Under 3 hours, stay airside: security can run long during peak hours. Grab a bite at Wolfgang Puck Express or the Las Vegas Chophouse & Brewery, try the 24/7 slot machines if you are 21+, or stretch your legs on the marked "Fly Fit!" walking routes in Terminal 1 or 3.
A 4-6 hour layover allows one quick Strip run. Taxi or rideshare there takes 10-15 minutes without traffic and costs $20-30 one way; skip checked luggage since there is no airport storage. The Bellagio Fountains (free, shows every 15-30 minutes) and a walk through one mega-casino like Caesars Palace or the Venetian fit in about 40 minutes on the Strip. Leave 60-75 minutes before departure to cover the return taxi, security, and the walk to your gate. See the
full hour-by-hour Las Vegas layover plan for more.
With 6-10 hours, the Strip is comfortably doable. Budget 10-15 minutes each way by taxi ($20-30) or 25-40 minutes on the $6 RTC Deuce bus. The Bellagio Fountains and Conservatory (both free, about 50 minutes combined) plus the Venetian's Grand Canal Shoppes or Caesars Palace Forum Shops (30-45 minutes) fill the window well. Leave the Strip 90 minutes before departure to cover the return trip, security, and the walk to your gate.
A 10+ hour layover covers 3-4 major casinos plus the Bellagio Fountains and Conservatory, and leaves room for either Fremont Street downtown (25-30 minutes by taxi, 1-2 hours to explore) or a Cirque du Soleil show if you book ahead. Keep the same 90-minute return buffer as the 6-10 hour plan. There is no airport luggage storage, so pack light or ask your hotel about a fee-based hold.
