Las Vegas is one of the most visited and celebrated destinations in the United States. And Sin City doesn't turn off — crowds gather all year for 24/7 access to fun. Whether visiting Las Vegas for a bachelor(ette) party, trade convention, or just to enjoy the gambling, food, shows, and party scene, everyone is here to have a good time. But before you brush up on your blackjack skills and book a table at Nobu, think carefully about the best time of year to visit Las Vegas. A general breakdown of the seasons goes like this.
- High Seasons: March to May and September to November
- Shoulder Season: December to February
- Low Season: June to August
Prices, crowds, and weather can all vary from month to month, so the best time to visit will depend on your priorities. No matter what they are, though, here's everything you need to know about when to go to Las Vegas.
Most Popular Times to Visit Las Vegas
With its huge range of event spaces, Las Vegas is one of the world's most popular destinations for conventions and festivals. Some years, the city draws more than five million convention attendees! You might want to run a quick Google search to double-check that your trip doesn't coincide with a large trade event. If it does, be sure to make flight and hotel reservations in advance.
During popular conventions, Las Vegas hotel bookings and prices surge. Keep an eye out for the Consumer Electronics Show in January and the Electric Daisy Carnival in May. In December, the "Super Bowl of rodeo" comes to town thanks to the National Finals Rodeo, bringing about 100,000 visiting cowboys along with it.
Apart from these isolated events, though, the most popular times in Las Vegas are the temperate spring and fall. March is especially popular — it's peak spring-break season and the month when raucous resort pools like Encore Beach Club and Wet Republic begin their annual daytime pool parties.
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Best Times to Visit Las Vegas for Smaller Crowds
Since spring and fall bring the most visitors to Las Vegas, winter and summer are your best bets for a less crowded trip. "Less crowded" is, of course, a relative term in Sin City, since tourists flock here year round. But these off-seasons do deliver more manageable crowds than you'll find the rest of the year.
June, July, and August have traditionally been the city's least popular months, and with their scorching heat, most authorities still consider them the true Las Vegas low season. In recent years, though, winter has actually seen fewer visitors than summer. Plan a trip in February for pleasant weather and the city's smallest crowds.
Another tip for the crowd-averse: Try spending time away from the famous Strip. The casino-lined main drag draws the overwhelming majority of Las Vegas visitors, so visiting other attractions — like the city's outdoor destinations — can give you a break from the masses.
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Best Times to Visit Las Vegas for Good Weather
Las Vegas is located in the desert, so summer temperatures regularly reach triple digits — putting a damper on any activities done away from air-conditioning. To avoid this, the best times to visit Las Vegas are spring and fall, when temperatures typically hover in the 70s and 80s. March, April, May, October, and November have the best weather, whether you're walking the Las Vegas Strip, enjoying dinner outdoors at Lago (with views of Bellagio's dancing fountains), or getting out in the desert for hikes and ATV adventures.
Winter in Las Vegas can also be a nice escape for travelers fleeing ice and snow. It won't be warm per se — temperatures tend to top out in the high 50s or low 60s — but it rarely dips below freezing, and you're unlikely to see snow beyond the ice rink at The Cosmopolitan. Be warned, though: Because of these chillier conditions, some hotels close their pools between October and February. If lounging poolside is a priority for your trip, be sure to check with your hotel before booking a stay in the winter.
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Best Times to Visit the Las Vegas Strip
Technically, the Las Vegas Strip isn't in Las Vegas — it's in an unincorporated part of Clark County. But most visitors associate the Strip with the heart of Sin City. It spans more than four miles along Las Vegas Boulevard and is home to about 30 iconic casinos, new and old.
The central artery is where you'll find The Venetian's canals and roaming showgirls in feathers available for tipped photo ops. Las Vegas doesn't have open container laws, meaning you can legally drink on the street as long as the alcohol isn't in a glass container. (Just remember to drink water, too.)
Visiting the Las Vegas Strip is most pleasant in spring and fall — but the ideal weather at these times of year also brings higher prices and larger crowds. To hit the sweet spot for climate and cost, try visiting during the winter shoulder season. Summer is another off-peak time, but walking the Strip in triple-digit temperatures can be dangerous if you're dehydrated or unaccustomed to the heat. Instead of traveling on foot on a summer visit, buy an $8 all-day pass for the Deuce, a bus that runs up and down the Strip, 24 hours a day.
Another pro tip: Book a midweek Las Vegas trip for lower hotel prices, even at some of the best hotels in Las Vegas. Locals and Californians often visit the Las Vegas Strip in droves on weekends, so a weekday visit can help you avoid Saturday and Sunday's elevated costs. If you're going to use this strategy, though, remember not to travel during school breaks, when many vacationing families visit at midweek.
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Worst Times to Visit Las Vegas
Sin City has something to offer 12 months of the year, so there isn't a wrong time to go — but some times are better than others. Summer can be a less-than-ideal season for many visitors, since temperatures in June, July, and August have been known to soar above 110 degrees. Unless you're prepared to spend your whole trip inside, you may want to avoid this time of year.
Winter, on the other hand, brings both low prices and temperate weather. There are disadvantages to consider, like seasonal pool closures, but the time between December and February can be one of the best times to visit Las Vegas.
One exception to that rule is New Year's Eve. The parties may be epic, but they also draw in half a million visitors — meaning this holiday should be avoided by anyone who values small crowds and low prices more than midnight revelry.
