Pick your poison - Memorial Day Weekend or Fourth of July

For different reasons, we have typically avoided Las Vegas during both of these holidays. Memorial Day is just a bit too packed for my taste and, while the Fourth isn't especially busy, it is the middle of the desert in the middle of the summer. :confused2: Enough said.

For scheduling reasons this year, it looks like one of these holiday weekends is going to work best for our next trip so, that gets me thinking, which is better, which is worse?

On the one hand, I love the weather in May but, I really dislike dealing with the crowds plus, travel is generally more expensive. A May trip will be here sooner which is never a bad thing but, we likely can add and extra day or two to the trip if we wait until July. If we do a longer trip (4-5 nights), we will split the stay between downtown and the strip which appeals to me as I am ready for some downtown time.

If you were to choose between the two holiday weekends, what would you choose and why?

 

I've done both, and I'd have to say I prefer Memorial Day weekend. I stay downtown almost exclusively, and I don't notice much more of a crowd than, let's say, superbowl. You also can't beat the weather in Las Vegas during that time. I like to spend a good amount of time on my trips wandering outside, over to east fremont, and on various patios, which makes May a better choice. I'm not big on crowds either, but I do most of my Gambling during the day. By the time night comes around, I don't mind the crowd as much!

On the other hand, if you plan on staying inside the casinos, July may work better. It's a little less congested, but with those 100+ temps, it really drains you, and you have to be more aware of your water intake and avoiding the sun.

I think that the best solution would be to go both weekends(for scientific research, of course.). That way, you'll know in the future what weekend works best for you! Either way, I'm sure you'll have a blast!

 

I HATED how hot Vegas was in July, so a no-brainer for me. I've been there over Memorial Day weekend, and I didn't think it was that bad, crowd wise.

 

I have also gone during both of those times, and I would say if you are not fond of extreme temperatures, you might want to go during Memorial Day weekend. It is really not as terrible as you might think (I found it much busier at the end of April around Easter, when the temperatures are very mild and the Strip was extremely packed). When you decide to go also depends on the activities you intend to participate in - if you want to do things like visit the Neon Boneyard, July would be brutal - it is completely outdoors with no shade. If you intend to do mostly indoor activities, it might be a good option.

I was in Vegas last July around the 4th of July holiday for ten days, and it was during that time a record 114 degree temperature was hit. I still enjoyed it more than the humid East Coast summers, but I had a rental car and had the option of not having to walk the Strip during the hottest part of the day. That day I drove to Boulder City, and all of the locals were complaining about how hot it was. It really WAS hot, but I loved it.

Another deciding factor might be that by July 4th monsoon season in Vegas has begun. Vegas is relatively dry most of the time, but the summer months through September up your chances for encountering one of those torrential thunderstorms that can sideline a day's plans. I was there on July 4th, 2011 and it was extremely stormy - the entire day was literally a washout. I also remember it raining a little during my ten day trip last July.

If you do decide to go in July, you might get better rates because it is so hot and the resorts are trying to get people to visit, but you may want to consider a rental car so that you can drive if the heat is too unbearable or if it is rainy and you don't want to be stuck at your home resort (I said rainy because during the height of those monsoon storms, it is so bad you cannot go anywhere and flash flooding has been known to occur - I would not recommend going anywhere when the rain is coming down that hard).

Another option in July is visiting Mt. Charleston, which is 30 degrees cooler than Las Vegas and only about 40 minutes away by car. You can even go for a hike on one of the trails because it is only about 70-75 comfortable degrees while the Strip is sweltering in triple digit temperatures.

 

I prefer the heat in vegas the eye candy wears less during the hot summers so 4th of July for me but I have been for both and like both of these times for vegas.

 

July is just too damn hot in Vegas. I do one summer date and now either do the kickoff on Memorial Day or end of season on Labor Day.

I did July two years ago at the Wynn and those brown glass buildings worked like a magnifing glass on ant if you were poolside. Mornings at Society Cafe were good if you got there before 9pm when the temp rose above 90.

 

Put me down in the Memorial Day group... July is just an ungodly month in Las Vegas...

 

100% I'd choose Memorial Day. I really enjoy walking the strip casino hopping. I've done this in July/August and it just becomes unbearable at 100+F. You are only talking about a month difference but I'd just go for the slightly cooler weather.

However, I don't really care about crowds. Vegas is big enough that I honestly don't see them as an issue.

 

We are on the same page. Though Vegas is super hot. The hottest girls in America tend to flock to Vegas in June/July.

 

I've been both for the ufc fights. much prefer July 4 for being much less busy. The heat isn't that bad.

 

I've done both MANY times.
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It doesn't make any difference to me.
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I guess, if I had to choose one ?
I'd take July 4th.
I love the hot weather for the pool time.
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BTW,
I hate the THERMALS in summer --
for those bumpy Take Offs + Landings at McCarran !!!
Some can be rough.