Eat See Trav

From the Beach to the Bellagio: Mandalay Bay to Center Strip, How Long?

by ·

Mandalay Bay has long been one of my favorite places to stay in Las Vegas, and it remains a top choice whenever I’m looking to stay at an MGM property. While I don’t stay there every single time, more often than not, it’s my go-to. The rooms at Mandalay Bay are, in my opinion, some of the nicest among similar properties in Las Vegas. Additionally, my room comps tend to stretch further here compared to other properties (except for Luxor and Excalibur).

A common complaint I hear about Mandalay Bay is its location at the far south end of the Las Vegas Strip. Yes, it’s true, but I don’t believe this should discourage you from staying there. In fact, I decided to put this concern to the test on my last visit by timing how long it took to walk from Mandalay Bay to the center of the Strip, specifically to the Bellagio.

Here’s a breakdown of my journey:

  • 5:48 PM: I left my room and headed to the elevators. A time-saving tip: request a room near the elevators. My room was near the end of the long hallways at Mandalay Bay, so it took a bit longer to get to the elevators. Once at the casino level, I made my way to the tram station. If you’re not familiar, Mandalay Bay offers a free tram service between Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and Excalibur. Pro tip: if you’re aiming for the center Strip, take the tram on the far right, which bypasses Luxor and goes directly to the north side of Excalibur.
  • 6:05 PM: I got off the tram and entered NYNY Casino. I had to wait about 5-10 minutes for the tram back at Mandalay Bay. Once inside NYNY, I navigated through the casino past the sportsbook and the Mad Apple Theater, exiting into The Park.
  • 6:11 PM: I continued my walk north into Park MGM, making my way past La La Noodle and the center bar. I didn’t stop since I was on a mission to see how quickly I could get to Bellagio. From here, I took the connecting hallway to Aria and the Aria Express tram.
  • 6:18 PM: The tram arrived to take us from Aria to Bellagio. This tram makes a stop at the Crystal shopping center before reaching Bellagio.
  • 6:29 PM: I stepped off the tram and took the escalators down into Bellagio.

In total, the trip took around 40 minutes, with about 10-15 minutes spent waiting for trams. Walking the entire way might be faster, but the trams provide a nice break from walking if you’ve been on your feet all day. When you compare the 40-minute trip to how long an Uber, Lyft, or taxi would take, it’s roughly the same amount of time. Plus, walking is free! Traffic that evening was heavy due to a Morgan Wallen concert at Allegiant Stadium, causing a standstill from Excalibur to NYNY.

Sure, staying at Bellagio would put you closer to the center Strip, but Mandalay Bay offers so much more for a lower price. Don’t let its southern location be a reason to skip this fantastic property.

Tags:

You may also like...