the downtown transportation center isn't as convenient as before with the 108 and 109.
I don't mind using the 108 late at night to the LVH or something close to the Strip, but it's become to much of chore to get downtown that late.
Also, don't be surprised if your Allegiant flight is late anyway and there won't be much down time waiting for the 11:18 bus.

 

Jimbo, thanks for the tip about CX. I never saw that option.
Dewey, I never thought about a shuttle being available between terminal 1 and 3. I’ll have to check that out.
Topcard, I know that one of the shuttle companies does go straight downtown, I just can’t remember which one. One of our more recent trips we took that shuttle and it was very convenient even for the price.
Mjamesp, I’ve never taken the 108, but I don’t think I would like all of those stops especially that late at night.
So I am still not sure which one of these options we will do. If I remember to do so, I will try and follow up and let you all know what we did and how it turned out for us. Until then, keep those suggestions coming!

 

The difference in time between the 108 from the airport to the BTC and the WAX to the BTC isn't that different...maybe 5-10 minutes. While the WAX may seem quick because you aren't stopping as much, you are going out of direction, but the 108 runs a straight line from the airport to downtown. While it has more stops because it's a local bus, it just seems longer, but if you were to take the WAX, the timing would be very similar because of the out of direction routing it takes to get to downtown via the freeway.

 

Yes, I understand the WAX and 108 or 109 are about the same to the BTC, but that is rarely our destination. The WAX puts us tourists right where we want to be downtown. The 108 and 109 require dragging off the luggage and then a walk through a sketchy area, or require us to board another bus that probably adds time waiting until that second bus leaves the BTC for a stop more central to the casinos downtown. Also the WAX more easily accomodates luggage. You get on, get a seat, and probably never have to move or adjust luggage along the journey. Every time the other buses stop people enter, others leave and sometimes our luggage is in the way of their ability to navigate the aisle.
Also, if you are at all put off by odd characters, the odds of finding them on the WAX is much less than on the 108 or 109; WAX riders are mostly tourists going from the airport to downtown.
I still think the WAX is worth the wait, especially when I am tired from a long plane ride.

 

We may be doing a similar trip. If you take the WAX it drops you off at 4th street. What's the best route to walk to MSS after dark? I'm guessing Fremont St would a hassle for hauling luggage. What's Ogden like between 4th and Casino Center?

 

Ogden is my preferred route when going to The Cal from 4th @ Carson. Now that Pizza Rock, Downtown Grand, etc, are open it's a safe walk on Ogden to get to Main Street.

 

If the FSE overhead show isn't going on, I don't think a walk with luggage would be too bad on Fremont. If it is going on then Ogden or Steward. I have no problem walking either of those streets at night, but the trouble is with hauling luggage, you are announcing you are a tourist. I have never had a problem on either of those streets, but face it, there is a lot more security on Fremont.

 

I don't much like Ogden after dark.
I also think with luggage you are a target if there are any bad folks about and you are burdened even to get away from crazies with the extra baggage.
I have not done it at night, but I would always go down Freemont Experience in spite of the crowds because I think it is safer.
That being said, you can at least go by the back entrance of the D from where the bus drops you off and walk through to the next street before going to the Experience. However, I generally start with a trip to Walgreen's for room snacks that I can put in my luggage and roll on to my hotel.

And for others doing the same thing in the daytime, there is much less sun under that canopy and places to duck in AC for a break during the walk. I've done the walk from MSS to El Cortez in August and found the back streets, even in the daytime, pretty uncomfortable. That heat does a job on you when you are carrying and rolling luggage.

 

I'm thinkin' maybe I'll get on 'Slotzilla' with my bag at the east end, and ride all the way down to the Plaza...
:evillaugh

 

I've walked several times from MSS to DTG very late at night on Stewart. I felt safe and don't remember any sketchy situations. But in general, if I see odd people I just cross the road, I do not worry about making it obvious that am avoiding them. I also do not respond to strangers. I know it sounds paranoid but I just want to get to my destination. I think you're okay going to MSS at that hour from the WAX.

 

Doesn't sound paranoid at all. The best way to avoid those folks is to not even acknowledge them. No eye contact and keep moving.