8 Greatest Areas and Neighborhoods

From luxury hotels, budget options, and family-friendly hotels to mega resorts with casinos, spas, multiple restaurants, and live entertainment, you’ll find a never-ending assortment of accommodations in your search for where to stay in Las Vegas. It can get quite overwhelming when you really think about it (especially if you’re traveling with a group of people with wildly different interests – we know all too well how that goes). So don’t (think about it, that is)! Let us do the work.

The Vegas Strip is undeniably the most popular place for travelers wondering where to stay in Las Vegas. However, it’s not the only place to stay in Las Vegas. Maybe your Vegas vacation leans more toward the desert landscape and nearby parks.

Maybe you’re more of a foodie than a high-roller or a party animal. Maybe you just want to take in an amazing show or a live concert. We get it. Las Vegas is an excellent anchorage for so much more than casinos.

I recently spent a week in Las Vegas and only gambled for about 20 minutes on the last day of the trip. It would have been less, but I had no idea what I was doing. Those slot machines are tricky!

From the Strip and Downtown to Summerlin, Henderson, and Boulder City – and the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, and Valley of Fire State Park along the way – we’ve collected a variety of the best places to stay in Las Vegas for couples, groups, and families.

Let’s get started on our Sin City tour!

TL;DR

Best Areas to Stay in Las Vegas

• Best Area for First-Timers: The Strip (South Strip)
• Best Area for Budget Travelers: Summerlin
• Best Area for Luxury Travelers: The Strip (North Strip)
• Best Area for Arts and Culture: Downtown Arts District
• Best Area for Families: Boulder City
• Best Area for Nightlife: Downtown (Fremont Street)
• Best Area for Foodies: The Strip (Mid-Strip)
• Best Area for Adventurers: Henderson

 Where to Stay in Las Vegas: Best Areas and Neighborhoods

 1. Best Area for First-Timers: South Strip

The famous Las Vegas Strip, officially known as Las Vegas Boulevard, is about 4.2 miles long. It starts in the south end at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign and travels north to the Strat Hotel. At this point, it merges into the Downtown area and Fremont Street.

If you divide up the strip into sections according to hotel placement, the South Strip is made up of the area from Mandalay Bay to the Park MGM (the MGM Grand, Excalibur, New York-New York, and the Tropicana are included in this area). If you’re visiting Vegas for the first time, this section of the Las Vegas Strip is a great choice. It’s an excellent location to easily get to Las Vegas Strip hotels, incredible restaurants, and activities as well as off-strip restaurants and attractions like the 7 Magic Mountains art installation.

One of the best-themed hotels in this area has to be Mandalay Bay. The 11-acre pool complex has real sand, a wave pool, a lazy river, and private cabanas. The complex is shared with the Delano and the Four Seasons resorts, two of the most luxurious hotels on the Strip for a Las Vegas vacation.

For dining in the South Strip, head to Eataly, located by the Park MGM. Just like the other locations around the country, Eataly offers full-service restaurants, counter service, groceries, and a wide variety of fresh Italian seafood, pasta, espresso, and more.

If you’re not in the mood for that much selection, the Crack Shack is a terrific counter service restaurant serving, what else, chicken and eggs (Get it? Like cracking eggs? Not crack coca- you get it). Ingredients are all locally raised and consist of fried chicken (half and whole birds) and a variety of sandwiches with names like coop deville (a fried chicken breast with napa cabbage on a brioche bun), the double clucker (two ground chicken patties), and the BAE (bacon, avocado, and sunny-side up egg with American cheese).

Fun Things to Do near the South Las Vegas Strip

• Visit the fun and colorful 7 Magic Mountains art installation.
• Pose for a group photo at the Las Vegas sign.
• Walk through a sea creature-filled tunnel at Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay.
• Take in a pro sporting event, concert, or Jabbawockeez show at the MGM Grand.
• Stock up on everything chocolate at Hershey’s Chocolate World.
• Pay a visit to King Arthur and the Round Table with a Tournament of Kings dinner show at the Excalibur.
• Cheer on the Las Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena.
• Sing along with Usher, Maroon 5, and Bruno Mars at the Dolby Live Theater (formerly the Park Theater) at the Park MGM.
• Root for the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders or the University of Nevada’s Las Vegas Rebels at Allegiant Stadium. Other events and concerts held at the stadium include Beyonce, Ed Sheeran, soccer matches, and Super Bowl LVIII in 2024.

 Where to Stay in the South Strip

See Related: Fun & Best Things to Do in Reno, Nevada

2. Best Area for Foodies: The Mid-Strip

The Mid-Strip section of the Las Vegas Strip includes hallowed names such as the Cosmopolitan, the Bellagio, Caesar’s Palace, the Waldorf Astoria, the Venetian, and the Flamingo (among others). This central location is an excellent way to have convenient access to a variety of Las Vegas Strip hotels, resorts, spas, live entertainment, things to do in Vegas, and some of the best restaurants on the Strip, including celebrity chef restaurants and exclusive experiences.

This is the area of Sin City where you’ll find the Paris Eiffel Tower, the recreated Roman Empire at the Caesars Palace luxury hotel, and the canals of Venice at the Venetian resort. Whether you’re looking for a party atmosphere, fun for the kids, resort-style pools, or the best luxury hotels in Las Vegas, Mid-Strip is one of the best places to stay in Las Vegas. It’s within walking distance to a wide array of the best hotels in town as well as activities, shows, and attractions.

While the casinos are a draw for a Vegas trip, the food scene easily takes top bets (at least for me and my crew). You’ll definitely want to make reservations for Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen. The stand-alone structure is located in front of Caesar’s Palace. Order the beef Wellington. You won’t regret it.

Other foodie favorites include Giada at the Cromwell, BLT Steak at Bally’s, Hattie B’s Hot Chicken (a Nashville-based favorite) at the Cosmopolitan, and Ramsay’s Kitchen at Harrah’s. You could also take a trip to Flavortown at Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen + Bar at the Linq Hotel.

I recommend you do that. The wings and chili are possibly the best items on the menu.

Looking for an in-depth foodie experience? Book a Las Vegas walking food tour where an experienced guide will lead you around the city. Meet Food Network stars, “Hell’s Kitchen” winners, learn about the Vegas culture scene, and sample some amazing food.

The tour meets at Gordon Ramsay’s Pub & Grill inside Caesars Palace. Along the tour, you’ll check out other celebrity chef creations such as Giada De Laurentiis, Andrew Weil, and Buddy Valastro.

Fun Things to Do in the Mid-Strip

• Practice serious retail therapy at the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace, and don’t miss the Fall of Atlantis free light show.
• Visit Chilean flamingos, birds, and koi at The Flamingo. This is a nice area to relax and recharge after exploring other Las Vegas hotels and attractions.
• Watch the famous Bellagio fountains or stroll through the botanical garden at the Bellagio Hotel. Both are free.
• Take a gondola ride along recreated Venice canals at the Venetian resort.
• Be wowed by “O” by Cirque du Soleil at the Bellagio.
• Learn to line dance at Gilley’s Saloon, Dance Hall and Bar-B-Q at Treasure Island. The ribs are worth the embarrassment you might encounter on the dance floor.
• Spend a romantic evening enjoying French cuisine and Strip views at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant at Paris Las Vegas.
• Hang out at the LINQ Promenade Shops complex for shopping, dining, entertainment, and the High Roller Observation Wheel.
• Book a Las Vegas walking food tour.

Where to Stay in the Mid-Strip

3. Best Area for Luxury Travelers: The North Strip

The North Las Vegas Strip starts around the Wynn and goes to the Strat. Along the way, you’ll find the Las Vegas Convention Center, Resorts World by Hilton Las Vegas, and Circus Circus. If you want to be near the retro vibe of classic Las Vegas on Fremont Street, while still being on the Strip, this is your area.

North Las Vegas offers access to luxurious resorts with outdoor pools, pool parties, relaxing spas, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and exclusive experiences like a gourmet meal overlooking the lights of the Las Vegas Strip (at the Strat). This section of Sin City is also convenient to Mid-Strip hotels like the Bellagio Las Vegas, the Palazzo at the Venetian Resort, and the tropical ambiance of The Mirage.

I feel the need to give a shout-out to the Wynn Las Vegas. Even though it’s the only non-themed hotel on the Strip (I do love a good theme), it’s one of my absolute favorite places to stay in Las Vegas.

This luxurious hotel features a refined but casual vibe in a more secluded and quieter atmosphere than the rest of the Las Vegas Strip hotels. If you enjoy strolling around your hotel without hearing the constant buzz of slots, table games, and other entertainment, The Wynn is it.

Enjoy a retro vibe, and all-day breakfast, at the popular Peppermill Restaurant and Fireside Lounge. Open since 1972, it has been featured in “Showgirls,” “Casino,” and “The Cotton Club.” It’s across from Resorts World Las Vegas and near the Convention Center and Elvis Presley Boulevard.

Fun Things to Do in the North Strip

• Check out petroglyphs and gorgeous red rocks at Valley of Fire State Park.
• Step into another dimension at Area 15 (Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart art installation and other immersive art and entertainment complex). You have to experience this place to believe it.
• Head to the top of the Stratosphere Observation Tower for panoramic views and thrill rides.
• Make reservations for Top of the World (more than 800 feet above the Vegas Strip) at the Strat.
• Book an exclusive and indulgent spa experience at the Wynn or Encore at Wynn.
• Spend a musical evening with the likes of Barry Manilow, FireHouse, Great White, or Kool and the Gang at the Westgate Las Vegas resort (formerly the International).
• Cheer on your favorite NASCAR driver at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
• Shop till you drop at Fashion Show Las Vegas. Then, head to Cipriani, Sinatra, or SW Steakhouse at the Wynn for an amazing Italian or steak dinner.
• Turn the kids loose with interactive exhibits and all sorts of fun at the Discovery Children’s Museum.

Where to Stay in North Strip

See Related: Fun & Best Things to do in Primm, Nevada

4. Best Area for Arts and Culture: Downtown Arts District

The Downtown Arts District, also known as 18b, is a cultural hub filled with indie art galleries, vintage apparel stores, live performance venues, and bohemian bars. The 18 refers to the original 18 blocks, but it’s since expanded.

It’s tucked in between the North Strip area and Downtown. The area forms a rectangle of sorts along S. 4th Street/Las Vegas Boulevard, Gass Avenue, W. Imperial Avenue, and Commerce Street. The area was developed in 1998 as a way to encourage art and artists. It’s an excellent choice for fans of the arts, culture, cool bars, and funky galleries.

If you’re looking for accommodations in this neck of the downtown Las Vegas area, you will mostly find vacation rentals. There is one hotel…but it’s a cool one. The English Hotel, Las Vegas, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, is a chic boutique hotel with a contemporary vibe.

The first hotel of four-time James Beard Award-winning chef and restaurateur Todd English, it has an outdoor swimming pool, a bar, free Wi-Fi, and a terrace. The highlight is Chef Todd English’s The Pepper Club, an Asian fusion and sushi bar. Pepper is named after English’s dog, so obviously, this hotel is pet-friendly.

The Arts District holds an art walk on the first Friday of every month. First Friday features a variety of artists, gallery openings, and entertainers such as local bands, acrobats, fortune tellers, break-dancers, and other performance groups.

For an adventurous outdoor activity, nothing beats a horseback ride through the mountains. Book a Las Vegas horseback riding tour. All levels of equine enthusiasts, from beginners to advanced riders, are welcome.

You’ll get a quick lesson before heading off on a guided tour. Tours go through the mountains outside of Vegas, near Mt. Charleston, in the winter and around Lake Las Vegas in the summer. This is an excellent activity for the whole family.

Fun Things to Do in the Downtown Arts District

• Visit galleries, shops, and bistros at the Arts Factory.
• Check out shops, galleries, design studios, live theatre, a hair salon, and dining at Art Square.
• Check out a show by the Vegas Theatre Company at the Cockroach Theatre.
• Visit the world’s only burlesque history and art museum at the Burlesque Hall of Fame.
• Browse the 33,000-square-foot Artistic Iron Works for wrought iron gates, doors, home decor, and almost anything else that can be made out of wrought iron.
• Enjoy a drink at the Velveteen Rabbit, Able Baker Brewing, or Garagiste.
• Take a Las Vegas horseback riding tour.

Where to Stay in the Downtown Arts District

5. Best Area for Nightlife: Downtown (Fremont Street)

Downtown Las Vegas is the classic Vegas that your grandparents remember (or that you’ve seen in mobster movies). This is where Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack hung out (or may still be hanging out in spirit). Downtown Vegas is at the north end of the Strip and runs predominantly down Fremont Street and areas therein. You’ll find a mix of the best cheap hotels, affordable hotel rooms, and the luxurious resort at Circa Resort & Casino.

Nicknamed Glitter Gulch for its wildly lit-up neon atmosphere (in a much smaller area than that of the Strip), it’s wall-to-wall historic hotels, casinos, and lots of pulse-pounding entertainment. Once you pass the Strat Hotel (it’s the 1,149-foot-tall one with the rooftop thrill rides that people pay real money to ride), you’re in the Downtown area.

The Fremont Street Experience is a six-block entertainment, shopping, and gaming area. This happening scene features free concerts, DJ dance parties, light shows via the world’s largest video screen, and more. If you stay out of the casinos, you can get a lot of bang for your buck here.

The street is covered by a canopy, so you won’t have to break out the wet weather wear or carry an umbrella. It’s also a godsend on those scalding desert days (don’t fall for that “it’s a dry heat” excuse – heat is heat!).

Find out all there is to know about Fremont Street with a downtown and Fremont Street history walking tour. Discover how Sin City got its start and visit attractions like Union Station, Downtown Container Park (funky shopping and dining area constructed out of shipping containers), and the Fremont East Entertainment District. You can even upgrade to a tour of the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop from the History Channel’s “Pawn Stars.” Tell Rick, Corey, and Chumlee we said hey.

Fun Things to Do in Downtown (Fremont Street)

• Pose for selfies in front of vintage signs at the Neon Museum.
• Learn all about Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, and more at the Mob Museum.
• Soar above Fremont Street on the Slotzilla Zipline.
• Watch mesmerizing lights at the Viva Vision Light Show, the world’s largest digital display screen and part of the Fremont Street Experience.
• Scare yourself silly at Zac Bagans’ The Haunted Museum.
• Enjoy a drink or two at the Ice Bar, Rush Lounge, Bar 46, or Claude’s Bar at the Golden Nugget.
• Get hitched at the Graceland Wedding Chapel (Hey, what happens in Vegas … well, you know).
• Play a round of double deck blackjack at the El Cortez Hotel.
• Learn about marine life, ancient Egypt, dinosaurs, and animals of the Mojave Desert at the Las Vegas Natural History Museum.
• Check out the Downtown Container Park and its eccentric array of metal art and sculptures, as well as shopping and dining.
• Book a downtown and Fremont Street history walking tour. 

Where to Stay in Downtown

See Related: Best Weekend Getaways in the USA

6. Best Area for Budget Travelers: Summerlin

Named after Jean Amelia Summerlin – grandmother of engineer, pilot, and land developer Howard Hughes, who purchased the land in 1952 – Summerlin is a master-planned community. It’s located west of Las Vegas near the Spring Mountains and Red Rock Canyon.

Summerlin is a terrific place to stay in Las Vegas for families and groups who like to get out and explore nature. It’s about 10 miles from the North Las Vegas Strip.

The urban and residential neighborhood offers access to shopping, golf, and restaurants like Maggiano’s Little Italy, Menchie’s frozen yogurt, Earl of Sandwich, Shake Shack, Pieology Pizzeria, and Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar. I’ve been to the Lazy Dog location in Town Square just south of the Strip. It’s one of those places where locals go when they don’t want to deal with the congestion that can be the Strip.

They have this really cool concept of TV dinners (homemade meals but served old-school TV dinner-style in aluminum trays). They’re frozen and ready to go when you are. Pick up a few to keep in the fridge after those late-night blackjack sessions.

Regular menu items include bowls, burgers, Thai noodles, sandwiches, roasted chicken pot pie, and BBQ bison meatloaf (which is what I had and very much recommend). The butter cake and apple-huckleberry open-face pie are my other top picks (whether as a dessert or anything else). But I digress (and am suddenly very hungry).

Summerlin is home to several top celebrities, including David Copperfield, Penn Jillette, Mark Wahlberg, and Rick Harrison of the Discovery Channel’s “Pawn Stars” TV show.

Fun Things to Do in Summerlin

• Slide, splash, and float the day away at the Cowabunga Canyon Water Park.
• Take a scenic 13-mile drive through Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.
• Explore trails and an 1860s blacksmith shop at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park.
• Tee off at Bear’s Best Las Vegas golf course.
• Hit the slots at the Rampart Casino at the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa.
• Watch a game of baseball at the Las Vegas Ballpark, home of the Las Vegas Aviators minor league baseball team.

Where to Stay in Summerlin

7. Best Area for Adventurers: Henderson

Located southeast of the Las Vegas Strip, Henderson is a terrific choice for those who want to unwind and relax while still being able to hop over to the action at a Las Vegas Strip hotel. It’s a more residential area that’s conveniently located near Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and outdoor recreation at Lake Mead, the Colorado River, and Sloan Canyon. Henderson is about 20 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip.

Henderson is Nevada’s second-largest city (Las Vegas is the first). Incorporated in the 1940s, the city has a history of magnesium production, which was used to make airplane parts and ammunition during World War II. Henderson’s Basic Magnesium Factory, which opened in the 40s, operated until 2001. It was one of the longest-running industrial sites in the U.S.

Fun fact: Henderson had its own version of Rosie the Riveter with Magnesium Maggie. These Maggies filled the roles once held by men, now in uniform, and were vital to the war effort during WWII.

You’ll find the best value hotels, cheap hotels, and affordable hotels with modern amenities like a fitness center, an outdoor pool, and on-site restaurants for your Vegas vacation. Henderson has eight championship golf courses, convenience to outdoor recreation and activities, cultural festivals, and a thriving beverage scene in the Artisan Booze District (where you’ll find distilleries, wineries, and breweries).

Fun Things to Do in Henderson

• Go fishing, swimming, hiking, and biking at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
• Explore the trails and petroglyphs at Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area.
• Take a kayaking tour at Emerald Cave in Black Canyon.
• Enjoy shopping, dining, golfing, and luxury hotels at the Mediterranean-inspired Lake Las Vegas.
• Visit big cats and giraffes at Lion Habitat Ranch, which is within walking distance of the M Resort Spa Casino.
• Try your luck at vintage casinos in the Water Street District.
• Explore preserved buildings from 1912 at the Clark County Museum.
• Explore the Ethel M. Botanical Cactus Garden (and check out the Chocolate Factory while you’re at it).
• Drive bulldozers, backhoes, and excavators (as long as you’re over the age of 13) at Dig This.
• Visit the trails, ponds, and feathered inhabitants at the 80-acre Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve.

Where to Stay in Henderson

8. Best Area for Families: Boulder City

Southeast of the Las Vegas Strip, Boulder City is an excellent option if you want to be near Hoover Dam (the city is considered the Gateway to Hoover Dam), the Arizona border, and fun day trips from Las Vegas. Boulder City is about 30 minutes from Las Vegas.

Boulder City was built in 1931 as a home base for workers building Hoover Dam (which was called Boulder Dam at the time – it became Hoover Dam in 1947). The sheer scope of the project called for a semi-permanent town, rather than temporary lodging. It was fully planned under government supervision.

Boulder City is about an hour and 45-minute drive to the western rim of the Grand Canyon. I highly recommend doing this (from wherever you happen to stay in Las Vegas), either by rental car in Las Vegas or by taking a Grand Canyon West Rim Bus Tour. You’ll be able to walk along the incredibly high plexiglass SkyWalk (which really isn’t as terrifying as it may seem) at the Hualapai Indian Reservation.

Along the way, you’ll drive by Arizona’s Joshua tree forest, east of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. If you can’t get to Joshua Tree National Park, this is a terrific way to see these unique trees.

Fun Things to Do in Boulder City

• Take a bus tour to Hoover Dam.
• Learn about the Transcontinental Railroad and other train history at the Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City.
• Practice your swing at the Boulder Creek Golf Club.
• Go freefalling at Skydive Las Vegas.
• Conquer your fears (and get some great photos) at the Grand Canyon West Skywalk.
• Tour the Techatticup Mine, southern Nevada’s oldest gold mine, which is located just outside of Boulder City.
• Look for bighorn sheep at Hemenway Valley Park.
• Check out movie props, custom pieces, and other monster memorabilia at Tom Devlin’s Monster Museum.
• Pedal along the River Mountains Loop Trail, which winds for about 35 miles through Boulder City, the River Mountains, Henderson, and back to Boulder City.
• Take a Grand Canyon West Rim Bus Tour.

Where to Stay in Boulder City

See Related: Las Vegas vs Phoenix: What’s the Difference?

FAQ

Related Resources