Las Vegas-7-day-itinerary

A full week in Las Vegas is more time than most trip guides account for, which means you can spread the Strip, the desert, and downtown across seven unhurried days instead of cramming everything into a punishing three.

Day 1: Arrival and getting oriented

You’ll land at Harry Reid International Airport, not McCarran, and rideshare pickup happens inside the parking garage, not at the curb, so plan the walk. The monorail only covers the Strip’s east side, MGM Grand to the SAHARA, so don’t count on it for your whole trip. Once you’re checked in, start with a walk down the Strip and the Bellagio fountains, free and running every 15 to 30 minutes. Skip the “buffet for lunch” instinct; several marquee buffets, including MGM Grand’s and Paris’s, have closed for good, and the survivors now charge $55 to $90-plus. The Forum Shops at Caesars make a solid afternoon browse instead. For dinner, aim for one of the Strip’s genuinely well-reviewed kitchens, and in the evening, Zumanity or another Cirque du Soleil production is worth booking ahead if you want a proper show on night one.

Day 2: Hoover Dam and Lake Mead

The shortest day trip on this itinerary, about 45 minutes each way. A guided tour inside the dam is worth booking in advance if you have any curiosity about the engineering, and Lake Mead afterward offers boating and water sports if the heat calls for it. Head back for dinner and, if you can get tickets, “O” at the Bellagio or “KA” at MGM Grand remain two of the strongest Cirque productions running.

Day 3: Downtown and Fremont Street

Spend the morning at the Mob Museum, genuinely one of the better history museums in the city, then head to Fremont Street for lunch. Downtown Container Park makes an easy afternoon stop. At night, Fremont Street Experience runs its free light canopy show overhead, with the paid Viva Vision add-on if you want the premium version. Dinner downtown tends to be better value than the Strip equivalent.

Day 4: Red Rock Canyon

Rent a car for this one. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area sits about 20 minutes west of the Strip and delivers genuinely dramatic red rock scenery, with hiking trails for every fitness level. A timed-entry reservation applies February through November, so check before you drive out. Pack a lunch or eat at one of the picnic areas, and spend the afternoon on the scenic drive and viewpoints rather than rushing back to the Strip.

Day 5: The Neon Museum and the Arts District

A guided tour of the Neon Museum’s outdoor boneyard of retired casino signage is a better history lesson than most Strip attractions manage, and it photographs beautifully in late afternoon light. The Arts District nearby has genuine street art and small galleries worth an unhurried wander, a good contrast after four days of casino floors.

Day 6: The LINQ and the High Roller

The LINQ Promenade makes for an easy morning of shopping and people-watching, and the High Roller wheel offers panoramic Strip views, historically priced $25 to $35 depending on time of day. Spend the afternoon exploring whatever corner of the Strip you haven’t covered yet.

Day 7: Last day and departure

Use the morning for final souvenir shopping or a proper brunch, then start departure prep early. If you rented a car, return it with time to spare to avoid late fees, and if you’re flying out of Terminal 3, build in extra time since it handles international traffic and can run busier lines than Terminal 1.

Things worth knowing for the whole week: resort fees are mandatory nearly everywhere, typically $45 to $60-plus per night, and always land separately at checkout. Parking is no longer free at most Strip properties either, expect $15 to $25 for 24-hour self-park. Book restaurants and shows well ahead since a week-long trip means you’re competing with everyone else’s calendar too, and drink more water than feels necessary, especially on the two days you’re out in direct desert sun.