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!