Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is the primary commercial airport serving the Las Vegas metropolitan area and one of the busiest airports in the United States by passenger volume. Located just south of the Las Vegas Strip in Clark County, Nevada, LAS handles extraordinary levels of leisure travel year-round, connecting millions of visitors to the gaming, entertainment, and convention capital of the world.
Harry Reid International Airport — renamed in 2021 after longtime Nevada Senator Harry Reid, having previously operated as McCarran International Airport since 1948 — sits approximately two miles south of the Las Vegas Strip and less than five miles from downtown Las Vegas. This proximity to the city's primary tourism corridor makes it one of the most conveniently located major airports in the United States.
LAS operates two main terminals: Terminal 1 (with Concourses A, B, C, and D) handling most domestic operations, and Terminal 3 (with Concourses D and E) serving larger aircraft and many domestic and international routes. Southwest Airlines is the airport's largest carrier by volume, reflecting Las Vegas's dominance as a high-frequency leisure destination from cities across the country.
The airport is notable for its unmistakably Las Vegas character: slot machines and gaming terminals are present throughout the terminal and concourse areas, beginning even before passengers reach baggage claim. LAS processes more than 50 million passengers in high-volume years and consistently ranks among the top ten busiest airports in the U.S.
Commercial aviation came to Las Vegas in 1920, but the modern airport traces its roots to 1948 when Clark County officially opened McCarran Field, named after Senator Pat McCarran. As Las Vegas grew explosively through the postwar decades driven by gaming, entertainment, and convention tourism, the airport expanded in parallel. Terminal 1 was completed in 1963, with successive additions through the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s as passenger volumes surged.
Terminal 3, a major new facility designed to accommodate international growth and widebody aircraft, opened in 2012 and added significant capacity. In December 2021, following the death of Senator Harry Reid, the Nevada legislature renamed the airport in his honor, reflecting his decades of advocacy for Nevada's development.
LAS has two main terminal buildings. Terminal 1 is the older facility and handles the bulk of Southwest Airlines' operations along with other domestic carriers across Concourses A, B, C, and D. Terminal 3 is a more modern facility opened in 2012 that handles a mix of domestic and international operations, including widebody aircraft, from Concourses D and E. The two terminals share a Concourse D designation but are otherwise distinct facilities accessed from separate buildings.
Passengers arriving or departing from Terminal 3 should note it is not connected to Terminal 1 by an airside walkway — ground-level transportation is required to move between the two. Each terminal has its own ticketing, security checkpoints, and baggage claim areas.
Southwest Airlines is by far the dominant carrier at LAS, operating an extremely high frequency of flights to cities across the United States from Terminal 1. Other major domestic carriers at LAS include Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, United Airlines, and Spirit Airlines. Frontier Airlines maintains a strong presence as well.
On the international side, LAS receives nonstop flights from major Canadian cities, Mexico, and select European routes, particularly during peak leisure travel periods. The airport serves more than 130 destinations nonstop, making it one of the most connected leisure destination airports in the country.
LAS is one of the few airports in the world where gaming is embedded into the passenger experience. Slot machines are located throughout Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, including near baggage claim and in gate areas before and after security. This is a deliberate reflection of Las Vegas culture and serves as an early welcome to arriving passengers.
Beyond gaming, LAS offers a full range of dining and retail options including fast food, sit-down restaurants, and retail shops. The airport has free Wi-Fi throughout. Multiple airline lounges operate in both terminals. The airport recently upgraded many of its restroom facilities and gate areas as part of ongoing modernization.
Unlike many major airports, LAS does not have a direct rail connection to the Las Vegas Strip or downtown. Ground transportation relies primarily on taxis, rideshare services (Uber and Lyft), and rental cars, all of which are available on the ground floor of each terminal. The airport is approximately 5–15 minutes by car from most Strip hotels depending on traffic, making the road-based access model workable for most visitors.
The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) operates bus service connecting LAS to the Bonneville Transit Center and other parts of the Las Vegas metro area. Several major casino hotels operate free shuttle services for their guests. Rental car companies are located in the on-airport Rent-A-Car Center, accessible via shuttle.
LAS provides parking at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, with short-term, long-term, and economy options. The closest covered garages at each terminal charge higher rates, while economy lots offer shuttle service at lower daily rates. The airport's central location and the prevalence of rideshare from hotel properties means many visitors do not drive to the airport at all.
For those who do drive and park, advance reservations are strongly recommended during major Las Vegas events including New Year's Eve, major boxing or UFC events, and the Consumer Electronics Show, when the airport reaches near-capacity passenger levels.
Las Vegas is one of the most predictably busy airports in the country on Friday evenings and Sunday evenings year-round. If your schedule allows, flying midweek will generally result in shorter security lines and less terminal congestion. TSA PreCheck lanes are available at both terminals and can dramatically reduce wait times during peak periods.
The slot machines in the airport are not a promotional gimmick — the gaming commission licenses them the same as Strip casinos. Payouts are generally lower than casino floor machines. Baggage claim at LAS can experience waits during high-volume arrivals periods; allow extra time if you have a connecting ground transport to catch.
Harry Reid International Airport is the front door to the Las Vegas economy — one of the most tourism-concentrated local economies in the United States. The airport directly enables the hotel, gaming, convention, dining, and entertainment industries that form the backbone of Clark County's economic base. The airport is one of the largest employers in Southern Nevada and handles significant cargo and mail operations in addition to passenger traffic.
Major events at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Allegiant Stadium are closely coordinated with airport capacity, with some of the largest events in the world (CES, NAB Show) driving notable spikes in passenger volumes.
LAS is pursuing a long-range expansion plan to accommodate continued passenger growth and improve international capacity. Projects include terminal upgrades at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, expanded international arrivals facilities, and discussions around possible rail connectivity to the Strip — an idea that has been proposed repeatedly but has not advanced to construction. The airport authority continues to work on sustainability programs and infrastructure modernization to support Clark County's growing population.
LAS is a primary commercial airport focused on high-volume leisure travel. It serves as a major domestic destination airport with growing international connectivity.
Airports within approximately 60 miles of Harry Reid International Airport that may provide additional scheduled commercial, regional access.
Harry Reid International Airport is one of America's great destination airports — its location minutes from the Strip, high flight frequency from cities nationwide, and distinctly Las Vegas atmosphere make it unlike almost any other large airport. For the many millions who pass through LAS each year, the airport is the very beginning and end of the Las Vegas experience.
No direct rail connection currently exists between Harry Reid International Airport and the Las Vegas Strip. Ground transportation options are taxis, rideshare services, hotel shuttles, and rental cars. The Strip is approximately 5–15 minutes by car depending on traffic.
Southwest Airlines is the largest carrier. Other major airlines include Delta, American, United, Spirit, and Frontier. Several international carriers serve LAS on routes from Canada, Mexico, and select European cities.
Yes. Slot machines and gaming terminals are located throughout Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, including near baggage claim and gate areas. They are licensed by the Nevada Gaming Control Board.
Harry Reid International Airport is approximately 1.5 miles south of the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip. Most Strip hotels are within a 10-minute drive of the airport under normal traffic conditions.
For the most current flight schedules, parking availability, terminal maps, and ground transportation updates, visit the official Harry Reid International Airport website.
Harry Reid International Airport Official Site