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. A big change is landing soon: on August 23, 2026, a new rapid bus line — the Maryland Parkway Red Line — replaces Route 109 with faster, more frequent service between the South Strip Transit Terminal and the Las Vegas Medical District (see the alert above).
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. Remember: Route 109 becomes the Maryland Parkway Red Line on August 23, 2026.
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.