Key Points:
- I’ve ridden the High Roller 5 times now, and I have yet to grow tired of it. It’s worth the money.
- Buying tickets online in advance can save you a considerable amount of time at the attraction.
- I recommend upgrading to the “Happy Half Hour” package, which grants access to an open bar for the duration of the ride.
Although a recent addition, opening in 2014, the High Roller Observation Wheel has become a staple of the Las Vegas skyline.
The High Roller has 32 glass-enclosed passenger cabins that offer 360-degree views of the Strip and surrounding Las Vegas valley.
While the High Roller once held the distinction of World’s tallest observation wheel at 550 feet, the attraction was recently bested by the Ain Dubai wheel, which boasts a height of 820 feet.
How To Buy High Roller Tickets
Before diving into *how* to buy, I thought it would be helpful to detail your three options:
- Daytime Ticket (Cheapest – $25-$27): Can be used for rides during the day before 5 pm.
- Anytime Ticket (More Expensive – $36-$40): Can be used for rides anytime, even after dark when the lights of Vegas are shining bright.
- Happy Half Hour (Most Expensive – $62-$65): Can be used for rides anytime and entitles you to unlimited drinks from a bar located in your High Roller pod.
While there’s a ticket counter at the base of the High Roller, you can save a considerable amount of time (and often a few bucks) by booking in advance online.
I recommend pricing out your spin at both on the High Roller’s website and Vegas.com.
For this visit, I purchased my daytime ticket on Vegas.com for $26.25, as it was slightly less expensive than booking directly with the attraction.
Once my ticket was purchased, Vegas.com emailed me my pass which had a scannable QR code to gain admission to the attractions.
Boarding the High Roller Observation Wheel
Because I pre-purchased tickets, I was able to bypass the line to buy tickets at the box office (which can be long and slow-moving) and head straight to the security checkpoint.
The security checkpoint consists of a metal detector, which requires you to remove any metallic items from your pockets and is minimally invasive, taking no more than 15 seconds.
As you make your way toward the boarding area, there’s a bar that serves a variety of cocktails, canned beer, seltzers, and slushie drinks.
Uniquely, you can buy a drink or two for the ride, assuming you didn’t upgrade to the happy half-hour package, which will provide plenty of drinks onboard.
The boarding platform is the next stop, and jumping aboard has a borderline hectic feel as the observation wheel is in a state of perpetual motion.
The staff does a great job of shuffling the previous riders off prior to the new group stepping into the pod, however. It’s a well-oiled machine.
Once everyone steps in, the doors close, and you’re on your way up!
On Board the High Roller
The cabins are surprisingly spacious and are able to fit up to 40 people, however, my recent rides have been sparsely populated.
On this occurrence, there were 3 other people on board, meaning we had an abundance of room, freedom to wander around the cabin, and unobstructed views in all directions.
If you choose to ride during the day (non-peak time), there’s a good chance your family or group could have an entire pod to yourself.
The cabin features floor-to-ceiling windows that are spherical, providing you the opportunity to look straight down… if so inclined.
Screens hanging overhead provide information on how the High Roller was built and other fun tidbits about what you’re able to see in the distance throughout the ride.
There’s seating on either side of the pod, which can accommodate about 8 total people, although many of the seats don’t offer an advantageous view.
While the ride lasts a total of 30 minutes, the best is the 15 minutes or so when you’re at or near the apex.
From there, you’ll be able to see landmarks like the Wynn Golf Course, MSG Sphere, the Airport, the Las Vegas valley beyond the Strip, and mountains in the background.
While I’ve seen the resorts that line the Strip a million times, there’s something awe-inspiring about the vantage point provided by the High Roller.
Just look at this view:
As the ride concluded, our group was helped out of our slowly moving pod, and we were released onto the LINQ Promenade below.
Granted, I visited during the day which is when the attraction is least busy, but I was impressed with the efficiency of the operation.
Partly because I bought tickets online, the process of getting through security to stepping aboard my High Roller cabin took less than 5 minutes.
While crowds were common when the High Roller was new, it’s becoming more of a walk-up and walk-on attraction as time goes by.
Is the High Roller Worth the Money?
Especially if this is your first time in Las Vegas, the High Roller is well worth your time and money. I’m in Vegas every 4-6 weeks, have ridden the High Roller 5 times, and still found it to be worth the $26.25 I paid on this most recent occasion.
For me, a spin on the observation wheel serves as a reminder of why I love Las Vegas so much. She’s a mesmerizing city from 550 feet up.
While adults will enjoy the experience, the High Roller is also a prime candidate for those that are seeking kid-friendly itinerary ideas.
A Suggested Upgrade
If knocking back a few drinks during your ride is appealing, I recommend upgrading to the High Roller’s Happy Half-Hour package vs. the traditional ride I documented above.
The Happy Half Hour is best described as an open bar in the sky. While it’s a bit spendier at $60 per person, the bar aboard the pod is stocked with numerous liquors, mixers, wine, and beer.
I’ve done the happy half-hour twice at this point and was impressed with the efficiency demonstrated by the bartender and the value I received. You can fit a lot of drinks into your gullet over 30 minutes… trust me. They even offer drinks to-go prior to departing.
Related Las Vegas Attractions with a View:
I’m a former software salesman turned Vegas aficionado. While the craps table is my preferred habitat, I pull myself away to explore new attractions, shows, restaurants, and outdoor activities around Las Vegas with the intent of sharing my experiences.
Ultimately, I just want to help folks plan a better trip and save a few bucks in the process.