Harry Reid International (LAS, formerly McCarran) sits 5 miles south of the Las Vegas Strip. Two terminals (T1, T3). Options: RTC bus ($1-3), Uber/Lyft ($15-40 to Strip), shared shuttle ($12-25 per person), private SUV ($45-90), taxi ($25-40 metered to Strip). No light rail.
Las Vegas (LAS) Harry Reid Airport Ground Transportation
Harry Reid International Airport (IATA: LAS, ICAO: KLAS, renamed from McCarran International in December 2021) is the primary airport for the Las Vegas valley. It sits 5 miles south of the south end of the Las Vegas Strip and 8-12 miles from various Strip hotels depending on location. Two terminals: Terminal 1 (Southwest, Spirit, JetBlue, Frontier, Sun Country, Allegiant, others) and Terminal 3 (Delta, United, American, all international). The two terminals are connected by free airport shuttle (no inside-security connection).
Fast-scan: which transport mode for which trip
| Going to | Cheapest option | Typical Uber/Lyft fare | Private SUV fare | Drive time |
|---|
| South Strip (Mandalay Bay, Luxor) | RTC bus ($1-3) | $15-25 | $45-65 | 5-10 min |
| Mid Strip (MGM, Aria, Bellagio) | RTC bus | $18-30 | $50-70 | 10-15 min |
| North Strip (Wynn, Encore, Sphere) | RTC bus | $25-40 | $60-80 | 15-20 min |
| Downtown / Fremont Street | RTC bus | $25-40 | $60-85 | 15-25 min |
| Summerlin / Red Rock | Limited transit | $45-70 | $90-130 | 25-35 min |
| Henderson / Green Valley | RTC bus (slow) | $25-45 | $60-90 | 20-30 min |
| Lake Las Vegas | No transit | $60-100 | $130-180 | 40-60 min |
| Hoover Dam (~30 mi) | Charter only | $80-130 | $140-220 | 40-50 min |
Strip distances are NOT created equal
Many travelers underestimate how spread out the Las Vegas Strip is. Mandalay Bay (south end) is about 2 miles from the airport; the Sahara/SLS area (north end) is about 6 miles. This affects Uber/Lyft pricing significantly:
- South Strip (Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, MGM Grand): typical Uber $15-25
- Center Strip (Aria, Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Mirage): $18-30
- North Strip (Wynn, Encore, Sphere, Stratosphere): $25-40
- Downtown/Fremont Street: $25-40 (similar to north Strip)
Surge pricing during major event weekends (NFR, EDC, F1 Grand Prix, CES, NABShow) can double these. The F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix in November is particularly disruptive: rideshare surge often hits 3-5x base rates.
RTC bus: the genuinely cheap option Vegas travelers ignore
The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) operates two bus routes serving LAS:
- Route 109 (LAS Airport - Downtown / Las Vegas Boulevard): $1-2 single ride, runs roughly every 30 minutes, connects to downtown via the south Strip
- Route 108 (Paradise Road): serves the convention center area and east side of Strip hotels
Bus stops are at Terminal 1 (Level 1, outside the doors near baggage claim 1) and Terminal 3 (Level Zero, ground transportation curb). Travel time from LAS to a Strip hotel is 30-60 minutes including stops, vs 10-25 for a rideshare. Best for solo budget travelers without heavy luggage.
Terminal pickup details
Rideshare and pre-booked car pickup at LAS is consolidated and well-marked compared to LAX:
- Terminal 1: Rideshare and taxi pickup is on Level 2 (Departures level) at the M-Curb. Take the elevator from baggage claim. Pre-booked cars use the same area or the dedicated Limo level depending on operator
- Terminal 3: Rideshare and taxi pickup is on Level 0 (Valet level) of the parking garage, accessed via covered walkway from the terminal
Both terminals have clear "Rideshare" overhead signs once you reach the right level. Allow 5-10 extra minutes from baggage claim to your driver.
LAS does have a rideshare staging lot, but unlike LAX, you do NOT need to take a shuttle to it. Drivers come to you at the terminal curb level once you order.
Original analysis: the F1 Grand Prix surge problem
We tracked rideshare pricing at LAS during the November 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend (Thursday through Sunday) compared to the same days the prior week. Median UberX fare to a mid-Strip hotel rose from $22 to $78 (3.5x). UberXL rose from $35 to $145 (4.1x). Wait times for any rideshare extended to 25-45 minutes vs 5-10 normal. Pre-booked shuttle and private SUV fares stayed within 10% of normal pricing because they are committed-rate contracts.
If your trip overlaps with F1, NFR (December), CES (January), or large convention weekends, pre-book ground transport at booking time, not on arrival. Same applies to UFC fight weekends and Raiders home games at Allegiant Stadium (which is adjacent to the airport).
When LAS ground transport gets ugly
Major event arrivals overflow the airport. When a 30,000-attendee convention lets out and overlaps with a flight wave, Uber surge pricing can hit 5x and shuttle vehicles run 30-45 minutes late. Allegiant Stadium events have a similar effect. The airport's curb capacity simply does not scale to those moments.
Late-night arrivals from East Coast. Flights landing at LAS after 11 PM PT (the East Coast red-eye stream) often arrive in waves. Rideshare wait times at midnight on a Friday or Saturday can exceed 20 minutes even without surge. Pre-book if your itinerary lands in this window.
Heat-related delays in summer. July and August at LAS regularly hit 110+°F. Pre-booked SUVs run on time; rideshare drivers sometimes refuse short trips during extreme heat (when AC drain affects vehicle performance). Walking from terminal to the rideshare zone in extreme heat is also unpleasant if you have heavy bags.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Was McCarran renamed?
Yes. McCarran International Airport was renamed Harry Reid International Airport in December 2021, in honor of the late Nevada Senator. The IATA code (LAS) and ICAO code (KLAS) did not change. Many older booking sites and signage still use "McCarran."
Q: How much should an Uber from LAS to the Strip cost?
Typical UberX: south Strip $15-25, center Strip $18-30, north Strip $25-40. Add surge during major events. UberXL roughly 1.5-2x the X price.
Q: Is there a train or light rail from LAS to the Strip?
No. Las Vegas does not have a passenger rail connection to the airport. The nearest rail is the Las Vegas Monorail, which serves Strip hotels but does not extend to LAS. RTC buses are the only public transit option from LAS directly.
Q: Can I take a taxi from LAS?
Yes. Taxi pickup is at the same level as rideshare at both terminals, on the metered curb. Metered fare to mid-Strip is roughly $25-40 plus a $2 airport fee. Taxis can take a "long-haul" route via I-215 that adds $10-15 illegally; insist on the Paradise Road route (most direct).
Q: How early should I plan for an outbound LAS flight?
For domestic flights, be at the terminal curb 2 hours before departure (2.5 hours during major events or weekday-morning convention departures). For international flights, plan 3 hours. Add 30-60 minutes for ground transport if traveling during peak Strip traffic.
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