Casinos.com’s Guide to Planning New Year’s Eve on the Las Vegas Strip

^{The general public comes out in droves to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas, as seen here. (Photo: Chris Sakura / Alamy)}

LAS VEGAS -- When you think of New Year’s Eve in Vegas, you probably imagine massive groups of tourists lining up along the Strip to watch dazzling firework displays. But you may not think about sitting in endless traffic after the festivities or waiting 30 to 40 minutes for an Uber after all the celebrations have died down. 

New Year’s Eve brings hundreds of thousands to Las Vegas. Most major Strip resorts launch fireworks along with the Plaza in Downtown Las Vegas. This year, 340,000 people are expected to be out in the heart of the city to watch the fireworks or attend events on the Strip.

Because of that, planning ahead is essential for anyone who wants to venture out onto the Strip. Las Vegas is already an expensive city, and New Year’s Eve is consistently one of the priciest nights of the year. Reservations for restaurants, bars, and nightclubs often sell out well in advance, but buying tickets early can also help avoid higher prices at the door as events get closer.

Here are important considerations to make before you decide to venture out on the Las Vegas strip to ring in the New Year.

Road Closures on the Strip 

Transportation is one of the most important aspects to consider once plans are set.

On New Year’s Eve, Las Vegas Boulevard is typically closed to vehicle traffic from Spring Mountain in the north down to Tropicana in the south. For those who don’t have the best internal compass, that basically covers the heart of the Strip from the Wynn and Venetian all the way down to Excalibur. 

Along with the Strip closure, several freeway off-ramps and surface streets will be closed. This will surely affect drivers just passing through even if they’re not attending a Strip celebration. Additional closures include:

• North and southbound I-15 off-ramps to Tropicana Ave and Flamingo Rd
• Northbound I-15 off-ramp to Harmon Ave
• Eastbound Tropicana Ave from I-15 to Las Vegas Blvd
• Eastbound Flamingo Rd from Valley View Blvd to Las Vegas Blvd
• Hotel Rio Dr at Dean Martin Dr

Street closures are expected to begin at 5:30 p.m., so anyone attending celebrations within this area should plan to arrive early. Waiting too long can mean having to walk far to your destination or paying significantly more to use rideshare apps.

The Reality of Using Rideshare on New Year’s Eve

Not everyone wants to drive on the Strip on New Year’s Eve, so rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are the next best option. But it’s a whole different ballpark of expectations to be aware of in advance.

Surge pricing is common on holidays, especially heading to or from the Strip. This causes ride prices to double in cost, and wait times can also be much longer than normal due to traffic restrictions and demand. 

Picture this for comparison: I ventured onto to Fremont Street for Halloween earlier this year for the first time, not knowing just how busy it can get. To get from the downtown Las Vegas area to Summerlin, the lowest fare I had seen all night was about $50, compared to the usual $20. As I kept checking the app, it even skyrocketed to $74 at one point. 

We weren’t lucky enough to even get into any nightclubs for the celebrations, so at least this would have been my only expense. If Halloween was this packed, you can expect the same for New Year’s Eve without a doubt.

But if you budget well by attending a free celebration or carpooling with friends, the net cost of the night can be minimized to just transportation. 

Yes, There are Options Other than Driving or Rideshare

If driving or using rideshare aren’t your style, there are in fact some public transportation options worth considering.

The Las Vegas Monorail is often overlooked to get around in Las Vegas, but is one of the most reliable options on New Year’s Eve.  Because it operates above street level and travels directly between casino-resorts, it isn’t impacted by Strip closures in the same way.

The monorail runs continuously from Dec. 31 until Jan. 2. It’s an affordable, reliable option for getting to your destination or closer to the destination before using rideshare. A ticket for a single ride is $5.50 when purchased online, but locals only pay $1.

The Regional Transit Commission (RTC) has a tradition of offering free public bus rides on New Year's Eve, and this year is no different. The promotion starts at 6 p.m on Dec. 31 and will go up until 9 a.m on Jan. 1. 

While public buses still operate, many routes that service the Strip are detoured onto back routes behind some casinos. This means longer waits and less convenient stops, especially for visitors unfamiliar with the area late at night.

According to the RTC, most Strip-routes are typically detoured until around 2 a.m and routes in downtown may remain detoured until about 5 a.m. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, riders should check the RTC website before heading out.

Roads usually begin reopening around 2 a.m., so be prepared to get settled in at the casino you’re at while waiting for an Uber. After all the celebrations, it’s a good time to rehydrate, hit the slots, or get some photos to ring in 2026.

What You Can (and Can’t) Bring on the Strip

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department maintains a heavy presence on the Strip every year for New Year’s Eve, often supported by National Guard members to ensure safety throughout the night. With that comes some restrictions on items people can bring to keep crowds safe.

Typically prohibited items include:

• Glass or metal containers
• Coolers
• Large bags or backpacks (over 12” x 12” x 12”)
• Laptops and large batteries
• Strollers

Food and water restrictions may also apply depending on location and time. Minors are generally not allowed on the Strip or downtown without a parent or legal guardian present.