Which Las Vegas Hotels are Good for Plane Spotting?

Las Vegas is a mega destination for travellers from all over the world, as well as all corners of the United States.

As the city’s popularity has grown, so has the airport that serves it.

Las Vegas Harry Reid International (previously known as McCarran International) is a large airport with four active runways.

It is served by all major US carriers, cargo airlines, and airlines from around the world which bring in tourists daily.

The airport is situated at the southern end of the famous Las Vegas Strip – a highway stretching out of town which is lined with some of the biggest and most famous hotels and resorts in the world.

Plane Spotting in Las Vegas

Photo (c) Erik Ritterbach

Las Vegas Airport has many different places to spot around the perimeter

We covered this in an article, here: https://www.airportspotting.com/las-vegas-spotting-highlights/

But chances are you’ll be enjoying your trip to the city from one of the big hotels along the Strip. It’s certainly cooler inside, as desert temperatures can often soar above 40 degrees Celsius.

So, is it possible to spot planes from any of these Las Vegas hotels?

Las Vegas Spotting Hotels

Sadly one of the best hotels on the Strip – and one of the closest to the airport – the Tropicana was demolished in 2024.

But there are others you can use to get good views of the action.

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Las Vegas South

6560 Surrey Street, Las Vegas, NV 89119 | +1 702 518 5955 | www.wyndhamhotels.com

Spirit Airlines aircraft photographed at Las Vegas McCarran close to the La Quinta hotel. Photo (c) Erik Ritterbach

This hotel is quite far from the pleasures of The Strip and the big hotels, but it’s close to the official spotting area alongside runways 26L/R.

Higher rooms facing the airport have views of aircraft passing close by on these runways. Photography is possible, at a distance.

Aircraft using the north-south runways are visible in the distance and can be tracked online.

Hampton Inn & Suites Las Vegas Airport

6575 S Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89119 | +1 702 647 8000 | www.hilton.com

The proximity of the Hampton Inn to Las Vegas Airport is shown in this street view with a Southwest 737 on short final. Photo (c) Google

Close to the La Quinta Inn but slightly taller, the Hampton Inn has some views over the runway 26L/R thresholds and approaches.

Try rooms ending in 38 to 44 on the top floor. A short walk to the viewing location on Sunset Road.

Again, this hotel is far from The Strip.

Hyatt Place Las Vegas

4520 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89169 | +1 702 369 3366 | www.hyatt.com

An aircraft departs overhead the Hyatt Place hotel in Las Vegas. Photo (c) Google

Situated to the north of the airport, this hotel is about a mile east of The Strip.

High level rooms facing east will face aircraft approaching runway 19L, while those facing west have views of aircraft approaching 19R. You can’t see the airport from here, so it is only useful for arrivals from the north.

Luxor Hotel and Casino

3900 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89119 | +1 702 2624400 | www.luxor.com

The pyramid-shaped hotel at the southern end of the Strip has all the amenities you’d hope for, including pools, casino, restaurants and shows.

If you ask for a room in the pyramid facing the airport you will have some views of aircraft movements.

Make sure you’re high enough to be above the sphinx outside and you should see all traffic on the 01/19 runways, and the executive jet ramps.

Photography is not possible due to the angle of the glass.

Mandalay Bay

3950 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119, United States | +17026327000 | https://mandalaybay.mgmresorts.com/

A view of the EG&G fleet of Boeing 737s from the Mandalay Bay. Photo (c) David Anderson

The next hotel further south of the Luxor is the Mandalay Bay. It has a large Y-shaped tower, with many rooms facing the airport. Higher rooms (the hotel is very tall) look down on the executive parking aprons, the north-south runways, and parts of the terminals beyond.

Good binoculars will help you tie-up most of the aircraft, and flight tracking apps will do the rest.

Photography is possible, but the windows have a strong tint which would need to be edited out.

Title image: A Southwest Airlines 737 departs with the Mandalay Bay in the background. Photo (c) David Anderson.

Airport Spotting Hotels

For more tips on the best plane spotting hotels at airports all around the world, we produced this book – Airport Spotting Hotels.

It is an essential guide to planning where to stay when on plane spotting trips, or even just travelling on business or for leisure. Make sure you always have a view of the action!

Order Your Copy