Las Vegas with Kids – Vacation Guide for Families

Las Vegas Strip Panorama

The Best of Family Friendly Las Vegas

Las Vegas is not a difficult place to vacation as a family. Although the city is mainly geared toward adults, Las Vegas still offers up plenty for those visiting with their kids in tow. We have put together a guide of family friendly attractions, restaurants, hotels, shows, hotel pools as well as some family travel tips to help you plan that perfect Las Vegas family vacation. This Las Vegas with Kids Guide is sectioned off into categories, which highlight some of our top choices as well as a link to our articles with the full list, more details and links.

Jump To: | Family Activities | Family Restaurants | Family Hotels | Family Pools | Family Shows | Bucket List | Free Things To Do | Family Travel Tips |

 

Las Vegas Family Activities

Although Las Vegas is known mainly as an adult playground, it has also done a fantastic job in mixing in an amazing array of fun and kid friendly activities all around the city. With so many great sights, attractions and entertainment choices available every day a family should have no problems filling their vacation itineraries chock full of fun. Las Vegas has to be one of the top cities for families to have so many kid friendly attractions to choose from in one area, that it makes for a wonderful choice for your next family getaway. Below are a few of our favorite family activities that we recommend during your vacation, along with a link to our complete list of things to do with kids in Las Vegas.


Las Vegas Family Restaurants

Gone are the days of the .99¢ shrimp cocktails, budget buffets and 1/2 pound hot dogs. Las Vegas has transformed itself into one of the culinary capitals of the world and now offers tourists with so many quality dining choices both on and off the Las Vegas Strip. We put a list of Las Vegas family restaurant recommendations that offer up great food and a kid friendly atmosphere that both kids and adults will love. Below are a few of our favorite family restaurants along with a link to our complete list. Bon Appétit!

Las Vegas Family Hotels

Las Vegas has the most hotel rooms (over 150K) of any U.S. city, so finding the perfect one for your family can be quite the task. With so many different types of hotels to choose from, a family has many choices as to which hotel meets its needs for their vacation. Some families opt for regular rooms in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip to stay within walking distance to the many attractions and restaurants while others might venture out a bit further to get more family amenities at their hotel. Depending on what type of vacation your family is looking for while in Vegas, different hotels will suit you better than others. Below are a few of our hotel recommendations for families along with a link to our complete list of the best family friendly hotels.

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Las Vegas Family Pools

One thing that is a must during the hot Nevada desert days is having a great kid friendly pool at your resort or hotel. Las Vegas has plenty of world class pools, but a lot of them are not geared towards the family. Between pool bars, swim-up blackjack, pool parties with DJs and just plain rambunctious crowds, not all pools are where you want your kids to spend the day splashing around. Our list of family pools have kid friendly features like lazy rivers, wave pools, waterslides, waterfalls and many other amenities. These are the swimming pools built with the family in mind and will have you and kids enjoying a fun afternoon in the sun and water.

Las Vegas Family Shows

If your kids are old enough, your family should take in a show during your Las Vegas vacation. In the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” there are tons of top-notch options, but not all of them will be suitable for the kids. Our list of family friendly shows give you some great options that both kids and adults alike will love. Be sure to check the age minimum and we recommend booking your tickets ahead of time and taking in the earlier shows.

Las Vegas Bucket List

With so many unique and fun things to do in and around Las Vegas, putting together a bucket list shouldn’t be that difficult for anyone. To make it even easier for you to make your own list, we have put together a comprehensive bucket list of activities, experiences and sights that range from pretty extreme to mild and everything in between. With years of firsthand experience of Las Vegas activities, our list is sure to help you find your next bucket list item.

Free Things To Do in Las Vegas

Las Vegas has an abundant amount of activities, attractions, tours and entertainment for tourists to enjoy. When planning out your itinerary, you should be adding in some top notch activities and attractions, but that comes at a cost. Throwing in some free activities and attractions onto your schedule can help your travel budget without sacrificing your fun factor. We put together an extensive list of the best free things to do in Las Vegas to help you better plan your vacation.

Las Vegas with Kids Travel Tips

  • Las Vegas with kids can get expensive, so make sure to take advantage of the many free kid friendly attractions that the city has to offer. Schedule in a free attraction here and there and your day will be packed with fun without spending too much.
  • Avoid the busiest times of the year which include holidays and major events – conventions (International CES, SEMA Show, NAB Show, Rodeo Finals) – that pack the strip and drive up the prices.
  • If you vacation during the hottest times of the year in Las Vegas, make sure to drink plenty of water, avoid too many outdoor activities on the same day and plan some family time at a kid friendly pool. See our list of the Best Family Pools in Las Vegas.
  • Staying at a resort on the Las Vegas Strip puts your family in the heart of the action, but many hotels outside of the strip might offer more family friendly amenities (bowling, movie theaters and arcades), better room rates, rooms with kitchens or multiple bedrooms, a calmer atmosphere and less traffic.
  • Venture off the Las Vegas Strip once in a while to experience all the family friendly activities, shopping and restaurants that Las Vegas has to offer. Some of our favorite activities and restaurants are not on the strip.
  • With the large number of attractions, sights and entertainment choices available for families, it can be easy to schedule in too much each day. Make sure not to pack your itinerary with so many activities that the kids will be worn out by the afternoon.

We hope our Las Vegas with Kids travel guide and travel tips helps you plan a perfect getaway for you and the kids. As you can see there is plenty to see and do in Las Vegas, so check back here as we will keep all our family friendly lists up to date with all that Vegas has to offer. If you have any questions or know of any suggestions, please feel free to contact us or leave a comment.

Las Vegas with Kids

About Joe Filipowicz

Joe has had a lifelong passion for finding fun and exciting things to do, good restaurants and places to stay while traveling with his family and friends. Since it takes a lot of research and exploration to find these family friendly places, Joe started this website to share his findings with others to make it easier for them to plan their next getaway. Joe lives in Los Angeles but has also spent a lot of time in Las Vegas and Cancun. He has been visiting Las Vegas since he was a kid, so for over 35 years, and visits multiple times a year to enjoy everything it has to offer. Cancun has been his favorite vacation destination for the past decade, and he tries to take his family there once a year.

20 comments on “Las Vegas with Kids – Vacation Guide for Families

  1. Agata from Sydney Australia

    I visited Vegas in January 2014 for 10 days with my husband and two children 16 and 14 at the time. We stayed at the MGM and found this a beautiful and very convenient place to stay on the strip with everything in reach. We will be visiting Vegas again in September 2017 but this time with another couple who have children. So there will be a 20 year old, 18, 15 and 11 year old travelling with us. We would like to try another hotel to sample something different but are unsure whether the MGM is the better choice or is there something else we can try that is just as nice.

  2. Joe Filipowicz Post author

    If you want to stay on the Las Vegas Strip at a hotel that is kid friendly and in a great location, I would recommend staying at the Mirage Hotel and Casino. The Mirage has a beautiful pool that is open and heated all year long, a 20,000-gallon saltwater aquarium, a beautiful indoor atrium, the amazing volcano eruptions, and The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil show. In addition to all the Mirage has to offer on its property, its great location puts you in walking distance to attractions like the Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat, the Fashion Show Mall, the Venetian gondola rides, Madame Tussauds, the High Roller observation wheel, the Forum Shops at Caesars and the Flamingo Hotel’s Wildlife Habitat. Dining in the area is plentiful as well and you could walk to some great family restaurants like the Bacchanal Buffet, Bouchon, Hash House A Go Go and Grimaldi’s Pizzeria among many others. I hope this helps and feel free to ask any other questions.

  3. Kathy

    What hotel do you recommend for a stay in Las Vegas in late March for about 4 nights with children age 10 and 16?

  4. Joe Filipowicz Post author

    Hi Kathy,

    If you are okay with being off the strip, I would go with the Tahiti Village Resort or the South Point Hotel. Tahiti Village is closer to the strip, has one and two bedroom options and has fantastic pools. The South Point is further away from the strip, but offers a bowling center, an arcade, a 16 screen movie complex and a nice kid friendly pool.

    If you want to stay on the Las Vegas Strip and be in the heart of the action, The Mirage is a great choice. The hotel is beautiful and has a volcano show out front, a saltwater aquarium, a rainforest atrium, tropical pools and one of our favorite Cirque du Soleil shows. With so many attractions, restaurants and sights to see close by, the hotel is a good choice for a family that wants to wander around Las Vegas.

    I hope this helps. Feel free to ask any other questions if you need help planning you family vacation.

  5. Michelle

    If we stay at the Tahiti Village, do we need a car to get to the main part of the strip? Is there a quick & easy bus, etc? Also, any other places with condo/bedroom style rooms?

  6. Joe Filipowicz Post author

    Yes, from Tahiti Village you would need a car or take a bus to get to the main part of the Las Vegas Strip. They do have two buses – The Strip & Downtown Express (SDX) that runs from 9 a.m. to midnight and The Deuce on the Strip that runs 24-hours a day that run from the south part of the strip all the way up to the Fremont Street Experience in Downtown Las Vegas. The Deuce on the Strip has more stops, but won’t get you all the way south near the hotel, so use the Strip & Downtown Express (SDX). The Deuce bus is better once you get on the strip and want to jump around as it makes more stops than the SDX bus. There will be walk of about 10 minutes from your hotel to the bus stop. You can get a 24 hour bus pass for $8. If you want to rent a car, please keep in mind that the hotels on the strip are now charging for parking, which makes it very difficult to hop around the strip without paying a big price or walking everywhere. As far as other places with condo/bedroom style rooms, the Wyndham Grand Desert has 1 and 2 bedroom rooms and is only a 15 minute walk from the strip. Hope this helps.

  7. Percy

    Do Hotels allow you to use their pool even though your not a guest? My child is 20 months.

  8. Joe Filipowicz Post author

    Most of the hotels do not allow you to use their pool if you are not a guest of the hotel. A few places sell pool party passes, but that is not what you would be looking for with kids.

  9. Raquel

    What would be an appropriate hotel for kids bw the ages of 10-15 during the pool party season. Our kids have a cheer competition in May where we have been told that that it’s when the pool parties begin.

  10. Joe Filipowicz Post author

    If you are okay with staying off the Las Vegas Strip, I would recommend Tahiti Village Resort. It has one of the best kid friendly pools in all of Vegas, is away from all of the partying, is a quick drive to the strip and the rooms are like small apartments with kitchenette/kitchens.

  11. Caroline

    We are thinking of going to Vegas next April (2018). Do you think Vegas is okay for a 7 year old? I have read that there is plenty to do but some people have suggested walking down the strip is not ideal for young children. Also, which hotel would you recommend? I have read that the Mandalay Bay is a good option for kids but I see you have suggested The Mirage to a few people. Thanks.

  12. Joe Filipowicz Post author

    I do think Las Vegas is okay for a family with a 7 year old, but it all depends on when and where you go during your visit. Walking along the Strip or Fremont Street during the day as opposed to the night is a different experience all together – with the morning to early evening being the most appropriate times to walk the along the Strip. There are spots along the Strip that should not be missed, but most of the Strip is now just to a walkway to get from point A to point B and you wouldn’t want to walk the long strip with younger kids anyway. Pick out the spots of interest that you want to visit along the Las Vegas Strip and plan visits to a few that are in close proximity to each other. Most families with younger kids are usually out and about during the day anyway and that is the best time to go out and explore Vegas with kids. There are plenty of family friendly activities off the strip as well, so take a look at our Ultimate Las Vegas Bucket List that has activities listed by location. Some family activities that I think would be fun to do with younger kids: Hike and Climb At Red Rock Canyon, Hiking In The Valley Of Fire, Wet ‘n’ Wild Las Vegas, Indoor Skydiving, Pinball Hall of Fame, Aquariums (Silverton and Mandalay Bay), Adventuredome theme park, The Bellagio Conservatory, Container Park’s Treehouse Playground and see a family friendly Las Vegas Show.

    As far as hotels go, it depends on your wants and needs for lodging. Mandalay Bay and The Mirage are both great hotels to stay at and both have family friendly pools and activities. If you want to be at the heart of the Strip, I would go with the Mirage and if you like a little less activity, Mandalay Bay is at the bottom of the strip and gives you quicker access to off-strip activities. If you are open to staying off the strip, there are a few great family friendly hotels to stay at that will give you a bit more room and amenities. We love the Tahiti Village Resort because of its one and two bedroom rooms with kitchens, its amazing pools and its location that is a short drive to the strip. I hope that helps. Feel free to email me if you have any other questions or need help planning out your Las Vegas vacation.

  13. Benita Ryne

    I saw on TV that families could view a rehearsal of Mystere for free for children. Now I cannot find anything about this. We are going to the strip with two granddaughters that would love this, but are too young for the entire show (which we did last year with their older sisters). Can you provide any information on this?
    Thank you.

  14. Claudia

    Hi!
    We’re planning on taking our 4 kids ages 3-6-9-11
    Not sure if we should book at MGM OR MANDALAY BAY
    What do you recommend and what’s your best advice for traveling with so many children?
    THANKYOU!!!!!!

  15. Joe Filipowicz Post author

    Staying at the MGM will have you walking distance to a couple of kid friendly activities and restaurants on the Strip. Mandalay Bay is on the south end of the Strip with fewer things within walking distance, but does have a slight advantage when staying put in the hotel. Both resorts have great family friendly pools, but we think Mandalay Bay might get the nod there as well. If hoping in a car or taxi to explore Las Vegas is not a big deal, we think Mandalay Bay might be a better fit for your family.

    Taking into account the kids ages, here are a few things we recommend seeing and doing when in town with your kids: Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay, Conservatory & Botanical Gardens at the Bellagio, Mirage Hotel’s Volcano Show, Aquarium and Atrium, the Wildlife Habitat at the Flamingo Hotel, Circus Acts and Carnival Midway at Circus Circus, the Bellagio’s fountain show, Adventuredome theme park at Circus Circus, Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage hotel, Container Park’s Treehouse Playground, Silverton Hotel’s Aquarium, get a family picture at the Las Vegas Welcome Sign and Wet ‘n’ Wild water park. These family activities in Las Vegas were pulled from our Things to Do with Kids in Las Vegas article.

    Here are some tips for visiting Las Vegas with the kids: With all of the free kid friendly activities the city offers, families can fill up their itinerary for very little out of pocket expenses – so take advantage of those as they are not only free but some of the best fun that can be had in Vegas for family. Make sure to space out your activities so that you don’t exhaust the kids too quickly. Plan your activities in close proximity to each other so you are not running all around town on the same day. There is a lot of fun off the Las Vegas Strip as well.

  16. Joe Filipowicz Post author

    Yes, Mystère by Cirque du Soleil does offer a free viewing of a 30 minute rehearsal that is open to all ages. It currently takes place on Mondays at 4:00 p.m. at the Mystere Theatre in the Treasure Island Hotel.

  17. Tyson

    I’m heading to Vegas this July with my 12yr old son for a basketball tournament at the convention center. It’s during the week and his first time in Vegas. Any recommendations on where to stay. Looking for pool, shows, access to convention by tram or taxi

  18. Joe Filipowicz Post author

    Taking in your need to get to the convention center by tram, I would recommend staying at the Mirage or Bellagio resorts. They are both across the street from the Las Vegas Monorail stops that go to the Las Vegas Convention Center, are family friendly hotels and have great locations on the Strip.

  19. Renee

    Do any of the hotels have game systems like PS4 or XBox in the rooms for kids to use?

  20. Joe Filipowicz Post author

    I don’t believe that any of the hotel rooms have these gaming consoles in the rooms. The Aria does however have a Game Room featuring gaming stations that are equipped with 50” televisions, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One with various games.

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