Denver to Las Vegas Flights (DEN to LAS)

Denver to Las Vegas is a quick nonstop of about 2 hours gate to gate, and you gain an hour on the clock because Las Vegas is on Pacific time and Denver is on Mountain time. As of recent schedules, three airlines fly DEN to Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) nonstop: United, Southwest and Frontier. All three have large operations at Denver, so there are many departures a day. Check the airline's own timetable for your dates.

Who flies Denver to Las Vegas nonstop

• Southwest flies the route many times a day on weekdays, with fewer flights on weekends, according to its own route page, and Denver is one of its largest bases.
• United flies it from its Denver hub, which suits travelers connecting from smaller mountain-region airports.
• Frontier, which is based in Denver, flies it as a low-cost option with paid extras for carry-ons and seats on basic fares.

Because all three carriers run this as a high-frequency route, you rarely need to settle for an awkward time. Weekend getaway flights on Thursday and Friday evenings fill first.

Denver and Las Vegas airports

For this trip there is effectively one airport at each end. Denver International (DEN) handles the airline service for the Denver area; Centennial Airport in the south suburbs mainly serves private and charter flights. Harry Reid International is the airport for Las Vegas and the Strip.

DEN is a long way from downtown Denver, about 25 miles northeast. The A Line commuter train runs between the airport and Union Station downtown in about 40 minutes, and is often faster than driving at rush hour.

Leaving from Denver

DEN has one main terminal building (the Jeppesen Terminal) and three concourses, A, B and C, reached by an underground train after security. United mainly uses Concourse B, Southwest Concourse C, and Frontier Concourse A, though airlines sometimes use gates on other concourses. Security lines at DEN can be long at peak times and the checkpoints have been reconfigured during the terminal renovation, so arrive early and check the airport's site for which checkpoint is open. Allow time for the train ride to the farthest gates.

Arriving at Harry Reid International (LAS)

Las Vegas has two terminals that are not connected landside, each with its own check-in, baggage claim and pickup:

• Terminal 1: Southwest, Delta and American.
• Terminal 3: United, Frontier, Alaska and JetBlue.

The airport is just a few miles from the south end of the Strip. Taxis and rideshare pick up at marked zones at each terminal, RTC public buses serve the airport, and many hotels are reached by shared shuttles. Taxi lines get long on Friday evenings and during major conventions, so leave some slack if you have a show or dinner booked.

ID at security: REAL ID

This is a domestic flight, so there is no passport control or customs at either end. You do need an acceptable ID at TSA. REAL ID enforcement began on May 7, 2025: a standard driver's license without the REAL ID star is no longer enough on its own. A REAL ID-compliant license, a US passport or passport card, or another ID on TSA's acceptable list all work. Travelers who arrive with no acceptable ID can go through TSA ConfirmID, an identity check that carries a fee and takes extra time; check the current fee on tsa.gov. Our REAL ID guide lists what to bring.

Basic economy and carry-on rules

The cheapest fare on each airline is not the same product, and the difference is mostly about bags and seats:

• United Basic Economy on most domestic routes includes only a personal item that fits under the seat, not a full-size carry-on. A roller bag brought to the gate is checked and charged, so pick a standard economy fare if you travel with one.
• American and Delta basic economy fares include a full-size carry-on and a personal item, but seat choice, changes and boarding order are restricted.
• Southwest now sells tiered fares and, since January 27, 2026, assigns seats instead of open seating. Every fare still includes a carry-on, but checked bags are no longer free on most fares.
• Frontier basic fares include only a personal item; a carry-on and seat choice cost extra, and cost more if you add them at the airport.

Checked bags cost extra on basic and standard economy on most US domestic fares unless you hold airline status or a co-branded credit card. Our explainers on basic economy, airline baggage rules and the TSA liquids rule cover the details.

Best time to fly Denver to Las Vegas

Las Vegas demand follows weekends and events more than the calendar. Thursday and Friday flights from Denver and Sunday flights back are the busiest; Tuesday and Wednesday are usually the quietest. Spring and fall bring the most comfortable weather in the desert, while summer afternoons are extremely hot. Big conventions, New Year's Eve and major sporting weekends fill flights and hotels, so check event dates before booking.

On the Denver side, winter snowstorms can cause de-icing delays and occasional cancellations, and summer afternoon thunderstorms over the Front Range cause ground delays. Morning flights give the most room to rebook. If your trip is disrupted, see our guide on delayed or cancelled flights.

Flying home: Las Vegas to Denver

The return takes about 2 hours, and you lose the hour back. Security at LAS is slow on Sunday afternoons and Monday mornings, when weekend visitors leave together, so arrive early and go to the right terminal: United and Frontier flights leave from Terminal 3, Southwest from Terminal 1. TSA PreCheck is available at both; our Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck guide explains the options.

Tips for this route

• Travel with a carry-on only for a weekend; Southwest includes one on every fare, and it skips the bag wait at LAS. See our carry-on packing guide.
• If you are flying Frontier, add bags and seats when you book rather than at the airport.
• Use the live fare grid on this page to compare the three airlines and nearby dates.