Las Vegas gets easier to navigate
Wheeling on vacation? You’re in luck. Las Vegas is one of the easiest places to visit while using a mobility device.
I’ve made several trips to Las Vegas in the last three decades and access improves each time. There is more to be done, but there are more workarounds. For instance, you can avoid traffic by using pedestrian bridges to cross the busy Las Vegas Strip.
Much of what Vegas has is disability-friendly. Here are the basics or a refresher course for staying on the go.
When you land
There are several ways to request wheelchair service at McCarran International Airport. As always, it’s best to request anything you need in advance through your airline. You can request a wheelchair or you can ask for someone to assist you in yours.
To request a wheelchair: On-site — dial 7874 on any courtesy phone in the terminal or use the information booths.
On-site or in advance — dial (702) 261-7874 or (702) 261-5211 (main airport contact); if you need different accommodations once at the airport, contact passenger services at your airline.
After hours — dial 0 from any courtesy phone and ask for the airport service coordinator.
More info: Contact airport accessibility and services at mccarran.com/Special Assistance
Ground transit
Accessible taxis are available at terminals 1 and 3, and there are designated wait areas for travelers with disabilities.
Terminal 1: You can find
taxis on the eastern side of baggage claim and outside Exits 1-4. Terminal 3: Taxis are outside Level Zero, which is the ground floor.
Ride-hailing pickup: In Terminal 1 on Level 2 of the parking garage. In Terminal 3 on the valet level of the parking garage.
Getting around
All taxi companies in Las Vegas have lift-equipped vans that can accommodate one wheelchair. The Convention and Visitors Authority website has a list of those companies: bit.ly/vegaslift equippedvans. You can book rides with the company or ask a hotel concierge to do this for you. Pro tip: I sometimes keep business cards of cab drivers who have provided good service and will reserve trips with them in advance.
You can use wheelchairaccessible public buses, trams that run between Sahara and Tropicana avenues on the eastern side of the Las Vegas Strip and a monorail system that stops at various resorts. This is where to find accessible transit options: bit.ly/vegasaccessibletransit
One of my favorite ways to see neon light shows or just get some fresh air is to stroll the Strip. This is easier and much safer to do since Clark County installed overhead walkways and pedestrian bridges with elevators between
Where to stay
Vegas has more accessible guest rooms than any other city in the country, according to VegasMeansBusiness
.com, the website of the convention and visitors authority.
Ask for specific accommodations during booking and get a confirmation.
Motorized scooters and wheelchairs are also available for rent at most resort hotels.
Come to play
In terms of gambling, Las Vegas speaks the language of universal access. Hotel casinos have accessible slot machines, and wheelchair users can roll up to a variety of table games.
My favorite is the Venetian poker room. It’s clean, smoke-free and easy for me to maneuver my chair among the tables. For a vintage Vegas experience, try your luck at Caesars Palace, where lowered blackjack tables and slot machines with removable seats make it wheelchair-friendly.
More information
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s website, vegasmeansbusiness.com, is a good place to begin your trip planning. Click for specific accessibility information and links, or go to the special needs visitors page at bit.ly/specialneeds visitors.