Traveling in Las Vegas can be affordable and easy. Our public transportation guide covers the RTC bus network, including the Deuce on the Strip, SDX express service, the monorail, the Downtown Loop shuttle, and the Boring Company’s Vegas Loop. Find up-to-date fares, schedules, and key information below.
The RTC Bus System & Route Dynamics
The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Southern Nevada is responsible for the main public system in the city, including routes on the Strip, which are central to the city’s tourism and commuter network.
The Deuce is the primary route of interest for tourists running 24/7 along the resort corridor, while the SDX (Strip & Downtown Express) serves as the quickest route, offering fewer stops and dedicated transit lanes. RTC also services the wider Las Vegas Valley residential community. For travelers making route transfers, the primary transit terminals are the South Strip Transit Terminal (SSTT) and the Bonneville Transit Center (BTC) in Downtown Las Vegas.
RTC Route Matrix
RTC Bus Fares: Strip & All-Access vs. Residential
How to Purchase RTC Passes & Reduced Fare Info
1. rideRTC Mobile App (Highly Recommended)
Instantly purchase, store, and activate digital transit passes directly inside your smartphone using a credit or debit card.
2. Onboard RTC Vehicles
Cash fare boxes are available onboard for single-ride or 2-hour passes. Exact change is strictly required as drivers cannot dispense currency.
Reduced Fares: Standard transit fares are discounted by 50% for qualifying Seniors (60+), Youth (6-17), and Veterans. → View Reduced Fare Details & Eligibility
RTC Transit (Buses) Contact Information
- Customer Service Line: (702) 228-7433 (CAT-RIDE)
- Lost & Found Locker: (702) 676-1849
- Operational Hours: Monday through Sunday, 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Official Transit Portal: rtcsnv.com
The Two Free Loops (Essential Clarification)
1. The Downtown Loop (City of Las Vegas Free Shuttle)
The Downtown Loop is a 100% free open-air shuttle service funded and operated directly by the City of Las Vegas to reduce vehicle congestion. It serves as a crucial link from the main RTC bus lines, circling constantly to bridge Downtown hotspots, casinos, and neighborhood shopping districts.
- Fare Metric: FREE to the public; no tickets or apps required to board.
- Core Route Links: Connects the Bonneville Transit Center, the Arts District, the Fremont Street Experience, The Mob Museum, The Strat, and the Las Vegas North Premium Outlets.
- Standard Operating Hours: Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM | Friday and Saturday from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
→ Access Live Shuttle Tracker & Official Map
2. The Vegas Loop (The Boring Company Underground Tunnels)
The Vegas Loop is a futuristic, underground transportation network engineered by Elon Musk’s Boring Company. Rather than traditional subway trains, this high-tech tunnel infrastructure utilizes fleet-managed Tesla electric vehicles driven by human operators to ferry passengers point-to-point beneath the surface at rapid speeds.
- LVCC On-Campus Rides: Travel between any underground stations entirely inside the Las Vegas Convention Center footprint is completely FREE for attendees.
- Off-Campus Rides (Paid System): Travel stretching outside the convention boundaries to neighboring resorts requires a dedicated digital ticket purchase. Active portals connect directly to Resorts World, Westgate, and Wynn/Encore.
- Operating Timelines (Varies dynamically by show demand):
- Convention Center & Encore Hubs: 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
- Riviera, Resorts World & Westgate Portals: 7:30 AM to 9:00 PM
- Future Infrastructure: Ongoing construction extensions are designed to eventually scale the underground network across the entire Strip corridor, Downtown Vegas, and directly into LAS Airport.
Paid Off-Campus Fare Matrices:
- Single Destination Ride: $4.25
- Round Trip Pass: $7.00
- Unlimited All-Day Pass: Pricing adjusts dynamically based on regional convention density.
The Las Vegas Monorail
The Las Vegas Monorail is an elevated mass transit rail line that runs entirely along the East side of the Strip corridor, tracing a route behind the major resort properties from the MGM Grand all the way north to Sahara Las Vegas. It operates on a completely independent electrical grid and ticketing framework separate from the municipal RTC city buses.
Key Elevated Stations (South to North Routing):
- MGM Grand Station
- Horseshoe / Paris Las Vegas Station
- Flamingo / Caesars Palace Station
- Harrah’s / The LINQ Station
- Las Vegas Convention Center Station (Boingo Station)
- Westgate Las Vegas Station
- SAHARA Las Vegas Station
Monorail Ticket & Fare Options
Nevada Local Subsidy: Local residents can purchase discounted $1.00 single-ride tickets by presenting a valid Nevada photo ID directly at any physical resort customer service ticketing desk.
• Monday: 7:00 AM to 12:00 AM (Midnight)
• Tuesday through Thursday: 7:00 AM to 2:00 AM
• Friday through Sunday: 7:00 AM to 3:00 AM
- Main Monorail Customer Service: (702) 699-8200
- Official Ticketing Portal: lvmonorail.com
Getting To and From Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)
Navigating public transit out of Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is highly cost-effective compared to airport taxi flag drops or surge pricing on rideshare applications. The municipal RTC bus system operates active passenger pick-up points out of both primary commercial flight terminals.
Terminal 1 Transit Boarding Location: Proceed downward to Level Zero (Ground Transportation). Cross the active taxi lanes outside the structural pillars and follow signs directly to the dedicated RTC public transit bus shelter stall.
Terminal 3 Transit Boarding Location: Exit the baggage claim pavilion doors on Departures Level 2. Head out directly toward the commercial curb lines and trace the pedestrian walks to the marked RTC passenger loading zone situated on the far west wing of the terminal.
Core Airport Routes & Connectivity Links:
- The Deuce on the Strip Line: Connects airport arrivals straight to the central resort corridor. Catch the northbound Deuce to travel past all major hotel thresholds spanning from Mandalay Bay up toward Downtown Fremont Street.
- Route 108 (Swenson / Paradise Line): Picks up at Terminal 1, providing a direct, non-highway link straight to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) campus, the Las Vegas Convention Center, and downtown transfer docks.
- Route 109 (Maryland Parkway Line): Operates 24 hours a day out of Terminal 1, heading north along the Maryland Parkway commercial artery directly into the central Bonneville Transit Center terminal.
Frequently Asked Questions: Las Vegas Transportation
Q: Is the elevated Monorail or the Deuce bus better for traveling up and down the Strip?
A: It depends entirely on your target resort destination and timeline. For speed and completely bypassing street-level gridlock, the Monorail is significantly faster; however, its track runs exclusively behind properties on the East side of the Strip corridor. The Deuce is highly convenient because it features passenger boarding stops on both sides of the street directly in front of nearly every major hotel and operates 24/7.
Q: Can I utilize my standard RTC bus pass to transfer directly onto the Monorail or the underground Vegas Loop?
A: No. Every single public and private transportation network across the valley operates on completely independent fare systems and requires its own ticketing purchase. RTC passes do not hold transfer currency on Boring Company underground lines or Monorail gates. The sole exception is the City of Las Vegas Downtown Loop shuttle bus, which is completely free for all riders.
Q: How long does it realistically take to travel from one end of the Strip to the other via the Deuce or SDX express lines?
A: Due to dense pedestrian foot traffic crossings and heavy vehicular congestion, a Deuce run spanning from Mandalay Bay north to the Fremont Street Experience typically takes 60 to 90 minutes. Peak tourist blocks on Friday through Sunday nights can increase transit times significantly. The SDX Express line shortens this travel duration to approximately 45 to 60 minutes by utilizing express highway routing parameters and dedicated downtown lanes.
Q: Are there any completely free public transit options operating on the Las Vegas Strip?
A: While the city buses and monorails require paid fares, several prominent casino corporations operate free private tram lines to move guests efficiently between their connecting sister properties. Active loops include the Mandalay Bay Tram (linking Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and Excalibur) and the Aria Express Tram (linking Park MGM, Aria, and Bellagio).
Q: Are the underground Vegas Loop Tesla tunnels operational all year round, or only during active trade shows?
A: Operating parameters vary strictly by the destination point. The LVCC On-Campus Loop fires up exclusively during official trade shows, conventions, and large-scale public events hosted inside the Las Vegas Convention Center halls. Off-campus commercial connectors linking out to properties like Resorts World or Westgate generally follow fixed daily schedules (typically 7:30 AM to 9:00 PM), but schedules can scale upwards depending on city event density. Always consult the official Loop portal before tracking down to a subterranean terminal.
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