When is the best time to visit Las Vegas?

It’s a fact that Las Vegas is always firing on every cylinder. Whether you’re looking for international culinary flair, 24/7 gambling or entertainment in every possible form, you can find it in Sin City year-round – and 24/7, for that matter.

Still, just when you go to Las Vegas can make a world of difference. For example, you’ll want to limit your outdoor jaunts – from strolls on the Strip to hikes in nearby Red Rock Canyon – during scorching August heat, when the mercury can reach 110°F (43°C). And you should pack your heaviest coat come January, thanks to nights that frequently dip into the 20s°F (-5–2°C).

As in most destinations, Las Vegas does have “high” and “low” seasons – and the latter will be when you can find bargains. But scheduled conventions, concerts and highly trafficked events can fall in seemingly random months (eg the annual city-wide spectacle of the National Finals Rodeo in January), affecting costs and hotel room availability, big time. The city’s tourism entity, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority keeps a regularly updated and trusted slate of these events, and it’s worth checking it out before you book anything. Also keep in mind that throughout the year weekend prices will always be higher than weekdays. 

While figuring out how to play a game of craps can be confusing, the ins and outs of Las Vegas’ seasons aren’t. Here are the the best times to visit Las Vegas.

June to August brings the heat – and good value

Best season for great deals

It’s a desert out there...literally. Amid the non-stop pumping of air conditioning within Las Vegas resorts, it’s easy to forget that the city is in the center of the Mojave Desert. Since it’s the driest desert in North America, you can really, really, really feel the heat as summer sets in.

It is oh-so-important to hydrate if you visit at this time, especially if you plan on indulging in the yard-long drinks you’ll inevitably buy. Summer is also pool season in Vegas – and party people won’t want to miss the raucous pool clubs here, like Tao Beach or Palm Tree Beach Club. Whenever you lie out in the summer sun, wearing and reapplying sunscreen is essential, as is drinking more water than you think you need. You don’t want to get so sunburned you’ll be unable to leave your room – or worse.

By braving said elements, you’ll be treated with “low season”–level flight and hotel costs. Do keep an eye out for summer’s marquee draws – like the Fourth of July and World Series of Poker – as prices can tick up for these big events.

While searing heat is the norm is summer, June to mid-September is also when the bulk of Las Vegas’ annual rainfall (all 4.2 in of it) arrives. And it tends to fall in huge bursts, after storms form suddenly. In this mountainous desert region, a quarter-of-an-inch of rain can equate to rushing water, flooded roads and major traffic in these parts. So watch the forecast.

September to November and March to May bring great weather and events 

Best season for fabulous weather

There are two pockets of the year in Vegas when things are just right. In March through May, and again in September and October, you can count on daily highs in the 70–90°F (21–32°C) range – truly dreamy weather. (While 90°F is really hot elsewhere, it feels great in the dry desert.) Still, since nights can get cooler, in the 30–50°F (-1–10°C) range, pack accordingly.

As these spring and fall months are considered Vegas’ “high seasons,” lodging and travel costs are at their priciest. These timeframes are also when some of the biggest annual events for the city fall. Among them are the Electric Daisy Carnival music festival (typically in May), Pennzoil 400 and South Point 400 races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (typically October) and – launched in 2023 – the Las Vegas Grand Prix (typically November). (Here are a few tips if you want plan a trip around the race.)

An increasingly classic Las Vegas experience is catching a home game for its beloved National Hockey League franchise, the Vegas Golden Knights, at T-Mobile Arena. In recent times, Las Vegas has become the hotspot for new professional sports teams – including the Raiders football team and the Aces women’s basketball team. Major League Baseball arrives in 2028.

Yet no team has a local fan base and in-stadium experience like the Knights (a marching band, an on-ice pre-game show that involves a knight-infused duel and slot sounds aplenty), a fervor further boosted by its 2023 Stanley Cup win. The team’s regular season typically runs from early October through early April.

The spring and fall months are also terrific for pursuits beyond the casino lights of the Strip and Downtown. Clear skies and bright sunshine make for ideal hiking conditions in Red Rock Canyon or Valley of Fire State Park – or an outdoor-oriented day trip pursuit further afield. Just remember to slather on the sunscreen.

December to February is the best time for quirky holiday happenings

Best season for holiday spectacle

There is something unsettling yet magical about a desert getting all decked out for the holidays out come wintertime. This is the time of year to ice skate on the roof of the Cosmopolitan and experience the 5 million-LED-light holiday drive-thru that is Glittering Lights at the Las Vegas Speedway. You can even go skiing, at Lee Canyon, just under an hour northwest of the Strip.

To many ill-prepared tourists’ surprise, Las Vegas does get cold, with daily highs touching 60°F (15.5°C) and lows plunging into the 20s°F (-6°C) during this timeframe. While flight and hotel prices aren’t quite at the summer lows, plenty of deals are available. Bargain hunters should avoid National Finals Rodeo Week (typically December), when seemingly every cowboy on Earth comes in town. New Year’s Eve is a cluttered spectacle too, drawing more than 300,000 tourists to the Strip in recent years.