Say Goodbye To More Free Casino Parking On The Las Vegas Strip
[toc]Less than a year has passed since MGM Resorts declared the cessation of free parking. However, the concept of free parking on the Las Vegas Strip is on the verge of becoming merely a memory.
Visitors to Las Vegas casinos enjoyed free parking as one of the many benefits for decades. Now, it can cost up to hundreds of dollars just to park your car for a week.
The trend initiated by MGM of revising parking lot policies is now being followed across the Strip, with both Caesars Entertainment and Cosmopolitan Casino announcing changes. In addition, MGM is already increasing parking lot prices at its casinos in Vegas.
Caesars rolling out pay parking casino by casino
Caesars Entertainment cautioned visitors to Vegas last year that paid parking was on its way. However, it only came into effect last month. The first property to implement this was The Linq, with Caesars and Paris set to follow.
At present, all Caesars casinos on the Strip are anticipated to transition to paid self-parking, except for Planet Hollywood, which has an undecided parking future. The Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, located slightly west of the Strip on Flamingo Rd, will continue to offer free parking. Therefore, players of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) can be at ease this summer.
Locals holding a Nevada driver’s license will continue to enjoy free parking. In addition, Total Rewards players at the Platinum level or above can also park for free. Daily parking rates will be capped at $10. Valet services will cost between $8 and $18, with the exception of the Rio, which will maintain its free valet service.
The Cosmopolitan Casino recently declared that it will now charge for self-parking. The charges are $7 for the initial four hours and $10 for 5-24 hours. Additionally, both Caesars and Cosmopolitan offer free parking for those parking for an hour or less.
MGM raising parking prices at Vegas properties
It is unsurprising that MGM, being the first company to implement paid parking, is also the first to increase prices.
The company started imposing charges to gather funds for a parking area at T-Mobile Arena, located behind MGM’s Monte Carlo Casino. Initially, locals were exempted from these charges, but now, everyone must pay self-park fees.
The major alteration in self-park fees is the introduction of separate price points for two hours and four hours of parking, as opposed to a singular rate. The initial hour of parking continues to be complimentary. However, the cost for two to four hours of parking has been bifurcated. Customers parking for up to two hours will be charged $7, while those parking for two to four hours will incur a fee ranging from $8 to $12, the exact amount depending on the property.
The parking wars in Las Vegas are just getting started, and MGM’s latest action could be the start of numerous price increases among the casino corporations.
Where can I park for free on the Strip?
Surprisingly, a few properties on the strip still offer complimentary self-parking. These include the following casinos:
- Wynn
- Encore
- Venetian
- Palazzo
- Treasure Island
- Circus Circus
- SLS
- Tropicana
Among them, Treasure Island, Venetian, and Palazzo are the most central. Neither Wynn nor Sands International have issued any statement about the evolving parking scenario. Given this, it’s entirely likely that these casinos may decide to adapt similarly in the future.
