Vegas skyline on a warm summer night

Las Vegas in June

By Karleen Stevens

Things are heating up in Sin City! June is a busy month in Vegas, as the last of the spring clouds are gone, the sun comes out in all its glory and party goers flock to the strip in search of fun and festivities. Most of the excitement is now happening indoors away from the heat, but for those who seek the sun there’s still plenty going on outside – and the pool parties never stop, of course! Hotel prices are at a premium now, especially around the Juneteenth commemorations, but there are some good deals to be had if you come mid-week, or book ahead.

Visiting Las Vegas in June

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Average temperature: 99oF • Average rainfall: 0 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 14.5 hours/day

You won’t need many layers in June, as the mercury will hit the 80’s most days and will probably nudge over 100 on some too. It doesn’t cool down much overnight, either – the average low is a very mild 75, so you can look forward to some lovely warm evenings. Plan to be indoors in the air conditioning during the day, and if you are going out wear sunscreen and a hat. There’s almost no rain in June, although the wind does pick up to a breezy 10 miles per hour, so if you’re heading out of the city make sure you have sunglasses to protect your eyes from flying dust. Remember to keep hydrated, and you’ll be fit to keep partying for as long as the sun is up – or down!

What’s on in Vegas in June?

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Juneteenth

Juneteenth is an annual commemoration of the official abolition of slavery in the US, which was declared on June nineteenth in 1865. The day itself is marked with special religious services, speeches and family gatherings, and in Vegas is usually accompanied by a festival that takes place on the weekend closest to the day. This uplifting and inspiring holiday is a showcase of the city’s African-American heritage, particularly in the entertainment industry, so expect music, art and plenty of dancing.

Sports

Most outdoor sporting events wrap up in June, but sports fans can still find some indoor events if they need a break from the gambling and partying. The local WNBA team, the Las Vegas Aces, plays at the Mandalay Bay Michelob ULTRA Arena, where there’s also some quirky silver art in the lobby that’s worth checking out. Or if you want to keep up with all the sporting action around the country, head to the massive pool complex at Circa’s Stadium Swim, where you can catch all the action on a massive 40-foot-tall LED screen while you’re keeping cool in the pool or sipping cocktails on a comfy sunbed.

Where to cool off?

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When you need a break from the heat of the strip, duck into a casino and enjoy a moment in air-conditioned splendor. You don’t have to be a gambler to appreciate all they have to offer (although if you do fancy a flutter you’ll be spoilt for choice!). Caesar’s Palace is famous for its round lobby with classical marble pillars and renaissance-themed frescoes, the MGM grand has a games and billiards arcade, the Cosmopolitan has a bar famous for its edible cocktails, and Circus Circus has its own family-friendly indoor amusement park, complete with roller coasters, bumper cars and acrobats. For a refreshing twist on things, have a wander through the indoor botanical garden at the Bellagio – stopping on the way to check out their world-recording-holding chocolate fountain, of course.

Muse in a museum

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Despite its reputation for drunkenness and debauchery, there’s quite a bit of culture to be counted up in Vegas. There are several museums, all air-conditioned and ranging in themes from the very traditional Natural History Museum to the surprisingly educational Erotic History Museum. In between there’s a Madame Tussauds, a Mob Museum (where you can explore the history of organized crime and try your own cocktail in an underground speakeasy) and an Illuminarium, which is a 4K, 360o immersive cinematic experience that takes you past the moon and into the far reaches of the galaxy. If that doesn’t cool you off, you might need to try more extreme measures – jumping off the STRAT, perhaps?

Party by the Pool

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A summer trip to Vegas wouldn’t be complete without visiting at least one luxury resort complex and spending a day at the pool. There are plenty to choose from, although keep in mind that some of them charge a fee for non-guests and you’ll probably have to book. Mandalay Beach does a good job of imitating an actual tropical beach, but if you prefer to know you’re in a city then perhaps try the Boulevard Pool at the Cosmopolitan, which overlooks the strip. Others to look out for include the Golden Nugget’s Shark Tank, the uber-luxurious eight-pool complex at the Venetian, or the Mount Olympus-inspired Garden of the Gods at Caesar’s Palace. Keep an ear out for hotels hosting pool parties (which is basically a club, but you can wear your swimsuit) or if you can’t decide, jump on a Rock Star Pool Party Tour and let someone else chauffeur you around from party to party like a proper celeb.

Emerge in the evenings

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When the sun goes down you can finally step outside and breathe in a bit of warm summer air. Stroll down the strip, and maybe try an evening tour from the top deck of a Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour – be sure to jump out at the ‘Fabulous Las Vegas’ sign now it’s all lit up, and retrace your steps to the Bellagio Hotel to see the water fountains, which will also now be brightly illuminated. If you’re in the mood for views you can look down on it all from the Eiffel Tower Experience, the Fly LINQ Zipline or even from a helicopter, or you can go for full escapism with a show like Cirque du Soleil’s KA or the Blue Man Group’s bright fusion of color and sound. On the other hand, if you want to keep up the heat, head to Senor Frogs for a sizzling fiesta of Mexican food, drinks and party vibes.

Keep things cool with Go City

In Vegas, it’s never too hot to have a good time! Be sure to get your Go City All-Inclusive or Explorer Pass, and you’ll get cool savings on all the best attractions in town!

Karleen Stevens

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Las Vegas Airport to City Travel Options (Harry Reid)

Las Vegas is the world’s entertainment capital; truly a city that never sleeps. So you’ll want to spend as little time as possible between touching down at Harry Reid International Airport and getting yourself to the heart of the action. We’re talking supersized casinos, malls the size of aircraft hangars and some of the biggest, glitziest stage shows outside of Broadway. Marvel at the Mirage’s erupting volcano, take the great glass elevator up the (replica) Eiffel Tower at Paris, grab a selfie by the Bellagio’s legendary dancing fountains, and hitch a gondola ride down Venice’s Grand Canal at The Venetian. All this and more (so much more) awaits you in Sin City. Read on for our guide to all the transport options from Harry Reid International to downtown Vegas… Las Vegas Harry Reid Airport in Brief There’s only one international airport in Las Vegas. Harry Reid International was known as McCarran International up until 2021, when controversy over the antisemitic and racist beliefs of former Nevada senator Pat McCarran finally boiled over, prompting a 21st-century update. Senator Harry Reid lived just long enough to see the airport take his name in December 2021, just two weeks prior to his death. In spite of this, many still know the airport as McCarran. Or just plan Las Vegas Airport. The airport identification code – LAS – remains unaltered. Depending on direction of travel (and which side of the plane you’re sitting on), you might well get to enjoy cracking views of the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam and the Strip on your descent into fabulous Las Vegas. No matter how experienced your pilot, you’re also reasonably likely to experience a turbulent landing here. That’s due to unpredictable mountain air currents and hot dry desert air. The effect is particularly pronounced in summer. Still, the excitement will set you up rather nicely for all the thrills and spills that await in Sin City. But first, let us address the rather more prosaic matter of getting from LAS to downtown. The good news is that Harry Reid is a mere hop and a skip from the Strip, from a little over a mile if you’re staying at the southern end (MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay) to more like five miles if you’re bedding down at e.g. The STRAT, at the northern end. It’s nine miles to the Fremont Street Experience in downtown, technically the center of Vegas. Harry Reid Airport to Las Vegas by Public Transport Proximity of landing strip to actual Strip means there’s no need for stacks of transit options. Buses are frequent, reliable and – if a little slow – certainly the cheapest way of getting from A to B, useful if you’ve just accidentally dropped 100 bucks on the airport’s 1,000+ slot machines. Viva Las Vegas, baby! Getting from the Airport to Downtown This is pretty straightforward. There are three public bus services out of Harry Reid, and all of them bypass the Strip and make straight for downtown. One-way tickets cost $2 and should be bought (exact fare only!) on the bus. Routes 108 and 109 run most frequently and will get you to the Bonneville Transit Center bus stop in around 35-45 minutes. Route 109 runs around the clock. Alternatively the Centennial Express CX out of terminals 1 and 3 takes around 45 minutes to reach the end of the line at Casino Center & Fremont. However, this service only runs once per hour. You can also pay a little more ($3) for a 2-hour ticket that allows you to bus-hop around on Nevada’s RTC network until the time runs out. This excludes The Deuce, of which more below. Top tip: once in downtown Las Vegas, you can make use of the excellent Downtown Loop bus service for free.  Getting from the Airport to the Strip There are two options for getting to your Strip hotel from the airport using public transport: Take the Centennial Express CX, which departs from terminals 1 and 3, and disembark at the Tropicana after Koval Ln stop after around 20-25 minutes. From here you can transfer to the Las Vegas Monorail, which runs roughly parallel to the Strip along its eastern side and stops at several stations close to major hotels. A single one-way ride on the monorail costs $5.50 and multi-day passes are also available. Take the 109 bus route from the airport and disembark at South Strip Transit Terminal Bay 18. From there it’s a short walk to the South Strip Transit Terminal Bay SSTT for transfers to The Deuce, a 24/7 coach that services 28 stops along the length of the Strip. A one-way ticket costs $4 and it’s $6 for a two-hour pass. Again, multi-day passes are also available. Harry Reid Airport to the Strip or Downtown by Cab You’ll have to spring more for a cab than for the bus, but there’s no doubting this is the fastest and easiest way to get to your Vegas digs from the airport. Flat rates apply for rides from the cab ranks at terminals 1 and 3 to the Strip, and these vary depending on where you want to go, as follows: Zone 1 (Sunset North to Tropicana): $21. This covers Excalibur, the MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Tropicana, the Luxor and other hotels towards the Strip’s southern end. Zone 2 (Tropicana North to Flamingo): $25. Mid-Strip hotels in zone 2 include Paris, the Bellagio, Planet Hollywood and the Cosmopolitan. Zone 3 (Flamingo North to Stratosphere): $29. Zone 3 covers the northern end of the Strip, which includes Caesars Palace, the Venetian, the Wynn, Circus Circus, the STRAT and more. Note that flat-rate fares within these zones don’t include credit card fees, the $2 fuel surcharge or that all-important tip. Cabs to Downtown are metered and should set you back around $40. Operators including Lyft and Uber are a little less convenient but can cost up to 30% less than official airport cabs, so are always worth considering. Harry Reid Airport to Downtown Las Vegas by Rental Vehicle The Harry Reid Rent-a-Car Center is on Gilespie Street, around three miles south of the airport. You can catch a free shuttle there from the terminals; the journey takes 10 minutes and services depart every five minutes. You’ll find all the usual suspects here, including Alamo, Budget Hertz and Thrifty, with vehicles available from as little as $20 a day, right up to the kind of soft-top shocking-pink cadillac you might favor if you really want to stand out on the Strip. Save on attractions, tours and activities in Las Vegas Save on admission to Las Vegas attractions with Go City. Grab a Las Vegas pass, and make sure to check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Blog

Off the Strip - Container Park in Las Vegas

Don't make the mistake of visiting Las Vegas and never venturing beyond the Strip! Downtown Las Vegas, just north of the Strip, is a vibrant community with lots of fun areas and hidden gem establishments to discover and explore, including Downtown Container Park. Downtown Container Park, "DCP", is an open-air shopping and entertainment complex with lots of shops, restaurants, and bars right in downtown Las Vegas. The innovative entertainment complex concept is an attraction itself built from 43 re-purposed shipping containers and 41 locally manufactured Xtreme cubes. The complex features a grassy area with string lights for outdoor activities, an interactive "Treehouse" play area designed for children and adults, a stage for presentations and performances, a larger-than-life praying mantis sculpture that shoots fire, and more. Things to Do in Container Park In addition to all of the shopping and dining destinations, check out Container Park's Entertainment Schedule to see what events they're hosting during your trip to Las Vegas. Past events have included outdoor family movie nights, yoga in the park, doggie date night, "open container" beer tastings, and more. Container Park features family-friendly fun for everyone, from toddlers to adults. The eye-catching Treehouse structure provides jungle-gym fun for kids and adults alike with a must-do 3-story slide. When the sun goes down, DCP turns into a one-stop entertainment complex for adults (except on weekly Family Movie Nights!). After 9:00 pm, it's 21+ throughout DCP, even the playground. There's often live music, a DJ spinning, and more to keep it festive and fun. Restaurant Highlights Pinches Tacos is hands-down the most popular crowd favorite in Container Park. Serving simple-concept tacos with fresh-picked garden vegetables, high quality meats and seafood, and hand made tortillas, this family-run taco spot serves up delicious, authentic bites. "Real Mexican Food by Real Mexicans." For some "real deal" barbecue, head to Big Ern's BBQ. Here, you'll be able to get some classic BBQ fare along with recipes unique to Las Vegas where the owner-chef, Big Ern Loya, has developed his own flavors and techniques with the goal of bringing good BBQ to a this traditionally non BBQ town. Wine on tap. Need we say more? Check out bin 702's comprehensive selection of wine on tap and sample their selection of artisan cheese, meat plates, salads, and paninis. For casual, creative-yet-unpretentious-fare, Cheffini's serves up hot dogs with flavor combinations that are so good, you'll wish you could box up, ship home, and enjoy whenever you want. Simply Pure is a must for vegans in Las Vegas (or just those who are curious about the food offerings!). This gourmet vegan and raw food restaurant is committed to serving up flavor that satisfy, energize, revitalize, and refresh. Head to Perch for "fabulous, not fussy" fare at this casual, family-friendly establishment. Featuring a sharing menu, this place the perfect spot for dining with a group. Things to Do Nearby The Mob Museum (our Las Vegas Regional Director's top pick!) is located within a 10 minute walk from Downtown Container Park. The museum provides visitors with an entertaining and interactive experience where they'll learn stories from both sides of the famous back-and-forth between the Mob and the law enforcement that fought it. Just try not to learn too much while you're there... Get above it all for awesome views from the Stratosphere Observation Deck, an easy, 20+ minute trip on the DEUCE bus. The Stratosphere is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the U.S., standing at 1,149 feet tall and features both indoor and outdoor decks for the best views. Just north of downtown is the Las Vegas Cultural Corridor, home to lots of establishments that features art, science, history, education, and family fun. Points of interest include: the Neon Museum, Las Vegas Natural History Museum, Cashman Center, Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort, Las Vegas Library, Burlesque Hall of Fame, and more. Head to the Discovery Children's Museum for all things science, nature, art, and culture geared towards keeping kids entertained with interactive, hands-on exhibits and activities. Fans of the arts won't want to miss 18b, the arts district which is named for the 18 blocks of city land it used to take up. 18b is now a vibrant community known for being always-hip and home to galleries, office buildings, condos, and more. Location 707 Fremont Street Las Vegas, NV 89101 Hours Retail Monday-Thursday: 11:00 am to 9:00 pm Friday-Saturday: 11:00 am to 10:00 pm Sunday: 11:00 am to 8:00 pm Restaurants & Bars Monday-Thursday: 11:00 am to 11:00 pm Friday-Saturday: 11:00 am to 1:00 am Sunday: 11:00 am to 11:00 pm Be sure to explore the Strip and check out some of the attractions downtown. Save on combined admission to lots of Las Vegas attractions (on the Strip, and off) including museums, shows, day trips, and more with the Las Vegas Explorer Pass.
Casey Makovich

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