Paul Szydelko

For visitors who use their own car to get to Las Vegas or rent a car upon arrival, parking fees have become ubiquitous since MGM Resorts International began instituting them in 2016. Parking prices at major Strip resorts have since grown considerably, but there are both benefits and ways around them.

Self-parking rates typically start between $18 and $20 for the first day, regardless of the length of parking. Valet parking, when available, is more expensive and tipping (at least $2 to $5 for each valet interaction) is suggested. Guests staying at the hotel generally pay a lower rate. Higher fees can be expected for weekends and special events.

Certainly, a good number of visitors to the city arrive at Harry Reid Airport and probably won’t need to park. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority or Reid Airport did not provide figures on the percentage of those guests who rent a vehicle upon arrival. But according to the 2023 LVCVA Visitor Survey, approximately 54% of visitors arrived in Las Vegas by ground transportation, up from 49% in 2022. Half (50%) of visitors drove their own vehicle during their visit , compared to 44%. in 2022.

The LVCVA study found that around one in six visitors (16%) in 2022 visited nearby destinations before or after their trip to the city, up from 12% in 2021.

The fees are a way to generate another modest revenue stream, but have also funded improvements to the parking experience, according to Alan Feldman, an MGM Resorts veteran and distinguished responsible gaming researcher for International Gaming Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas.

“There was a time when free parking and air conditioning were two big draws to the casino industry,” Feldman said. “Then the industry itself started to evolve and started to offer a lot of other really wonderful things…and the hotels themselves morphed into four-star, five-star properties. And all the while, parking remained free out of historical respect.”

While Las Vegas locals still view free parking as a birthright, travelers have generally resigned themselves to the fees, which have been common in big cities and tourist attractions for much longer.

“What’s happened is Vegas has gone from being cheap to being a city that’s really worth it. … We’ve transformed the city into a city that’s all about value for money , into a value-for-money city, and that’s a sign of a mature, growing, healthy market – but it also costs money,” Feldman said.

Here are some tips

So where can drivers take a break?

Fashion Show, Casino Royale, Circus Circus, Sahara Las Vegas, and Treasure Island (TI) are among the very limited locations on the Strip that offer free parking. In addition to the M Resort and Silverton, off-Strip properties such as Rio, Palms, Orleans, Westgate and Virgin Las Vegas as well as suburban hotels Boyd Group and Station continue to offer free parking.

Fontainebleau Las Vegas, which will complete its first full year of operation next month, does not charge self-parking fees to hotel guests and the first four hours are free for all visitors.

Joining a resort’s loyalty program or getting a credit card associated with a hotel brand are the main ways to get free or discounted prices on parking.

And if customers have no choice but to pay for a seat, news sites such as Las Vegas Advisor And Las Vegas Livea site for booking hotels, shows, tours and attractions, regularly updates its pages with comprehensive lists of parking charges (although visitors who access the Advisor site will have to pay a fee to access the latest information ).

“While parking fees are a pain, when you look at the overall value you get from a stay in Las Vegas compared to other cities, it’s still very economical compared to other destinations around the world,” said Dale Bock, founder of Las Vegas Direct. 26 years ago.