Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is Las Vegas’s main airport, located about 5 miles south of the Strip. It’s one of the most distinctive airports in the country, with nearly 1,400 slot machines, an aviation museum, and other Vegas amenities you won’t find anywhere else. Pro tip: book a window seat for sky-high views of the neon-lit Strip, whether you’re arriving at sunset or departing after midnight.
Getting to and from Harry Reid International Airport
Getting between LAS and your Vegas destination is straightforward. You’ve got plenty of options: taxis, shuttles, car hire, and (because it’s Vegas) walk-up limousine service. Distance-wise, you’re looking at about 2 miles to Las Vegas Boulevard, 4 miles to the Convention Center, 5 miles to the northern Strip, and 9 miles to the city centre (downtown) and Fremont Street.
Want to save some money for the slots? Public transportation is your best bet, though it’ll take a bit more time. Route 109 leaves from Terminal 1 and heads to the South Strip Transit Terminal in just 10–15 minutes. From there, you can hop on other routes, including The Deuce bus that cruises along the Strip.
The Centennial Express (CX) is another solid option, serving both Terminal 1 (Level Zero) and Terminal 3 with a stop at Flamingo and Las Vegas Blvd. From this stop, a short walk through the Flamingo Hotel & Casino connects you to the Las Vegas Monorail, which has seven stations along the Strip.
How to navigate Harry Reid International Airport
Why isn’t it called McCarran anymore?
For years, travellers knew the airport as McCarran International, named after former Nevada senator Patrick McCarran. The name changed recently to honour a different Nevada senator, Harry Reid. The airport kept its code, LAS, but don’t be surprised if you still hear locals and long-time visitors call it ‘McCarran’.
The layout
LAS has two terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, with a total of 110 gates between them. Terminal 1 houses the A, B, and C gates, plus the D satellite concourse (you’ll take an automated Blue Line tram to reach those D gates). Terminal 3 is home to the 14 E gates.
Here’s the key thing to know: the two terminals are not physically connected before security. If you need to get from one to the other, you’ll have to take a free courtesy shuttle from Level Zero of each terminal. Once you’re past security, though, you can travel between them on the Red or Blue Line trams that depart from the D gates.
Security and check-in at Harry Reid International Airport
Remote bag check
LAS offers complimentary Curbside Concierge service for checking luggage on domestic flights. You can find it inside the Airport Rent-A-Car Center and at the Terminal 3 departures kerb. You’ll still pay any airline bag fees and need to check them at least 90 minutes before your flight, but it means you can skip lugging your bags into the terminal and waiting in another queue.
The security checkpoint experience
LAS has three TSA checkpoints in Terminal 1, and the C/D checkpoint is conveniently open 24 hours. Terminal 3 has one large security checkpoint. Both terminals offer Fast Track lanes to speed things up, and UK citizens enrolled in Global Entry can use TSA PreCheck lanes where available.
Terminal 3 is home to TSA’s Innovation Checkpoint, where they test cutting-edge security tech. If you’ve got TSA PreCheck, you might encounter self-screening lanes that work like supermarket self-checkout, using facial recognition for IDs and automated scanning for bags. TSA officers can jump in via video if there’s an issue, but otherwise you’re running the show yourself.
Lounges and services at Harry Reid International Airport
Airport lounges
If you have access, the Centurion Lounge for eligible American Express card members at the D Gates (opposite Gate D1) is a swanky escape. There’s also a United Club (between Gates D33 and D35) and The Club at LAS, which has locations at both D Gates (near Gate D33) and E Gates (across from Gate E2) and offers day passes ($55, or £40) to all travellers. You might also get access through your airline status or as a credit card perk.
Spa and wellness services
Feeling the effects of a long flight? The Chiroport has a kiosk in Terminal 1 near Gate C24 for chiropractic and wellness services. If a massage or manicure is more your speed, XpresSpa has three locations: in Terminal 1 near the A/B Concourse Connector and near Gate D32, and in Terminal 3 near Gate E3.
Fitness centre
LAS is one of the few US airports with a full fitness centre. The ZEROlevel Fitness & Wellness Center is located pre-security in Terminal 1. It’s mostly used by airport employees, but passengers can buy a day pass for access to cardio equipment, free weights, machine weights, and group exercise classes. Rest & Relaxation Rooms are also available.
Walking paths
Trying to get your steps in or tire out the kids before a flight? The long hallways at the airport are perfect for a walk. Check out the Fly Fit maps on the LAS website, which lay out routes from 0.5 to 1.5 miles in both secure and non-secure areas and point out water fountains and toilets along the way.
Smoking areas
LAS is also one of the few airports in the country that still has smoking areas inside the terminals. You can find them in the enclosed Gaming Lounges at the B, C, D, and E Gates. Note that some additional smoking lounges may be temporarily closed, so check current status if this matters to your travel plans.
Unique Harry Reid International Airport amenities
Slot machines and gaming lounges
Here’s something you won’t find at most airports: LAS is one of only two US airports with slot machines in the terminals (Reno-Tahoe is the other). Nearly 1,400 machines are scattered pre- and post-security, and they’ll take your money just as fast as any Strip casino. But they do pay out. I once watched a woman win $500 (around £367) while waiting out a flight delay!
Aviation museum
If you’re curious about the role Nevada played in aviation history, check out the Howard W. Cannon Aviation Museum. The main exhibit is on Level 2 above the Terminal 1 baggage claim, with other displays scattered throughout the airport. The star artifact at the museum is the original 1958 Cessna 172 that still holds the World Endurance Aloft record: 64 days, 22 hours, 19 minutes, and 5 seconds in the air without touching the ground, set back in 1959. You’ll find it suspended over the north end of the baggage claim area in Terminal 1, so look up.
Art at the airport
Beyond the museum, LAS has an impressive art collection. Keep an eye out for colourful, large-scale paper aeroplane sculptures that soar above the concessions area at the D Gates, among other installations throughout the terminals.
Only in Las Vegas amenities
I love airports that make it clear which city you’re in the moment you hit the ground, and the LAS airport is clearly one of those. Besides the slot machines, you’ll find Liquor Library stores in the arrivals areas of both terminals (near Carousel 1 in Terminal 1 and Carousel 26 in Terminal 3), often with free samples.
Las Vegas is known as the ‘Wedding Capital of the World’ in part because of how easy it is to tie the knot. There’s no waiting period required. And in the weeks around Valentine’s Day, there’s no need to stop at city hall to get a marriage licence because the county’s clerk’s office sets up a pop-up marriage licence bureau right in the Terminal 1 bag claim area.
Viewing area
For any aviation enthusiasts, the Sunset Viewing Area off Sunset Road near the intersection of Escondido Street is a must-visit. It’s a popular spot for locals and travellers to watch planes take off and land against the desert sky.
Entertainment and dining at Harry Reid International Airport
You won’t go hungry at LAS. The airport has dozens of shops and restaurants to choose from, whether you need a quick snack or a full sit-down meal. And for a uniquely Vegas treat, look for one of the three Sprinkles cupcake vending machines (near Gate C24, in Terminal 3 near TSA, and between Gates A5 & A7).
This KAYAK-commissioned article is presented as-is, for general informational purposes only, and may not be up-to-date. The opinions contained in the article are original to the author and reflect their authentic experience, which may vary significantly from the experience of others.
