Las Vegas, the partying, entertainment, and gambling mecca in the middle of the Nevada desert is on the 'must-see' list of millions of people all over the world. It's one of the most iconic cities on the planet, and the majority of travelers would love to see it at least once in their lifetime. The vision of the city that you have in your head might not be an accurate one, though. When we think of Vegas, we tend to think of a boiling hot supercity where the sun shines brightly during the day, and the bright lights are switched on at night. Sometimes it looks exactly like that, but that's not true all year round. In fact, if you head to Vegas at the wrong time of the year, you could end up sorely disappointed.
If we've told you that there's a 'wrong' time to visit Vegas, that implies that we're aware of a 'right' time to visit Vegas - and we do! If you've been considering saving up your travel money and hitting up Sin City in search of a good time, take the time to read this article before you set off. You wouldn't want to be disappointed after setting off on a 'once in a lifetime' trip only to have it ruined by the weather, or to find out that the attractions you want to visit aren't available to you, so take note of all the advice we're about to give you, and that disappointment can be avoided.
By and large, there are two ‘peak times’ of the year to visit this global party hot spot; between March and May, and between September and November. Let’s take a closer look at the reasons why.
March To May
The average temperature in Las Vegas in March is 70 degrees Fahrenheit. By the end of May, that will have risen to around 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and is approaching the point of being uncomfortably hot. That means spring is a much better bet (if you’ll excuse the gambling pun) for your Vegas visit than summer is. This advice might change in the future; residents are already noticing that May isn’t as cool as it was when they were young, and the city has been confirmed as the fastest-warming in the whole of the United States of America for reasons that aren’t immediately clear. For that reason, you might want to focus on March and April rather than risking May. You should notice that accommodation is cheaper during these times as well, as there tends to be fewer people booking visits. That doesn’t mean there won’t be anything going on, though. Annual events in Vegas during these three months include NASCAR Weekend in March for motor racing fans, the ‘Viva Las Vegas’ festival, and the Billboard Music Awards in May. That’s on top of all the shows that stay active for most of the year!
September To November
It's still a little hot (and getting hotter) in Vegas in September, with an average temperature of 94, but by November, that's cooled to a positively temperate 66. If you're sensitive to the heat, November might be the perfect time to visit because not only is it a little cooler, but many of the Christmas shows will already be up and running. You get all the benefits of the Las Vegas Christmas experience without the enormous crowds that will be there during the final days of December! You also won't be short of things to see and do. Aside from the Greek Food Festival and the iHeartRadio Music Festival in September, the fall months in Las Vegas bring the Las Vegas BikeFest and the 'Rock n’ Roll Vegas Marathon' to the city. The event is exactly what it sounds like - a marathon with rock bands playing in and around it. There's no obligation to take part unless you're feeling particularly fit and healthy, but it's a fun event to be around and take in the sights of. Just remember to pack a few cold-weather items for your trip - the temperature can drop like a stone during the night, and you wouldn't want it to take you by surprise.
While June, July, and August are the most popular times to visit Las Vegas, we wouldn't recommend doing so unless you have the heat resistance qualities of a lizard. Even the hardiest souls find themselves thanking their lucky stars for the existence of air conditioning, and the heat doesn't contribute to a great time when you're stuck indoors no matter how good the air conditioning is. We appreciate that everyone might want to visit this gambling paradise, but let's face it; there are reasons why internet casinos and slots site were invented. They mean that you don't have to leave the house or get on the plane to place bets and enjoy gambling games. You're in no danger of dissolving into a pool of sweat when you're playing online slots from the comfort of your own home. You'll probably also make better decisions in terms of when to start, when to stop, and how much money to spend on those online slots websites when you're not too hot to think straight. Even the event planners know that the summer months aren't the best time to visit the city, which is why the only major annual event that happens during them is the World Series of Poker. If you ask us, that's another reason to give it a miss - you could come up against a world-class poker player sharpening their skills at one of the tables in the casinos!
Now you know which times of year are the best for visiting Vegas, here's one more little piece of advice; avoid weekends. Accommodation and event ticket prices vary dramatically from weekdays to weekends, and you could find yourself paying 50% more if you choose to stay over a weekend. If you're planning to stay in town for two weeks or more, that probably won't matter too much because you'll get a discount, but if you're only staying for five days, go Monday to Friday. Your bank balance will thank you for it - and that means you'll have more money left over to fritter away on entertainment!