Las Vegas Monorail: Stations, Hours, Prices, and When It's Worth It

The Las Vegas Monorail runs along the east side of the Strip, from MGM Grand at the south end to SAHARA at the north. It's fast, air-conditioned, and avoids all traffic. But here's what the marketing doesn't tell you: the stations are on the back side of the casinos, not the Strip side. Getting to and from the platform can take 5–10 minutes of walking through each property.

For longer trips, the monorail is genuinely useful. For short trips, you might spend more time walking to the station than you would have just walking the whole route. This guide helps you decide when it makes sense.

The 7 Monorail Stations

From south to north:

1. MGM Grand Station
   Connected to: MGM Grand
   Nearby: New York-New York, Park MGM, T-Mobile Arena (via pedestrian bridge)
   The southern terminus. Station is at the back of MGM Grand, far from the Strip entrance.
2. Horseshoe/Paris Station
   Connected to: Horseshoe (formerly Bally's), Paris Las Vegas
   Nearby: Planet Hollywood, Cromwell
   Good access to mid-Strip casinos on the east side.
3. Flamingo/Caesars Palace Station
   Connected to: Flamingo, Caesars Palace (back entrance)
   Nearby: LINQ Promenade, High Roller, Cromwell
   Note: Despite the name, the station is closer to Flamingo. Reaching Caesars Palace from here requires a significant walk through the property.
4. Harrah's/The LINQ Station
   Connected to: Harrah's, LINQ Hotel
   Nearby: LINQ Promenade, Venetian (across the street)
   Convenient for the mid-Strip and LINQ Promenade area.
5. Boingo Station at Las Vegas Convention Center
   Connected to: Las Vegas Convention Center (South/Central Halls)
   Nearby: Venetian Expo (via shuttle), Sphere (~1 mile east)
   The busiest station during major conventions like CES. Note: No customer service desk at this station.
6. Westgate Station
   Connected to: Westgate Las Vegas
   Nearby: Fontainebleau (walking distance), Convention Center North/West Halls
   Off the main Strip but useful for conventions and the Westgate casino.
7. SAHARA Station
   Connected to: SAHARA Las Vegas
   Nearby: The STRAT (short walk north), Las Vegas Festival Grounds
   The northern terminus. From here you can catch the Deuce bus or Downtown Loop to reach Fremont Street.

Where the Monorail Doesn't Go

The monorail runs on the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard only. It does not stop at:

• West side casinos: Bellagio, Aria, Park MGM, Cosmopolitan, Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, Treasure Island, Mirage (closed), Wynn/Encore
• The Venetian: Despite passing right by it, there's no Venetian station. Use Harrah's/The LINQ station and walk across the street.
• Downtown/Fremont Street: Take the monorail to SAHARA, then catch the Deuce bus or Downtown Loop shuttle.
• The airport: No connection to Harry Reid International Airport.

Hours of Operation

Hours may extend during major conventions or events. Check the official monorail website for special schedules.

Ticket Prices

Buy tickets online (eTicket) for a discount. Paper tickets at stations cost more.

Tip: Multi-day passes start when you first scan them at a fare gate, not when you buy them. You can purchase in advance and activate when you arrive.

When the Monorail Is Worth It

Good use cases:

• Long trips on the east side: MGM Grand to Convention Center, Flamingo to SAHARA. These would take 25–40 minutes walking; the monorail does it in 10–15 minutes plus station walks.
• Convention Center access: If you're attending a conference, the monorail is the easiest way to get there from most Strip hotels.
• Avoiding traffic: On busy nights (weekends, events, F1), the monorail bypasses all the gridlock on Las Vegas Boulevard.
• Extreme heat: Air-conditioned stations and trains beat sweating through a 30-minute Strip walk in July.
• Multiple trips per day: If you'll ride 3+ times, a day pass pays for itself.

Not worth it:

• Short trips (1–2 stations): Walking to the station, waiting for a train, and walking to your destination often takes longer than just walking the whole route on the Strip.
• West side destinations: If you're going to Bellagio, Aria, or Mandalay Bay, the monorail doesn't help. Use the free trams or walk.
• One-way trips: At $5.50 per ride, a single short trip is often more expensive and slower than just taking an Uber.

The Hidden Time Cost: Station Walks

This is the part most visitors don't realize until they're doing it. Monorail stations are on the back (east) side of the casinos, not the Strip side. To reach the platform, you'll walk through the casino floor, past the hotel lobby, and often up escalators or elevators.

Realistic station access times from the Strip:

• MGM Grand: 8–10 minutes from the Strip entrance
• Flamingo/Caesars: 5–7 minutes from the Strip
• Harrah's/The LINQ: 5–7 minutes from the Strip
• SAHARA: 5 minutes from the Strip

Add the same time on the other end to reach your actual destination. A “15-minute monorail ride” can easily become 30–35 minutes door-to-door once you factor in station walks on both ends.

Monorail vs. Other Options

Monorail vs. walking: For trips over 3 stations, the monorail usually wins. For 1–2 stations, walking is often faster.

Monorail vs. Uber: Uber is faster door-to-door for most trips, but costs $10–20 and can surge during busy times. The monorail is cheaper and more predictable, but slower once you include station walks.

Monorail vs. free trams: The free trams (Aria Express, Mandalay Bay tram) cover the west side of the Strip where the monorail doesn't go. They're free, but only connect specific properties.

Monorail vs. Deuce bus: The Deuce is cheaper ($6 for 2 hours) and covers more of the Strip, including downtown. But it sits in traffic and stops constantly. The monorail is much faster for its coverage area.

Tips for Riding

• Buy tickets online. You'll save money and can scan your phone at the gate instead of using paper tickets.
• Know which end of the platform to stand on. Trains are long; standing near your exit saves walking time at your destination.
• Check the digital signs. Each station shows the next train's arrival time. Trains run every 4–8 minutes, but knowing exactly when helps you decide whether to wait or walk.
• Getting to the Sphere. The Sphere is about a mile walk from either the Convention Center or Harrah's/The LINQ station—not short, but doable.

Skip the Guesswork

Casino Compass factors in the monorail, free trams, and walking routes to show you the actual fastest option for your specific trip—including the station walks that other apps ignore. Download Casino Compass before your Vegas trip.