Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Strip to be closed to cars for New Year’s Eve

Las Vegas Boulevard will be shut down from Sahara Avenue to Russell Road from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m.

New Year's Eve

Leila Navidi

Fans cheer as The Original Kiss Army plays during Tribute Palooza, the 2008 New Year’s Eve party at the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas.

2008 New Year's Eve on the Strip

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2008 New Year's Eve on Fremont Street

Jim Seda portrays Gene Simmons in the band The Original Kiss Army during Tribute Palooza, the New Year's Eve party at the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas Wednesday. Launch slideshow »

New Year's Eve celebration guide

Getting around Las Vegas will be a little more difficult than normal Thursday night as thousands of people descend on the city to ring in the new year, closing the Strip to vehicle traffic for the night.

Las Vegas Boulevard will be closed from Sahara Avenue to Russell Road from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Beginning at 6 p.m., walkways, elevators and escalators along the boulevard will be shut down and hotels and other Strip business close their driveways.

Metro Police will beginning closing roads that connect to the strip at 6:30 p.m.

Because the Strip will be closed to allow for foot traffic, cars also will not be allowed to use the east-west arterials to go through the area, including Tropicana Avenue, Harmon Avenue and Flamingo Road.

Locals who want to get from one side of town to the other will need to use roads north of Sahara or south of Russell, or take one of the valley’s freeways.

Freeway ramps on Interstate 15 will be partially closed to only allow traffic to go west on the arterials beginning between 5 and 6 p.m.

If you want to get around the valley without driving, the Regional Transportation Commission is offering free bus service valley-wide from 6 p.m. Thursday to 9 a.m. Friday. Buses will then run on a reduced Saturday schedule for the rest of New Year’s Day.

The bus will also offer free service from the new Centennial Hills Park and Ride lot on Grand Montecito Parkway, near Durango Drive and Elkhorn Road. The buses will go from the lot to downtown Las Vegas from 5 p.m. New Year’s Eve to 4 a.m. New Year’s Day.

Because of the closure of the Strip, the double-decker Deuce service will only run on Las Vegas Boulevard from downtown to Sahara Avenue.

In addition, routes 105 (Martin L. King), 108 (Paradise) 116 (Koval/Industrial) and 207 (Alta/Steward) will have detours during the street’s closure.

Celebrations on the Strip officially end at 1 a.m., when cleaning crews move in to get the road reopened by 4 a.m.

The Fremont Street Experience will be closed to the public for New Year’s Eve.

The pedestrian street will close at 5 p.m. Gates to enter a party, which costs $10 for locals and $20 for out-of-towners, open at 6 p.m.

New Years Eve also brings tighter restrictions for minors and drinkers on the Strip and in downtown.

City and county ordinances ban cans and bottles on the Strip and in downtown areas from 6 p.m. Dec 31 to 5 a.m. Jan. 1.

Metro also asks partygoers not to carry large backpacks or other bags that could carry cans or bottles.

A parent or legal guardian must accompany children under the age of 18 from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. on the Strip.

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