How can you get to Las Vegas Airport using public transportation?

In 2023, more than 57 million passengers made it Harry Reid International Airport. That was five million more than the number of passengers who traveled through the airport in 2022.

Photo: Wendy van Overstreet | Shutterstock

There are plans to modernize the airport, such as adding new gates to the terminals and increasing the number of aircraft in Terminal 1 to accommodate 66% more aircraft. There are also plans to overhaul ground transportation some reports claim that the airport is trying to compensate for the congestion in Terminals 1 and 2.

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In this article, we will explore how to reach this airport, which covers an area of ​​2800 hectares (as reported by SkyVector), using public transport.

Public transport via Harry Reid Airport terminals

Many people may find it strange that the terminals at Harry Reid Airport are called Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 (even though the airport only has two terminals). Both terminals have their own check-in, parking garage, passenger facilities, etc.

Photo: Christophe KLEBERT | Shutterstock

Terminal 1 is a domestic terminal, while Terminal 3 is a combined domestic and international terminal. Both terminals have a total of 110 gates. For budget travelers, public transportation is the cheapest way to get to Harry Reid Airport.

How to access public transport through these terminals?

Terminal 1

Harry Reid Airport (and Las Vegas in general) does not have well-used public transportation. Nevertheless, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) operates bus service available at each of the two terminals. A traveler should keep in mind that they may have to transfer to another bus route to get to the Strip.

Photo: Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport

Here is a list of public transport options in Terminal 1:

• Route 108 (provides transportation to and from Paradise)
• Route 109 (provides transportation to and from the Maryland Parkway)
• Centennial Express (CX) – UNLV, the Bonneville Transit Center in downtown Las Vegas and the Centennial Hills Transit Center.

Terminal 3

However, only the Centennial Express (CX) city bus service is available from Terminal 3. According to Welcome Pickups:

“The CX bus takes 30 minutes to travel from Las Vegas Airport to the Strip, passing through the Flamingo Hotel and Las Vegas Boulevard. On weekdays the bus runs every hour from 6:23 a.m. to 10:35 p.m. On weekends and public holidays: The CX bus runs every hour from 6:31 a.m. to 10:39 p.m.

Where are the public transport stops?

The unofficial guide to LAS Airport states that public transport can be used at the two terminals discussed above:

Terminal 1

If you want to access the public bus service in Harry Reid from Terminal 1, you will need to find the Ground Zero Terminal. To do this, you have to go down one floor and leave the terminal building. After exiting, you can turn right to find the bus stop marked RTC or Centennial Express.

Photo: Lukas Souza | Easy flying

Terminal 3

To access public transportation in Terminal 3, you must get to Departures on Level 2. To do this, you must take the elevator or escalator to level 2 (from baggage claim). You should then leave the terminal building and walk across the pedestrian crossing. The RTC bus stop is opposite door 44.

Public transport costs to (and from) Harry Reid

While Welcome Pickups reports that a one-way trip to (and from Harry Reid) “costs $4 (€3.50) or you can purchase a 2-hour pass for $6 (€5),” Simple Flying reported that a one-way trip on the Centennial Express (CX) city bus costs $2.

You can get tickets at the ticket machine at the airport or directly from the driver when boarding. There may be a waiting time of approximately one hour.

Transfer to Las Vegas Airport by bus (shuttle)

Harry Reid Airport's shuttle (bus) service is operated by a company simply referred to as “The Shuttle”. It is a subsidiary of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Municipality and offers travel to 50 destinations around Las Vegas.

The shuttle is convenient for all passengers who “Move, take off or get to the airport in the most cost-effective way, with comfort, security and good service“. As the airport reports, the shuttle offers the following services:

• Large smart TV screens.
• Wi-Fi service.
• Charging from USB power ports.
• Well ventilated space.
• 24 passengers.
• Comfortable seats and interior design.
• A huge luggage compartment included in the ticket.

Photo: Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport

The shuttle service costs $15 each way. Let's compare the pros and cons of the shuttle service at Harry Reid:

How will ground transportation change after the conversion at Harry Reid?

There are reports suggesting that the road network connecting Harry Reid International Airport will be upgraded following its expansion. The airport's one-way system will remain intact while a flyover bridge will be constructed. This bridge will help better connect Terminal 2 and Paradise Road.

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Access to public transportation (in addition to parking for staff and crew and ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft) could also be more possible for passengers at the airport with the two multimodal centers being considered:

Reports also state that with these improvements, the airport is trying to balance the airlines' distribution across the two terminals by consolidating some flight operations in Terminal 2, thereby reducing congestion in Terminal 1.