Why visit
Las Vegas is the Strip's theme-park casinos, Red Rock Canyon climbing nearby, and access to Grand Canyon, Zion, and Death Valley on short flights or drives.
Las Vegas at a glance
City population
660k
Metro: 2.3 million
Elevation
610 m
2,001 ft
Time zone
UTC-8 (UTC-7 DST)
America/Los_Angeles
Airport
LAS
Harry Reid International
Founded
1905
Getting around
Monorail + The Las Vegas Strip tram + RTC buses; cars dominate
Signature dish
All-you-can-eat buffets, shrimp cocktail, in-and-out burger, celebrity-chef steakhouses
Neighborhoods for travelers
The StripDowntown (Fremont Street)ChinatownThe Arts District
United States at a glance
Country center
38.0°, -97.0°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
9,372,610 km²
3,618,783 mi²
Country population
334.9 million
36/km²
Subregion
North America
Currency
United States dollar ($)
USD
Dial
+1201
Language
English
Demonym
American
Internet
.us
UN
Member state
ISO code
US / USA
Where in the world
38.0° · -97.0°
United States
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Did you know
- Las Vegas consumes more electricity per capita than any US city: much of it for advertising signage.
- The Las Vegas Strip is technically in the unincorporated town of Paradise, NV: not inside Vegas city limits.
- Hoover Dam, 30 minutes away, provides Vegas with most of its water from Lake Mead.
- The US has no official national language: English is de facto but not de jure.
- Alaska was bought from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million (~2 cents per acre at the time).
Bordering United States
Traveler notes
- Grand Canyon West 2 hours west
- Fremont Street is Old Vegas (+ zipline)
- Residencies are back. Book shows early
Plan checks
- Build a three-day plan before extending. Most travel cities are easy to undersell to yourself.
- Check seasonal timing: high season can triple costs on some coastal destinations.
- Reserve top restaurants 2–4 weeks out and plan two standout meals per city.
- Bring layered clothing and verify trail/park access before arrival.
Explore more
Frequently asked about Las Vegas
What currency is used in Las Vegas?
Las Vegas uses the United States dollar ($), ISO code USD.
What languages are spoken in United States?
The primary language is English.
What is the international calling code for United States?
The calling code is +1201.
What airport serves Las Vegas?
Harry Reid International (IATA: LAS).
Other North America destinations
New Orleans
New Orleans is jazz, Cajun and Creole food, French Quarter courtyards, the Garden District's mansions, and second-lines still happening most weekends.
Miami
Miami is South Beach Art Deco, Little Havana, Wynwood Walls, and Everglades airboats 45 minutes out.
Seattle
Seattle is Pike Place Market, Space Needle, Chihuly glass garden, ferry rides, and Mount Rainier + Olympic National Park 2 hours out.
Honolulu
Honolulu (Oahu) is Waikiki beach, Diamond Head crater, Pearl Harbor, North Shore surf, and a food culture that invented poke.
Vancouver
Vancouver is Stanley Park's seawall, Granville Island's market, Gastown's restored old streets, and the North Shore mountains + Whistler 2 hours away.
Montreal
Montreal is French-speaking Canada. Old Montreal's stone streets, Plateau Mont-Royal cafés, Mile End's bagels, and festivals every summer weekend.