The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately 4 mile stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard that runs from Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino at the southern end to the Stratosphere Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in the North. The Strip is one of the most famous and most valuable stretches of real estate in the world, and is the heart of the city that is known as the gaming capital of the world.

The Strip is ever changing and growing. Recently non-gaming properties in the form of tall condominium towers have been spouting up in between and behind the casino-hotels. Of course casinos are also being built, with most seemingly designed to outdo prior properties. Also, while new properties are being developed existing properties are evolving and improving in an attempt to remain competitive.

This non-stop growth can occasionally cause headaches for people trying to drive from place to place on the Strip. Closed lanes, closed side roads, and traffic from construction vehicles cause this already busy road to become difficult to traverse. Las Vegas has tried to keep up with increased traffic by adding pedestrian walkways, a monorail, more buses, and improved alternative side roads as alternatives to tourists simply driving down the Strip. By keeping a few tips in mind a visitor can save time and frustration when traveling around the Strip.

One way to get around is to walk from one property to another. Just keep in mind that Las Vegas is brutally hot in the summer, with normal daily highs over 100 degrees, and the nights from late fall until mid spring may be surprisingly cool. Also, while casino security and the cops do an excellent job of keeping as safe as possible, you need to keep your own security in mind, especially in areas that aren't near a casino. The north end of the Strip past the Wynn, especially, has areas that are not near any casinos. Also, some of the side streets are less safe after dark than the Strip is.

The monorail is useful is some cases. It is located on the east side of the Strip, and is excellent for going to the Convention Center and the hotels on the east side. The monorail stations are MGM Grand, Bally's/Paris, Flamingo/Caesars, Harrah's/Imperial Palace, The Convention Center, and the Sahara. Buses run 24 hours a day up and down the Strip, and a Trolley (really another type of bus, not a San Francisco style trolley) zigzags from Strip hotels to off Strip hotels. Taxis are everywhere, all day long, and are another alternative way to get around the Strip.

If you want to drive you should try to become familiar with the side streets that run parallel to the Strip. On the west the streets to learn are Frank Sinatra Drive and Industrial Road, and on the east the Roads to know are Koval Lane, Sand Avenue, and Paradise Road. These roads will lead you to the back entrances for most of the Strip hotels and are almost always easier to get around on, although Paradise Road can be slow when a very large convention is in town.

Planning ahead and consulting a map of the Las Vegas Strip can save you time and frustration, and help you to better enjoy your Las Vegas vacation.