Las Vegas Monorail — Map, Lines, Route, Hours, Tickets

The Las Vegas Monorail is a unique rail system that runs for 6.3km with seven stations in between. Opened in 2004, the service runs from 7am to midnight, 2am or 3am, depending on the day of the week. The fare for a single trip is set at $5.00 USD, although various day passes offer unlimited rides. There is no direct connection to the airport.

This transit system, often referred to as the ‘Monorail’, carries an average of 22,893 passengers per day. Unfortunately, specific information on fares is not included in this summary. The Monorail does not run 24 hours a day and does not have air conditioning. Passengers are not allowed to walk between platforms. An interesting fact about the Monorail is that it has been using driverless trains since 2004. The platforms are also equipped with screen doors.

The Monorail is operated by the Las Vegas Monorail Company. Operating hours are 7am to midnight on Mondays, 7am to 2am on Tuesdays to Thursdays and 7am to 3am on Fridays to Sundays. The fare is $5.00.

Metro Map of Las Vegas

Map of Las Vegas Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the Las Vegas Monorail map in PDF format.

A Glimpse into the U.S. Transit Systems: Las Vegas Monorail

Famous for its vibrant nightlife, casinos and gambling, Las Vegas attracts a large number of domestic and international tourists, making it one of the most visited cities in the United States. Its metropolitan area is home to approximately 1.9 million people. Although Las Vegas isn’t as large as other major US cities, it still manages to attract around 40 million visitors a year. Despite its harsh desert climate in the heart of Nevada, the city shows no signs of slowing down.

Many consider Las Vegas to be the world’s entertainment capital. The city is teeming with 5-star hotels, bars, casinos, water parks and other leisure and entertainment complexes. With such an influx of visitors, the need for an effective public transport system became apparent. This led to the birth of the Las Vegas Monorail in 2004, designed to provide convenient travel along The Strip, located south of downtown Las Vegas.

Despite its eventual success, the monorail system faced numerous challenges and delays at its inception, resulting in temporary shutdowns. A major concern was the unexpected detachment of train components during operation, creating a hazard for vehicles and pedestrians below.

After only two months of operation, the monorail had to be temporarily closed for the first time due to this problem. Service resumed in December of that year, only to be halted again in February due to complications with the power supply. However, this problem was quickly rectified. By 2006, the monorail was fully operational and even making a profit, despite its relatively short distance of 6.3km.

Lines and Stations

The monorail system consists of a single 4.2-mile (6.3 km) line running from the former Sahara Hotel and Casino complex (now the SLS Hotel & Casino Las Vegas) in the Winchester district to the southern portion of the famous Las Vegas Boulevard. The system includes seven stations, which, although small for a mass transit system, serve the city efficiently. Plans are underway to expand the system by adding five new stations to connect downtown and the airport.

An average of 13,500 people use the monorail every day. The trains can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h on certain sections and maintain a high standard of quality. Each train consists of four cars, providing comfortable and safe transport and a welcome respite from the intense Las Vegas heat.

Stations

SLS Station: This station was designed to bridge the gap between the historic Sahara Hotel & Casino (now closed) and the modern buildings that have sprung up around it. It is located within the SLS Las Vegas Resort, an entertainment hub with restaurants featuring international chefs, shops, luxury bazaars, pools and approximately 1,300 rooms spread over 30,000 square metres.
Westgate Station: Located within the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino complex, this station is famous for its Elvis Presley shows. The King” performed 837 sold-out concerts at this hotel (formerly known as the International Hotel). It offers themed rooms, arcades, restaurants and regular events featuring popular artists.
Convention Centre Station: Located in the building of the same name, it provides direct access to the convention complex, where numerous events and presentations are held each week. During major events, the monorail increases its frequency to serve this station every 4 minutes.
Harrah’s & The LINQ Station: Located across the street from Harrah’s Las Vegas, the LINQ Hotel and Casino and the LINQ Promenade, this station is surrounded by restaurants, bars and shops. Passengers can also visit the Brooklyn Bowl, a large performance space, and the High Roller observation wheel, which offers panoramic views of the city.
Flamingo & Caesars Palace Station: This station is located in the heart of the city, between the Flamingo Hotel, a performance oasis, and Caesars Palace, one of the city’s most famous and luxurious hotels. Passengers have direct access to a variety of restaurants, shops and nightlife. With 3,560 rooms, the hotel is the ideal place to stay.
Bally’s & Paris Station: Nestled between the Paris Las Vegas and Bally’s hotels, this station exudes the romantic charm of the City of Light, complete with a replica of the Eiffel Tower. The French architecture of the Paris Las Vegas hotel invites passengers to descend and explore its Parisian charm, complete with themed restaurants, shops, casinos and replicas of famous buildings.
MGM Grand Station: This south terminal is located at the MGM Grand Las Vegas. Known for its iconic hotel with an impressive 5,000 rooms and a variety of entertainment options from music and sports to themed parties, it’s the ideal location for tourists seeking the true Las Vegas experience without compromising on comfort and luxury.

Timetables and Schedule

The monorail operates every day, although hours vary according to the day of the week and demand. The typical timetable is as follows

Monday: Open from 7:00 am to midnight. This is the slowest day of the week.
Tuesday to Thursday: Open from 7:00am to 2:00am.
Friday to Sunday: 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.

Trains arrive at stations every 4 to 8 minutes, depending on passenger demand. During certain events, priority may be given to certain stations to increase the efficiency of the system.

Pricing

A single trip on the Monorail costs $5.00 USD. Tickets can be purchased from Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) located near the entrances to all stations, from Customer Service Ticketing Offices located throughout the system, or online. These offices do more than just sell tickets; they are staffed by a dedicated team who aim to provide an excellent passenger experience, answering questions, providing assistance and giving directions where needed. All offices accept credit and debit cards as well as cash.

It’s important to note that refunds are generally not available once a ticket has been purchased, except in special circumstances. Any issues in this area must be resolved through an online assistance process available on their website.

Customer Service Ticketing Offices are located at the following stations and are open from 10:00 to 18:00:

Bally’s & Paris Station
Flamingo & Caesars Palace Station
Harrah’s & The LINQ Station
Westgate Station
SLS Station

MGM Grand Station doesn’t have an office, but there is a customer service desk on the property where patrons can cancel tickets regardless of payment method. Harrah’s & The LINQ Station also offers this service. These two stations are the only ones in the system to offer this facility and are open Sunday through Thursday from 9:00am to 7:00pm and Friday and Saturday from 9:00am to 9:00pm.

Ticket Types

In addition to the $5.00 single ticket, the company offers several other fares, mainly for tourists:

Day Pass: For $12.00, this pass allows unlimited travel within a 24-hour period.
Two-day pass: For $22.00 USD, travellers can make unlimited use of the system for a full 48 hours.
Three-Day Pass: For $28.00, this pass allows unlimited travel on the monorail for 72 hours.
Four-Day Pass: This pass allows unlimited rides for 96 hours for $36.00 USD.
Five-Day Pass: This pass allows unlimited travel on the monorail for 120 hours for $43.00.
Seven-day pass: For $56.00 USD, this pass provides 168 hours of unlimited travel.

Users may occasionally receive special offers, discounts or free tickets from partner businesses and companies that benefit from the Monorail. A special discounted rate is also available for Nevada residents.

Vending Machines

The Las Vegas Monorail offers Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) at all stations and many of the hotels and entertainment venues served by the Monorail. These TVMs feature intuitive touch-screen interfaces designed to make the ticket purchase process easy and fast. The machines accept cash, credit and debit cards. However, for cash transactions, the amount of change returned cannot exceed $20.00 USD (dispensed as $1.00 USD coins).

Tickets can also be purchased from Customer Service Ticketing Offices, online as digital tickets, or directly at some hotel and venue receptions. The price of online tickets may vary when discount codes are applied.

Regulations

Prohibitions

Smoking is prohibited on trains and in facilities.
Passengers are not permitted to enter the driver’s cab.
Areas reserved for staff, train drivers or machinery are off-limits to passengers.
Begging is not allowed in stations or on trains.
Footwear is required for access to facilities.
Passengers under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances may be removed from the system and fined by the local authorities.
Passengers are not permitted to distract staff from carrying out their duties.
Deadly or dangerous objects are not permitted in stations or on trains.
Oversized items that cause inconvenience to other passengers are not allowed on the system.
Passengers should occupy only one seat on the monorail. Additional seats should not be used for luggage, bags or other items.
Personal music players are permitted only if the user is wearing headphones.
Any form of assault, harassment, intimidation or threat to another user of the system is strictly prohibited.
Emergency devices should only be used in genuine emergency situations.
Unauthorised distribution of leaflets or propaganda within the facilities is not permitted.
Throwing objects onto the monorail track is strictly prohibited.

Precautions

Passengers should remain behind the yellow line until the train has come to a complete stop.
To facilitate boarding and alighting, passengers are advised to stand on the platform to the side of the train doors, not directly in front of them.
It is recommended that passengers wait for the train to stop before disembarking.
Leaning against train doors should be avoided.
Do not obstruct the doors as this may cause injury.

Security

Each station on the system is staffed by safety personnel trained to respond to emergencies. They are also equipped to assist passengers with monorail related matters such as vending machines, destinations, tourist attractions and general information. They can also provide assistance to people with disabilities.

In addition, all trains and stations are equipped with telephone lines that connect directly to the control centre. These are located next to the train doors and distributed throughout the stations. To use them, passengers simply pick up the phone and staff will answer the call. They should be used without hesitation in the event of an emergency.

For added security, the monorail employs specially trained dog units that can detect explosives or other substances. These can be deployed in response to any suspicious activity or package to ensure the safety of passengers.

Future Expansions

Two major expansion projects were planned for the monorail. The first, proposed in 2005 and due to start construction in 2008, was to extend the system 3.7km to the north-east with four new stations. However, the project didn’t receive federal funding and was shelved.

The second, more recent project is to extend the monorail south and connect it to McCarran International Airport. This proposal has met with opposition from taxi and limousine drivers, as airport trips are a significant part of their business. Hotels and casinos, on the other hand, have supported the project, which would provide greater convenience for their customers.

In 2008, the monorail company presented details of the project, aligning the plan with an ongoing airport expansion. The intention was to complete the monorail extension by 2012, the same year as the airport expansion. By 2015, however, the expansion project was still in the planning stages. Local authorities revealed that a public transport master plan was being developed, which included a new underground light rail system running under the Strip to connect the international airport with the city centre. Both systems would operate independently and serve as complementary services.

Fun Facts and Recommendations

All stations are named after or refer to the nearest major hotel they serve. Some are actually within the hotel grounds.

Pets are not allowed inside the facilities, so passengers need to be aware of this when travelling with their pets.

During major events on the Strip, the monorail can get crowded. It can carry about 67,000 passengers a day (five times more than a normal day), the equivalent of about 22,000 taxi rides.

Each train can carry 222 passengers, with 72 seated and 150 standing.

All trains are fully electric, so they do not contribute directly to harmful emissions.

Actual air pollution levels on the Strip have fallen since the monorail began operating, as people prefer to use it rather than other vehicles.

Each monorail train consists of 4 cars and has 48 wheels (8 load tyres, 32 guide tyres, 4 steering tyres and 4 lateral support tyres).

Connection with the Airport

There is no direct connection between McCarran International and the Las Vegas Monorail. However, passengers can easily bridge the gap by using complementary transportation services. Many passengers take the monorail from the northernmost station to the MGM Grand station in the south and then take a taxi to the airport, saving some money on taxi fares because of the shorter distance.

The same applies if you are travelling from McCarran into the city. You can take a taxi to MGM Grand Station and then take the monorail to your destination, saving money and enjoying the views of the city that the monorail offers as it travels about 18m above the ground at its highest point (9m average).