What is the best area to stay in Las Vegas?
By Andrew Davey. October 07, 2024
Often hailed as “The Entertainment Capital of the World,” Las Vegas is a uniquely dazzling and glamorous American destination that draws in visitors from all around the world. Las Vegas Boulevard may be one of the world’s most famous streets thanks to the development of the Strip as the region’s largest concentration of casino resorts. Yet beyond the Strip, Las Vegas has so much more to offer adventurous travelers, from beautiful parks in the nearby desert and mountain wilderness, to exciting “hole-in-the-wall” restaurants and unique cultural assets throughout the local neighborhoods. No matter what you seek, you can probably find it in Vegas.
For most visitors, the best area to stay in Las Vegas is the Strip. Since the Strip has so many casinos, shopping malls, restaurants, nightclubs, theaters, and additional entertainment venues located in one roughly four-mile (or about seven-kilometer) long zone, it’s easy to “casino hop” and experience many of Vegas’ best attractions without having to navigate long drives on the valley’s roads and freeways. Even better, much of the Strip is easily walkable, and travelers can hop on trams or the Deuce bus to explore more of the area car-free. And no matter how much (or little) gambling you want to do, it’s hard to get bored while on the Strip.On the map, which shows the most convenient area to stay in Las Vegas, you can see a selection of some of the best located hotels.
If you are interested in where to stay in Las Vegas, you may also be interested in where to stay in Grand Canyon, where to stay in Los Angeles, where to stay in San Francisco and where to stay in Austin.
The Strip, the best area to stay in Las Vegas
Tourist Attractions / Entertainment / Casino Gaming
The Strip is ideal for first-time Vegas visitors and more experienced tourists who want to jump right into the action of Vegas’ most iconic casino resorts. From the Roman-themed Caesars Palace that’s been featured in countless films and TV shows, to the wildly opulent elegance of Wynn and Encore, and the astounding variety of dining options at Resorts World, it’s easy to spend an entire weekend just exploring the always exciting casinos lining the Strip.
When it comes to big-name entertainment, you’ll likely find the best lineups of shows and concerts at Caesars Palace, Park MGM, and MGM Grand. For exciting nightlife, Aria, the Cosmopolitan, Caesars, and Wynn have some of Vegas’ hottest bars, clubs, speakeasies, and additional afterhours venues. And though the Strip has many of Vegas’ most expensive casino resorts, bargain hunters can score decent deals at New York New York, Planet Hollywood, Linq, and the Sahara.
Other areas to stay in Las Vegas
West of The Strip
Luxury Travelers / Dining / Sports Lovers
To the west of Las Vegas Boulevard and the I-15 freeway, the iconic sandstone formations of Red Rock Canyon come into clearer view. Major thoroughfares like Spring Mountain Road and Sahara Avenue become treasure chests full of dazzling hidden gems. More specifically, Spring Mountain anchors Las Vegas’ Chinatown that has not only much of the valley’s best Chinese cuisine, but also a delectable array of Japanese, Korean, Mongolian, Vietnamese, and other Asian restaurants. Meanwhile to the north, the West Sahara corridor has a more extensive variety of Asian, Latin, and New American restaurants and bars.
The master-planned community of Summerlin anchors the westernmost edge of the Las Vegas Valley, and Summerlin has most of the poshest luxury resorts you’ll find off-Strip, including the Red Rock Resort that features some of Vegas’ best high-roller suites and classiest fine dining options. Closer to the Strip, Allegiant Stadium houses the Las Vegas Raiders NFL football team, and casinos like the Palms and Orleans place you close to all the game day action (and the Strip).
Hotels in West of the Las Vegas Strip
East of The Strip
Luxury Travelers / Dining / Sports Lovers
Business travelers tend to spend plenty of time east of the Strip—More specifically, along the Paradise Road corridor spanning from the Las Vegas Convention Center to Harry Reid International Airport. Just another block east of Paradise, the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) is Southern Nevada’s largest and most critical higher educational institution. With the convention center, the airport, and UNLV all in the mix, travelers should have no trouble finding hotels, restaurants, and some fascinating offbeat attractions along the way.
Located by the north end of the UNLV campus, the Atomic Museum has plenty of exhibits and artifacts that blast you back to the early era of atomic weapons development and testing in the 20th century. To the east of UNLV, Maryland Parkway abounds in tasty cheap eats and unique international flavors. And at the “Fruit Loop” along Naples Drive, you’ll find Vegas’ most famous collection of LGBTQ+ friendly bars and nightclubs, along with the Double Down Saloon featuring the valley’s coolest and baddest punk rock scene.
Hotels in East of the Las Vegas Strip
Downtown Las Vegas (including Fremont Street)
Art / Culture and Creativity / Nightlife
In the past, Downtown Las Vegas seemed to languish under the Strip’s shadow. Yet more recently, Downtown has come to shine with its thought-provoking array of local art, its casinos that stand out from the Strip’s for their more intimate vibes, and its cutting-edge bars and restaurants serving flavors you can’t really find anywhere else. More specifically, Fremont Street is where you will find Downtown’s casino row, which includes everything from contemporary luxury at the Circa to vintage vibes at the Plaza and a unique boutique hotel experience at El Cortez.
Just to the east of Las Vegas Boulevard, Fremont Street becomes the Fremont East district that abounds in edgy bars, and the Container Park mall has an eclectic mix of boutiques and micro-restaurants worth checking out. Meanwhile, west of Las Vegas Boulevard and south towards Charleston Boulevard, the 18b Arts District overflows in striking murals and street art, thought-provoking art galleries, and wildly creative dining. (Esther’s Kitchen may be the best Italian restaurant you’ll find off-Strip!)
Hotels in Downtown - Fremont Street
Henderson
Families / Outdoor Recreation / Peace and Quiet
As an expansive collection of suburban communities southeast of the Las Vegas Strip, Henderson is ideal for travelers seeking a quiet escape from the bombast of the Strip. As a suburban area, Henderson is also great for parents who are traveling with kids and seeking family-friendly activities for everyone to enjoy. Highlights include the Ethel M Chocolates Factory and Cactus Garden to see (and taste!) where Vegas’ favorite sweet treats are made, along with the Water Street District for a fun mix of local restaurants and craft breweries, and The District at Green Valley Ranch for cool al fresco shopping and dining.
For those wanting to get and stay active outside, Henderson has a multitude of fulfilling outdoor recreational options: Sloan Canyon offers a near-pristine stretch of the Mojave Desert with over 300 petroglyphs providing a scenic window into local indigenous history and culture, plus Henderson offers easy access to ample watersports adventures at Lake Las Vegas and Lake Mead. And throughout town, visitors can enjoy Henderson’s extensive network of parks and trails that are ideal for hiking and biking.
North Las Vegas
Cultural Diversity / Parks and Public Lands / Motor Sports
As one of Nevada’s fastest-growing cities, North Las Vegas is usually the kind of city that’s spoken more of a welcoming hometown than a bustling tourist town. And really, that’s the essence of “Northtown”: It’s chock full of cozy amenities that make you feel like (you’re) home (away from home). At Broadacres Marketplace on Las Vegas Boulevard, you will not only find Nevada’s largest open-air market, but you’ll also encounter a plethora of delectable Mexican food and Latin American entertainment.
For more exciting thrills outside, head to Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument on the north end of town to discover one of the continent’s richest deposits of Ice Age fossils. For more adrenaline-fueled excitement, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway regularly hosts NASCAR races, Exotics Races, and additional car race events. And every May, the Speedway transforms into the nation’s largest electronic dance music celebration: the Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC).
Our recommended hotels in Las Vegas
Use the interactive map to navigate through our recommended hotels in Las VegasNote: Hotel prices can change daily due to promotions, seasons, and demand. Our $ - $$$$ scale shows the overall cost range rather than exact prices.
