TRIP PLANNING

BEST TIME TO VISIT LAS VEGAS

Month-by-month weather, the cheapest weeks to book, and the dates to avoid.

The two best stretches are mid-March through May and mid-September through November. You get warm days, cool-enough nights, and room rates that aren't set for a convention crowd. Winter is the cheapest time to sleep on the Strip. Summer is the hottest, and midweek in July it's often cheaper than winter — if you can handle 105 degrees.

Below is what each season actually feels like, the weeks rooms cost the most, and the best month for the kind of trip you're taking.

The weather, by season

Spring (March to May): highs climb from the low 70s in March to the low 90s by late May. Nights stay in the 50s and 60s. This is the most comfortable stretch of the year for walking the Strip.

Summer (June to August): daytime highs run 100 to 110. July averages a high near 105, and the pavement makes it feel hotter. Nights only drop to the mid-80s. Plan on being indoors or in a pool from noon to 5pm.

Fall (September to November): September still runs mid-90s. October cools to the low 80s. By November days sit around 65 and nights drop into the 40s. October is a lot of people's favorite month here.

Winter (December to February): highs of 55 to 60, nights near 40, and it gets windy. You won't swim in an unheated pool, but you can walk all day without sweating through your shirt.

The cheapest months to book

January and February are the low season. After the first week of January, midweek rooms on the Strip drop to some of the lowest rates of the year. February is similar, minus one weekend (more on that below).

High summer — mid-July through August, Sunday through Thursday — is the other bargain window. The heat scares people off, so a room that runs $220 on a March Saturday can fall under $80 on a July Tuesday.

The pattern under all of this: Sunday through Thursday is always cheaper than Friday and Saturday, in every month. Shift your trip one day earlier and you'll often save more than any promo code.

The weeks to expect high rates

A handful of dates fill the city and push rates up. If your trip is flexible, these are the ones to dodge:

  • New Year's Eve — the single most expensive night of the year on the Strip.
  • CES, the first full week of January — a business crowd of 100,000-plus takes over. Rooms spike for about four nights, then crash right after.
  • Super Bowl weekend, early February — Vegas has turned into a Super Bowl destination, and rooms follow.
  • March Madness, mid-to-late March — sportsbooks fill for the first-weekend games.
  • EDC, mid-May — three nights of the electronic dance festival move rates across the whole Strip, not just the host hotel.
  • The Formula 1 Grand Prix, mid-to-late November — the biggest rate jump on the calendar. A room near the circuit can run four to five times its normal price.
  • National Finals Rodeo, the first ten days of December — a lock-out for value on the south end especially.
  • Big fight weekends — UFC and boxing cards land on Mexican Independence weekend (mid-September) and Cinco de Mayo, among others. They move fast and move rates with them.

Pool season runs March to October

Most Strip pools open in March and close in late October. Dayclubs — Encore Beach Club, Marquee, Wet Republic — run their loudest from May through September. If a pool scene is the point of your trip, come between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Two exceptions worth knowing: Stadium Swim at Circa downtown is heated and open year-round, and a few resort pools keep one heated pool going through winter. Our pool guide has the full list.

The best month for your kind of trip

On a budget: January or February, midweek. Or high summer midweek if the heat doesn't stop you.

For the pools and dayclubs: May through September.

For walking, sightseeing, and eating your way down the Strip: March, April, October, and November. Warm days, no heat exhaustion.

Traveling with kids on summer break: June through August. You're locked into the heat, so book a hotel with a pool you'll actually use, and plan indoor mornings.

A couples trip: April and October hit the sweet spot — warm evenings, patios open, rates lower than peak.

Month-by-month at a glance

  • January: cold nights, cheap rooms — except CES week and the NYE hangover. Good value.
  • February: cool, quiet, cheap. Watch Super Bowl weekend.
  • March: warming up, pools reopen, March Madness fills sportsbooks late in the month.
  • April: near-perfect weather, moderate rates. One of the best months.
  • May: hot by late month, pool season on, EDC spikes mid-May.
  • June: heat sets in, summer-break families arrive, rooms still reasonable midweek.
  • July: hottest month, lowest midweek rates of the year.
  • August: still very hot, cheap midweek, dayclubs busy.
  • September: heat eases late, fight weekends spike rates.
  • October: ideal weather, one of the most popular months.
  • November: cool and pleasant — until F1 weekend, which is its own animal.
  • December: chilly, NFR fills early December, holidays and NYE close the year hot.

Once you've picked your dates, the next call is where on (or off) the Strip to stay — that's covered in where to stay in Las Vegas. Remember that nearly every resort adds a nightly resort fee of $35 to $55 on top of the room rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest month to visit Las Vegas?

January and February, midweek (Sunday through Thursday), after the first week of January. Midweek dates in July and August also run cheap because of the heat.

What is the hottest month in Las Vegas?

July, with average highs near 105°F and nights in the mid-80s. June through August all sit above 100 most days.

When is pool season in Las Vegas?

Most pools open in March and close in late October, and dayclubs peak May through September. Stadium Swim at Circa downtown is heated and open year-round.

When are Las Vegas hotel rates highest?

New Year's Eve, CES week (early January), Super Bowl weekend, EDC (mid-May), the Formula 1 Grand Prix (mid-to-late November), and National Finals Rodeo (early December).

What is the best month for a first Las Vegas trip?

April or October — warm days, cool nights, and rates below the summer and event-week peaks.

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