Las Vegas Compass
Las Vegas itineraries

Las Vegas itineraries

The Strip is four miles long, the days are hot, the nights run late, and the best shows sell out early. A good itinerary respects all of that. These day-by-day plans are built around realistic walking distances, show start times and the rhythm of the city, and each one can be adjusted to your dates.

By Las Vegas Compass Editorial Team Last updated

How to use these itineraries

Every plan on this page follows the same logic: stay in one section of the Strip per day, eat near where you already are, book the sold-out things first and never schedule a day trip the morning after a late night. Las Vegas punishes zig-zagging. Walking from Mandalay Bay to the Wynn is well over two miles of sidewalk, escalators and pedestrian bridges, and in summer it is done in 100°F heat.

Pick the itinerary that matches your trip length, then swap in the pages for your group: families, budget travelers, bachelor and bachelorette parties and Grand Canyon add-ons each have their own version. Pair any of them with our trip planning checklist for booking order and our guide to the best time to visit for dates.

By trip length

  • 2 days — a weekend: the central Strip, one show, one night Downtown.
  • 3 days — our most-recommended plan: Strip, Downtown, a headline show and a half-day desert escape.
  • 4 days — adds a full day trip and a pool afternoon.
  • 5 days — the complete trip with two day trips and a rest day.

If you have six or more days, take the 5-day plan and add a second night Downtown or a night in a different Strip resort. Many regulars split a week between two hotels, one central and one at the south end, so that the walking resets.

By kind of traveler

The rhythm of a Las Vegas day

The city runs on a late clock. Mornings are quiet and cheap: pools open around 8–9am, buffets and coffee lines are short before 10, and the Strip is walkable before the sun gets high. Afternoons belong to pools, spas, museums and air-conditioned attractions. Shows generally start between 7pm and 9:30pm, dinner reservations at 6pm or after 9pm are the easiest to get, and nightclubs do not fill until midnight.

Build each day in three blocks: an outdoor block before noon, an indoor block in the afternoon and one headline experience at night. Then leave a gap. Nobody regrets an unscheduled hour by a pool; plenty of people regret a 7am Hoover Dam pick-up after a nightclub.

What to book before you arrive

Some things sell out or spike in price, and they belong on your calendar before anything else:

  • Cirque du Soleil shows, Sphere concerts and big residencies — see our tickets hub.
  • Steakhouse and celebrity-chef dinners on Friday and Saturday — see dining.
  • Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam tours in spring and autumn, which run full on weekends.
  • Dayclub tables and nightclub tables for groups.

Almost everything else, from the High Roller to a Fremont Street zipline, can be booked a day ahead or on the spot. Hotel choice matters more than any single attraction; use the hotel picker if you have not settled on an area.

Getting around between the days

None of these plans assume a rental car unless there is a day trip. On the Strip, the free trams (Excalibur–Luxor–Mandalay Bay, Park MGM–Aria–Bellagio, and Mirage-side to Treasure Island), the monorail on the east side and the Deuce bus cover most hops. Rideshares are cheap for short distances but the pick-up zones can add ten minutes at busy resorts. Full detail is in our transportation hub.

Downtown is a 15–25 minute rideshare or a Deuce ride from the central Strip. Plan it as an evening, not a quick hop.

In this section

  • 2 days in Las Vegas: a weekend itinerary Two days is enough for the Strip, one serious show, one great meal and a night on Fremont Street, provided you do not try to see every resort. This plan keeps you within a walkable slice of the Strip on day one and uses day two for Downtown and one signature attraction.
  • 3 days in Las Vegas: the ideal itinerary Three days is the sweet spot for Las Vegas: long enough to see the Strip and Downtown properly, fit in two headline experiences and still escape the neon for a half day in the desert. This itinerary is the one we recommend most often to first-time visitors.
  • 4 days in Las Vegas: Strip, Downtown & a day trip Four days lets you stop rushing. You can split the Strip across two relaxed days, give Downtown a proper evening, book two very different shows and still take a full day trip into the desert. This plan also builds in a pool afternoon, which is the part most people forget to schedule.
  • 5 days in Las Vegas: the complete itinerary Five days is where Las Vegas turns from a sprint into a real vacation. You can see everything on the Strip, spend a night Downtown, take two separate day trips and still have an afternoon with nothing planned. The trick is spacing the late nights so the day trips are not miserable.
  • The first-timer Las Vegas itinerary Your first trip to Las Vegas should hit the icons, but in the right order and at the right time of day. This itinerary sequences the Strip so you see the fountains at dusk, the Sphere lit up at night and Fremont Street when the canopy show is running, without doubling back across four miles of sidewalk.
  • Las Vegas family itinerary: 3 days with kids Las Vegas with kids works when you plan around pools, early evenings and short walks, and it fails when you try to march children up the Strip at 4pm in July. This itinerary keeps the days manageable, picks attractions that genuinely land with kids and notes which nights the adults can take turns.
  • Las Vegas budget itinerary: 3 days done cheaply Las Vegas can be one of the cheapest big-city trips in America if you lean into what is free, eat where locals eat and treat the casino floor as scenery rather than a budget line. This three-day plan keeps daily spending low and reserves the money for one experience worth paying for.
  • Las Vegas bachelor & bachelorette itinerary The best Las Vegas group weekends have a spine: one big night, one pool day, one dinner everyone talks about and enough downtime that nobody quits by Saturday. This plan handles the logistics that trip up groups, from splitting a table to getting eight people into one rideshare.
  • Las Vegas & Grand Canyon combined itinerary The Grand Canyon is the most common add-on to a Las Vegas trip and the most commonly botched: people book the wrong rim, underestimate the drive or try to do it as a hangover cure. This itinerary lays out the West Rim and South Rim options and slots them into a four- or five-day trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days do you need in Las Vegas?

Three nights is the sweet spot for a first visit: enough for the Strip, Downtown, two headline experiences and a half day outside the city. Two is a good weekend; five lets you add real day trips.

Should I stay in one hotel or move around?

One hotel for trips under four nights. For a week, many visitors split between a central Strip resort and a Downtown or south-Strip resort to change the walking radius and the vibe.

Do I need a car for these itineraries?

No, unless you take a self-drive day trip. The Strip is covered by trams, the monorail, the Deuce bus and rideshare, and parking fees at most resorts make a car a liability on Strip-only days.

What is the best day of the week to arrive?

Sunday through Wednesday arrivals get the cheapest rooms and shortest lines. Arriving Thursday for a Friday–Saturday stay is the most expensive and most crowded pattern.

Can I combine Las Vegas with the Grand Canyon in a short trip?

Yes. The West Rim is a long day trip; the South Rim is better as an overnight. Our combined itinerary covers both options for four- and five-day trips.

How far ahead should I book shows?

Cirque and Sphere concerts: as soon as your dates are fixed, especially for Saturdays. Smaller production shows and comedy can be booked days ahead or at a same-day discount booth.

Are these itineraries suitable for summer?

Yes, but move the outdoor blocks earlier. In June through September, do any walking before 11am, spend afternoons at pools or indoors and save the Strip stroll for after sunset.

How much should I budget per day?

Excluding the room, a comfortable mid-range day runs roughly $150–$300 per person as of 2026 for food, one show or attraction and transport. Budget trips can be done for well under $100 a day; see our budget itinerary.

What if I do not gamble?

None of these plans depend on gambling. The casino floors are simply the hallways between the things you actually came for.