Vegas Parking Charge-For-All: Strip Down to 6 Free Casinos

Posted on: August 17, 2023, 08:41h. 

Last updated on: August 18, 2023, 02:45h.

Corey Levitan Read More
Expertise: Commercial Gaming, Entertainment, Expert Insight, Las Vegas, Restaurants, Las Vegas Myths.

That you once parked for free at all Las Vegas Strip casinos will be a story you tell your grandchildren one day, just like the stories you tell them about drinking in them for free and (if you’re old enough), once getting your room comped because you gambled $100.

parking ticket machines
A bank of parking ticket machines at New York-New York on the Las Vegas Strip. MGM Resorts, New York-New York’s owner, became the first Las Vegas resort chain to charge its customers to park in 2016. (Image: travelzork.com)

One of the last remaining free parking holdouts, Venetian/Palazzo, two resorts that are really the same resort, will charge for parking “later this summer,” according to its/their website.

The Venetian’s self-parking charge hasn’t yet been revealed. However, like most other Strip resorts, the properties will continue allowing rewards club members with a certain standing (Premier level or above) to self-park for free, and Nevada residents to self-park for three free hours.

Valet parking will remain at $35.

Treasure Island is one of the last free parking holdouts on the Las Vegas Strip. (Image: Shutterstock)

Free Fall

This leaves only the Tropicana, Treasure Island, Circus Circus, Casino Royale, Sahara, and Wynn/Encore (another two resorts that are the same resort) offering free parking to everyone. The Tropicana already charges for some of its better spots.

Casino Royale probably won’t exist for too much longer, as plans are being made to replace it with a 699-foot tower. And Wynn/Encore is almost certain to remove itself/themselves from this list of five/six.

Because it abuts the Venetian, the Wynn will be forced to charge for parking once the Venetian does. If it doesn’t, then thousands of thrifty Venetian guests will park for free at the Wynn in spots that will displace Wynn guests.

The Wynn tried implementing paid parking in 2017. But it reversed that decision two years later, appearing heroic in the process. This time, there likely will be no heroics.

Influence of Sphere

The Sphere can accurately be blamed for knocking down the final dominoes in this sad game. When this very major concert venue opens on September 29 with U2’s first Las Vegas residency, it will hold 18,600 spectators and give them only 304 spaces in which to park.

That wasn’t a typo. Nearly every Sphere ticketholder will need to find parking either at another casino resort or at the Fashion Show Mall, or not drive a car there at all.