It used to be that getting around on the Las Vegas Strip meant either walking, driving a rental car, or flagging down a taxi. Then came ride services such as Uber and Lyft. While these are all options for traveling around the Strip, they are still time-consuming and can cost quite a bit.
There is a faster, cheaper, and far more efficient way to travel on the Las Vegas Strip—the Las Vegas Monorail. If you’ve visited Walt Disney World at all, the cars on Monorail may look familiar to you, but more on that later.
Las Vegas Monorail Route
The Las Vegas Monorail runs up and down the eastern side of the Strip on a roughly four-mile line, connecting from MGM Grand all the way to SAHARA Las Vegas on the northern end of the Strip. With various affordable ticket options, you can easily travel up and down the Strip in minutes—less time than waiting for your ride to come to pick you up only to get stuck in traffic.
Las Vegas Monorail History
The original portion of the Monorail track was built in 1995, measuring a little less than a mile in length. Its purpose was to connect passengers between Horseshoe and MGM Grand. Seven years later, the monorail route was extended to include the additional stops along the Strip that it services today.
Las Vegas Monorail Disney Cars
If you’re a Disney fan or have been to Walt Disney World, there’s a chance the cars on the Las Vegas Monorail may have a familiar sense of magic. The original trains used on the Monorail were from Walt Disney World—the original Mark IV trains used at Walt Disney World since its opening back in 1971.
The original line on the Monorail (located between Horseshoe and MGM Grand) was built in a partnership between the two hotels, later transitioning to ownership and management from the Las Vegas Monorail Company.
Currently, Walt Disney World uses the Mark VI monorail train, an update from the original Mark IV cars used—the same cars that were later used on the Las Vegas Monorail. Eventually, the two Mark IV monorail trains used on the Las Vegas Monorail were later replaced with Mark VI cars, just like the cars used in Walt Disney World.
Interestingly enough, the Las Vegas Monorail cars were automated well before the cars at Walt Disney World became automated in 2014. While the trains in Las Vegas are truly automated and pilotless, the monorail trains at Walt Disney World still have pilots in the cab solely for safety supervision in the event of any kind of emergency. The cars were built by Bombardier of Canada with a reported cost of roughly $3.5 million for each train.
Las Vegas Monorail operates a total of nine Mark VI trains. While the trains at Walt Disney World have six cars, the Las Vegas Monorail uses just four cars. Las Vegas Monorail currently uses Bombardier Innovia 200 cars on each monorail train, with a total capacity of 222 per train (72 seats and room for 150 standing passengers).
How Fast is the Las Vegas Monorail?
At a distance of approximately four miles and a total of seven stops along the way, a trip from one end of the line to the other takes less than 15 minutes. With shorter than average wait times for cars, the Monorail has continually proven to be one of the best ways to travel on the Las Vegas Strip.
Where to Buy Tickets for the Las Vegas Monorail
Currently, a one-ride ticket is $5 (significantly less than a car ride between hotels or from one end of the Strip to another). The Monorail offers many different ticket options ranging from a single ticket to unlimited seven-day passes. You can quickly and easily purchase mobile tickets online, or purchase physical tickets at one of the automated ticket vending machines located near each station.
With more than 90 million riders using the Monorail since its opening, it continues to provide an unmatched efficient and effective mass transit option on the Las Vegas Strip. WIth ZERO emissions and a 99% In-Service Rate, the Las Vegas Monorail is also the most energy-efficient transportation on the Strip.
Are you ready to get your ticket?
Sources: