MGM Grand to Aria: Walking Route, Free Tram, and Tips

MGM Grand and Aria are not directly connected, and they are farther apart than most guides admit: about 0.7 miles, or 15-20 minutes on foot. They also sit on opposite sides of Las Vegas Boulevard. The best route crosses the Strip on the New York-New York pedestrian bridge, runs north past The Park to Park MGM, and finishes on Park MGM's enclosed walkway to Aria — or the free Aria Express tram. Plan for the first half to be outdoors.

One thing to get straight up front: MGM Grand and Park MGM are two different casinos, and they are not next door to each other. MGM Grand is the green-glass giant on the east side of the Boulevard at Tropicana Avenue. Park MGM — the former Monte Carlo — is on the west side, two-thirds of a mile north, tucked between New York-New York and CityCenter beside T-Mobile Arena. If someone tells you to “take the tram from MGM Grand,” they're skipping a 10-15 minute walk and a Strip crossing.

Best Route: Through Park MGM (Recommended)

This isn't faster than walking the Boulevard — both run about 15-20 minutes. What it buys you is air-conditioned stretches to break up the walk, the option to ride the last leg, and a covered arrival inside Aria instead of the long approach from the Strip.

1. Start inside MGM Grand. Head toward the west side of the casino, away from the Convention Center, and follow signs for New York-New York.
2. Cross the Strip on the pedestrian bridge. MGM Grand connects to New York-New York by an elevated bridge over Las Vegas Boulevard. There is no direct connection from MGM Grand to Park MGM — you have to cross to the west side first.
3. Walk north past The Park. From New York-New York, continue north through or alongside The Park, the outdoor dining promenade that runs between New York-New York and Park MGM. This stretch is open-air. Budget 10-15 minutes from MGM Grand to Park MGM.
4. Cut through Park MGM. Once inside, head toward the north end of the casino (the Aria side, away from the Strip entrance).
5. Take the enclosed walkway to Aria. Follow signs for the Aria walkway. It's fully enclosed and air-conditioned, and it brings you out near the poker room area inside Aria.
6. Navigate to your destination within Aria.

Total time: 15-20 minutes depending on your pace, the bridge escalators, and how busy the casino floors are. The two legs break down as roughly 10-15 minutes to reach Park MGM, then 3-5 minutes on the walkway into Aria.

Alternative: Aria Express Tram

Instead of walking the whole way, you can ride the free Aria Express tram for the Park MGM → Aria leg. This only shortens the final stretch: you still have the full 10-15 minute walk from MGM Grand to Park MGM first, because the tram station is inside Park MGM, not MGM Grand.

1. Walk from MGM Grand to Park MGM (steps 1-3 above — the bridge to New York-New York, then north past The Park).
2. Find the Aria Express tram station. It's on the north side of Park MGM, toward the back of the building. Follow signs for the tram.
3. Ride one stop to Crystals. The Crystals station lets you out right next to Aria's entrance.

The tram saves a few minutes of walking and is worth it if you're tired or it's hot outside. It's also useful if you're continuing past Aria to Bellagio — just stay on for one more stop. For details on all free trams on the Strip, see our dedicated guide.

Alternative: Walk the Strip

If you want to window-shop or people-watch along the way, you can walk up Las Vegas Boulevard instead. This route is mostly outdoors.

1. Exit MGM Grand onto Las Vegas Boulevard (the Strip side).
2. Walk north along the west side of the Strip. You'll pass Park MGM and the entrance to The Park (the outdoor dining area between Park MGM and New York-New York).
3. Continue past CityCenter until you reach the Aria entrance on Las Vegas Boulevard.

Total time: 15-20 minutes — the same as the Park MGM route, which crosses the Strip and covers much the same ground. You trade the indoor stretches for a simpler walk and a long approach in from the Boulevard. One caveat: sidewalk construction along this stretch can slow you down and may require detours in 2026.

When to Skip Walking

• Extreme heat. This is the big one. The stretch from MGM Grand to Park MGM is 10-15 minutes largely in the open — the bridge, the sidewalk, and The Park promenade offer little shade. If it's over 105°F, a rideshare from MGM Grand's valet area to Aria's main entrance takes about 5 minutes and costs under $10.
• After 2am. The Aria Express tram stops running at 2am. The indoor walkway between Park MGM and Aria stays open 24/7, but navigating three casino floors at 3am is slower than a $8-10 rideshare.
• Mobility concerns. The full route covers roughly 0.7 miles, a bridge with escalators, and three casino floors, with very little seating along the way. A rideshare door-to-door is the better call.

Common Mistakes

• Confusing MGM Grand with Park MGM. They are two separate casinos on opposite sides of the Strip, about two-thirds of a mile apart — the shared “MGM” name is the only thing close about them. MGM Grand is the larger, green-tinted property on the east corner of Tropicana and Las Vegas Boulevard. Park MGM (formerly the Monte Carlo) is on the west side, north of New York-New York and beside T-Mobile Arena. If a guide says “take the tram from Park MGM,” it does not mean MGM Grand, and getting between them is a 10-15 minute walk, not a stroll next door. Our Park MGM map and layout guide lays out the difference property by property.
• Looking for a tram at MGM Grand. The Aria Express tram station is inside Park MGM, not MGM Grand. MGM Grand does have a transit station, but that's the Las Vegas Monorail on the east side of the building — a paid system that runs up the back side of the Strip and does not go to Aria.
• Confusing the Aria Express with the Las Vegas Monorail. The Monorail is a paid system ($6 a ride at the station, $5.50 online) running along the east side of the Strip. The Aria Express is a free tram running on the west side between Park MGM, Crystals, and Bellagio. They are completely separate systems. The Monorail has a stop at MGM Grand; the Aria Express does not.

Navigating Inside Each Property

Once you arrive, finding your way around inside each casino is its own challenge. For detailed layouts and wayfinding tips:

• How to Navigate MGM Grand: Casino layout, tower locations, finding restaurants and exits
• How to Navigate Aria: Casino layout, convention center, restaurants, and the sky suites
• Aria Parking: Where the underground CityCenter garage is, the two valet spots, and who parks free
• The Hidden Connections Between Vegas Casinos: The MGM Grand ↔ New York-New York pedestrian bridge plus every other tram, walkway, and bridge on the Strip

Frequently Asked Questions

Is MGM Grand connected to Aria?

Not directly. MGM Grand sits on the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard at Tropicana Avenue; Aria sits back from the west side inside CityCenter, about two-thirds of a mile away. The best route crosses the Strip on the MGM Grand to New York-New York pedestrian bridge, continues north past The Park to Park MGM, then uses Park MGM's enclosed walkway to Aria or the free Aria Express tram. Total time is 15-20 minutes, and the first half is outdoors.

Can I take a tram from MGM Grand to Aria?

There is no tram at MGM Grand itself. The free Aria Express tram departs from Park MGM, which is a separate property across the Strip and about two-thirds of a mile north. Walk from MGM Grand to Park MGM first (10-15 minutes, crossing on the New York-New York pedestrian bridge), then board the tram to Crystals, which lets you out right next to Aria. The tram runs daily from 8am to 2am.

How long does it take to walk from MGM Grand to Aria?

About 15-20 minutes. Cross Las Vegas Boulevard on the MGM Grand to New York-New York pedestrian bridge, walk north past The Park to Park MGM (10-15 minutes total), then take Park MGM's enclosed walkway to Aria (3-5 minutes) or ride the free Aria Express tram one stop. Walking straight up the Strip takes a similar 15-20 minutes; the Park MGM route is not faster, but it gives you air-conditioned stretches along the way, the tram option, and a covered arrival into Aria rather than the long walk in from the Boulevard.

What is the difference between MGM Grand and Park MGM?

MGM Grand and Park MGM are two separate casino-hotels owned by MGM Resorts, and they are not next to each other. MGM Grand is the large green-glass property on the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard at Tropicana Avenue. Park MGM (formerly the Monte Carlo) is on the west side of the Boulevard, roughly two-thirds of a mile north, sitting between New York-New York and CityCenter next to T-Mobile Arena. Getting from one to the other means crossing the Strip and walking 10-15 minutes.

Skip the Guesswork

Casino Compass gives you turn-by-turn directions between MGM Grand and Aria, including inside each casino. Download Casino Compass before your trip and stop wandering around looking for the tram station, the walkway entrance, or which property you're even in.