Keep rental car for Vegas or return early?
 

I have a rental car for next April,yes crazy me plans that far in advance. Do I return it upon arrival into Vegas or is it useful. Want to stay near the strip in a nice place and two days later must be at airport. Is it hard to park? Am I better off returning it? If you know how far is airport and how much does it cost to get there by taxi?
Thanks
Ken

Most, if not all, of the strip hotels offer free parking (valet and self park), so parking is not an issue. But driving can be. The airport is located right at the south end of the strip. A cab ride to the southern hotels will typically run around $10, and to the northern hotels maybe $20.

Many of the large rental car agencies have locations on the strip, so you might look at returning the car there if you return it early and only have one trip between the strip and the airport by cab or shuttle.

If you are staying on the strip and do not plan to go downtown or to outlying areas (Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, Red Rocks Canyon, etc.) while in Vegas, you really don't need the car. You can't use it if you want to have some drinks while out and about, and traffic can be a nightmare. Walking is great in Vegas, and there is a monorail that runs most of the length of the strip as well.

You do not need a car if you are staying on or very near the strip. Parking at most (possibly all?) strip casinos is free, though it gets a bit crazy trying to get in and out of them at night. We drove the strip once at night and thereafter decided to leave the car at the hotel when we visited it. The airport is very close to the strip. It's a $10-$15 ride and a shuttle would be approx. $5.

One time in Vegas we rented a car and honestly it just sat in the parking lot the whole entire time. The next year when we went, we just rented a car for a day to drive out to Valley of Fire and then dropped it off on our way to the airport that night. We are thinking about going back this December and we won't be renting one at all.

Great tips, I will return the car upon arrival to Vegas. Jlm mentioned Hoover Dam, is that a good day trip from Vegas? How long a trip by car? Would it bore the kids, I guess opinions vary but what do most of you guys think?
Ken