Las Vegas on $100 a day (or less)
Here’s your guide to living it up in Las Vegas without blowing your budget.
I’ve worked in Las Vegas as a travel writer for more than 13 years and visitors always ask me: “How did this place get so expensive?” Sin City is still saucy and fun, but it isn’t the value destination it used to be. Vegas is more synonymous with resort fees and extravagant steak dinners than cheap buffets and penny slots.
So, with the budget traveler in mind, I’ve mapped out three days for less than $100 per person—not counting your hotel, tips, gas, or whatever it costs to plug in your EV. It requires some planning, but the values are still out there. Even better, we’re going to touch on all corners of the Vegas experience, from the Strip to Downtown and the great outdoors.
Day 1: The Strip
Rise and shine. You're in the heart of the Strip and it's time for a memorable, but affordable breakfast. Bazaar Mar—the latest restaurant from celebrity chef José Andrés—has a smaller sister concept, Bar Centro, that opens early at 8 a.m. for the morning crowd. Order the Crema Catalana ensaïmada (a Spanish custard-filled pastry) for $15 and some of the best drip coffee on the Strip, sourced from Ethiopia or Guatemala, for $5 a cup.
Cost: $20
Get your camera out. No Vegas vacation is complete without a photo in front of the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign, which occupies a median on the south end of the Strip (with a parking lot conveniently attached). Come early in the day and take advantage of "golden hour," when there's just enough sunlight to enhance your pic but not overwhelm it. Be ready to wait your turn in line, although you can sometimes sneak in a photo from off to the side. If someone offers to snap your pic, they may expect a tip. Don’t do it. We’re saving money here.
Cost: Free
Think of the Pinball Hall of Fame as the best free museum in Las Vegas—and it’s just steps from the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. The no-frills warehouse is home to hundreds of renovated and rigorously maintained pinball machines and walking among them is like a trip through pop culture history with designs showing off images of superheroes, rock bands, cartoons, movies, and more from over the years. It’s 25 or 50 cents to play a game of pinball, so ask an employee to break a dollar bill and have a little fun.
Cost: $1
Travelers say: “What's not to love about the Pinball Hall of Fame? Love their great big new location - so easy to find now!! Had fun spending $20 in coins on vintage pinball machines and target shooting…I love the 25 cent candy machines, too. Another fun throwback to my childhood.” —@newcowgirl
The Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo is a true oasis with four acres of trees, waterfalls, and ponds with dozens of exotic birds, ducks, turtles, koi fish, and other creatures you wouldn’t expect to show up on the Vegas Strip. Hard to believe it’s free to explore. Wander around and you'll stumble across a fun bonus: a memorial to Bugsy Siegel, the gangster who famously opened the Flamingo in 1946. It's small, so you only need 15 minutes to get the full experience. Try to be here for the 10 a.m. feeding, which is fun to see.
Cost: Free
It wouldn’t be a stretch to call Estiatorio Milos one of the top seafood restaurants in Las Vegas. A meal is typically a splurge, but the lunch menu is one of the best semi-secret values in town—three courses for $45. You can’t go wrong with the tomato salad or the Greek spreads with toasted pita as your appetizer. For the main entree, skip all the other choices and go straight to the whole grilled Mediterranean sea bream. Fresh fish is what this place is known for. Wrap it up with your choice of desserts: The house-strained Greek yogurt is amazing.
Cost: $45
If you can handle crowds, you’ll love the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, a floral lobby exhibit that changes with the season. The displays are extravagant and include water features and other moving pieces. Everyone’s taking photos at the same time, so accept the reality of frequent photo-bombing and you’ll have a good time. For fewer people and a better chance at clear shots, visit early in the morning or very late at night.
Cost: Free
Travelers say: “Bring your camera, that's the best piece of advice I can share. Like the fountains out front the [Bellagio] conservatory and botanical garden is a stop well worth your time. Tourists from all over the world are here taking pictures, and once you experience it you will understand.” —@SandyBeachesAhoy
Here’s another free attraction at the Bellagio. The sight of water fountains shooting powerful streams nearly 500 feet in the air in front of the Bellagio never gets old, even for locals. The resort presents fountain shows as frequently as every 15 minutes during evening hours, synchronized to music from the likes of Frank Sinata and Celine Dion. For fewer crowds and a prime view, head to the sidewalk just in front of the Bellagio near the center of the lake—this spot offers the best perspective and minimizes obstructions. For a quieter experience, catch a midday show when the area is less packed.
Cost: Free
After that three-course lunch, you'll probably want to end your day with something light and easy to eat. So head to one of six fast-casual counters at the Cosmopolitan hotel's Block 16 Food Hall. My top pick? Bang Bar's U Wrap, which is a flatbread tortilla, bent in a "U" shape and stuffed with spit-roasted chicken or pork. It's just $14, bringing your total for the day to $80. Spend that extra $20 on a cocktail at Ghost Donkey (the speakeasy in the back of Block 16) or try your luck downstairs at the casino.
Cost: $34
Day 1 total: $100
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Day 2: Downtown Las Vegas
Start your day at this community hub where art, food, and culture intersect in an outdoor oasis. It’s built in the courtyard of Fergusons Downtown, a historic motel that was transformed into an independent shopping and events space with the dramatic Big Rig Jig art installation of intertwined semi-trucks as the centerpiece. It’s free to wander and discover the murals, pop-up shops, and inviting spaces that make Downtown Vegas feel like a whole new world. I recommend grabbing a coffee at the Mothership, which roasts its own sustainably sourced beans. You can get a regular-sized latte (like my fave, the Maple Honey Cardamom) for $7.25. Pair it with a choice of danish for $5.50.
Cost: $12.75
The Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort is a historic site that seems to pop up out of nowhere in the middle of Downtown's urban jungle. It's the location of the first non-Native settlement in Las Vegas, dating back to 1855, and it's a great way to see how modern Las Vegas got its start. Today, the remnants and reconstruction of the fort are maintained and protected as a state park. Visit in the cooler morning hours to fully enjoy exploring the outdoor areas without the desert heat. Don’t miss the small museum inside the visitor center—it offers fascinating context and artifacts that bring the fort’s history to life. Admission is dirt cheap at just three bucks.
Cost: $3
Travelers say: “[The Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort is really] interesting and worth the visit…Be sure to get the check sheet paper for the scavenger hunt to find artifacts. This actually made it more intriguing for kids and kids at heart.” —@Sue M
Head to this open-air shopping and dining complex for a taco lunch at The Taco Stand. With its quirky, family-friendly vibe and delicious bites, it’s the perfect midday break and is a great option if you've got kids with you. Reviewers love the $3.99 al pastor taco with marinated pork, pineapple, and cilantro salsa.
Cost: $3.99
See a different type of Vegas history at the Neon Museum, an outdoor attraction that preserves and exhibits neon signs and marquees from old casinos and long-gone businesses. Walk the grounds of the Neon Boneyard and see relics from iconic properties like the Stardust, Mirage, Riviera, and more. The Neon Museum even has the 82-foot-tall guitar from the old Hard Rock hotel. A tip: Going during the day is less expensive than at night.
Cost: $25
Travelers say: “Had a nice time visiting The Neon Museum…Its a nice way to spend a chilled hour or so on a Vegas night. We didnt do the tour, but wish we had now as each sign has a plaque with its history on it that I'm sure would only be even more interesting with a guide giving you more details. ” —@Chris B
The observation tower at The Strat (formerly the Stratosphere) is the tallest tower in the Western United States, stretching 1,149 feet into the Las Vegas skyline. Enjoy the 360-degree views and a few deals during the Sky High Happy Hour (3-7 p.m., Sunday-Thursday). Choose between a cheese and fruit plate or bacon-wrapped dates for $10 each. Cocktails are half price: $9. Admission is $20 when you buy online, although there’s a two-for-one entry deal during happy hour that might make more sense if you’re visiting with a friend.
Cost: $39
The Fremont Street Experience is five blocks of Old Vegas, surrounded by the lights of vintage casino marquees and other glimpses of Sin City history. The overhead Viva Vision canopy is one of the largest LED screens in the world. Stay away from street performers who offer to pose for photos. They’ll shake you down for a large tip. The cover bands that play on the side stages are more worthy of your attention. Some big names occasionally show up for the free Downtown Rocks concert series.
Cost: Free
The cocktails at the Legacy Club are about 19 bucks—not cheap, but standard for Vegas. However, there's no admission charge and you get incredible views of both the Strip and Downtown from the 60th floor of the Circa resort. We're looking to stay on budget, so go with a beer tonight. A good one will run you $13.
Cost: $13
Okay, you've got a few dollars to spare and you're probably hungry. Well, Lanai Express—a fast-casual Asian restaurant inside the Fremont casino—has the closest thing you'll find to the classic 99-cent shrimp cocktail in Vegas. It's not quite as cheap as the famous casino loss leaders of years past, but it's still a value at $2.99. And yes, it stays open late.
Cost: $2.99
Day 2 total: $98.74
Day 3: The great outdoors
Wake up and grab breakfast at Cottonwood Station—a rustic, but stylish cafe in the quiet residential enclave of Blue Diamond. Grab a seat on the outdoor patio and enjoy the fresh air and high elevation with the Spring Mountain range as your backdrop. I love the $19 breakfast pizza, topped with eggs, bacon, sausage, spinach and tomatoes with a $4 cold brew coffee on tap.
Cost: $23
Blue Diamond is just a short drive to the entrance of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Take the 13-mile scenic drive that travels in a one-way loop, and be sure to stop at the visitors center to learn all about this natural attraction. Admission is $20 per vehicle.
Cost: $20
Travelers say: “Less than 30 minutes from The Strip is the Red Rock National Conservation Area…The park does not provide maps or guide sheets, so be sure to PRINT them or save the picture of it to your phone.” —@ThomUSA
That’s no mirage in the desert. It’s Seven Magic Mountains, a large-scale art installation to the east of Interstate 15 near Jean Dry Lake. I always hop off the exit to check it out whenever I begin a drive from Vegas to Southern California. Just follow the signs and look for a collection of rainbow-colored rocks stacked 20 to 30 feet high next to a small parking lot. A tip: Don’t wear good shoes. It's dusty here.
Cost: Free
The Pioneer Saloon is the oldest bar in Southern Nevada and the main landmark in Goodsprings, a small desert community south of Vegas. Much of the decor is dedicated to actress Carole Lombard who died in a 1942 plane crash nearby. You'll also see bullet holes in the wall and other reminders of Nevada's rough-and-tumble Old West legacy. Order the spicy Ghost Burger for $15.99 and soak in the history.
Cost: $15.99
You'll see more of Nevada's outdoor beauty by driving through Boulder City. Pull over at Hemenway Park, which has beautiful views overlooking Lake Mead. It's also known for attracting desert bighorn sheep from the nearby foothills. Don't try to pet or feed the animals. They roam free and won't bother you if unprovoked. Just enjoy the uniqueness of the situation and snap a few photos.
Cost: Free
Hoover Dam is the modern marvel that cut off the Colorado River, forming Lake Mead and giving Las Vegas a much-needed water supply during its boom period. You can pay extra for an underground tour of the facilities, but the visitors center has a rooftop deck with perfect views to observe and snap photos of the dam. Admission and parking are $10 each.
Cost: $20
Lake Las Vegas is a man-made body of water, surrounded by homes and hotels in a southeast corner of Henderson. Enjoy the serenity on the lakeside patio at Mimi & Coco Bistro, a casual European spot. Go with the Eggplant Parmesan and you'll stay on budget without worry. It's the perfect way to wind down after a long day.
Cost: $19.99
Day 3 total: $98.98
