Transportation costs can eat up part of your Las Vegas budget (much less fun than spending it on drinking and gambling), so it’s important to keep an eye out for deals, especially when it comes to getting around in Sin City.
The arrival of rideshare services Uber and Lyft in Las Vegas—use “FSE” when you —has provided a great alternative to more expensive ways of getting where you’re going, but it’s nearly impossible to beat a $6 ride from Harry Reid International Airport to Fremont Street in the heart of downtown Las Vegas.
That’s right, $6 is the full fare for Centennial Express, also called the CX bus! The CX northbound line starts at Harry Reid Airport and operates every day of the week, from 6:55 a.m. to 10:42 p.m. The southbound CX line starts at 5:28 a.m. and runs until 10:04 p.m. Check out the full CX line schedule for more details.
Note: As of October 4th, 2020 the Westcliff Airport Express (WAX) is no longer in operation.
Centennial Express Line From Harry Reid Airport to Downtown Las Vegas
The CX bus line runs just about every 15 – 20 minutes, and $6 is the entire cost of the ride. No, that’s not a typo! Also, you can qualify for discounts if you’re a student, senior or veteran.
Riders can get tickets using the RTC app, at the various bus stops downtown, at the airport or in limited locations on The Strip. At the airport, the stops are on the bottom level of Terminal 1 (called Level Zero) or the departures level of Terminal 3. You can also get a ticket once you’re on board the bus, but exact change is needed.
Insider tip: You can also purchase a 24-hour pass or 3-day pass at a discount! If you’re going to be in town for more than a day, it could be worth it to buy the extended passes to get around town without having to break the bank.
How to Purchase Your Passes
By downloading the official rideRTC app on your smartphone, you can purchase your transit passes from any location. You can get your one-time, 24-hour or 3-day pass before boarding the bus at Harry Reid airport and use it for any line, including the CX line to downtown Las Vegas.
You can also choose to pay cash at any of the RTC kiosks or once you board the bus. Just be sure to have exact change if you plan to pay with cash.
You should always carry singles in Vegas, anyway, because tips are what grease the gears in this town!
Where Do I Get Off at Fremont Street Experience?
There are several stops along the way, but the northbound “4th Street After Carson” stop puts you right in the heart of the action at Fremont Street Experience. You’ll be dropped off right next to the Fremont Street Experience Parking Lot, just next to iconic downtown staples like the Slotzilla Zipline, Viva Vision light show canopy, The D Casino & Hotel and Four Queens.
Get all the schedule and route details about how to get from Harry Reid Airport to downtown Las Vegas for $6 at the official site of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada. Save some bucks and get your Las Vegas vacation off to a great start.
We’ll see you on Fremont Street!
This is a really cheap and convenient (and sometimes even entertaining) way to and from the airport. I have used it many times.
Where does it pickup at terminal 3?
Gate 44. On the centre bus stop.
Zero level, below the main terminal floor, but just keep asking folks until you make it outside!
$1 for over 60 or disabled
Sure wish it went to the strip!!!
Take the SDX (Strip & Downtown Xpress) from the same airport Zero Level, which has quite a few stops up and down the Strip btwn the Airport and Fremont.. or once on the Strip, catch the Deuce using the same pass for a slower ride but even more stops than the SDX. Also, there are a few short line trams that connect some of the sister hotel properties, and the Monorail along Paradise (one block east of the Strip) from the former Sahara, to the former Hilton, and on a while further south. Just got back; bought the $20 3 day pass; BRILLIANT! Great people onboard, terrific drivers most with remarkable patience while guiding Tourists all day, and one day rental cars at many hotels available for a trip to the Canyon or Red Rock, etc. Have Fun… be safe. Show Vegas some Love. Its a challaging time for locals but they rose to it and the welcome was warm!!!!! It feels safe there, even as a woman traveling alone 😊
This is great as we have friends to stay at the Golden Nugget and Las Vegas is a city where a tourist doesn’t need a car.
how long does it take from airport to downtown?
Does it really matter for $2, I mean everyone is going the same speed in Vegas traffic.
He didn’t say it made a difference-it was a simple question. What is the answer?
30 minutes on the bus. But buses are every 30 minutes during rush hours and 60 minutes otherwise
Does anyone know if there is a convenience store close to the Golden Nuggett?
Yes. On the same side of the street, walk by Four Queens and the D, and just a little farther. I think it was a brand name drug store like CVS or Walgreens or something. They have a large selection of food at reasonable (Las Vegas) prices. We stopped every day to buy our lunches and drinks before heading out of town or back to hotel.
Love it! I always buy a multi-day pass from a vending machine to not only use on the WAX, but also on the The Deuce and the SDX. I have used the WAX to get to and from the airport a few times when staying at the New York New York and Downtown Grand. If I remember right it dropped me off right in front of the New York New York and a few blocks away from the Downtown Grand. I also use this bus to get to north Premium Outlets and Fremont Street, as well from the New York New York.
Can anyone recommend which hotel I should use? Not too pricey so I can still gamble.
The WAX bus takes half an hour to go from airport to downtown
0) McCarran International Airport (N)
1) Tropicana @ Koval (E) across from Motel 6
2) Tropicana @ Las Vegas (E) near MGM Grand, Tropicana, and Excalibur
======= 5 mile stretch on Interstate 15
3) Grand Central @ LV Premium Outlets – North (S) off price shopping
4) Bonneville @ Promenade (W) residential bus terminal and bicycle rental
5) Casino Center @ Bonneville (S)residential bus terminal and bicycle rental
6) 3rd @ Lewis (S)Las Vegas court house
7) Casino Center @ Fremont (S) Fremont, Binions, Golden Nugget, Four Queens
8) Casino Center @ Stewart (S) last downtown exit before freeway to Summerlin