Airport to Downtown?

Thank you everybody for your help.

I love you all.

 

If you miss the wax, you can catch the CX (Centennial Express). It's about 30 min off the Wax schedule. It takes a different route and goes past the Fashion Mall on the strip, but still would end up at 4th and Carson.

You could take that back for $2 from Binions but then would need to walk from the Fashion Mall to Mirage. For that I would suggest Uber or Lyft. I would also suggest looking at both and even checking it a couple times. Last time I was downtown and needed to get back to Flamingo. Mind you this was 5:30 am but I pulled up Uber (I had a $5 off code) and it was going to be something like $8 or $9 with the $5 off. I pulled up Lyft for a Lyft line and it came in at $3.85. Headed towards the pick up spot and then went to book it and it was up to $4.85. Waited a few minutes and it went back to $3.85 and booked it. Ended not having anyone else so got from Plaza downtown to Flamingo for $3.85. (plus tip)

 

It all depends on what time you land, need to pick up luggage, time of day? It may help to give us more details, but I would say that the WAX is #1, Uber/Lyft #2, Shuttle #37, cab #never! Sorry, I am a little edgy tonight! Check the WAX schedule compared to when you land in the promised land.

 

https://www.airportshuttlelasvegas.com/reservations/?id=1

You don't need to actually reserve anything. Just get to the ground-side of the terminal at LAS. Both terminals have 2-3 companies running booths for the shuttle. They're about $10 one-way to the strip, $15-ish to downtown these days. They'll try to sell you a round-trip - don't bother. You can hop on a bus as they're dropping customers off when you're ready to leave or just get a cab/uber back.

These are the booths at Terminal 1/2. Terminal 3 also has booths on zero-level, but I can't seem to get a Google Street View of that.

https://www.google.com/maps/@36.0849564,-115.1495087,3a,75y,46.01h,71.55t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJHZPVPMUUIucLIyQYCGgAg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

 

Do not - repeat - do NOT take any of the "shuttles" if you're going downtown! Not unless you know - for certain - that it is a dedicated "downtown only" shuttle.
Last time I made that mistake (many years ago), it took me over an hour to get downtown. We made 7 stops at various places on the strip, and then, as the last passenger on the shuttle, I was finally taken downtown.
Never again!

 

Hey, we love you too man! I'm headed to Vegas in three weeks for my annual "end of summer break" trip as well. One of the best parts of being a teacher - plenty of time (if not money) to go to Vegas!

 

Truth.

 

WAX. And another tip if you do it - consider paying $5 instead of the normal $2 fare when you board the WAX for a 24 hour pass if you want to go to the strip during that period. The 24 hour pass is good for all buses, including the Deuce and Strip/Downtown Express. Technically that's the case only if you are a "local," but since they have no way of knowing who is a local and who isn't without confronting someone and demanding proof, it's not an issue. We do it regularly and have never gotten a second glance from the drivers or occasional fare checkers on the strip buses.

 

So happy about this post - we're going in about a week and was wondering about getting from the airport to Downtown. We're staying at the Cal for the first time! Wondering how far 4th and Carson is from the Cal?

 

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/California+Hotel+%26+Casino,+East+Ogden+Avenue,+Las+Vegas,+NV/4th+@+Carson+(N),+Las+Vegas,+NV+89101/@36.1680617,-115.1503523,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x80c8c3a10390f5bf:0x980d16a20a5307ff!2m2!1d-115.1445967!2d36.1732338!1m5!1m1!1s0x80c8c39fc52a9f87:0xa70e3bf7439daaf3!2m2!1d-115.142287!2d36.16879!3e3

 

For detailed info on WAX departure times, go to www.rtcsnv.com.

I have been fortunate to have gotten my SWA flights to match up with the WAX schedule nicely. ( By that, I mean catching a WAX that is scheduled to depart maybe 30-40 minutes after my plane lands. ).

I always stay downtown, but I have meetings around 7:30 a.m. at big casino/hotels along the strip. So, I will catch the CX (Centennial Express) next to Binion’s. It will take me almost nonstop to the corner that Treasure Island is on (ok, I know. It’s TI now). Then I will walk to Mirage or wherever the meeting is.

A 3 day bus pass is $20. But wait! I went to the Bonneville Transit Center and got a senior citizen ID. It gives me a 50% discount when I buy my 3 day pass with either cash or credit card at the machine next to Binion’s (or other places).
So, I pay a grand total of $10 for 3 days of airport to downtown, back and forth to the strip for 3 days of meetings. When I head back to the airport from downtown, I do pay $1 cash . So......grand total $11.

I used to spend over $300 in cab fares for all of that back and forth for multiple days.

So, why don’t I take the SDX from downtown to the Strip? Answer: SDX does not start running until 9 a.m.

So, do I take the CX to get from the Strip back to downtown? Answer: No. I hop on the SDX to return. It runs every 15 minutes from 9 a.m. to MN. For example, after I finish a meeting at the Bellagio, I take the skywalk crossing over LV Blvd and catch the next northbound SDX in front of Paris.

I have gotten to where I really enjoy the bus rides . The AC works better than most of the cabs I used to take. I can’t prove it, but I feel safer.

Website: www.rtcsnv.com

 

I Googled 4th and Carson and used the Images to virtually "walk" to the Downtown Grand from the bus stop. It made me feel super comfortable about the distance and walk there since I'll be doing it alone.

 

If you are going to the Cal from 4th and Carson , go through binions rather than to main Street. Short cut that will leave you diagonally across from Cal entrance on ogden. Also with AC , cooler than walking on streets.

 

I agree with this. Also there will be less people in the street to bother you. With the Las Vegas Club demolished, there is a more lonesome walk on the street on that side of Binions to get to Cal.

 

We did exactly this about 2 weeks ago. It is an easy walk. It also may depend on the time of day and day of week. Walk down Fremont towards the Plaza. When you get to Binions, cut through Binions and exit out the back. The Cal will be right there.

 

I was happy with Uber and Lyft. I used to rent but, not sure if I'll keep doing that.

 

Thanks everyone for the responses!! I'm SO EXCITED to get back to Vegas

 

Robin...you could just stay on 4th, walk the block & a half & you're there.

kinkette - Ditto what others have said about cutting through Binion's. You want to go in at the Fremont @ Casino Center entrance, and angle diagonally toward the back...used to be their big poker area... I hear it's all slots now. Exit & the southeast entrance to the Cal is right there.

For those who are curious about the times for the WAX, go here: https://www.rtcsnv.com/wp-content/uploads/routes/wax.pdf
They're actually pretty good about those times, so plan accordingly.
Also - take note: 4th & Carson is the LAST stop. If you stay on the bus, you're next stop is the Westcliff Transit Center. That is a bit of a walk. If you make that mistake, get off of the Northbound WAX & catch the next Southbound WAX...The first stop is at Binion's.

 

Just a side note about the WAX times. The bus drivers may adjust their routes some between the strip and downtown due to the massive road construction going on. We went through this when we took the WAX both ways. They may not be exactly on time so be patient.

 

Both times we went to Vegas, we used Bell Transport shuttle..we arrived in the evening; there were either no other passengers or only a few so we really made good time getting to the Four Queens.