The Las Vegas Strip (Boulevard South)

The Strip is not officially a Nevada attraction but of course it is — a 4.2-mile stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard South (technically in unincorporated Paradise, Nevada) that holds the world's largest hotels, its most iconic neon, and enough free public spectacle to fill a weeklong walk. From the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign in the south to the Sahara at the north end, the Strip is walkable in a single evening if you're determined, but the honest way is to break it into three sections. This is the shorthand for Nevada worldwide, and every neon-nights road trip either starts or ends here.

South Strip: the Welcome sign, MGM, New York-New York's mini skyline and roller coaster, and the free Park Between MGM and T-Mobile Arena. Mid-Strip: the Bellagio fountains (free show every 15-30 minutes to music, day and night — the essential Vegas photograph), Caesars Palace, the Forum Shops, the Fall of Atlantis animatronic show, and the Mirage Volcano (currently paused for the Mirage's transformation into Hard Rock — check status). North Strip: The Venetian's canals with singing gondoliers, the Wynn's wildlife-filled Lake of Dreams free show, the SlotZilla monorail and views of the Palazzo tower. Free monorail trams connect several hotels.

Walk the Strip in the evening — the neon is why you came. Distances are deceiving; what looks like a five-minute walk between casinos often takes twenty because you have to detour through the hotel itself. The elevated crosswalks help. Book major shows (Cirque du Soleil, residencies) 2-4 weeks ahead on Vegas.com or directly. Buffet meals no longer dominate but the mid-Strip Wicked Spoon, Bacchanal and Wynn buffet are still worth it. Skip Saturday nights on the sidewalks in July-August unless you love crowds and 105°F asphalt after dark.

Hours & entry

Bellagio fountains free every 15-30 min · Mirage Volcano free nightly · Fall of Atlantis free · Fremont Street canopy shows free

Strip open 24 hours · Bellagio fountains 15:00-24:00 (every 30 min day, every 15 min night) · Mirage Volcano 20:00, 21:00, 22:00, 23:00

What to see

• Bellagio Fountains show — Front of Bellagio Hotel, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd South — best view from the Bellagio-side sidewalk or the Cosmopolitan terrace
• Fall of Atlantis animatronic show and aquarium — Forum Shops at Caesars, 3500 Las Vegas Blvd South, hourly 11am-11pm
• Venetian Grand Canal and singing gondoliers — Grand Canal Shoppes inside The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd South

Tips from the ground

• The RTC Deuce and SDX buses ($8 all-day pass) beat walking in summer — air-conditioned and stops every casino.
• Bellagio fountains are best at 9pm or later when the music is louder and the wind usually drops.
• Check Vegas.com's deals section for half-price show tickets — Cirque tickets often drop from $180 to $95.