How to reach Las Vegas

By Plane

Las Vegas is served by McCarran International Airport (code: LAS), 5757 Wayne Newton Blvd., just a few minutes' drive from the southern end of the Strip, where the bulk of casinos and entertainment venues are concentrated. The airport is about 2 miles away from the conference location, the UNLV student union. Most hotels in the area have airport shuttles connecting LAS to/from the hotels.

Most major domestic and many international airlines fly into Las Vegas, and the city acts as a major routing point for low-cost Southwest Airlines. The airport has two terminals. Terminal 1 serves mostly domestic carriers with four sets of gates. A and B gates are accessible to the main ticketing area and baggage claim by (very long) hallways, while most of the C and all of the D gates are reached by tram. The ultramodern Terminal 3 opened in 2012 and primarily services international and some domestic carriers like United with its 14 gates. Each terminal has its own baggage-claim facility and services such as dining, shopping, and traveler assistance, along with ground transportation areas for taxis, hotel shuttles, buses, and shuttles to the rental-car facility. And yes, all of the terminals and baggage claims have slot machines just in case you want to lose a few bucks while you're waiting for your luggage ☺

By Car

The main highway connecting Las Vegas with the rest of the country is I-15; it links Montana, Idaho, and Utah with Southern California. From the east, take I-70 or I-80 west to Kingman, Arizona, and then U.S. 93 north to Downtown Las Vegas (Fremont St.). From the south, take I-10 west to Phoenix, and then U.S. 93 north to Las Vegas. From San Francisco, take I-80 east to Reno, and then U.S. 95 south to Las Vegas. Vegas is 286 miles from Phoenix, 759 miles from Denver, 421 miles from Salt Lake City, 269 miles from Los Angeles, and 586 miles from San Francisco.

Google Maps is generally accurate for driving directions to Las Vegas.

International visitors should note that insurance and taxes are almost never included in quoted rental-car rates in the U.S. Be sure to ask your rental agency about these. They can add a significant cost to your car rental.