File it under the growing “I had no idea” list of surprises newcomers to Southern Nevada realize–Las Vegas traffic isn’t that bad. It holds especially true as one of the best cities for commuters when you compare it to the infamous Los Angeles traffic or the dreaded I-4 corridor between Tampa and Orlando.
A Lyft study released in late 2024 puts the Las Vegas commute in a competitive spot in the urban traffic wars. Las Vegas traffic ranks as the second easiest commute, the ninth cheapest commute, and one of the best overall commutes.
Plus, the study also celebrated the after-work scene, given the expansive selection of world-class restaurants, shows, and outdoor amenities.
Let’s take a closer look at why Las Vegas is one of the best cities for commuters.
How Long is the Average Las Vegas Commute?
The Lyft study included 1,400 commuters who gave feedback, Lyft rides monitored for speed, and a wealth of public data. Census data provided information about average commute times. In Las Vegas, the average length came in at just under 26 minutes.
Let’s look at more commute times for various cities in Southern Nevada:
- Las Vegas: 25.6 minutes
- Henderson: 23.8 minutes
- North Las Vegas: 27.6 minutes
- Mesquite: 18.6 minutes
The only city that ranked better than Las Vegas in terms of commute time was Columbus, Ohio. That city only beat Las Vegas traffic by .10 of a point. However, traffic in Las Vegas flowed faster than in Columbus.
Las Vegas Traffic Consistency
Another benefit of Las Vegas traffic and commute times, according to the Lyft study, is consistency in traffic times.
Most people expect commuting to drastically slow down during rush hours but be faster during non-working hours. Las Vegas ranked 6.3% faster during commute times, not 8% slower, as was the average.
This information about the Las Vegas commute means you can better schedule work appointments, dinner reservations, and show times without having a wild card of traffic to battle along the way.
Cost of the Las Vegas Commute
In the Lyft study, we learned more about the average cost drivers spend in the Las Vegas commute.
Pulling together data from FINN, a car subscription company, U.S. Energy Information Administration gas price information, and the Lyft commute length, a few things stood out about Las Vegas traffic.
First, the average monthly parking cost in Las Vegas is $50. Plus, you won’t face parking charges everywhere. Some of the Strip properties even offer free parking for Nevada residents or casino card holders. Destinations like Green Valley Ranch and Water Street in Henderson provide free parking. The low or no parking fees add to the list of best reasons to live in Las Vegas.
The average monthly fuel cost quoted in the Lyft study was $42.30, compared to $50 in places like San Diego and San Jose.
Monthly public transit costs in Las Vegas came in at around $65, five dollars below the study average and nearly half the price of public transit in New York City.
Comparing Las Vegas Commute Costs With Other Cities
Your perception of Las Vegas traffic largely depends on where you’ve lived before, as some people will lament the backups near the Spaghetti Bowl. Others say it’s nothing compared to the 101 in L.A. at rush hour (or mid-morning, or evening, or literally anytime).
We dug up data and feedback from several cities that rival the Las Vegas Valley.
Average Length of Commute in Top U.S. Cities
As noted above, the commute time in Las Vegas averages 25.6 minutes. We’ll round that up to 26 for comparison purposes. Look at the Top 10 longest commute times in major U.S. cities according to Census data.
- New York City Commute: 41 minutes
- San Francisco Commute: 32 minutes
- Boston Commute: 31 minutes
- Los Angeles Commute: 31 minutes
- Chicago Commute: 30 minutes
- Miami Commute: 28 minutes
- Atlanta Commute: 28 minutes
- Orlando Commute: 27 minutes
- Houston Commute: 27 minutes
- Fort Worth Commute: 27 minutes
- Las Vegas Commute: <26 minutes
That means commuters in NYC spend 75 minutes more in traffic each week, totaling 65 hours a year. Comparing Las Vegas to Los Angeles, commuters here save 13 hours a year.
What Drivers Say About Traffic in Other Cities
We went to vocal subreddits for feedback about traffic in top cities. HTHID in Houston stated, “Houston is becoming L.A. – traffic all the time in all directions. This is the inevitable result of not building enough public transit.” TXERN agreed, adding, “Nobody ever wants to believe me, but Houston is worse (than Los Angeles).”
Looking at a Los Angeles subreddit, sweetbaker creatively posted, “I’m convinced that people end up living in LA because they got caught up traffic and were like welp, I live here now.” GhostOfJamesStrang piped in with, “I hate Atlanta more, but the sheer volume around LA is astounding.”
“I’m convinced that people end up living in LA because they got caught up traffic and were like, ‘Welp, I live here now.'”
Heading over to an Atlanta subreddit, Born-2-Roll made this observation; “Comparing DC traffic and Atlanta traffic is sorta like comparing the Titanic and the Hindenburg disasters.”
With some practical advice, j250ex gave some strategy for Atlanta traffic, “Add 30 minutes if you don’t have Peach Pass. Surprisingly that same commute in the morning takes longer. My advice is life as close to you can from work. Otherwise you’ll be spending 2 plus hours a day commuting.”
Orlando traffic also gets low marks, with Wonderluster observing that “At this point, I could just work in Tampa and the commute would be the same.” Then atari_Pro brought the conversation back to Southern California’s infamous traffic, “Central FL will look like Southern California very, very soon. Have you tried driving in Miami/Dade? It’s hellish.”
What’s more? Several Redditors commented that “You are traffic,” in the Orlando sub. That’s a knock to the frustration of so many newcomers.
You won’t find that in Las Vegas, which is a welcoming and diverse city prepared for new families and businesses with infrastructure ready for your arrival.
Las Vegas Drive Time Secrets
While a data-filled study is great to explore, we take the information with a grain of desert sand since we know the reality of driving in Las Vegas traffic. That’s where giving local insight and advice in driving around Las Vegas can help punctuate the point.
I remember one sunny afternoon in May back in the ’00s, leaving The Forum Shops at Caesars, I made the biggest driving rookie error in Nevada. I ended up smack dab in the middle of Las Vegas Strip traffic.
A convenient web of side roads like Frank Sinatra Drive (or any street named after a Rat Pack member), Harmon Avenue, Koval Lane, and Paradise Road helps avoid ever having to drive on the jam-packed Strip.
Then, avoid overlooking the convenience of valet parking. The benefit pays off even more at the end of an adventure when your feet are tired.
Finally, some cities experience rapid growth without infrastructure to support it. Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas found the sweet spot. While locals lament about the ongoing presence of traffic cones, the Southern Nevada road system kept up with growth with expansions of the 215, U.S. 95, and the 15 through the heart of the community.
Las Vegas Parking Apps
To help you make the most of a visit or relocation to Las Vegas, plenty of high-tech parking apps and detailed maps take away the guesswork of finding parking spots.
Downtown Las Vegas
Downtown Summerlin
UNLV/Thomas & Mack
Major Venues in the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World
- Allegiant Stadium: SpotHero
- T-Mobile Arena: ParkMobile
- Michelob ULTRA Arena: ParkMobile
- Las Vegas Ballpark: Parking Map
- Las Vegas Motor Speedway: Visitor App
- Las Vegas Convention Center: Parking Website
- Cashman Complex: Access Information
- The Sphere: Parking & Transportation
- The Smith Center: Parking Information
- Arts District Parking: Helpful Guide
MORE: Learn more about the Las Vegas arts & culture scene
Las Vegas Redditors Reaction to Traffic & Commute Time
We now turn to the Las Vegas subreddit r/vegaslocals. Nobody shies away from telling the truth here, and more often than not, the post seems to back up what the Lyft study found.
“Driving here is a breeze in comparison to other major cities.”
The consensus states that cities of comparable size or larger have traffic much worse than the Las Vegas Valley. Of course, the biggest finger-pointing targets the drivers themselves, not the traffic patterns or infrastructure.
Here are some top quotes:
- “Drive in New Jersey for a week, and you’ll be pining for the driving here in Vegas.”
- “Have you ever tried driving across… *checks notes*… any other even remotely major city??”
- “Recently moved from Chicagoland to Vegas, and the traffic is a dream, people here are much more considerate when driving.”
- “At this rate, it will take another 9 million people to move here before I see traffic as bad as I did 25 years ago in California.”
It’s no surprise that Las Vegas is one of the best cities for commuters. We repeatedly hear at the LVGEA that one thing that new business leaders love about Las Vegas traffic is that it takes 20-25 minutes to get anywhere in the valley.
More Reasons for Las Vegas Business Relocations
Our transportation system and easy traffic are just one of many reasons it’s a great time to expand, relocate, or start a business in Southern Nevada.
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