Choosing a base on the Strip
The Strip is a stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard that runs for roughly 4.2 miles (6.8 km). Most visitors mean the line of resorts from Mandalay Bay in the south to SAHARA in the north. It is longer on foot than it looks on a map, because hotel lobbies, bridges and detours all add distance. In summer the heat makes every extra block matter.
So the useful question is not which hotel is best. It is which stretch matches your plans. Pick the area close to what you want to see most, then check the nightly total, not just the room rate.
The Strip in three stretches
A rough orientation, not an official district map.
South: Mandalay Bay, Luxor and MGM Grand
The southern end suits you if you plan shows at Mandalay Bay or MGM Grand, or if you want to be close to the airport. It is the first airport taxi zone, so the ride in is the cheapest. The walk to the middle of the Strip is a long one, so plan to use the monorail or a bus for the rest.
Middle: Bellagio, ARIA, Paris and Horseshoe
This is the stretch most first-time visitors look at. The Bellagio fountains and the Paris tower are here, and the High Roller is a few monorail stops north. The monorail station at Horseshoe and Paris sits in the middle of it.
Free things nearby →North of the middle: Flamingo, LINQ, Venetian, Wynn and Resorts World
These resorts sit in the third airport taxi zone. The LINQ promenade and the High Roller are here, the Sphere can be reached from the Venetian side over a bridge, and the monorail stops at Flamingo and Caesars Palace and at Harrah's and The LINQ. Check the walking route to the Sphere before you book.
Sphere guide →Downtown, away from the Strip
Fremont Street Experience is in Downtown, not on the Strip. The Deuce bus connects Downtown, the Strip and the South Strip Transit Terminal. Staying there makes sense if the old town is your main reason to visit. For everything else, you add a bus ride to each trip.
Fremont Street guide →Tours and shows from the Strip
Night flights, canyon and dam day trips and evening tours, with live prices and availability.
Examples by location
Airport taxi zone fares are for 2026 and apply in both directions.
| Hotel | Stretch | Airport taxi zone | Zone fare | Monorail station by that name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mandalay Bay | South | 1 | $22.25 | – |
| Luxor | South | 1 | $22.25 | – |
| MGM Grand | South | 1 | $22.25 | MGM Grand |
| ARIA | Middle | 2 | $26.25 | – |
| Bellagio | Middle | 2 | $26.25 | – |
| Paris | Middle | 2 | $26.25 | Horseshoe/Paris |
| Horseshoe | Middle | 2 | $26.25 | Horseshoe/Paris |
| Flamingo | Middle to north | 3 | $30.25 | Flamingo/Caesars Palace |
| LINQ | North of the middle | 3 | $30.25 | Harrah's/The LINQ |
| Venetian | North of the middle | 3 | $30.25 | – |
| Wynn | North of the middle | 3 | $30.25 | – |
| Resorts World | North of the middle | 3 | $30.25 | – |
A dash means no station of that name, not that the hotel is far from the line. Check the monorail map for the walk. A hotel next door can sit in a different taxi zone, so look up your own hotel. The other stations are Boingo Station at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Westgate and SAHARA. More on the fares in Airport to the Strip.
Resort fees and parking
The price you pay is often higher than the room rate on the first screen.
The resort fee
Large Strip hotels typically charge $45 to $55 per room and night, plus tax (2026). One example is Resorts World at $55 a day plus the Clark County room tax. Not every hotel charges a fee, and the amount depends on the house and the rate you book, so read the terms of your own booking.
The federal rule
Since 12 May 2025, a rule of the US trade regulator FTC requires the displayed total for short-term lodging to include mandatory fees. It does not abolish resort fees. Government taxes can stay out of the headline price, and the final amount must be shown before you pay. Compare totals for your dates, not the first number you see.
Parking at MGM Resorts hotels
Self-parking is $20 Monday to Thursday and $25 Friday to Sunday for up to 24 hours for non-guests. Registered hotel guests pay $20 a day. Valet is $40 a day, weekends included. Events can raise these rates, and other hotels set their own.
What to confirm with the hotel
Ask about pool access and season, check-in age rules, deposits and the parking price before you book. These differ from house to house and are not the same for the whole Strip.
Plan the rest of your trip
Wherever you sleep, these pages help with the next step.
Getting around the Strip
Monorail fares, the Deuce bus and walking routes.
Airport to the Strip
Taxi zones, rideshare pickup and the airport bus.
Best time to visit
Heat by month and when events change the picture.
Things to do
Fifteen ideas along the Strip.
If a Grand Canyon day trip is on your list, our sister site has a guide to Grand Canyon tours from Las Vegas. Your choice of hotel on the Strip matters little for that trip.
Where to stay in Las Vegas: frequently asked questions
Where is the best area to stay on the Strip?
That depends on your plans. The middle stretch around Bellagio, ARIA, Paris and Horseshoe puts many sights within reach. The southern end is closest to the airport. The area north of the middle is closest to the LINQ promenade, the High Roller and the Sphere. There is no single best spot.
Is the Strip part of the city of Las Vegas?
Largely no. The resort corridor lies in unincorporated Clark County, outside the city limits of Las Vegas. For a visitor this changes nothing, and everyone calls it the Las Vegas Strip. Downtown is the city's own centre.
What is a resort fee?
It is a mandatory daily charge that many hotels add to the room rate. At large Strip hotels it is typically $45 to $55 per room and night, plus tax (2026). The total shown at booking has to include it under the federal rule that took effect on 12 May 2025.
Do all hotels have a monorail station?
No. Stations are at MGM Grand, Horseshoe and Paris, Flamingo and Caesars Palace, Harrah's and The LINQ, the Convention Center, Westgate and SAHARA. Many hotels are a walk from the nearest one. The monorail has no airport or Fremont Street station.
Is it better to stay Downtown?
Only if the Fremont Street area is your focus. Downtown is separate from the Strip, and the Deuce bus connects the two around the clock. Expect to add a bus ride to each Strip outing.