Las Vegas Harry Reid (LAS): The Complete Layover Guide

How Harry Reid Airport is laid out

Two terminals, one trap. Terminal 1 holds the A, B, C, and D gates, Terminal 3 holds the D and E gates, and yes, the D gates belong to both.

The D concourse is a remote X shaped building in the middle of the airfield, reachable only by underground tram: the Green line links Terminal 1 to the C gates, the Blue line links Terminal 1 to D, and the Red line links Terminal 3 to D. Once you are through security, you can reach every gate in the airport without a new screening. Southwest, Spirit, Delta, and American work mostly from Terminal 1, while United, Alaska, and the international carriers use Terminal 3.

Transfers and timing

Airside connections are easy. Budget 15 to 25 minutes between distant gates including the tram, and you are done. The landside version is the painful one: if you must move between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 before security, the shuttle bus runs only two or three times an hour and you clear TSA again on the other side. International arrivals all land at Terminal 3 and clear immigration and customs there, because the US has no airside transit. Everyone enters the country, bags and all, then checks back in. Verify before travel what documents you need; everyone transiting the US needs a visa or an approved ESTA where eligible.

The lounge boom

LAS went from sleepy to stacked in 18 months. The Capital One Lounge opened near gate D50 in February 2025, the two story Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club opened near gate C23 in December 2025, and in March 2026 Amex opened Sidecar, a 33 seat table service spin on the Centurion Lounge, right next to the original near gate D1. Add the two Club LAS locations, the United Club on the D concourse, and the established Centurion Lounge, and a layover here finally has somewhere decent to hide. The full hours and entry rules live in our LAS lounge directory.

Sleeping, noise, and the Strip escape

Be honest with yourself about the overnight. The terminals never close, but the slot machines never stop chiming either, the lights stay on, and the seating mostly has fixed armrests. There are no sleep pods, no rest zones, and no airport hotel. If your layover crosses 2am, a south Strip hotel 10 to 15 minutes away will out rest any bench, often cheaply on weeknights. With 5 or more daytime hours, the reverse trip works too: a taxi reaches mid Strip in 10 to 20 minutes for roughly 21 to 35 dollars, and the RTC route 109 bus runs 24 hours for 4 dollars. Our LAS layover guide does the math hour by hour.

How I would play it

Daytime with a premium card, this airport finally rewards you: the Centurion Lounge or Sidecar near gate D1 for Amex, the Capital One Lounge by D50, or the Sapphire Lounge by C23 for Chase. Priority Pass holders should aim for the Club LAS locations outside their posted busy windows, midday at the Terminal 1 location and evening at Terminal 3 are the stretches to avoid. Overnight, stop pretending. The chimes do not stop, the lights do not dim, and a weeknight room on the south Strip often costs less than two airport meals. Set an alarm, come back through security once the morning checkpoints open up, and board rested instead of ruined. The one mistake that costs real money here is arriving at the wrong terminal landside, so check yours twice.

LAS layover questions, answered

Can I get between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 at LAS without leaving security?

Yes, if you are already airside. Three underground tram lines and airside walkways connect all gate areas, so you can reach any gate without a new screening. Landside it is a different story: the shuttle bus between terminals runs only every 20 to 30 minutes and you clear TSA again.

Which lounges can I use with Priority Pass at LAS?

The Club LAS in Terminal 1 near gate D33 and The Club LAS in Terminal 3 opposite gate E2, both with posted access restrictions during busy hours. The Chase Sapphire Lounge near gate C23 also admits Priority Pass members, typically one free visit per year for most memberships.

Can I sleep overnight at Las Vegas airport?

The terminals stay open 24 hours, so you can stay, but it is one of the harder big airports to sleep in. Slot machines chime around the clock in the gate areas, seating mostly has fixed armrests, and there are no sleep pods or rest zones. If you need real sleep, a south Strip hotel is 10 to 15 minutes away.

Is there a hotel inside LAS airport?

No. Neither terminal has an attached hotel, airside or landside. The nearest beds are the south Strip hotels a short drive away, which is why overnight connections at LAS usually mean either a noisy terminal night or a cheap room off airport.

How do I get from LAS to the Strip and how long does it take?

A taxi or rideshare reaches mid Strip hotels in about 10 to 20 minutes, roughly 21 to 35 dollars plus tip by taxi depending on the hotel and traffic. The RTC bus route 109 runs 24 hours to the South Strip Transit Terminal for 4 dollars. There is no rail link from the airport.

Do international passengers need to clear immigration at LAS?

Yes. The United States has no sterile airside transit, so every arriving international passenger clears immigration and customs at Terminal 3, collects bags, and goes through security again, even when only connecting. Everyone transiting the US needs a visa or an approved ESTA where eligible. Verify before travel.