Doing Vegas By Yourself? Here’s What to Expect – With Tips!

Thinking about taking a solo trip to Vegas, but are wondering what the experience will be like?

First off, you’re not alone. According to a Las Vegas Convention and Visitor’s Authority profile survey, 11% of visitors reported that they made the trip by themselves in 2021.

That means nearly 4.2 million people visited Sin City on their own in 2022 – Not an insignificant sum.

In fact, doing Vegas solo has become so popular, that there’s an entire ecosystem of resources growing around the trend. Among the most useful is the “Solo Las Vegas” Facebook group which has amassed 33,000+ members and is chock-full of tips, tricks, and ideas.

As a frequent solo traveler myself, I figured it’d be helpful to share my experience and help you brainstorm some things to do in Vegas by yourself.

The Reality of Visiting Solo – What is it Like?

Although packed to the gills with people, Vegas is a strangely anonymous destination.

Visitors can float from place to place, and activity to activity, with as much or as little interaction as they desire.

Personally, I enjoy the anonymity and time to “be in my own head”. Almost like a long drive by yourself, doing Vegas solo can provide the opportunity to spend some time with… you.

For those of you who are extroverts who cringe at the thought of limited interaction, you don’t need to be isolated. Social contact and new friendships are easy to make at a craps table, at bars, clubs, etc. If you’re outgoing and want to be around people, that is absolutely within the realm of possibilities.

The ability to do WHAT you want, WHEN you want, at YOUR own speed, is what makes being on your own special.

Note that not everything about doing Vegas by yourself is sunshine and rainbows. For those who value having others around, not being able to share highs and lows with others in a city with plenty of swings can be a challenge.

As an extrovert myself, I find that face-timing the family back home can help combat any feelings of loneliness that creep in.

Is Doing Vegas By Yourself Safe?

Absolutely.

With that being said, you obviously want to take the same precautions you would at home or any other travel destination, but there’s a heavy security presence on both the Strip and Fremont Street.

I’d recommend sticking to tourist centers, especially after dark. For instance, exploring the side streets behind Fremont Street after dark isn’t recommended due to the prevalence of a more transient, unpredictable crowd.

Just stick with the crowds, and take typical precautions.

Gamble

Seriously. Gambling solo in Vegas is the best. No waiting on others. Nobody waiting on you. Nobody looking over your shoulder. Nobody judging the amount you’re spending.

Jump from machine to machine, play some blackjack, or make friends at the craps table. This is how I spend my solo time in Vegas – It’s great.

If you’re a slot player, check out my guide to finding the loosest slots in Vegas!

Go For a Hike

I’d be hard-pressed to pull my wife or friends away from the Strip to go for a hike, but exploring nature has quickly become one of my favorite activities.

Among my recent outdoor adventures near Las Vegas have been visits to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, the St. Thomas Ghost Town site, and the Valley of Fire State Park.

You haven’t lived until you turn a corner in the middle of the desert by yourself and find that you’re face to face with 3 bighorn sheep.

While the Hoover Dam is a man-made wonder, it’s also something I recently explored on my own, and found to be amazing.

Explore the Arts District

Tucked between STRAT and Fremont Street, the Arts District offers 18 blocks of shopping, art, breweries, bars, and restaurants.

I detest shopping typically, but shops in the Arts District were sincerely fun to visit and range from art galleries to antique shops. As a Vegas history nerd, I was thrilled to find an abundance of vintage casino memorabilia, matchbooks, ashtrays, chips, etc.

The Arts District can be reached inexpensively from the Strip via the Deuce Bus, and for free from Fremont Street via the Downtown Loop Shuttle.

Explore a Museum that Interests YOU

Often overlooked, Las Vegas is home to numerous museums that are a blast to explore if your interests align with the content.

I’ve enjoyed exploring the following niche museums in Las Vegas:

• The Mob Museum on Fremont Street.
• The Atomic Testing Museum
• Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum.
• Clark County Museum (Just $2!)
• Old Mormon Fort (Near Fremont Street – Just $3!)
• Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition at Luxor
• Bodies… The Exhibition at Luxor and Real Bodies at Horseshoe (Real human cadaver specimens)