What It’s Like Riding Zoox’s Free Driverless Cars in Las Vegas

^{A Zoox driverless robotaxi passes the Flamingo and other casinos on the Las Vegas Strip during the company’s free ride pilot. (Photo: Travis P. Ball / Sipa US)}

LAS VEGAS — If you’ve spent any time on the Strip lately, you’ve probably seen the small, square-looking vehicles pulling up to valet areas at a few of your favorite casinos or attractions. But they aren't your typical rideshare vehicles: they’re fully driverless robotaxis!

These vehicles are made by Zoox, a self-driving car company piloting driverless rides on and around the Las Vegas Strip. And even better, the rides are completely free right now, making them an intriguing option for hopping between certain casinos, shopping centers, and attractions.

With rideshare prices always flip-flopping and the rise of parking fees for locals, the chance to ride around the Strip for free was decently tempting. So I decided to take a couple rides myself to see how the service actually works and feels. 

Inside the Robotaxi Experience in Las Vegas

Zoox is a company that’s been developing self-driving vehicles for about 11 years. Las Vegas is Zoox's first service market open to the public as of September 2025 for free rides. The company began to remove public riders from its waitlist in San Francisco in November 2025, and is also testing in several cities including Seattle, Austin, Miami, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. with its Test Fleet of retrofitted vehicles. The cars look futuristic, but the system for using them is simple.

As of right now, the service only does rides at a few Strip casinos including Excalibur, Resorts World, Luxor, New York New York, and the Wynn. They also offer service to several attractions around the Strip including Fashion Show Mall, Topgolf, and AREA15.

 The company has confirmed that T-Mobile Arena and Sphere Las Vegas are new partner locations soon to be added to the app, and more locations are planned to be added over time. 

To request a ride in Las Vegas, you’ll need to download the Zoox app and be in the area around the Strip. As long as you’re 500 meters within the general pickup zone for that location, the vehicle will show up just like an Uber. The app displays the car’s license plate, ETA, and a survey to get feedback after the ride is done.

The rides typically operate from around 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., depending on property hours. Service may also be paused during certain events, like they didn’t offer any rides around the Formula One Grand Prix last month. 

Safety is a huge consideration and the Zoox team knows that’s likely one thing people are weary about. The vehicle’s technology relies heavily on sensors, remote support, and seatbelt requirements. 

“Before a rider gets into one of our vehicles, Zoox conducts a robust safety assurance process to validate that our vehicles are ready for autonomous driving,” a Zoox representative said. “Through a formal process, we document, evaluate, and acknowledge potential safety risks in the technical system before Zoox test vehicles drive on public roads. We also validate Zoox vehicles’ readiness for launch in each operational area and scope.”

Even though competitors like Waymo are already offering paid driverless rides in other major U.S. cities, Zoox is using Las Vegas as a test city to refine its system as it awaits regulatory approval. 

Still, not everyone is sold on the idea of getting into a self-driving car. Many locals don't trust autonomous vehicles at all. 

“I haven’t used Zoox, but I’ve taken Waymo when I lived in L.A.. I wouldn’t really try it again,” said Sergio, a local who works at Fashion Show Mall. “They feel too unpredictable and brake too quickly.”

Stepping into a Driverless Future

I decided to try Zoox’s service myself by taking two rides on a Wednesday afternoon: a trip back and forth between Resorts World and Fashion Show Mall. To my surprise, the entire process felt smoother than I expected.

One thing to note: the app won’t even show ride availability until you’re near the Strip. I ordered my first ride while still inside Fashion Show Mall, and by the time I walked outside, the Zoox vehicle was already pulling up to the rideshare area. The longest wait I had all afternoon was about five minutes.

The exterior of a Zoox vehicle as it arrives at the rideshare area at Fashion Show Mall. (Photo: Vanessa Alves-Johnson / Casinos.com)

To unlock the door, you need to press a button on the app. This is a clever safeguard to ensure it picks up the right person. The vehicle seats four passengers total, with everyone facing inward. The ride won’t start moving until all passengers have seatbelts on, and there are remote assistance buttons inside the vehicle in case you need help before or during the trip.

Once you sit down and buckle up, the vehicle begins moving on its own. Passengers are able to adjust the temperature and choose from a handful of preset music options. It was a bit of a bummer to not have Bluetooth connectivity to play music from my phone, but who can complain about something that’s free?

It’s worth noting that the route specifically takes low-traffic routes and avoids busy streets. On my trip from Fashion Show to Resorts World, it didn’t take Las Vegas Boulevard or Spring Mountain. Instead, it opted for the quieter back routes behind the properties. It’s clear the system is designed to reduce risk while in its free pilot phase.

Along with having adjusted routes, not every destination is always available at any given time. For example, I wasn’t able to request a ride to AREA15 later that afternoon even though it showed that the location was open on the app. 

The ride itself was comfortable and smooth for the most part, though the braking can be a little abrupt at times. This was something I had observed in prior conversations with others who had taken rides in the vehicles as well.

A Zoox concierge was also stationed at Resorts World, helping to answer questions and make sure people knew how the system worked. For a pilot program, the whole experience felt surprisingly polished.

Is Zoox Changing How People Travel Around the Strip?

From a practical standpoint, Zoox is a great way to save on rideshare fees or parking especially if you’re staying at or visiting any of the properties in the pilot zone.

MGM-owned resorts like Luxor and New York New York all charge parking fees for locals and non-hotel guests after a set period, so it can be worthwhile for a free ride between properties. Trips from Resorts World, Fashion Show Mall, AREA15, or Topgolf can add up quickly if you’re hopping around multiple times a day.

Zoox also solves the issue of long walks between nearby destinations.

Though the idea of getting into a self-driving carbon-fiber box might be a hard sell to some, a lot of people are intrigued by the service.

“It’s futuristic, and I really want to ride in one,” said Paige Porter, a guest at Red Rock Casino. “The self-driving part does scare me a bit, but I’m kind of living on the edge. I’d definitely use it if it were offered at Red Rock, but I’d really love to pick one up at the Wynn. Traffic out here is already bad, so a cool taxi service like that feels really convenient. I’d take it on New Year’s Eve if it were available, though I know all the street closures could make it tricky."

I spoke with a few people in the rideshare area at Resorts World after my arrival. To my surprise, tourists seemed most open to trying out Zoox, while many locals expressed being hesitant, particularly those with their own car.

But for visitors who are already in vacation mode (especially younger travelers) the demand is absolutely there. And as the service expands its pickup zones, it’ll become an even bigger part of how people move around the Strip.