The famous Las Vegas Nevada is known as a money pit, gambling center and an alcoholic's worst nightmare. But I'm here to tell you that there's more to Vegas than meets the eye. It is, in fact, possible and easy to have a budget friendly & sober weekend in Vegas!
What's there to do in Vegas other than gambling and drinking?
Las Vegas, better known as "sin city", has more to offer than just sins! In Las Vegas there's a huge foodie scene, art scene and music scene! Also, just outside the city are many amazing nature activities. For those not concerned with budget, the options are endless! For those who want these non-drinking activities AND to save money keep reading.
Budget Tips for Las Vegas Travel
Rent a car to save money on Uber rides
Vegas is not a walkable city, you'll need rides. Whether it be public transportation, your own car or an Uber, you'll have to choose. Luckily, pretty much all hotels have parking, so I suggest renting a car for the day or for the weekend to save money on all the Uber rides that you will end up needing to order! With a rented car you can also venture outside the city to see all the nature attractions Nevada has to offer.
If you have the time, and are staying within the city, utilize public transportation
If you are savvy with buses and don't mind waiting for rides, then definitely take advantage of the RTC Transit in Nevada. Get a public transportation pass beforehand and research which routes you're interested in before your arrival. It's only $20 for a 3 day pass! Cars are easier in this city, but with determination you could probably get around fine via bus.
Search Eventbrite for free & cheap events in Vegas and other cities!
I've used this trick whenever I travel to large cities. Every city has a bunch of free events just waiting to be discovered! My husband and I primarily went to Vegas for a weekend trip because we were attending the When We Were Young Festival. So I searched Eventbrite for free events during that weekend and to my great surprise, there was a FREE Vegan Festival called Vegas VegFest. My husband and I are both vegan so this was perfect for us! You can filter the site for cost and interests.
The Grand Canyon has a $30 daily parking fee. Take advantage of this fee by starting your drive early.
If you are going to do one day at the Grand Canyon from Vegas and then drive back, you have to start the four hour drive by 8am. But this early start rule also applies for the other famous nature attractions outside of Vegas, such as Horseshoe Bend, Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, Joshua Tree, Death Valley National Park, Antelope Canyon and Zion National Park. All in different directions from each other of course! But nevertheless, if you drive yourself then the parking fees are minimal for these attractions and they are all gorgeous.
Free Things to Do in Las Vegas
Seven Magic Mountains is a free art installation 20 minutes outside of the city.
This is an art installation in the middle of the desert! It's very cool to see in person; my mother called it "a cotton-candy-colored Stonehenge" and that's exactly right! There's no time limit for this display. Stay as long as you want, pack a lunch and eat there. It's very fun to take pictures with the rainbow stones. It gets crowded but everyone is respectful and takes turns. While you're there, watch out for people with photo op props, such as animals or costumes - they will charge you for pictures.
The Bellagio Hotel has multiple free attractions on the strip!
For starters, the Fountains of Bellagio come to life every 15 to 30 minutes, as the huge lake at the front of the hotel spurts water into the air in an amazing show that's always timed perfectly with music and lights! Then, inside of the hotel you'll find the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, a free exhibit that changes every few months allowing you the ability to visit again and again.
The Fremont Street Experience is a free attraction in the arts district of Vegas with free weekend concerts.
Part mall, part street performance, part concert venue. This area is a great place to people watch, party and see live music! And it's completely free, minus the extra activities of course. But if you're tired of the clubs and bars and want a little bit more entertainment I would definitely suggest visiting this place! Check out their website linked above for their free weekend concert schedule.
The famous "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign is free to visit and photograph!
We did this during our first trip to Vegas and although the line is somewhat long, it's totally worth it for those iconic shots. If you only have time for one of these free activities, then I would choose this one! You'll get a great photograph that your friends, family and your Instagram followers will easily recognize and associate with Las Vegas!
Overall, if you're looking to have fun in Vegas without breaking the bank or getting hungover it's easy to do! As long as you research and book before you arrive and avoid gambling and drinking then you'll be able to have a wonderful time without going into debt! Las Vegas is a mecca for art, nature, culture, food and experiences! If you're visiting, take advantage of everything sin city has to offer and leave the sins for someone else!
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