Las Vegas runs on one public bus system, RTC Transit, and it splits neatly into two zones: the tourist corridor along the Strip and downtown, and everywhere else. Once you know which zone you’re riding in — and that the same card works in both — getting around without a car is easy and cheap.
The basics
RTC Transit runs every fixed bus route in the valley, including two you’ll use constantly as a visitor:
- The Deuce — a double-decker bus running the length of the Strip and into downtown Las Vegas, 24 hours a day, about every 15 minutes.
- Centennial Express (CX) — connects the northwest valley to downtown, also serving the airport.
Away from the Strip, dozens of numbered local routes cover the rest of the valley — these are the “Residential Routes” in RTC’s fare system, and they’re cheaper. Route 109 is now the Maryland Parkway Red Line, a bus rapid transit line that began running on August 23, 2026.
You’ll also see the Las Vegas Monorail gliding above the Strip between several resorts. It’s a separate, privately owned system with its own tickets — RTC passes don’t work on it, and it’s not covered in the fare info below.
How to pay
There’s no single card like a Hop or an Oyster here — instead you’ve got several ways to pay, all charging the same fare:
- Tap a contactless bank card or phone (Apple Pay / Google Pay) on the reader as you board. This always charges the full adult fare — no reduced fares this way — and every tap in a rolling 24-hour period shows up as one aggregated charge on your card statement.
- Use the rideRTC app’s Tap & GO. Add funds with a card or cash, then scan the app’s barcode when you board; the right single-ride fare (Strip or residential) is deducted automatically. It’s built for exactly this — one-off rides without committing to a pass.
- Buy a pass in the rideRTC, Transit, or Uber app — 2-hour, 24-hour, and multi-day passes are all available digitally.
- Get a reloadable Tap & GO card at the Bonneville Transit Center or the RTC Administration Building — your first one is free.
- Load cash onto your rideRTC account at nearly 350 retail locations around the valley (CVS, Walgreens, Dollar General, Family Dollar, and others) if you don’t have a card.
- Pay cash on board — but bring exact change, since drivers can’t make any.
Whichever method you use, you only tap or pay once, when you board — there’s no tapping off.
Fares
This is the one thing worth understanding before you ride: the Strip costs more than everywhere else.
| Single ride | 2-hour pass | 24-hour pass | 3-day pass | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strip & All Access (Deuce, CX, and any pass — valid everywhere) | $4 | $6 | $8 | $20 |
| Residential routes only | $2 | $3 | $5 | — |
Reduced fare (veterans, ages 6-17, K-12 students, seniors 60+, people with disabilities, Medicare recipients) is half price on every tier above. Kids 5 and under ride free with an adult.
Longer passes cover every route, Strip included:
| 7-day | 15-day | 30-day | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | $20 | $34 | $65 |
| Reduced | $10 | $17 | $32.50 |
So: if you’re only riding the Deuce up and down the Strip, a $4 single or an $8 day pass covers you. If you also want to hop on a local numbered route away from the Strip, buy the “Strip & All Access” tier — the cheaper residential pass won’t cover the Deuce.
Getting from the airport
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is served directly by RTC buses — no separate airport train here. Three routes stop right at the terminals:
- Route 108, Route 109, and Centennial Express (CX) all stop at Terminal 1, Level Zero, a short walk from baggage claim.
- CX also serves Terminal 3, Level 2.
- A ticket vending machine is right at the Terminal 1 bus stop, taking cards or exact cash — or buy ahead in the rideRTC app.
Riding Route 109 gets you to the South Strip Transit Terminal, a transfer hub south of the Strip, in about 10-15 minutes, where you can connect onward to the Strip or downtown — check the rideRTC or Transit app for a live estimate on that leg. Route 109 now runs as the Red Line, from the same Terminal 1, Level Zero stop.
Apps to download
- rideRTC — the official app. Buy any pass, use Tap & GO for single rides, track buses in real time, and report safety concerns through its built-in Transit Watch feature.
- Transit — real-time arrivals and turn-by-turn trip planning across the whole network; it can also sell you a pass.
- Uber — lets you buy an RTC pass in-app if you’d rather not install a dedicated transit app.
No smartphone? Text your stop number to rideRTC (41411) or call 702-228-RIDE (7433) for the next predicted arrivals.
When it runs
The Deuce runs 24 hours a day, about every 15 minutes, up and down the Strip and into downtown — there’s always a bus coming, day or night. Other routes run on their own schedules through the day and evening; check the rideRTC or Transit app for the specific route you need, since coverage varies by corridor.
Accessibility
Every RTC bus has a ramp and kneeling function for boarding, and wheelchairs are secured by the driver once aboard — you can’t be denied a ride for not having your own tie-down straps (RTC’s free S.A.F.E. program can fit your device with them on request). ADA paratransit door-to-door service covers the area within three-quarters of a mile of any fixed route; it’s $3 per one-way cash trip, with cheaper coupon-book and multi-ride options. If you’re ADA-paratransit-certified, you can also ride any regular fixed route free with your ID card.
Etiquette & local quirks
- Exact change only on board — drivers can’t make change, so have cash ready or use the app.
- Tap once, on boarding only. There’s no tapping off, and no benefit to tapping again mid-ride.
- Bikes ride free. The front rack on every bus holds 2-3 bikes; you load and unload your own.
- Service animals ride free, and pets are allowed in a secured, covered carrier if there’s room.
- Don’t mix up the Strip fare and the residential fare — a residential-only pass won’t work on the Deuce.
Good to know
- Report anything that looks wrong. RTC’s Transit Watch program has a dedicated hotline, 702-598-EYES, for reporting suspicious activity on buses or at stops.
- The Monorail is a different company. It’s privately run, costs more ($6 for one ride, day passes from $15), and your RTC pass won’t get you on it.
- A fare increase has been proposed for transit and paratransit riders, but as of this writing it hasn’t been approved — if it goes through, RTC says it wouldn’t take effect before January 31, 2027. Double-check current fares on rtcsnv.com if you’re reading this well after that date.