Las Vegas, Nevada

So, you're headed to Las Vegas… Where do you even begin? While there are literally millions of possible answers to that question, having a basic understanding of Las Vegas will help you prepare for a trip to one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. Below you will find general information about Las Vegas including weather, transportation, healthcare, and history.

History • Statistics • Climate • Average Temperatures • Mileage from Major Cities
 Mileage to Local Recreation Areas & National Parks • Getting to Las Vegas • City Parks • Activities
Arts & Entertainment • Churches • Health Care • Public Internet Access

Click here to learn more about towns and cities in the Las Vegas Area

Statistics:

Climate:

Since Las Vegas is located in the Mojave Desert, the area enjoys a dry and hot climate year round. The average year round temperature is 80ºF, and there are typically 320 sunny days a year. With weather like this Las Vegas is an ideal place for recreational activities and sightseeing - especially since the city gets just over four inches of annual rainfall. Visitor our weather page for current conditions and forecasts.

While this hot, dry climate may be ideal for recreation and winter get-a-ways, visitors must prepare appropriately. For instance, they need to drink plenty of fluids to remain hydrated, and use proper sun protection. Also, visitors should also dress in layers between October and March since the weather tends to cool down for the winter.

Average Annual Temperatures:

City Mileages from Las Vegas:

Mileages to Recreation Areas:

Getting to Las Vegas:

As a top international tourist destination, Las Vegas is very easy is to get to by planes, trains, and automobiles. By road, Las Vegas is on Interstate 15 between Los Angeles, CA and St. George, UT. Interstate 15 connects with Interstate 80 in Salt Lake City, UT, Interstate 70 in Central Utah, Interstate 40 near Victorville, CA, and Interstates 5 and 10 in Los Angeles, CA. All of these interstates provide easy connections with much of the country.

By air, Las Vegas's McCarran International Airport (LAS) is served with non-stop service from all major western cities and hubs in the United States, several hubs in Canada and Mexico, London-Gatwick (LGW), and Tokyo-Narita (NRT). With such connections, most small and regional cities in North America and many in Europe, Japan, and Asia should have no more than one stop service to/from Las Vegas.

By bus, Las Vegas is served by Greyhound Lines.

For more information visit our transportation page.

City Parks:

The City of Las Vegas currently operates over 60 parks for public use. Click here for Las Vegas city park information for the location of these parks.

Activities:

There are many recreational activities available in the Las Vegas area. For instance, many people enjoy hiking in Red Rock Canyon and Mt. Charleston. During the winter people also sled and ski on Mt. Charleston. Water sports enthusiasts flock to nearby Lake Mead to boat, camp, and water ski. There are so many other things to do in the Las Vegas area.

Arts and Entertainment:

Las Vegas is full of arts and entertainment options. The best known entertainment is on The Strip with shows like Kà, O, Mystère, and Zumanity from Cirque du Soleil, Mamma Mia, Avenue Q, Celine Dion, Penn & Teller, Wayne Newton, Rita Rudner, Gladys Knight, Howie Mandel, and many other family and adult oriented options. The Las Vegas Art Museum and the University of Nevada at Las Vegas are venues for regular art and entertainment events.

Churches:

There are many different religions represented in Las Vegas. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Baptist, and non-denominational congregations are the most numerous in the area.

Health Care:

Las Vegas is home to three major hospitals. Like another major city in the United States, Las Vegas has a full range of medical services available.

University Medical Center of Southern Nevada
1800 W Charleston Blvd.
Las Vegas, 89102
(702)383-2000

Valley Hospital Medical Center
620 Shadow Lane
Las Vegas, 89106
(702)386-0178

Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center
3186 S Maryland Parkway
Las Vegas, 89109
(702)731-8772

Public Internet Access:

Many hotels and motels in Las Vegas put data ports or provide wireless access to their guests and business centers with full computer and communication capabilities. Several hotels like the Hard Rock Hotel and Mandalay Bay provide pay-for-access kiosks. There are several retail business services stores like FedexKinkos that also provide pay-for-access to the Internet. If you are on The Strip, the library at Maryland and Flamingo has Internet access. Call (702)733-7810 for more information about the library.

History:

As one of the top three fastest growing metropolitan areas in the United States - according to the United States Census Bureau in 2005 - Las Vegas has changed a lot over the last 200 years.

Although it was home to American Indians like the Paiute tribe for thousands of years, the area was not founded until 1829 when Spanish explorers led by Rafael Rivera were lured by the meadows (therefore, water) here. However, it was not until 1855 when Mormon pioneers established a modern settlement here, but they abandoned it three years later. It then served as rest stop for people who were searching for gold and silver in the region. In 1865 Octavius D. Gass started a ranch in what is now downtown Las Vegas and helped herald in a period when people actually stayed. Gass's ranch eventually was bought by Montana US Senator William Clark whom many credit for bringing the Union Pacific Railway to the area in 1905 to link Salt Lake City and Los Angeles.

Las Vegas officially incorporated as a city in 1911. It is interesting to note that some theorize that the construction of the Hoover Dam initiated Las Vegas' reputation as a tourist destination. Apparently many people became familiar with the Las Vegas area when they came watch the dam being built. Later tourists would come to gamble and play while Hoover Dam still attracts people today.

Gambling was not legalized in Nevada until 1931, and the first casino - El Rancho - opened up in Las Vegas in 1941 by developers from Los Angeles. The Flamingo was the next casino and opened up in 1946 by Bugsy Siegel. Bugsy was part of the major wave of mobsters who invested heavily in opening resorts and casinos in Las Vegas during this era.

During the prosperity of the post World War II era in the United States, Las Vegas grew substantially with gambling as it is number one industry. In order to continually attract millions of visitors (and billions of dollars) the casinos and resorts developed lavish and posh attractions including: volcanoes, pirate ships, Cirque du Soleil shows, magic, musical, and comedic acts, and anything else possible. Las Vegas has worked hard to develop both family and adult entertainment options and has gone through different types of advertising campaigns touting both aspects.

The military has a major presence here. It is home to Nellis Air Force Base and Fallon Naval Air Station. Of note, Nellis is the home of the Thunderbirds, and the 1986 Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer blockbuster Top Gun was partially filmed at Fallon.

Today Las Vegas is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States and is an economic powerhouse.