Cheap Flights from Los Angeles to Las Vegas

Los Angeles to Las Vegas is one of the shortest busy air routes in the country, around an hour in the air. It is also a drive of roughly four to five hours when the traffic on the I-15 behaves, and a much longer one when it does not. On Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings the road can double that time.

Flying makes sense when you are travelling alone, want to avoid the Sunday crawl, or when the fare is low enough that fuel and parking would cost more. Driving makes sense for groups of three or four. A high-speed rail link, Brightline West, is being built between the two cities but is not yet open, so for now the choice is plane, car or coach.

Harry Reid International (LAS) is about five miles from the Strip and has a very easy road into the resorts. Taxis and rideshares usually take 15 to 25 minutes depending on traffic, and rideshare pickup is in a dedicated area, so follow the signs rather than the crowd.

Terminal 3 handles most international and many domestic flights, while Terminal 1 handles most others, so check yours before you travel. Allow a bit longer than you would expect on the way back, since security lines at the airport can be long on Sunday afternoons.

Vegas prices follow the event calendar more than the seasons. Big conventions such as CES in January, major boxing and UFC nights, the Las Vegas Grand Prix in November, music festivals, New Year's Eve and holiday weekends can double hotel prices and push flights up with them.

If your dates are flexible, check what is on before you pick them. Midweek, Sunday to Thursday, is almost always cheaper for both flights and hotels than Friday and Saturday. Summer is extremely hot, with daytime highs often above 105 degrees, and fares and rooms can be good value as a result.

Tuesday and Wednesday are usually the cheapest days to fly, with Thursday and Sunday departures the most expensive for the return. Early morning and late evening flights are often cheaper than the middle of the day.

A one-way pair can also beat a round trip, for example flying out on Thursday evening on one airline and back on a Monday morning flight on another. Use the flexible-date calendar on a search engine, because a one-day change can make a surprising difference on a route with this many seats.

On a one-hour flight, a bag fee can easily equal the fare. A budget airline's cheapest ticket usually includes only a small personal item, and a carry-on or checked bag adds a lot. If you plan to bring luggage, price the full trip before comparing.

Many visitors travel light for a weekend, and a backpack that fits under the seat can save you around fifty dollars each way. Our guide to carry-on size rules explains the limits, and the one on basic and standard economy fares helps you pick the right fare class.

A large share of weekend traffic on this route is groups, from bachelor and bachelorette parties to conventions and sports weekends. If you are organizing one, book flights as early as you can, since seats at a good price run out quickly on Friday and Sunday.

Groups of ten or more can often get special handling through an airline's group desk, which allows names to be added later and sometimes holds a fare. Our group flight booking tips explain how it works, and our group bookings service can handle the arrangements.

Las Vegas in summer is extreme, and arriving mid-afternoon can mean walking into 110-degree weather. Plan outdoor activities for early morning or evening, drink plenty of water and use the indoor walkways between resorts.

Weekend crowds are thickest on Friday and Saturday evenings, and check-in lines can be long. Many hotels let you check in on a phone app, which saves time. Book restaurants and shows before you go for the busiest weekends.

Almost every major Las Vegas hotel charges a daily resort fee on top of the room rate, often $30 to $50 or more, and it is included in the final total at checkout rather than in the first price you see. Include it when comparing prices.

Some packages that combine flights and a hotel can be good value in off-peak weeks, particularly midweek. Check what is included and what is not, and compare with booking separately. Our vacation packages service can help.

If you fly out of Burbank, Long Beach, Orange County or Ontario, parking is usually simple and cheaper than at LAX, and short-term lots are close to the terminals. At LAX, off-site parking with shuttles can be far cheaper than the terminal lots, and the FlyAway buses are a good alternative.

On the way home, remember that Las Vegas airport security can be slow on Sunday afternoons and evenings, so arrive earlier than you think. If you are driving home from LA's airport after midnight, check the traffic before you leave, since road works often close lanes at night.