Las Vegas Strip

The Las Vegas Strip — Las Vegas Boulevard South between Sahara Avenue and Russell Road in Nevada — stretches 4.2 miles and concentrates more entertainment, dining, and spectacle per square foot than almost anywhere on Earth. Walking it end to end takes between 90 minutes and three hours depending on detours, yet most visitors find themselves spending a full day or more simply wandering its length. At the northern end, the Stratosphere Tower marks the skyline; moving south, the facades of Circus Circus, the Venetian's Grand Canal Shoppes, the Mirage with its erupting volcano (now closed for renovations), Bellagio, and Paris Las Vegas with its half-scale Eiffel Tower create a continuous urban spectacle unique to southern Nevada. The sidewalks on both sides are wide and lined with souvenir vendors, street performers, and the occasional Elvis impersonator. Free people-movers and trams connect some resorts — the Aria Express tram links Bellagio, Park MGM, and Aria — reducing the walking burden for those covering the central section. After dark is when the Strip transforms most dramatically: the billion-dollar LED displays of the Cosmopolitan, the Bellagio fountain shows choreographed to music every 15–30 minutes, and the towering signage of MGM Grand all compete for attention. The fountain shows are visible from the sidewalk on Las Vegas Boulevard and are completely free. Casino interiors are themselves worth exploring: the Bellagio conservatory, Venetian's canals and gondolas, and the Wynn's art installations are open to non-guests at no charge. Dining ranges from affordable food courts inside casino basements to award-winning restaurants helmed by celebrity chefs with months-long waiting lists. The Strip is busiest on Friday and Saturday nights when crowds on the sidewalks can be very slow-moving; Sunday mornings see the thinnest crowds. Rideshare pick-up zones are designated away from the main Strip entrance areas to reduce congestion.