Las Vegas is gearing up for the unofficial kickoff to summer vacation this Memorial Day weekend with hotel room rates at both ends of the affordability spectrum, a brand new advertising campaign and some new help from Harry Reid International Airport.
Some hotel rooms cost as much as nearly $1,700 a night as of Friday.
The battle to get in for the three-day weekend – or leave town – begins on Friday.
While many will observe the true meaning of Memorial Day as a solemn day to remember the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces, others see it as the end of the traditional school year and the beginning of three months of travel opportunities – either escaping the desert heat of Southern Nevada or coming to Las Vegas to enjoy an eventful season unlike any other in history.
Fireworks ahead
With the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence to be observed in Las Vegas with eight consecutive weekends of fireworks starting in June, thousands will get an early start with the first three-day weekend since February.
Although the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority doesn’t expect to forecast how many people will travel to the city until later this week, hotel rates show thousands are expected to be here.
It’s also unclear whether skyrocketing gas prices, especially in California, will affect the visit, although many experts say they won’t if a trip to Las Vegas was planned well in advance.
Prices for three-night stays starting on Friday are extreme at both ends of the spectrum. While room rates are topping the $1,000-a-night mark in at least four resort properties, there are still deals to be had at rates under $100 a night at many more.
Nobu most expensive
In a survey of room rates conducted Tuesday by Hotels.com, the average nightly rate is $1,687 Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Nobu at Caesars Palace. Other rooms at Caesars Palace are $1,224 per night and at Wynn Las Vegas and Encore are $1,104 per night.
Several other luxury properties have rates in excess of $500 per night, including the Waldorf Astoria ($738), The Venetian ($686), Palazzo ($669), Four Seasons ($580), Bellagio ($555) and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas ($512).
The average price for the three days based on a survey of 143 properties was $238.73 per night. That compares to the LVCVA-surveyed average daily room rate of $212.85 per night in May 2025.
Properties in the center are cheaper. The average based on a survey of 21 hotels over the three days is $114.57 per night. That compares to $81.71 per night in May 2025, according to the LVCVA.
The highest price this year is offered by Circa, $264 per night.
While some prices have soared to new heights, there are at least 27 properties selling for under $100 a night. Among the most notable Strip hotel bargains are Circus Circus ($38) and Strat ($86), off-Strip Arizona Charlie’s-Boulder ($56), Rio ($76) and Orleans ($92) and downtown’s Golden Gate ($67).
“Pack for Vegas”
As Memorial Day weekend approaches, LVCVA has launched its summer advertising campaign, “Pack for Vegas,” a series of six 15-second video spots reminiscent of the “What Happens Here, Stays Here” ads of more than two decades ago.
The “Pack for Vegas” spots were directed by acclaimed filmmaker Jody Hill, who worked on HBO’s “The Righteous Gemstones,” “Eastbound & Down” and “Vice Principals.”
“Las Vegas is the ultimate summer getaway because there is excitement around every part of the experience, even before you arrive,” Kate Wik, director of marketing for Visit Las Vegas (LVCVA), said in a release. “The new ‘Pack for Vegas’ campaign capitalizes on the anticipation and imagination that takes over when people start planning their trip. These places are playful, unexpected and unmistakably Vegas.”
The campaign costs USD 13 million
The campaign costs $13 million and covers production and media placement. Ads began rolling out Tuesday across broadcast and streaming platforms and will run through August. Broadcast placements include high-profile live events such as the NBA Playoffs and Finals, the WNBA All-Star Game and the season premiere of “Big Brother.”
The promotion targets key domestic markets, including driver markets such as Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Diego, as well as major air travel markets such as Chicago, Dallas, Denver, San Francisco, Seattle and Houston.
In addition to broadcast, the campaign runs across major digital and streaming platforms, including Amazon, Disney+, Paramount+, Peacock, Netflix and YouTube.
The “Pack for Vegas” promotion launches alongside a summer lineup filled with only-in-Vegas experiences. Beginning June 6, the destination will light up with eight consecutive Saturdays of fireworks designed and produced by Fireworks by Grucci, along with major entertainment residencies including No Doubt and Backstreet Boys at Sphere, Kelly Clarkson at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, and Mary J. Blige and New Kids on the Block at Dolby Live at Park MGM.
Fireworks are also scheduled every Friday evening at 9:10 p.m., on the downtown Plaza from June 5 to September 4.
The summer calendar also includes global stadium tours from BTS, Ed Sheeran, Guns N’ Roses, AC/DC and Karol G at Allegiant Stadium. The full schedule of events and travel deals can be viewed at www.VisitLasVegas.com/Summer.
The airport is preparing
Harry Reid International Airport is also preparing for Memorial Day, for both inbound and outbound travelers.
Officials at the airport serving Las Vegas provided tips and reminders to make travel easier for those arriving or departing Las Vegas.
For arriving passengers:
— Mobile phone. To avoid traffic, people waiting for arriving passengers are advised to wait in the free mobile phone on Kitty Hawk Way, open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
— Smart pickups. Passenger pickups can be coordinated at the numbered columns in passenger pickup areas for faster connections.
– Do not park at the curb. Curbside parking is not permitted and violators may be fined. If the arrivals are not ready, short term parking is free for the first 15 minutes or motorists can go back to the mobile phone.
For departures:
— Parking reservation. Travelers can reserve parking in advance at Terminal 1 (Level 2M) for $28 per day and Terminal 3 (Level 1) for $21 per day. Reservations can be made at parking.harryreidairport.com.
— Busy parking garage. Reid officials are already planning when the parking garages serving Terminals 1 and 3 will be full or close to it. Based on past experience, airport officials say spaces should be available in the long-term lots of Terminals 1 and 3 on Wednesday; near capacity at Terminal 1 Long Term Thursday and Monday, Terminal 1 Economy Wednesday, Thursday and Monday, Terminal 3 Long Term Thursday to Monday and Terminal 3 Economy Wednesday, Thursday and Monday; and at capacity or full at Terminal 1 long-term and economy and Terminal 3 economy Wednesday through Sunday.
– Stay informed. Updates, parking information and other tips are produced regularly by following @LASAirport on X/Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
— TSA wait times. Security line lengths are now available at harryreidairport.com/security-wait-times. Estimated TSA wait times can vary by the minute and should not be used to plan a later arrival at the airport.
— Mobile check-ins. Time can be saved by checking in via your airline’s app before heading to the airport.
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