Free Trams on the Las Vegas Strip: Routes, Hours, and Station Locations

Unlike the paid Las Vegas Monorail (which runs on the east side of the Strip), two free tram systems operate on the west side, connecting MGM Resorts properties. They cut walking time significantly — especially in summer heat — and they cost nothing to ride.

The Aria Express runs on an elevated track behind the casinos. The Mandalay Bay Tram runs along the front of Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and Excalibur, on the Las Vegas Boulevard side. Stations are inside or adjacent to the properties they serve.

Aria Express (Park MGM – Crystals – Bellagio)

The Aria Express connects the CityCenter area to Bellagio. If you're staying at any of the connected properties, this tram saves you a deceptively long walk.

Stations

1. Park MGM Station
   Located between Park MGM and Aria. From Park MGM, follow signs through the back of the casino to the elevated station. From Aria, the station is accessible via a walkway near the parking garage.
   Also serves: Aria, The Reserve at Park MGM (formerly NoMad), The Park, and T-Mobile Arena
2. Crystal Shops Station
   Located above The Shops at Crystals. The station entrance is inside the mall on the upper level.
   Also serves: Aria Resort & Casino (via walkway), Waldorf Astoria
3. Bellagio/Vdara Station
   Located near the Bellagio Spa Tower (south end of the property), not the main entrance. You'll walk past the convention center and Spa Tower lobby to reach the casino floor and main areas.
   Also serves: Vdara (adjacent) and The Cosmopolitan

Hours and Frequency

• Hours: Generally 8am – 2am daily. Published hours vary between sources and extend for T-Mobile Arena events — worth checking before a late-night trip.
• Frequency: Every 7–10 minutes. Two trams run the line, so the wait on the platform is usually shorter than the headway.
• Ride time: About 2–3 minutes between stations; ~6 minutes end-to-end

When to Use It

The Aria Express is worth using when:

• You're traveling between Bellagio and Park MGM/Aria —the walk is longer than it looks
• You want to reach Crystals for shopping or dining without walking outside
• It's hot and you want air conditioning for part of your route
• You're connecting to the Mandalay Bay tram (see below) for a longer south Strip journey

Tip: The Bellagio station is far from the main casino floor. If you're heading to the fountains or front entrance, you'll still have a 5–7 minute walk after exiting the tram.

Mandalay Bay Tram (Mandalay Bay – Luxor – Excalibur)

The Mandalay Bay Tram connects the three southernmost resorts on the Strip. It's useful for reaching Mandalay Bay (conventions, events, restaurants) without the long walk from the main Strip action.

Stations

1. Mandalay Bay Station
   Located at the north end of Mandalay Bay's casino, up the escalators past House of Blues. From the casino floor, follow signs for "Tram" or "Luxor/Excalibur."
   Also serves: W Las Vegas (formerly Delano) and the Four Seasons
2. Luxor Station
   Located outside, near Luxor's main entrance by the sphinx. This station is partially outdoors (covered but not fully enclosed).
   Note: Only the local tram stops here; see the express quirk below.
3. Excalibur Station
   Located at the north end of Excalibur, at the corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Tropicana Ave, where the open-air pedestrian bridges land. One crosses Tropicana Ave to New York-New York; MGM Grand is diagonally across the intersection, one more bridge from there.
   Also serves: Easy access to Tropicana intersection and the rest of the Strip

Hours and Frequency

• Hours: Generally 10am – midnight daily. Published hours vary between sources — worth checking before a late trip.
• Frequency: Every 3–7 minutes (about every 5 on average)
• Ride time: About 3 minutes on the express (Excalibur to Mandalay Bay, no stops); about 7 minutes on the local, which stops at Luxor

Important: Only the Local Stops at Luxor

The Mandalay Bay Tram has two tracks that operate differently:

• The local: stops at Excalibur, Luxor and Mandalay Bay.
• The express: runs straight between Excalibur and Mandalay Bay and skips Luxor.

This means if you're at Excalibur and want to reach Luxor, the tram only helps if you board the local, and trams leaving Excalibur often run express straight to Mandalay Bay. The sure way is the indoor walkway between Excalibur and Luxor — fully enclosed, ramp-accessible, and 5 to 7 minutes between casino floors. (The moving sidewalks that once ran along this connector were removed by MGM Resorts.)

When to Use It

The Mandalay Bay Tram is worth using when:

• You're heading to Mandalay Bay from the Tropicana intersection area
• You have an event at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center or Events Center
• You're connecting from the main Strip (via Excalibur) to the south Strip properties
• You're riding the local and want to stop at Luxor

For Excalibur-to-Luxor specifically, the indoor walkway is usually faster than waiting for the tram.

Connecting the Two Tram Systems

You can travel from Mandalay Bay all the way to Bellagio using both free trams, with a walk in between that is partly outdoors.

The route:

1. Take the Mandalay Bay Tram from Mandalay Bay to Excalibur.
2. Exit at Excalibur and cross the open-air pedestrian bridge over Tropicana Ave to New York-New York.
3. Walk through New York-New York, then outdoors along The Park or the Strip sidewalk to Park MGM and its Aria Express station.
4. Take the Aria Express to Crystals or Bellagio.

Total time: About 20–25 minutes including the walk through New York-New York and Park MGM. It's not faster than walking the Strip, but the two tram rides keep you out of the heat for part of the trip, which matters in 110°F summers.

What About the Treasure Island–Mirage Tram?

The free tram that connected Treasure Island and The Mirage is currently not operating. The Mirage closed on July 17, 2024 and is being rebuilt as Hard Rock Las Vegas. Treasure Island and the Mirage said in 2024 that the tram will return when Hard Rock Las Vegas opens (Yogonet, July 2024), currently expected in late 2027 (CDC Gaming, August 2026).

For now, to travel between Treasure Island and the Venetian/Palazzo area, use the pedestrian bridge across Las Vegas Boulevard.

Free Trams vs. the Paid Monorail

The free trams and the Las Vegas Monorail serve different parts of the Strip and don't connect to each other:

If your trip is between casinos the free trams serve (Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and Excalibur, or Park MGM, Aria, and Bellagio), use the free trams. If you need to reach the Convention Center, Westgate, or SAHARA, you'll need the monorail (or walking/rideshare).

Tips for Riding

• Check hours before late-night trips. Both trams stop running well before the casinos close. After midnight (or 2am for Aria Express), you'll need to walk or take a rideshare.
• Follow signs inside the casinos. Aria Express stations aren't visible from the Strip. Look for "Tram" signs inside each property.
• Factor in walking time to stations. The tram ride is quick, but getting to and from stations can add 5–10 minutes on each end.
• The Aria Express Bellagio station is far from the action. You'll walk past the convention center and Spa Tower before reaching the main casino, conservatory, or fountains.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the Strip trams free?

Yes. Both Strip trams are completely free. The Aria Express connects Park MGM, Crystals/Aria, and Bellagio. The Mandalay Bay Tram connects Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and Excalibur. No tickets or passes are needed.

What are the Aria Express hours?

The Aria Express generally runs 8am to 2am daily, with trams arriving every 7-10 minutes -- two trams operate, so the platform wait is usually shorter. Published hours vary and extend for T-Mobile Arena events, so check before a late-night trip. It connects Park MGM, Crystals/Aria, and Bellagio on the west side of the Strip.

Does the tram stop at Luxor going south?

Only the local tram stops at Luxor; the express runs straight between Excalibur and Mandalay Bay, skipping it. Trams leaving Excalibur often run express, so to reach Luxor from Excalibur, use the indoor walkway instead.

Can I ride from Mandalay Bay to Bellagio by tram?

Not directly. Take the Mandalay Bay Tram to Excalibur, cross the open-air bridge over Tropicana Ave to New York-New York, walk through New York-New York and then outdoors to Park MGM, and ride the Aria Express from its station inside Park MGM to Bellagio. Total time is about 20-25 minutes.

Where is the Aria tram?

The Aria tram is the free Aria Express, which runs on the west side of the Strip between Park MGM, the Crystal Shops, and Bellagio/Vdara. Aria is served by two of its stations: the Park MGM station (a walkway near Aria's parking garage) and the Crystal Shops station (above The Shops at Crystals, connected to Aria by walkway). It is free, runs about 8am to 2am, and arrives every 7–10 minutes.

Where is the Mandalay Bay tram?

The Mandalay Bay tram is a free tram connecting Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and Excalibur at the south end of the Strip. Its Mandalay Bay station is at the north end of Mandalay Bay's casino, up the escalators past House of Blues. From the casino floor, follow signs for “Tram” or “Luxor/Excalibur.” It runs about 10am to midnight, every 3–7 minutes. One quirk: only the local tram stops at Luxor; the express runs straight between Excalibur and Mandalay Bay.