Las Vegas: Bus Transportation on the Strip

Anyone who visits Las Vegas Nevada can certainly agree that a trip to Sin City is a trip like no other. Tourists flock to the city from all over the world, seeking fun, entertainment, lots of money, and a chance to live like a rock star. If you are someone who visits Las Vegas often, chances are you have a good idea of how to get around the city. If you are visiting Las Vegas for the first time, you may want to take some time to familiarize yourself with the basic methods of transportation that are available to you. Understanding how to get around from place to place will make your time in Vegas much more enjoyable.

I am going to share one of the easiest and affordable primary methods of transportation along the Las Vegas Strip, the bus. I must admit, I dislike riding the bus. I've spent quite a bit of time riding buses in most major cities in the United States, and the experience has given me the opportunity to gather a solid opinion on bus transportation in most major cities. Granted, the times I have ridden the bus in these cities were usually when I was vacationing, but it doesn't take long to form an opinion on weather riding the bus is the way to go or not.

In Las Vegas however, utilizing public transportation like the bus is truly one of the best ways to get around. Here I will point out the best bus transportation options available for those spending some time in Las Vegas. Be prepared to learn a little about each type of bus that runs along the strip. You'll quickly discover how affordable it is to get one from one hot spot to another.

The Deuce
One of the newest types of bus service offered along the Las Vegas Strip is The Deuce, a double decker bus that is operated by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada. The service was first introduced in October of 2005, providing a great transportation alternative for both locals and tourists of Las Vegas. I personally have used The Deuce more than any other type of transportation along the strip, simply because it has proven to be a reliable source of transportation every single time I needed it.

The Deuce, which accommodates 97 passengers, runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Anyone who knows Las Vegas knows that there really isn't much of a downtime in the city. Just about everything is always open, so there is always the need to get from one place to another. The buses cover just about every place you want to go along the strip, and will even take you up on the northern end of the city to Fremont Street.

Purchasing bus fares for The Deuce is very easy. You can either pay for your fare when you board the bus, or you can purchase the fare from a TVM, otherwise known as a ticket vending machine. Keep in mind that if you purchase your bus fare on the bus, you must have the exact amount of money for your ticket. There is no change given from bus operators. I personally recommend that you purchase your bus fare or transit passes in advance from ticket vending machines that are located along the bus route.

There are quite a few bus fare options available when riding The Deuce. An adult fare pass for one single ride will cost $2. You also have the option of purchasing a 24 hour all access pass for $5. The 24 hour pass in the absolute way to go. Not only is the 24 hour all access pass valid for The Deuce, it is also valid on the CAT and MAX buses which I will mention later. The bus service also offers several reduced fair options for senior citizens, youths, and disabled individuals.

The Deuce has quite a few buses that run up and down the strip at any given time. It is said that there is a bus available at each stop just about every 10 minutes. Although this is the standard time given, you will usually find that these buses arrive at each stop much quicker. I myself have never had to wait for than 5 minutes at each stop. Be advised that you may want to seek a different method of transportation if you are in a hurry. Although The Deuce is reliable, delays do happen. This of course will depend on the time of day, traffic, and the amount of people boarding at each stop. These buses are extremely crowded at peak times of the day, so be prepared to stand in the bus if there are no seats available when you board.

With all that said, The Deuce is a fantastic alternative for someone vacationing in the city. You'll experience a nice tour of the strip along the way. Each stop along the route is clearly marked, so you shouldn't have a difficult time arriving at your destination. You'll be able to stop at just about every popular casino along the strip. Visit the the official website of The Deuce where you can obtain all the details of this bus service, including route maps, route schedules, fair info, an interactive tour, and more.

Las Vegas Strip Trolley
A ride on the Las Vegas Strip Trolley can be another great experience. The routes and fares are comparable to what The Deuce offers, however you'll have a slightly different experience while using this bus service. These trolley buses work great to get from one hot spot to another. The service operates along the Las Vegas Strip and also has a few stops at some other hot spots slightly off the main strip area.

You can purchase a single one way ticket on the trolley for $2.50. Purchase a day pass for $4.25 if you are interested in utilizing the trolley multiple times during the hours of 8:30am until 5:00pm. A night pass is also available for $4.25, which can be used during 5:00pm until midnight. All of these tickets can be purchased from the the trolley driver.

A nice tip for those who are visiting Las Vegas on business is to purchase a Convention Pass for $6.50. A single day Convention Pass will allow you to ride the trolley an unlimited amount of times all day up until midnight. There are multiple day passes also available if you are in town for business a little bit longer.

Like I mentioned earlier when describing the travel times on The Deuce, delays can happen on the trolleys. These can become quite crowded during certain times of the day. You'll sometimes have to wait in line for several trolleys, depending on how many passengers are already on each bus. If you are in a hurry, it's better to find a different method of transportation. But the bus service works out great if you are seeking an affordable and casual ride to get from one place to another. You'll find that trolleys usually arrive at each stop about every 20 minutes or so. To learn more about this service, visit the official website of the Las Vegas Strip Trolley.

Citizen Area Transit Bus System
CAT, or otherwise known as the Citizen Area Transit system began operating in 1992. This bus system is the main bus system for the city of Las Vegas, operating over 45 routes throughout the Las Vegas area. You'll find that most routes operate every day of the week during the hours of 5:00am until 1:00am, with several routes running 24 hours a day.

This particular transit service can be used by everyone, but caters a bit more to the locals of Las Vegas rather than the tourists. Tourists will find that riding The Deuce or the Las Vegas Strip Trolley a little bit more easier. For complete CAT bus system details, visit the Citizen Area Transit system website.

Metropolitan Area Express
MAX, also known as the Metropolitan Area Express, is the newest form of transportation that Las Vegas has to offer. The 61 foot vehicle is a bit more environmentally friendly, operated by a hybrid diesel electric engine. The MAX currently operates along a busy residential based route, running along the North end of Las Vegas Boulevard. Visit the official Las Vegas MAX website to learn more about this new Las Vegas transportation option offered by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada.

There are a additional ways to get around Las Vegas, but I hope the ones I have mentioned will help you determine which type of bus transportation is best for you during your next visit to the city.