Best Time to Visit Las Vegas, Nevada

Spring and autumn: the sweet spots

March to May and October to November are when Las Vegas feels easy. In March and April the days are warm, not hot, and the nights are cool. That's good for walking the Strip between casinos, or driving out to Red Rock Canyon, a sandstone area about 30 minutes west of town. Hikers should go now, because the desert trails get risky later.

October is the other great month. Highs sit near 29°C, and the pool is still pleasant. Spring and autumn are also busy, so hotel rates climb and weekends feel packed. March brings basketball tournament crowds, and big conventions fill rooms midweek.

Summer: pool time or stay away

June to August is hot. July is the hottest month at 42°C, and even the nights stay warm at 27°C. Walking outside at 3 pm feels like opening an oven. Most people hop between air-conditioned resorts and spend the day by the pool.

Humidity is low, so it's a dry heat. Still, July and August bring short monsoon storms, with sudden rain and the odd flash flood on desert roads. If you don't mind the heat, summer is the cheapest time for rooms. Early September is still very hot, so don't treat it as autumn yet. The World Series of Poker runs through the early summer at the Horseshoe and Paris, if cards are your thing.

Winter: cool, quiet and cheap-ish

December and January have highs around 15°C. That's jacket weather, especially after dark when the Strip's open-air walkways get chilly. Days are sunny but short. Rain is rare and light.

Winter is a good time for shows, food and the Fremont Street area downtown, where you're mostly indoors anyway. Early January brings CES, the giant tech show, and hotels get pricey and crowded that week. New Year's Eve is also very busy, with fireworks over the Strip. Between those peaks, mid-December and late January can be good value.

If you want one answer, pick late March, April or October. You'll get comfortable days, open trails and pool weather without the summer heat.