Las Vegas F1 Road Closures: How to Get Around When the Strip Is the Track

For three days in November, the best advice for getting around Las Vegas — walk the Strip — becomes the worst. During the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, November 19–21, 2026, Las Vegas Boulevard itself is the racetrack. The Boulevard, Harmon Avenue, and Koval Lane close for race hours, pedestrian routes get re-routed, and the moves that work the other 362 days of the year stop working.

The good news: the closures are predictable, they are mostly at night, and there is one piece of infrastructure that sails right past all of it. Here is the closure schedule, which streets shut, and how to actually move around — starting with the thing most visitors forget they can use.

The 2026 Dates and the Closure Schedule

The race runs Thursday, November 19 through Saturday, November 21, 2026, and it is a night race — which is the single most useful fact for planning. The heavy closures are in the evening and overnight; the mornings are largely clear. On each of the three race days the pattern typically runs:

Treat those times as the recurring pattern, not a guarantee — the exact schedule and the detailed closure map are published closer to race week and can shift year to year. Confirm the current dates and times on the Clark County Formula 1 information page and the official Las Vegas Grand Prix site before you go.

Which Streets Close

The circuit is a roughly 3.8-mile street course, and the streets it takes over are the ones you would normally use to get around:

• Las Vegas Boulevard (the Strip) — the main straight, and the biggest closure of the weekend.
• Harmon Avenue — part of the circuit on the east side of the Strip.
• Koval Lane — the back-of-house road behind the east-side resorts, also part of the track.
• Sands Avenue and other connecting streets around the circuit.

During race hours these are closed to traffic, and at certain points only guests with a valid F1 ticket get continued access. The practical takeaway: do not plan to drive across the circuit in the evening, and do not assume the road your hotel sits on will be open.

The Monorail Runs 24 Hours — Use It

The Las Vegas Monorail runs 24 hours during race weekend, on the east side of the Strip, behind the resorts near Paradise Road — completely off the circuit. While the Boulevard is closed, it keeps moving. It is the piece of infrastructure most visitors forget they can use.

It connects MGM Grand at the south end up through Bally's/Horseshoe, Flamingo/Caesars, Harrah's/The LINQ, the Convention Center, and Sahara at the north end. If you are moving between east-side properties during race hours, it is faster than a rideshare stuck in the surrounding traffic, and it never has to cross a closed street. For most F1-weekend trips, the monorail is the answer.

Walking, Rideshare, and Which Side You're On

Walking. Most sidewalks along the circuit stay open, but some pedestrian access is re-routed for safety, and some crossings and pedestrian bridges require a valid F1 ticket during race hours. The Las Vegas Grand Prix mobile app publishes the current pedestrian routes. Plan for detours and longer-than-usual walks, and see our guide to real Strip walking times for the baseline distances before you add race-week reroutes.

Rideshare. Uber, Lyft, and taxis run to designated drop-off zones near each property, not the usual front doors, so expect to be dropped a few minutes' walk from your entrance. In race-week evening traffic they are often slower than the monorail. Our walk-or-Uber breakdown covers the normal tradeoff; during F1, weight it further toward the monorail.

Which side you're on. This is the fact that saves the most grief: know whether your hotel is on the east or west side of the Strip, because crossing the Boulevard during race hours is the hard part — it may require a specific pedestrian bridge or an F1 ticket. Group your evening plans on your own side of the street, and use the monorail (east side) rather than trying to cross.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are the Las Vegas F1 road closures in 2026?

The Grand Prix runs November 19–21. On each race day (Thursday–Saturday), soft closures typically begin around 3:00 PM, full closures around 5:00 PM, and roads reopen around 2:00 AM. It is a night race, so mornings are largely clear. Confirm exact current-year times on the Clark County and official Grand Prix pages.

Which streets close for the Las Vegas Grand Prix?

Las Vegas Boulevard (the Strip) as the main straight, plus Harmon Avenue, Koval Lane, Sands Avenue, and other connecting streets around the roughly 3.8-mile circuit. During race hours some access points are limited to F1 ticket holders.

Does the Las Vegas Monorail run during F1?

Yes — it runs 24 hours during race weekend and is the most reliable way around. Because it runs on the east side behind the resorts, off the circuit, it avoids the closures entirely and connects the south Strip up to Sahara at the north end.

Can you still walk the Strip during F1?

Mostly, yes. Most sidewalks stay open, but some pedestrian access is re-routed and some crossings and bridges require a valid F1 ticket during race hours. Expect detours; the Grand Prix app publishes current walking routes.

How do you get to your hotel during the road closures?

Rideshare and taxis use designated drop-off zones near each property rather than the front entrance, so you may walk the last few minutes. The monorail is often faster to your zone. Knowing which side of the Strip your hotel is on matters most, since crossing during race hours is difficult.

Is the Strip closed all day during the Grand Prix?

No. It is a night race, so closures are concentrated in the evening and overnight — soft around 3:00 PM, full around 5:00 PM, reopening around 2:00 AM. Daytime is largely accessible, so plan driving and check-in for the morning and early afternoon.