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're genuinely useful for cutting down walking time—especially in summer heat—and they cost nothing to ride.

Both systems run on elevated tracks behind the casinos, so you won't see them from the Strip sidewalk. 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. It's one of the most useful free transportation options on the Strip, especially if you're staying at any of the connected properties.

Stations

1. Park MGM / Aria 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: Park MGM, Aria, NoMad Las Vegas
2. Crystals Station
   Located above The Shops at Crystals. The station entrance is inside the mall on the upper level.
   Also serves: Aria (via walkway), Waldorf Astoria, Cosmopolitan (short walk)
3. Bellagio 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)

Hours and Frequency

• Hours: 8am – 2am daily
• Frequency: Every 6–10 minutes
• 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 inside Mandalay Bay, near the convention center area. From the casino floor, follow signs for “Tram” or “Luxor/Excalibur.”
   Also serves: Delano Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Mandalay Bay Beach
2. Luxor Station
   Located outside, near Luxor's main entrance by the sphinx. This station is partially outdoors (covered but not fully enclosed).
   Note: See the direction quirk below—southbound trains skip this station.
3. Excalibur Station
   Located at the north end of Excalibur, at the corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Tropicana Ave. This station connects to the pedestrian bridges that cross to MGM Grand and New York-New York.
   Also serves: Easy access to Tropicana intersection and the rest of the Strip

Hours and Frequency

• Hours: Mon–Fri: 11am–10:30pm | Sat–Sun: 11am–12:30am
• Frequency: Every 3–7 minutes
• Ride time: About 3 minutes Mandalay Bay to Excalibur; ~7 minutes with Luxor stop

Important: The Luxor Direction Quirk

The Mandalay Bay Tram has two tracks that operate differently:

• Northbound (Mandalay Bay → Excalibur): Stops at Luxor.
• Southbound (Excalibur → Mandalay Bay): Runs express and skips Luxor.

This means if you're at Excalibur and want to reach Luxor, the tram won't help—you'd have to ride to Mandalay Bay and come back. In that case, just use the indoor walkway between Excalibur and Luxor instead (it has moving sidewalks and takes about 5 minutes).

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 traveling northbound 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 one short walk in between.

The route:

1. Take the Mandalay Bay Tram from Mandalay Bay to Excalibur.
2. Exit at Excalibur and walk through New York-New York (use the pedestrian bridge from the tram station).
3. Continue through Park MGM to reach the 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 whole way on the Strip, but it's mostly air-conditioned and avoids outdoor heat.

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. The tram will resume service when Hard Rock Las Vegas opens in late 2027.

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:

• Free trams: West side of the Strip (Bellagio, Aria, Park MGM, Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur). No cost.
• Monorail: East side of the Strip (MGM Grand, Flamingo, Harrah's, Convention Center, SAHARA). Costs $5.50+ per ride.

If your trip is entirely on the west side, 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. 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.

Skip the Guesswork

Casino Compass shows you when the free trams save time versus when walking is faster—including the station walks that add up. Download Casino Compass before your Vegas trip and get accurate door-to-door directions.