Famed for its gambling, entertainment, fine dining, shopping, and lively nightlife, Las Vegas is a must-visit for any fun-loving individual.
Las Vegas Harry Reid International airport (also known as McCarran Airport)is packed with about 1,000 slot machines to keep you occupied while waiting for your ride or flight. Still, they are nothing compared to the casino experience on the strip.
You get at least four transport options from the airport, including taxi, bus, shuttle, and limo. Although taking a private shuttle does not exactly scream “I’m living large” when you are in Vegas, it is by far more economical than a cab or a limo.
Besides, the experience is not much different either. You still get your driver and door-to-door services. Additionally, you get to site see as you make a few stops on the way to your hotel.
Las Vegas Airport Shuttle Convenience
The shuttles typically have a capacity of about 6-20 passengers, although others go up to 24. As a result, they may take 3 to 5 stops and up to 40 minutes to get to your destination. In comparison, a taxi to the Las Vegas Strip takes an average of only 10 minutes. There is also a little waiting time of about 15 minutes before the shuttles fill up.
Much like a taxi or limousine, McCarran Airport Shuttles will pick you up from your hotel as long as you book in advance. Most of them will advise that you schedule your return pick-up at least 2.5 hours before your flight departure time. All the shuttle companies run 7 days of the week.
McCarran Airport Shuttles’ Location
As expected from an international airport, Harry Reid is big but well organized. The shuttles are located outside terminals 1 and 3 in the ground transportation building. There is free inter-terminal transportation, so you can always move around with ease in case you have to.
Finding Your Shuttle at Terminal 1
The private companies will have offices near the baggage claim area of terminal 1. To go straight to your shuttle, exit the baggage claim area at terminal 1 through exits 7-13. You will find the shared-ride shuttles conveniently located on the outside to the west of the baggage claim.
Finding Your Shuttle at Terminal 3
McCarran’s Terminal 3 has shared-ride shuttles located on the outside of Level Zero. They will be just outside door 51 to the west side of the building for domestic travelers. International travelers can find them outside door 57 to the east of the building on the baggage claim floor.
Popular McCarran Airport Shuttle Companies
Dozens of private transport companies service McCarran Airport. We shall only look at a few popular shuttles with high ratings. They don’t all follow the same route, but it is easy to find your perfect fit from this list:
Super Shuttle
This company offers shared rides, direct (non-stop rides), and black car services, although the most popular and affordable of their services is shared rides. The company has an online booking system, but you can also get a ticket on-site.
Super Shuttle sends you a text message upon arrival at the airport, informing you of the way to the pick-up location within the terminal. You could also walk up straight to their ticket counter within the baggage claim or speak to their curbside representative.
For your trip to the airport, the company assigns a pick-up time between 2 to 3 hours before your flight. Your scheduled pick-up time will be subject to a 15-minute window. They allow for cancelation and a full refund 24 hours in advance of your pick-up time. 6-year olds or babies weighing below 60 lbs must have a car seat. Their luggage policies are similar to the airlines’.
Super Shuttle operates in at least 45 cities across the US. However, they mostly depend on partnerships with other companies as opposed to making their fleet available in all the locations. At McCarran, for example, you will be boarding Bell Trans vehicles. If you wish to cut off the middleman, Bell Trans has a booking site (more on that below).
Their destinations include:
- Fremont Street
- Bellagio Hotel and Casino
- MGM Grand
- The Strip
- Lake Las Vegas
- South Las Vegas Boulevard
- Downtown Las Vegas
Bell Trans
Bell Trans offers affordable shared rides, charter vehicles (for group travelers), and limo share-a-ride. The shared shuttle bus package includes the return trip for a flat rate of $30 or a one-way trip for $15. Unfortunately, they only serve select hotels and don’t have a lot of destinations around Las Vegas.
They are located on both terminals 1 and 3 and ferry up to 24 passengers on a single trip. Their minimum pick-up time for your return trip is 2.5 hours before your flight. Travel time may take 30 to 50 minutes, and the shuttle makes stops at 3 to 5 hotels.
Their pick-up window is 10 minutes, and they ask that you call to confirm your reserved seat 24 hours in advance. Their destinations include the resort corridor hotels of Las Vegas Blvd as well as the downtown area.
Note: At the moment of writing, Bell Trans has discontinued shared-ride services in favor of Private Car and Charter Bus services. They point their decision to COVID-19 and the CDC guidelines.
St. George Shuttle
St. George Shuttle provides unique inter-city shuttle rides. They recently expanded to include executive shuttle services, taxi, Charter service, and limo. Their phone service is available 24 hours a day all week.
St. George shuttle runs several trips a day between:
- St. George
- Sun River
- Dixie State University
- Cedar City
- Orem
- Salt Lake City Airport
Salt Lake Express
Also referred to as St. George Express, this company provides inter-city airport transportation between LAS Airport and the surrounding cities. They have various attractive policies such as reduced rates for the first few passengers to book seats.
Their rides have individual charging outlets, extra storage space, bottled water, and extra legroom. They also provide door-to-door pick-ups and drop-offs. Salt Lake Express shuttles are located at Terminal 1 on McCarran Airport. It’s on Level zero east of the baggage claim. Among their stops are:
- Mesquite
- St. George
- Cedar City
- Salt Lake City
Vegas Airporter
Vegas Airporter, formerly known as Aloha Airport Express, is another of the affordable transport companies serving Las Vegas Airport. They are located at both Terminals 1 and 3 of McCarran. They are one level under the baggage claim of terminal 1 and near doors 52/53 on terminal 3. Their destinations include:
- Lake Havasu City (Quality Inn and Circle K)
- Needles Area (Golden shores, Jack in the Box, Fort Mohave, smiths Grocery)
- Laughlin (Avi casino, Harrah’s, Laughlin River Lodge, golden Nugget, Pioneer, Tropicana Express, Edgewater, Aquarius, Riverside Resort)
- Searchlight
- Henderson
Las Vegas Airport Shuttles to Strip
The majority of visitors breeze to Las for the gambling and entertainment experience in the casinos and resorts. Most of them are located on the Las Vegas Strip, a 4.2-mile stretch soaked in neon lights and lined with vast hotel complexes featuring gambling floors, shops, restaurants, and performance venues for comedy, circuses, and music.
It also boasts attractions such as the High Roller observation wheel and the sky-high choreographed Fountains of Bellagio. Your best options for Airport Shuttles to the strip and renowned establishments such as flamingo and Paris as well as the surrounding regions are:
- Bell Trans
- Super Shuttle
Free Las Vegas Airport Shuttle
Some Las Vegas Airport shuttle to hotel services come free of charge, courtesy of select hotels that seek to make things easier for their guests. You will have to be a registered guest in one of these establishments to enjoy free shuttle services:
Best Western McCarran Inn
The hotel is conveniently situated 1.1 miles from McCarran International Airport along Paradise Road. They allow you to make a reservation but only pay when you stay, and they also have a full refund policy. Their rates are just under $100 per night. You can reach Best Western McCarran Inn by phone ((702) 798-5530) or visit their website.
DoubleTree by Hilton Las Vegas Airport
This is a non-gambling establishment accessible via I-215 at about a five-minute drive from Las Vegas Airport. Although it does not have gambling facilities, it offers 24 hours free transportation to the Tropicana hotel on the Las Vegas Strip and the airport. Double Tree (call (702) 948-4000) has a full refund policy and allows you to pay after your stay.
Hampton Inn & Suites Las Vegas Airport
The hotel is about 10 minutes away from the Las Vegas Airport and just as much from Rental Car Center. You can reach Hampton Inn & Suites Las Vegas Airport via (702) 647-8000 or the official site. A single night costs $100 at Hampton Inn & Suites Las Vegas Airport.
South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa
At only 6.9 miles (via McCarran Airport Connector) from the international airport along Las Vegas Blvd S, it only takes about 9 minutes to reach this hotel. They offer scheduled pick-ups and drop-offs to McCarran Airport as long as you are a hotel guest. Like most others on the list, this establishment lets you pay when you stay, and your money is fully refundable. South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa charges $69 a night.
Suncoast Hotel and Casino
For a more dated environment, the Suncoast Hotel, located on Alta Dr, 15 miles away from the airport and accessible via US-95 S, is your best bet. They’ve got the option of paying when you stay and a fully refundable policy. A night at Suncoast will set you back about $61.
Other Establishments with free Airport shuttle in Las Vegas Include:
- Homewood Suites by Hilton Las Vegas Airport
- Hampton Inn Tropicana, NV
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Las Vegas
- Palace Station Hotel and Casino
- Courtyard by Marriot Las Vegas Henderson/ Green Valley
- Best Western McCarran Inn
- El Cortez Hotel and Casino
- Travelodge by Wyndham Las Vegas Airport near the Strip
- Plaza Hotel and Casino
- Alexis Park All Suite Resort
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Final Word
Getting from and back to McCarran Airport Las Vegas is super easy with a handful of convenient transport options. Taking the shared-ride shuttles saves you a few bucks, which you can use to treat yourself or go a few extra rounds on the slots machines.
Whether you get a ticket in advance, trust your hotel’s transportation arrangements, or plan on looking for a ride while on the ground, you are always covered in Las Vegas.