Transportation

As one of the leading tourist destinations in the world, with a record-breaking rate of population expansion, travel and transportation are of vital importance to the Las Vegas Valley. Studies are continually underway to determine the best course of action for infrastructure development to keep pace and support the varied needs of travelers throughout Southern Nevada.

In the Air

The Las Vegas Valley offers several options for both air and ground transportation. The areas prime hub of air transportation is McCarran International Airport.  Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport is currently home to 32 scheduled air carriers serving more than 95 non-stop destinations. The facility is recognized as the sixth busiest airport in the nation. 

With an anticipated maximum capacity for 53 million passengers, McCarran is continually studying ways to improve airport facilities and handle a continued growth in passenger count. The Clark County Department of Aviation is preparing to develop a second international airport in Southern Nevada on approximately 6,000 acres of land south of Las Vegas in Ivanpah Valley. The Ivanpah Valley Airport is expected to open in 2017.

The second busiest airport in the state, the North Las Vegas Airport, primarily supports air traffic flight training, tour companies and private pilot activity. The facility logs more than 230,000 operations annually. The airport has a state-of-the-art air traffic control tower and is equipped with the latest technology.

Henderson Executive Airport is home to two flight schools and one tour operator. As the Henderson area continues to grow in both population and business base, the airport is handling an increased amount of private and corporate travel. Future plans call for construction of a first-class general aviation corporate terminal.

Boulder City Municipal Airport has two full-size runways as well as one shorter runway to accommodate glider traffic. Two Grand Canyon tour operators are based here, as is a flight school.

Jean Airport is located approximately 20 miles south of Las Vegas on I-15. The facility has two runways and is used primarily for skydiving, glider and tourism-related activities. The airport also boasts a 6,000-square-foot special events building.

Laughlin-Bullhead International Airport serves commercial (Mesa Air), charter (Sun Country, Sun West International and Air Grand Canyon), general, military and corporate air traffic as well as the Sheble Flight School. The terminal houses a snack bar, a gift shop and three car rental agencies.

On the Ground

Ground transportation is especially important to Las Vegas. Because the area experiences a high influx of tourists and convention goers, the Valley has initiated numerous transportation initiatives.  Aside from public transportation methods, many hotels and event venues offer shuttles and/or private cars to accommodate meeting and event attendees.

The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) operates the city’s bus line, Citizens Area Transit (CAT). CAT consists of 49 routes served by 305 buses, carrying close to 150,000 passengers every day in the greater Las Vegas Valley.

RTC is also working toward development of the Southern Nevada Metropolitan Area Express (MAX) system. A hybrid between bus and rail systems, MAX has many features of rail service with the cost and flexibility of a bus, making it an effective transportation solution. The MAX project is a National Demonstration Project by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). It uses the latest technology to provide a high-quality, state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly transit alternative at a fraction of the cost of rail service.

ATC/Vancom operates specially-equipped buses for people with physical or mental disabilities who cannot independently use regular bus service. This shared-ride, curb-to-curb bus service runs to and from any location in the valley and is especially convenient for special-interest meetings or events.

Located next to the Plaza Hotel in Downtown, Greyhound offers service to 2,400 locations nationwide. Tickets can be purchased just prior to departure; however, discounts may be offered for some advance ticket purchases.

Another invaluable solution for transportation needs is the Las Vegas Monorail. The $650 million Las Vegas Monorail is currently four miles long and travels along the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard. The rail is most commonly used by tourists and conventioneers. Monorail officials have agreed to extend the monorail to McCarran International Airport as well as to the resorts on the west side of Strip.

While the quality of public transportation in Las Vegas is exceptional, meeting planners often choose to use private modes to transport groups from one location to another. One valuable amenity that many hotels offer is free shuttle service around the city and to and from the airport. This service lowers transportation cost and makes traveling more concise.

Another popular private transportation option is the use of buses, limos and cabs. Las Vegas is home to numerous companies that make chartering transportation painless and convenient.  This is a great option for large groups that want to have transportation on hand at all times. This method might be less cost effective, but it offers meeting planners a piece of mind that is invaluable. Transportation companies take great pride in being on time and offering a safe, reliable trip to their riders.

Overall, transporting groups of all sizes is simple in Las Vegas. With many public and private options to choose from, the city has put itself in a position to offer impeccable services to meeting and event attendees.