Los Angeles to Las Vegas Flights (LAX to LAS)

Los Angeles to Las Vegas is one of the shortest busy routes in the West: about 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes in the air, with no time change because Nevada and California are both on Pacific time. As of recent schedules, Southwest, Delta, American, United and Frontier fly LAX to Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) nonstop, with departures through the day. Schedules shift by season and day of week, so check each airline's timetable for your dates.

Who flies LAX to Las Vegas nonstop

• Southwest has several daily nonstops, all from LAX Terminal 1.
• Delta, American and United fly it from their own LAX terminals, which helps if you are connecting from another flight on the same airline.
• Frontier flies it as a low-cost option, with extra charges for carry-on bags and seat selection on its basic fares.

With this many carriers, the real choices are departure time, which LA airport you leave from, and what is included in the fare.

Flying vs driving

The drive from Los Angeles to the Las Vegas Strip is roughly 270 miles on Interstate 15 and takes about four to five hours with clear roads. Friday afternoons heading east and Sunday afternoons heading back west are notorious for traffic through the Cajon Pass and near the state line, and the same drive can take far longer. Flying is about an hour in the air, but once you add getting to LAX, security and the trip from LAS to your hotel, a door-to-door flight takes around three to four hours. Flying usually wins on busy weekends and when you do not need a car in Las Vegas.

Other Los Angeles area airports

LAX is not the only way out of Southern California, and the smaller airports are often quicker to reach:

• Burbank (BUR) suits the San Fernando Valley, Glendale and Pasadena.
• Long Beach (LGB) suits the South Bay and Long Beach.
• Orange County (SNA) in Santa Ana suits Irvine, Anaheim and the beach cities of Orange County.
• Ontario (ONT) suits the Inland Empire.

Each has nonstop service to Las Vegas on at least one airline, though choice is narrower than at LAX. Check the airline's schedule from the airport nearest you.

Leaving from LAX

Southwest uses Terminal 1, Delta Terminals 2 and 3, American mainly Terminal 4, and United Terminals 7 and 8. Other airlines' terminals at LAX have changed during the airport's rebuild, including the closure of Terminal 5 for rebuilding as of recent airport maps, so confirm on your boarding pass. Traffic on the central terminal loop is heavy at any hour; allow extra time to reach the curb, and consider the LAX-it lot or the free shuttle to the LAX/Metro Transit Center (which runs until the airport's people mover train opens) if you are being dropped off or arriving by train. Our LAX airport guide has more.

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 areas:

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

The airport sits just a few miles from the south end of the Strip. Taxis and rideshare run from marked pickup zones at each terminal, and RTC public buses serve the airport. Many travelers also use hotel or shared shuttles. Allow extra time on Friday evenings and during big conventions, when taxi lines can be long.

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 adding them at the airport costs more than adding them when you book.

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 to Las Vegas

Las Vegas demand follows weekends, conventions and big events more than the seasons. Thursday and Friday flights out of LA and Sunday flights back fill first, while Tuesday and Wednesday are usually the quietest days. Spring (March to May) and fall (October and November) have the most comfortable weather. Summer brings desert heat well over 100°F in the afternoons, and very hot days can occasionally affect flight operations. Major conventions, New Year's Eve and big sporting weekends fill hotels and flights alike, so check the city's event calendar before you choose dates.

Flying home: Las Vegas to LAX

The return is about the same length. Security at LAS can be slow on Sunday afternoons and Monday mornings, when much of the weekend crowd leaves at once, so arrive early. Remember that Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 have separate security checkpoints; go to the one your airline uses. TSA PreCheck is available at both; see our Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck guide.

Tips for this route

• For a weekend trip, a carry-on-only bag saves the most time at both ends; see our carry-on packing guide.
• Compare LAX with Burbank, Long Beach or Orange County: the closest airport often saves more time than the flight itself.
• Use the live fare grid on this page to compare airlines and days; small changes in date or time often change the price.