Las Vegas, the city of lights and party in the USA where many visit to enjoy the shows and music and many the gambling and alcohol. Others will visit Las Vegas briefly and then rent a car in Las Vegas to head out into the Nevada Desert.
Renting a car in Las Vegas is straight forward and in this article we will discuss how, when and where you can pick up your rental car in Las Vegas.
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Renting a Car in Las Vegas
- Why rent a car in Las Vegas
- Where to rent a car in Las Vegas
- The process of renting a car in Las Vegas
- What car to rent in Las Vegas
- Road trips from Las Vegas
- Before you leave for Las Vegas
Why Rent a Car in Las Vegas?
Renting a car in Las Vegas gives you the freedom and flexibility to explore beyond the strip. Some of Nevada, if not the USA’s most incredible sights are located a short drive from Las Vegas including the Grand Canyon and Horseshoe Bend.
Even if you don’t want to drive far, having a car around Las Vegas will allow you to move between the areas with ease as we found we had to pay for a lot of taxis between where we were staying in Fremont Street and visiting the main area near the strip in Las Vegas.
Where to Rent a Car in Las Vegas?
The best place to rent a car in Las Vegas is through Discover Cars at the airport. There is a free shuttle bus between the airport and the building where the car rentals are. It is worth keeping this in mind as we arrived in late at night and waited to pick up our car on the following day and had to get a taxi from our hotel (and then back and forward again as we forgot to bring our drivers license to pick up the car but we’ll forget that happened and just don’t make the same mistake we did!)
The area for picking up the rental cars is at this address 7040 Gilespie St, Las Vegas, NV 89119 and when you arrive you will see a number of different rental companies. We booked our car through Doller and were given an arrival time of 10am, however this didn’t seem an overly strict time for pick up as we were told they were open all day.
The Process of Renting a Car in Las Vegas
We checked in at the Doller counter and shared our booking details, driving license and passport (if you’re not from the USA) with the staff member.
The lady went through optional add on’s such as road side assistance and insurance, however all this was already added on when we booked online so it was a smooth check in and we were on our way to get our car.
Follow the escalator down to the underground car park. There were two queues with no direction as to what either was for but after asking a few people we gathered that one queue was for SUV’s and the other for smaller vehicles. Both queues moved very slowly as we sat for around an hour waiting for each person to be given their car keys.
What car to rent in Las Vegas
After waiting for around an hour, we reached the front of the queue and a white Mustang pulled up in front of us. Now, I am pretty sure this wasn’t the car that we booked but the staff were happy for us to take the keys to this convertible beauty to take on the Nevada Desert.
If you are more than two people with a lot of luggage, you will need to rent a larger vehicle but for the two of us with our suitcases, we managed just fine (although the only way to get our suitcases into the car was by putting the roof down).
Driving through Nevada and up through Utah and Arizona, we had an absolutely dream trip and I wouldn’t hesitate on booking a Mustang in the future. It was super comfy for the long drive and driving with the top down in the sunshine through the desert was so incredible!
Road trips from Las Vegas
There are plenty brilliant road trips from Las Vegas. One thing that we learned when doing this is that 7 hours is quite a normal length of driving time.
From Las Vegas to Page where you can visit the Glen Canyon, Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon is around 4-5 hour drive.
The Grand Canyon is another popular National Park to visit which is around a 5-6 hour drive from Las Vegas.
If you are planning to visit multiple National Parks during your time in the USA, you might want to look into an America the Beautiful pass for $80/ year as each National Park is around $35 to visit so it will be better value for money.
Before You Leave for Las Vegas
Before you set off on your way to Las Vegas, there are a number of things you will need to get organised to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey. These include what to pack, where to stay and what is the best insurance for your trip. All of this is discussed in detail below.
How to Get to Las Vegas
Getting to Las Vegas, the vibrant and entertainment-filled city in the desert of Nevada, is a breeze with several transportation options available. If you’re traveling from a distant location, flying into McCarran International Airport (LAS) is the most popular and convenient option, as it serves numerous domestic and international flights. From the airport, you can easily reach your accommodation by taking a taxi, utilizing ride-sharing services, or using the efficient public transportation system. If you prefer a road trip or are already in the neighboring states, driving to Las Vegas is a great choice, with several major highways leading to the city. Additionally, Las Vegas is a common stop on many bus routes, making it accessible for those traveling on a budget. For those seeking a unique experience, taking a train to Las Vegas is also possible through Amtrak’s Southwest Chief or California Zephyr routes. With various transportation options available, reaching the exciting city of Las Vegas has never been easier, ensuring you can start enjoying the famous casinos, entertainment shows, and vibrant nightlife in no time.
Where to Stay in Las Vegas
There is a wide range of accommodations available in Las Vegas, so you will not be short on options. Book your stay in the box below.
What to Pack for Your Trip to Las Vegas
When packing for your trip to Las Vegas, it’s important to consider the city’s hot desert climate and the variety of activities available to explore. Be sure to pack lightweight and breathable clothing such as shorts, t-shirts, and dresses, as temperatures in the summer can reach over 100°F. Don’t forget to bring comfortable walking shoes to explore the numerous hotel-casinos and attractions on the famous Las Vegas Strip. Additionally, you may want to pack a hat and sunglasses to protect yourself from the intense sun. While Las Vegas is known for its glamourous nightlife, you should also pack some dressier outfits for evenings out. Lastly, if you plan on visiting any of the nearby national parks, like Red Rock Canyon or Valley of Fire, be sure to bring a backpack, water bottles, and sunscreen to protect yourself from the sun and enjoy the beautiful scenery. With these considerations, you’ll be well-prepared to enjoy all that Las Vegas has to offer.
Given the beautiful sights and scenery that you are no doubt going to see around, we highly recommend packing a good camera for your trip. If you want to read more about the cameras we use and why we love them, check out the link below.
Photography Equipment
Main Photography Camera – Sony A7v Mirrorless Camera and Sony A7iii Mirrorless Camera
Microphone – Sony Mic ECM-B1M
Main Lens – Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8
Zoom Lens – Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8
Camera Tripod – ZOMEI Z669C Camera Tripod
Gorilla Pod – JOBY JB01507-BWW GorillaPod
Action Camera – GoPro Hero 11 and Insta 360 One RS
Drone Camera – DJI Mavic Pro 3
Camera Bag – Wandrd PRVKE 41L and The Nest by Tropicfeel
Phone Tripod – Manfrotto MKPIXICLAMP-BK, Mini Tripod with Universal Smartphone Clamp
Sturdy Phone Tripod & Selfie Stick – ATUMTEK 61″ Selfie Stick Tripod, Sturdy Phone Tripod Stand with Wireless Remote
Hard Drives – LaCie Rugged Mini, 5TB, 2.5″, Portable External Hard Drive
SSD – SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB Portable NVMe SSD
Travel Adapter –Worldwide Travel Adapter Universal Travel Plug with 4 USB Ports+Universal AC Socke
What is the Best Travel Insurance for The United States
I know travel insurance is the least enjoyable thing to purchase and look at when you’re planning a trip, however, you wouldn’t want to be without it in the event that something happened. Accidents can happen anywhere and the extortionate medical bills will ruin your trip if you are not covered.
To ensure you have a stress-free trip with no worries about potential medical bills, make sure you cover yourself when you travel. We can recommend using SafetyWing, a backpacker-friendly and cheap insurance company that provides good coverage and support. It is also nomad-friendly, unlike most other insurance companies, meaning you do not need to worry about being out of your home country for too long.
Get a quote for your travel insurance right here and get covered!
So there you have it, your Guide to Las Vegas Car Rental. If you are visiting this incredible city and have any other questions on what to expect, leave us a comment down below. We love to chat about this stuff! If you have already been, let us know how it was!
Also, remember to share this with your friends and family that you are going to share this amazing experience with. Sharing is caring and we want to ensure that everyone is fully prepared to maximise their experience completing this stunning walk.
If you are planning a USA trip soon then check out our other USA content right here. Come and find us on social media to see where we are currently exploring. Tag us in your photos from your stay and we will share them with the rest of our community of explorers and backpackers.
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