Las Vegas Airport Parking

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Guide to Las Vegas McCarran Airport

Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) is the primary air route in and out of the Las Vegas Valley, carrying 45 million passengers every year. Connecting to North America, Asia and Europe, LAS is an important base for Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Allegiant Air.

Constantly developed and modernized since the end of World War II, McCarran Airport has often featured some of the most innovative approaches to airport design and operations and takes pride in a mission statement to deliver excellence in service and facilities.

Numerous plans have been developed over time to accommodate more flights into Las Vegas by improving efficiency and extending the city monorail system to the airport, which would enable McCarran to grow towards 55 million passengers a year. Passenger numbers briefly plateaued during the Great Recession, but are now climbing once again amidst the additions of more gates to the existing terminals, T1 and T3.

Location of Las Vegas McCarran Airport

LAS is located about nine miles (14.5 kilometers) from the center of Las Vegas, close to where the I-215 splits off from the main I-15 route through the city. Running from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City, the I-15 is the main land route in and out of Las Vegas with exit 37 linking to Paradise Road and the airport. Taxis, shared-ride services and rental cars are all available in central Las Vegas.

Public transport in the area is provided by RTC, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, which has several bus routes stopping at the LAS terminals. Routes run from Centennial Hills, central Las Vegas and Westcliff.

History of Las Vegas McCarran Airport

Las Vegas McCarran Airport opened a privately-owned airfield primarily used by Western Air Express. During World War II, Senator Pat McCarran arranged for the City of Las Vegas to buy the field for development into a major airport and it was named after him to honor those efforts and his broad support of the aviation industry in 1941.

McCarran Field shared land with the US Army, which was keen to move public flights elsewhere after World War II, so a deal was formed to move all civil operations to Alamo Field. Alamo was renamed McCarran Field, whilst the previous site became Nellis Air Force Base. The move also broke the Western Air Express monopoly, bringing other carriers in just as the casino industry boomed. Throughout the 1950s, passenger traffic leaped from 35,000 a year to almost a million by the end of the decade.

LAS continued to grow and built new terminals, gates and parking garages, gaining the ‘International’ designation and working to attract more routes from foreign airlines; by 2000, annual passengers numbered more than 35 million. The focus then shifted towards improved efficiency in passenger experience, luggage processing and flight operations, but has recently returned to expansion after the opening of a third terminal in 2012; the largest public works project ever undertaken in Nevada.

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Airport facilities

Over 160 concessions are spread across Las Vegas McCarran Airport to offer a wide range of food and refreshments, general shopping and airport services.

With a heavy program of expansions and improvements planned in the coming years, it's always worth checking for the most up-to-date listing of facilities on the Official Las Vegas McCarran International Airport website.

Passenger Services Representatives at LAS are dressed in blue and gold uniforms and can be found dotted around the terminal buildings and at the various information booths to answer your questions and help direct you around the airport.

If you have any inquiries prior to traveling through Las Vegas Airport, you can contact customer services on (+1) 702-261-5211.

• Short-term parking

• Long-term parking

• Valet parking service

• Covered parking garage

• Motorcycle parking

• Bicycle parking

• Cell phone lot

• Accessible parking

• Bus routes

• 24/7 free airport shuttle buses

• Rental car center

• CLEAR, Global Entry and TSA PreCheck

• Nearby hotels

• Hotel shuttles

• Airline lounges

• USO lounge

• Shopping

  • Gifts and souvenirs

  • Duty free

  • Fashion and apparel

  • Jewelry and accessories

  • Cosmetics

  • Luggage and travel essentials

  • Gadgets, technology and entertainment

  • Books and newsstands

• Drinks

  • Coffee shops

  • Juice bar

  • Bar

  • Wine bar

• Food

  • Restaurants

  • Fast food and snacks

  • Food markets and healthy options

  • American, Mexican, Mediterranean, Asian & Italian food

  • Bakeries, yogurts and desserts

  • Deli, sandwiches and subs

• Art program

• Aviation museum

• Slot machines

• Airport walking routes

• Spa

• Nursing suites

• Children's play area

• Pet relief areas

• Wheelchairs

• Translation services

• ATMs

• Banking

• Currency exchange

• WiFi

• Lost and found

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Las Vegas McCarran Airport hotel and parking

Off-site parking options at McCarran are available from many of the hotels located close to the site, with hotel and parking packages coupled with Park and Ride shuttles to and from the airport terminals.

Packages vary from hotel to hotel, but most of them stipulate that if you stay for at least one night, they'll provide you with up to two weeks of free parking in their lot. You need to book in advance, but most hotels accept cancelations if your travel plans change. The service is offered by several local hotels, such as the Fortune and Mardi Gras, as well as familiar international chains like Best Western.

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Top things to do in Las Vegas McCarran Airport

Explore the airport art program

There are over 30 large-scale murals, sculptures and installations around the terminal buildings at Las Vegas, many of which are site-specific commissions.

The work varies from traditional painting and photography to more contemporary forms with the subject matter often focused on Nevada, Las Vegas and flight.

Pieces have been created by internationally renowned artists, regional talents and even local schoolchildren. Searching them all out provides a great tour of the airport; you can find a list of all the pieces and their locations to get you started on the McCarran Airport Art Web Page.

Shop and spa

With over 160 concessions in the airport, there's plenty of retail therapy available to pass the time.

Brooks Brothers, Michael Kors, Victoria's Secret, Pandora, Benefit, MAC and Bose are just a few of the fashion, accessories, cosmetics and technology stores at McCarran International.

If you find yourself needing a wind-down afterwards, head over to the XpresSpa in either terminal for a quick massage or beauty treatment.

Play the slot machines

In keeping with the city around it, Las Vegas McCarran Airport is one of the only airports in the world to have slot machines available in the terminal buildings. You'll see and hear them dotted around several areas of the airport.

Remember to gamble responsibly; rumor has it that the airport slots are harder to win than those in the major casinos, but a passenger won almost $1 million on one in 2016, which is a pretty good way to fill a wait for a flight if you ask us.

Indulge in the airport restaurants

LAS is not only great for shopping; its choice of restaurants will leave you stuffed to the brim with delicious food.

You'll find all the usual fast food options, but there are some great local flavors if you look a little further.

The Village Pub in T3 offers typical British pub fare like beer-battered fish and chips alongside hand-crafted local beers. Moe's Southwest Grill in T1 serves up classic southwestern dishes with particular attention to some great tortilla plates. What’s more, there's the Lucky Steak Lounge giving a classic dish the Las Vegas flair.

Visit the aviation museum

McCarran International Airport houses an aviation museum with small exhibits at locations like the gate and ticketing areas and a 3,000-square foot (278.7-square meter) exhibit near the T1 departures entrance.

The museum exhibits are focused on the aviation history of the southern Nevada area, from the first aircraft landing in the state in 1920 to the present day. One of the centerpiece exhibits is a 1958 Cessna 172, which set the world-record for endurance flying, staying in flight for almost 65 days, which is a record that still stands today.

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Top things to do near Las Vegas McCarran Airport

The Las Vegas Strip

Running from right next to McCarran Airport to several miles north at the Stratosphere, the Las Vegas Strip is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the world.

The heart of the Entertainment Capital features some of the biggest hotels, casinos and expanses of neon on the planet. The energy of the place takes electric to a whole new level.

It’s packed with restaurants, bars and spectacular music and entertainment shows amongst the world-famous casinos. In other words, the Las Vegas Strip is the ultimate nightlife experience.

The Casinos

They're what Las Vegas is famous for; the vast casino-hotels are gathered along the strip starting about one mile (1.6 kilometers) from the terminals at McCarran Airport.

The MGM Grand, The Bellagio, The Mirage, Treasure Island, Wynn, Circus Circus are just a few of the vast complexes that attract millions of visitors every year. With thousands of hotel rooms and suites, each casino competes for the most spectacular entertainments by spending fortunes on world-renowned entertainers like Cirque du Soleil, Penn and Teller and Celine Dion.

Palatial casino floors are matched only by extravagant features like botanical gardens, a reconstruction of Venice, a replica of the Eiffel Tower and spectacular fountain shows. There's plenty of fun to be had gambling responsibly on the tables, but just exploring these incredible buildings is worth the trip in itself.

The Hoover Dam

Amongst the greatest engineering achievements in the world, you can find the Hoover Dam about 30 miles (48.3 kilometers) east of Las Vegas and McCarran International Airport.

Access to the road over the dam is limited to traffic, but it is usually open for you to walk across, too. You can visit for a guided tour or get a stunning view of the dam, lake and river valley from the nearby Hoover Dam Bypass, which includes the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge looking down on the dam from about 1,500 feet (457.2 meters) downstream.

The Neon Museum

Neon light is such a stand-out feature of Las Vegas that it seems appropriate that there should be a museum dedicated to it. This place is full of neon signage from old Las Vegas casinos and other businesses in Sin City.

Based 11 miles (17.7 kilometers) from McCarran International Airport, the main business of the museum is in restoring the old signs and placing them on display around the local neighborhood.

You can take a guided tour to learn about the history of Las Vegas and how each sign relates to famous people, places and events. It’s a unique museum with surprising depth, perfectly in theme with Las Vegas.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

About 20 miles (32.2 kilometers) from McCarran International Airport, the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is a stunning natural area of red rock formations and sandstone peaks.

Ideal for hiking, walking and cycling, it also includes a visitor center and the Bonnie Springs attraction, a replica of an old western ghost town. Wildlife is sometimes spotted there; wild burros, desert bighorn sheep and the protected desert tortoise are a few of the creatures that live at the visitor center.

There are some stunning views of Las Vegas and the Strip as darkness falls, but be careful out on those hikes at night.

Discovery Children's Museum

Sprawled over 58,000 square feet (5,388.4 square meters), the Discovery Children's Museum combines exhibits, performances and a lot of play into an engaging and fun experience.

From simple concepts like taking an art lesson on different styles to scaled-up classics like a vast climbing frame and a popular Water World, there's a ton to do there.

The museum, which is about eight miles (12.9 kilometers) from LAS Airport, is often packed with school groups, so it’s a good place to bring the kids if they love mixing with others and making friends.

The High Roller

Just four miles (6.4 kilometers) from McCarran Airport is The High Roller, a 550-foot (167.6-meter) tall Ferris wheel on the Las Vegas Strip.

The tallest wheel in the world lights up at night in vibrant colors from over 2,000 LEDs and is best experienced at dusk, as the natural light is fading in the sky and the lights of Las Vegas come to life around you.

The 360-degree views are absolutely stunning and the wheel rotates very slowly, so you've got plenty of time to take it all in.

Bellagio Botanical Gardens

The Bellagio is one of the most famous casino-hotels on The Strip, famous among professional gamblers for high-stakes poker games and tourists for the spectacularly choreographed fountain show.

Inside the casino, amidst the games, entertainments, art gallery and restaurants, you'll find the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Featuring five themed gardens covering the four seasons and Chinese New Year, there are also special exhibits staged from time to time to commemorate events like Memorial Day.

The displays are quite simply stunning, especially with the gardens being free and open to the public. The Bellagio is just three miles (4.8 kilometers) from McCarran Airport.

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Which terminal?

McCarran International Airport has two terminals, 1 and 3, which loosely divide into domestic flights in Terminal 1 and international flights in Terminal 3. However, some domestic flights do utilize Terminal 3 as well.

Look out for the Passenger Services Representatives in the blue and gold uniforms in each terminal. Stationed at information desks and often walking around the airport, they can provide you with directions to your gate, facilities and concessions.

If you have any important questions to ask in advance of your journey, give airport customer services a call on (+1) 702-261-5211 or speak to your airline. For more information on airlines that operate at the airport visit the Mccarran International airport website.

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

How to get to Las Vegas McCarran Airport

Car

Located in the NV 89111 ZIP code, LAS Airport is close to the MGM Grand and Luxor Casinos south of the city center. The I-15 Las Vegas Freeway, which runs through the city from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City and Denver, is the main route into Las Vegas. Exit 37 runs onto E Tropicana Avenue and then Paradise Road for the airport terminals.

Routes 93 and 95 are the best ways into town from Boulder City or Reno, both of which connect to the I-15, The Strip and Paradise Road. Taxis, rentals, limos and shared-ride services to McCarran Airport are available from across the city, including Uber and Lyft.

An extensive list of all the ground transportation options and providers can be found here.

Bus

The Regional Transport Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) is the public transport provider for the Las Vegas region and runs several bus routes to the McCarran International Airport terminals. Terminal 1 has connections from Westcliff (the Airport Express) and numerous locations in central Las Vegas, centering around the major hotels, whilst Terminal 3 also connects from Westcliff, in addition to Centennial Hills. All services run to bus stops immediately outside the terminal areas.

From outside of Las Vegas, Amtrak runs a coach service from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas, which stops downtown and at the airport itself.

Train

There is very little rail activity around Las Vegas; it is the largest city in the USA to lack passenger rail services.

The Las Vegas Monorail runs the length of The Strip from the Stratosphere to the MGM Grand, the latter of which is just a short walk from McCarran Airport. A service called the X Train is also planned to start running from late 2017 from Los Angeles, California, to Las Vegas, Nevada.

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Useful tips

Times to avoid

If you have flexibility on the day and time at which you fly, try to avoid weekends; they tend to be the busiest times at the airport. Aim for later evening flights if you can, since that’s usually the quietest time of any given day at McCarran.

Alternatives for business

Business travelers who want to avoid the worst of the crowds have an alternative option. The nearby Henderson Executive Airport is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) away and mostly flies corporate jets in and out of Las Vegas. It is part of the McCarran International Airport set up in an effort to reduce congestion.

Avoid sleeping in the airport

If you want to sleep at McCarran during a layover or after a delay or cancelation, opt for a hotel instead. Finding somewhere quiet in an airport filled with gamblers and gambling machines is nigh on impossible. Thankfully, the hotels in Vegas are relatively cheap, thanks to the fact that most of them expect you to be spending some money in their casinos anyway.

Don’t leave your car unattended at the Departure Curbs

If you are dropping someone off at Las Vegas Airport, avoid leaving your car unattended for any period of time. The area is designed for quick unloading only, so empty cars are very likely to be towed away promptly.

LAS Airport is 24-hour

Much like Vegas itself, McCarran International Airport has food and drink on offer at any hour of the day, so you’ll be able to keep yourself fed and watered whenever you’re traveling. The slot machines in the airport are on all the time, too.

• Share on email
• Share on facebook
• Share on twitter

Las Vegas McCarran Airport FAQs

How much is economy parking at Las Vegas airport?

Economy parking prices at Las Vegas airport can vary on the season and demand. Due to this, we always recommend pre-booking your economy airport parking lot space ahead of time with Looking4.com. Simply input your travel details above and Looking4.com will find the cheapest economy parking lot spaces at Las Vegas airport.

How much is long term parking at Las Vegas airport?

Similarly to economy parking, prices for long term parking at Las Vegas airport relies on the busy travel season. To take advantage of the best prices for long term parking at Las Vegas airport, pre-book your space with Looking4.com today.