McCarran Airport Las Vegas

McCarran Airport In Las Vegas is the sixth busiest airport in the United States, and the eleventh busiest airport in the world. It is also self funded, with a large part of the funding coming from slot machine contracts.

A couple of years ago it was a sure thing that a new airport would be built 30 miles south of Las Vegas. Ivanpah Airport was to be built in between Jean and Primm. Its main purpose was to take pressure off of McCarran, but given the current economic situation it seems unlikely that it will ever be built. Of course we can all look forward to the Desert Express, a train that will link Las Vegas to Victorville, California. Should be built in about 20 years.

The dominant air carriers at McCarran International Airport are: Southwest, US Airways, United, Delta, and Continental. US Air has been cutting service to Las Vegas lately and Southwest has become the clear front runner in the Las Vegas market. International carriers include Aero Mexico, Canada Air, Virgin Air, Korean Air, and others.

To drive from McCarran to the Strip you can either take the 215 connector west to I-15, and then head north, or you can take Paradise to Tropicana, Flamingo, Twain/Sands, and take a left on any of those roads to the Strip (see the map). The Paradise Road way is shorter but you are more likely to be delayed in traffic going that way, although the 215 to I-15 route can also be very busy. We recommend the Paradise Road route, but we do so hesitantly. If you are taking a taxi and he drives you the "long way" via 215 I wouldn't automatically assume he's trying to pad you trip, the drivers know when one route is going to be faster than the other.

When heading back to McCarran take one of the roads that run east-west to Paradise (Tropicana, Harmon, Flamingo, Desert Inn, Twain/Sands), and take a right on Paradise and follow the signs to McCarran.