How to Keep a Monsoon From Ruining Your Las Vegas Vacation

^{The High Roller on the Las Vegas Strip looks a little different after a rain storm. (Photo: Brett Le Blanc on X.com)}

Las Vegas monsoon season is underway, and there can be fast and powerful thunderstorms that cause flash flooding at any time. This unofficial season usually lasts through September.

While the monsoon weather typically doesn't last long, it can cause plenty of damage. There's no doubt that there will be plenty of "Vegas is flooding" videos posted minutes after the monsoon hits. 

This is by design and why there’s no ground-level parking at The Linq. Rain that falls within a 14-mile radius of the casino will flow through the area behind the casino called the Flamingo Wash that was built in the 1970s. 

Safety First: Seek Shelter Before Activities

It's not safe or comfortable to be outside during monsoon conditions in Las Vegas because winds can get into the 70 miles per hour range, the streets may flood quickly and there can be lightning strikes. It's safest to remain indoors while the skies are open.

While there are worse things than being stuck in a casino during the torrential downpours, there are plenty of things to do to avoid the heat, humidity and moisture. Gambling is one easy way to pass the time, but not everyone in Las Vegas plays slots or hits the tables. Some families don't want to stay cooped up in hotel rooms waiting for the skies to clear.

Monsoons in Las Vegas are sudden but not immediate. We can see the skies getting very dark, and they appear as though they're going to explode at some point.

This allows for a little bit of time to make a plan for the next couple of hours. Following are some ideas to do in Las Vegas to pass the time during the next downpour. These indoor activities are also great ways to beat the heat in general.

Visit South Strip Casinos

There are several things to do under one roof at Mandalay Bay, Luxor and Excalibur since they're all connected.

The Shark Reef Aquarium inside Mandalay Bay is one of the most popular family-friendly activities in Las Vegas. The aquarium is about 10 minutes away from the casino floor, and navigating it should take anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes. 

Another option in the casino is to play Swingers Crazy Golf, which opened as an adults-only venue but is now all-ages during the day. Guests can play mini golf, carnival games and grab food and drinks.

After this, if you skip eating at Mandalay Bay, you can grab a bite in Mandalay Place on the way to Luxor to play video games at HyperX Arena, check out the Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition, or play one of 20 games at Play Playground. While it's billed as an "adult playground," it's open for all ages during the day.

The Fun Dungeon next door at Excalibur has a variety of carnival games, sports games and more video games. If it’s afternoon, you can take a break here and watch the Mac King Comedy Show at 3 p.m.

While you're at this end of the Strip, you can head across the street to the Pinball Hall of Fame. It's a fun place to spend a couple of hours, but it's a short walk outside, and you could get caught in a blast of rain.

Watch The Wizard of Oz

Seeing "The Wizard of Oz" at the Sphere is an “only-in-Vegas: experience. No other venue around the country has this special version of the film and a venue with 4D haptics to feel the tornado during the movie.

This might be too on the nose for anyone looking for an escape from a storm, but that's also what could make the experience even more memorable.

The film has a running time of 75 minutes and, word of caution, you might have to walk outside for a couple of minutes if the connecting bridge is closed for a convention.

Walk Through Art at Bellagio

Bellagio has two of the best free attractions in Las Vegas. While you might want to skip the fountain show during a monsoon, you can walk through the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. The summer display is as beautiful as ever.

The walk through the conservatory won't take too much time, but there's more art inside the casino. The Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art has rotating displays from around the world throughout the year.

The gallery has museum-quality exhibitions. The current exhibition is "Animal Mummies in Ancient Egypt." The collection of 30 animal mummies is from the Egyptian collection storage vaults of the Brooklyn Museum.

Most people don't think about art when the Vegas Strip comes to mind, but there's much more than they realize…as you’ll see below.

Head to a Shopping Mall

The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace and the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian have plenty to do while escaping the monsoon or the heat.

Obviously, these are places to eat and shop, but they also have interactive activities, arcades and art galleries.

The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace offers the most options. The Escape Game has eight different escape rooms that will take about an hour to solve. This can be a fun way for a group or family to pass the time while bonding.

The F1 Arcade is a bar, restaurant and arcade for race fans. Stop here and play one of the 87 F1 racing simulators, then grab a bite for lunch or dinner. While there are more activities at F1's Grand Prix Plaza, Caesars Palace has more simulators.

This might come as a surprise, but the Forum Shops has multiple art galleries for guests. Choose from Kush Fine Art Gallery, Martin Lawrence Galleries and Park West Fine Art Museum & Gallery.

The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian has even more variety of activities. Paniq Escape Room and Lounge has several different games to play. If this is a family affair, the adults can grab a drink in the lounge if they'd rather not spend 45 minutes playing the game.

Sandbox VR is a new addition to The Venetian's mall and has 11 different games. The virtual reality experiences are available for two to six players and include some familiar titles like "Stranger Things" and "Squid Game."

Flight Club Social Darts is a great time for anyone who loves the game. The different games available and video content of the players make it fun for all. The food is delicious, and there's a great happy hour.

Madame Tussauds at The Venetian is always updating the celebrities on display at the wax museum. There are several spaces like Viva Las Vegas, music icons, The Hangover movie bar and more.

You can literally spend hours at these malls on activities. They also have more affordable food and beverage options than the casino floors.