Las Vegas Airport Restaurants, Bars, Health Club, Museum, Play Areas and Other Diversions Help Pass the Time While You Wait for Your Flight
The first thing to consider during a flight delay or layover is the lay of the land. The Las Vegas Airport (McCarran International Airport) has a central Esplanade area, and four separate “Gates” (A-D) and a “Terminal 2”. Most of the major American Airlines fly from Gates A-D. The widest variety of airport restaurants and beverage options are on Gate D, so you may consider heading over there if you have a long flight delay or layover if your flight is on another Gate. Below you will find a list of suggestions for passing the time at the Las Vegas Airport, including Las Vegas Airport restaurants and bars, children's play areas, a health club, and other activities.
Learn about aviation. Check out the Howard W. Cannon Aviation Museum. Stroll through exhibits about the history of aviation in Southern Nevada. The main exhibit is located in the Esplanade, Terminal 1 Level 2, with additional displays throughout the Las Vegas Airport.
Work out. Las Vegas McCarran International Airport has a health club within in, 24 Hour Fitness, so if you want to get in a workout during your flight delay or layover in Las Vegas, you are in luck. According the company website, this club's hours may not be 24 hours on weekends. Call the club to confirm hours or for details: 702/261-3971.
Saturday: 6am – 9pm
Sunday: 10am – 6pm
Monday 5am through Friday 11pm
Holiday hours may vary
Located in the Esplanade (Terminal 1,
Level2)
Win Money. Of course, it wouldn't be Las Vegas if they didn't give you another chance to strike it rich! Maybe you should look at your flight delay or layover as an omen, or suggestion from the Powers That Be to try your luck one more time. There are slot machines located throughout terminals 1 & 2.
Let the kids burn off some energy. Las Vegas Airport flight delays and layovers can be tough on kids, and they may not really enjoy (or be allowed to enjoy) Las Vegas' other amenities. A kid's play area is available in the D gates area. Maybe that will stop them from using the back of the seat in front of them as a punching bag while they are on the plane.
Have a drink. Considering this is Las Vegas, why not! If you are looking for a place that's has a little room to spread out to enjoy your beverage, you may want to check out the Budweiser Brew House, located on Gate A (at the “branch point” between it's two concourses, and not all that long a walk from Gate B), or the Gordon Biersch Brewing Company located on Gate D. If you are not flying on one of the airlines at D gate, you'll need to take the tram out there, so leave a little extra time, but if you have a long flight delay or layover, it may be worth it. We haven't personally tried the options on Gate C, but Corcoran's Irish Pub sounds like it has potential. If none of these strike your fancy, there are a number of other bars to choose from (although not as many as you might expect).
Grab a cup o' joe or a pastry. At the Las Vegas McCarran International Airport there is, of course, a Starbucks and Cinnabon at all the Gates, as well as a Starbucks in the Esplanade, and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf on Gate C.
Have some food, fast. There are all the usual suspects found at most airports, as well as a Wolfgang Puck Express at Gate A,B,C & D; Jody Maroni's Sausage Kingdom on Gate D, and Ruby's Dinette on Gate D, to name a few that you may want to try for something a little different. Two new additions to the Las Vegas Airport restaurants are California Pizza Kitchen and Burke In The Box, both located at the D Gates. Read more about these new Las Vegas Airport restaurants at California Pizza Kitchen Opens at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) and Burke In The Box Restaurant Makes Its Airport Debut At Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS).
Explore Las Vegas. Do this one with caution and only if you have ample time. Even though the Strip is “just over there”, there can often be very long security checkpoint lines at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, and getting to and from the Las Vegas airport can also be fraught with delays, as getting a taxi from, and sometimes to, the airport can also take considerable time, and there can also often be traffic on the Strip. So think twice, and make sure you have the time and a contingency plan if you miss your flight!
Surf the Web. Las Vegas McCarran International Airport provides free WiFi, so whether you are in an airport restaurant, bar or just waiting at the gate, you can surf the web for free. While you are on-line, you can keep up to date on airport delays and your flight status at eXpectdelaYs.com.
These suggestions should help you survive, and maybe even enjoy, your flight delays and layovers at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. Please share any of your own suggestions or comments with us!
Remember, if you
eXpect delaYs, you can beat them!
Happy Travels!
-Gus
[originally posted March 9, 2008. Updated November 17, 2008)
