Well in short its a form of transportation for tourist, Vegas locals, or Vegas show exhibitors/vendors (LV Convention Center) to get from one place to another.

Is the Las Vegas Monorail really worth it?

Price:
Single Ride Ticket : $5.00
Two-Ride Ticket: $9.00 (back and fourth if you will)
One-Day Pass: $15.00
Hours of Operation:
Mon – Thurs : 7am – 2am
Fri – Sun : 7am – 3am

The truth is that I’ve taken this monorail only about 3 times in my many trips to Sin City. My reasons for not taking it that many times is, I like to pay for convenience. Taking the monorail in Vegas is not very convenient if you need to get to a Casino on the opposite side of the strip as

Las Vegas Monorail Illustration #1

Illustration # 1 shows. The 3 times that I actually took it was because I need to travel along those specific Casinos that it actually has drop off points to. If you hate to walk long distances then this is not for you. The black arrows demonstrate in the direction in which you’d have to travel walking if you wanted to go to those Casinos across the strip.

LV Monorail Dropoff Stations:
Sahara, Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas Convention Center, Harrah’s/Imperial, Flamingo/Caesars Palace, Bally’s and Paris, and finally the MGM Grand.

If your trip consists of just visiting just these specific Casinos listed above, then you might just want to consider taking the one-day pass.

I’m not saying take the monorail or don’t take it. In my opinion, if your on a budget and willing to walk then go right ahead and take it. The Monorail saves money if you compare it with taking those dang cabs everywhere you want to travel to all day long.

Is the Las Vegas Monorail’s view something worth seeing?
I suppose if you enjoy seeing the lights in the rear of all the Casinos listed above. You don’t really see much of anything (See Illustration #2).

Las Vegas Monorail Illustration 2

Are there any benefits of taking the Las Vegas Monorail?
There are definitely benefits not many but there are. One benefit is that, once your in the station there are hardly any lines (even during holidays). Another benefit is that the monorail has NO TRAFFIC! Meaning it’ll take you to the next Casino station stop pretty fast.

Look for these Monorail signs located in the Casinos listed above to find the monorail.

This is the souvenir you get if you pay for admission.

Ticket Front

“Party like a rockstar!” Las Vegas Monorail Official Site

Las Vegas Strip Map Part #1

The large yellow street in the middle of the map is Las Vegas Blvd also know as the Strip.

Free Shuttles

1.) Barbary Coast, Gold Coast, Orleans shuttle
Shuttle bus runs every 20-25 minutes to each of the above mentioned casinos between 9:30a.m. and Midnight. Catch the Barbary shuttle at the side entrance on Flamingo Road. Use the Barbary Coast to the Gold Coast shuttle and you can walk to the Rio which is located beside the Gold Coast.
2.) Harrah’s to The Rio
Shuttles run on an approximate 30 minute schedule to each property between the hours of 10 a.m and 1a.m. Loading at the Rio is at the side entrance, loading at Harrah’s is at the entrance at rear of casino next to the check-in counter.
3.) Sam’s Town shuttle
Shuttles run from Sam’s Town on the Boulder Highway to several Las Vegas locations every 45 to 60 minutes between the hours of 8 a.m and 11:30 p.m. depending on which route you are using. Shuttle run from Sam’s Town to the following properties, Stardust, Fremont, California, Bourbon Street, San Remo and Harrah’s. Although the Sam’s Town web site says that a room key may be required we have never heard of anyone being asked to show a key.
4.) Hard Rock shuttle
The Hard Rock shuttle picks up passengers about once per hour between 10 a.m. and 7p.m. Shuttle stops at the Forum Shops at 10 past the hour, Fashion show Mall at 15 minutes past the hour and the Stardust at 20 minutes past the hour. The friendly Hard Rock drivers will stop and pick you up if you flag them down between stops.
5.) The Palms shuttle
The Palms hotel offers a shuttle service runs on a loop to the fashion show mall, from there to Caesars Forum shops, then it’s off to the Aladdin passage shops before returning back to the Palms.
Schedule is as follows:
Departs The Palms (west entrance near sports book) at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Departs Fashion Show Mall (Saks 5th Ave entrance) at 10:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 2:15 p.m., 3:45 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.
Departs Caesars Forum Shops (downstairs valet entrance) at 10:30 a.m., noon, 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Departs Aladdin Desert Passage (downstairs valet entrance) at 10:45 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 2:45 p.m., 4:15 p.m. and 5:45 p.m.
6.) Green Valley Ranch Shuttle Service
Green Valley Ranch offers a complimentary shuttle service to and from McCarran Airport and the Las Vegas Strip. This is a white, ten-passenger van with the Green Valley Ranch logo. It is available to the first ten people at each destination.
McCarran Airport to Green Valley Ranch The shuttle picks up and drops off guests at the Zero Level. The Zero Level is located down the escalators behind the Baggage Claim Information Desk. The shuttle will pick up and drop off across the driveway (to the right) across from stalls #21 and #22.
Green Valley Ranch to the Las Vegas Strip The shuttle picks up and drops off guests at the Mandalay Bay Tour & Travel Lobby

All these shuttles are a free service, a tip of $1 per rider to the driver will be appreciated.

Free Trams

1. Tram that runs from Bellagio to the Monte Carlo hotel runs every 10 minutes 24 hours a day offers indoor boarding platforms.

2. Excalibur to Mandalay Bay tram operates 24 hours a day with non-stop service on the southbound trip. The same tram on the return (northbound) trip from Mandalay Bay to Excalibur provides a stop at the Luxor for those wishing to visit there.