While winning a huge jackpot at the casino is a tempting dream, I am aware that the odds are stacked against me, and it is more likely that I will lose my hard-earned money, even if it’s just a small amount like 5 dollars at the blackjack table. Therefore, instead of dedicating our time in Vegas to gambling, my family and I have decided to take advantage of the affordable flights to Las Vegas or drive, and explore the magnificent outdoor attractions nearby, making it a memorable experience for our kids as well. (Note: we have both flown and driven from California to Las Vegas) This comprehensive guide is designed to help you plan a fantastic weekend (or weekdays) in Las Vegas with your children, covering everything from finding suitable accommodations and family-friendly dining options to suggesting exciting activities and attractions that the whole family can enjoy.

How do I get to Las Vegas?

This one is pretty self-explanatory as Las Vegas is well-known to all. It’s usually one of the most affordable places to fly to with round trip tickets even under 100 dollars from other major cities. The airport is also located very close to the strip and many hotels. We have flown to Vegas and also driven from our home in California. Our last trip we decided to drive our car.

For your Vegas trip you will need a car. From the airport, you can hop on the free rental car shuttle and they will take you to the Rental car center (about 6 min away). I recommend checking out Trip Advisor to find the best rental deals in Vegas.

What is the best time to visit Las Vegas?

For this adventure itinerary, the best time to visit is during the cooler winter months (October-May). Las Vegas is known to be extremely hot during the summer months and not ideal for following outdoor adventures. You will also find the best deals if you travel mid-week.

Side note: If hoping to stay on the strip as a home base for your adventures, be sure to check if there are any big events happening as this will cause the hotel prices to soar.

Las Vegas Average Temperatures (Averages from NOAA):

  • January: 59/28
  • February: 66/33
  • March: 72/39
  • April: 81/45
  • May: 90/53
  • June: 102/61
  • July: 107/67
  • August: 104/66
  • September: 96/57
  • October: 83/46
  • November: 70/35
  • December:60/27

***January-March see the most rain with an average of 2 days per month.

Where should I stay in Las Vegas?

As much as we love outdoor adventures, we also like good affordable restaurants, family friendly hotels, and the city life. For these reasons, we choose to have the best of both worlds and stay on the strip. This way we could explore during the day and return to the city at night. It’s also a great mid-way point for the adventures in this 3-day Las Vegas itinerary. With this being said, this itinerary includes staying on the strip.

We personally stayed at the Excalibur Hotel & Casino and it was a great experience for our family. (this guide is based off of staying at the Excalibur) But, other top rated strip hotels include The Bellagio, The Venitian, The Cosmopolotian, and The Mirage (if hoping to save a bit of money check out Trip Advisor for deals).

You can stay off of the strip too, but we have not had the best experience with those hotels and AirB&B’s. To me, it’s worth it to stay right on the strip.

3-Day Las Vegas Weekend Itinerary

Day 1 in Las Vegas:

Morning:

Catch an early flight (or arrive the night before via car) and head out on the road to the Hoover Dam. Be sure to check out the Visitor Center, which offers educational exhibits that explain the dam’s construction and history. Guided Power Plant Tours ($15) and Self-Guided Visitor Center Exhibit ($10) Tours are available. Guided Dam Tours ($30) The Hoover Dam Visitor Center is open daily 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The parking garage is open 8:00 a.m. – 5:15 p.m. with a $10.00 parking fee.

(Note: The Guided Dam Tour tickets CANNOT be purchased online, and are only sold on-site, in person, on a first come-first served basis.)

Afternoon:

After you finish at the Hoover Dam head over to Fremont Street. The Fremont Street Experience is a pedestrian mall and attraction in downtown Las Vegas, Nevada. This area occupies the westernmost five blocks of Fremont Street. During the day is the best time to see age-appropriate shows and entertainment for kids such as some street dancers, Spider-Man, Mickey Mouse, and other characters walking around for paid photo opps, and places to eat and shop. If your kids are adventurous, check out SlotZilla, which is a 12-story, slot machine-inspired zip line attraction down the center of Fremont Street. Our kids loved Vida Vison, the LED display “canopy,” that runs along the Fremont Street Experience promenade from Main Street to Fourth Street. Viva Vision is the largest video screen in the world.

Note: As the sun goes down there is so much more for the adult crowd – if you know what I mean. Alcohol, music, gambling, and half-naked women for paid photo ops.

Evening:

Check in to your hotel (if you haven’t already) and quickly get ready for an evening out! If you are staying at the Excalibur like we did, then tonight you will go see the Tournament of Kings (which is right there in your hotel). This show is an epic portrayal of centuries past, and it’s all in the name of honor, country, and of course, food (same as what you would know as Medieval Times).

After your show and dinner I recommend going back to your room and getting some much needed rest.

Day 2 in Las Vegas:

Morning:

Up and at ’em early today as you have a FULL day of exploring! Luckily for you, if you are staying at the Excalibur, then you will have a bunch of options for breakfast. This is one of the many reasons we have enjoyed staying at the Excalibur, plenty of options at a decent price. You can choose between, Starbucks, Johnny Rockets, Cinnabon, The Roasted Bean, Einstein Bros. Bagels, and Krispy Kreme (Note: the food court area is open 24 hours).

Make sure to have your walking shoes on today (it is ok if you want to drive, then just park at the different hotels – Note: there may be a hourly parking rate as there is little to no free parking in Las Vegas)

After breakfast in the Excalibur, walk across to the Monorail station at the MGM Grand. Get off of the monorail at the Horseshoe/Paris Station. From here you will walk across to the Bellagio. Here you will explore the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. Open 24 hours a day, the Conservatory is completely FREE to enter. It features gorgeous displays of trees, flowers, and other plants set around a seasonal theme. Some of them even move!  If you are looking for an amazing spot for photos, this is one FREE attraction in Las Vegas not to be missed.

Next walk through the exquisite luxury shops in the Bellagio as you walk over to Caesar’s Palace. As a homeschool family we were looking forward to exploring this hotel and seeing the architecture. You must see the Fall of Atlantis Show & Aquarium. The Fall of Atlantis is a kid friendly FREE 11-minute animatronic show set in the kingdom of Atlantis and tells the story of King Atlas. It runs every hour on the hour. The show features fireballs, special effects, water fountains and 9-foot statues. In addition to the show, there is a beautiful 50,000 gallon saltwater aquarium filled with over 300 fish.

Afternoon:

You’ve likely worked up an appetite at this point, so you will head over to BlackTap for lunch. Leave the Ceasar’s Palace at the Flamingo/Caesars Palace Monorail Station. Get off at the Harrah’s/The LINQ Station and walk to the Venetian Resort where you will find Black Tap for lunch. We did not make reservations when we went, we only had to wait 10-15 min for an outside table. The food was delicious. Portions are huge. The shakes are great and easily fill 2-3 people.

After lunch if you don’t need a rest break, you can go on the Gondola Rides at the Venetian. The gondolas run daily both inside and outside. Ride last 10 to 15 minutes and all of the drivers sing one or two songs. 

Next, head back to the monorail and head back to the MGM Grand Station. Now is a good time to go back to your room and freshen up and build up some energy for the evening of family fun!

Evening:

For this evening you will want to hop in your car and head down the strip to the Circus Circus Hotel & Casino Las Vegas. Circus Circus in Las Vegas has been a staple of the north end of the Strip since its opening in 1968. Circus Circus is home to the Adventuredome, an indoor theme park with thrill rides, arcade games, miniature golf and more. The Carnival Midway is located above the casino. It is the largest permanent circus location. Kids will love their free Circus Show, featuring jugglers, unicyclists, trapeze artists, acrobats and more. The 10-minute show runs every day, starting at 1:30pm Monday through Thursday and 11:30am Friday through Sunday. Entry is FREE and the circus show is FREE, but if you decide to go on any rides you can either pay for individual rides or purchase an all-day pass.

Dinner tonight is all about the kiddos and leaving your healthy eating at home. The Circus Buffet, most commonly known as the Circus Circus Buffet, is one of the most affordable buffets open on the Las Vegas Strip. Of course you can eat somewhere else, but our kids love a buffet and there are some food choices that every diet can eat.

As you drive back to your hotel – this is a great time to stop by the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas Sign. This is a great place to use a tri-pod for your family photo. Click here to see the one that we have been using recently.

Day 3 in Las Vegas:

Morning:

Another early morning for ya if you want to catch the sunrise. If not, a later start is okay too! Your last day in Vegas will be spent at the beautiful Valley of Fire State Park. Its just over one hour from the strip, but it feels like a whole different world.

If wanting to watch the sunrise, you can do so from the famous insta-worthy photo spot along Mouse’s Tank Road. There are several small pullouts along the road and then you can hike up a a higher spot. If you cannot find parking along the road, there is a larger parking lot at Rainbow Vista just a bit further down the road.

After you’ve taken all the pictures and marveled at the rising sun, head to your first hike of the day, The Fire Wave which is an easy 1.5 mile hike to amazing views!

Afternoon:

Head back to the Excalibur and park. This is when we grabbed lunch at Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant.

After you eat you will head over to the New York – New York Hotel & Casino which features a Statue of Liberty replica and plenty of fun things to do with kids, including the speedy Big Apple roller coaster, the two-story Hershey’s Chocolate World. After you finish exploring here, you will walk across the street towards the MGM Grand. Right on Las Vegas Blvd., you will find the M&M’S Las Vegas. Your kids will love the columns after columns of candy in M&M’s 16 iconic colors at this four-story chocolate haven along the Las Vegas strip. Next door you will enjoy the Coca-Cola Store. Of course you can shop and check out all the fun soda-themed gear, but you’ll want to stop by their beverage bar on the second floor for an Around the World Tray. You’ll get 16 different 4-ounce sodas from different countries around the world.Who knew there were so many variations of Coca-Cola! Share the sips and you’ve got a fun family activity, and a bit of a cultural experience, too!

There are a few other souvenir shops around also. Now would be a good time to go back to the Excalibur and enjoy the pool for a while before your last night of adventure

Evening:

Get ready for a unique dinner and nighttime experience at Area15. Area15 is home to several virtual experiences, a fun restaurant, a indoor zip line, a skyline bar, and of course the famous Meow Wolf OmegaMart.

After eating dinner at The Beast (highly recommend the BBQ Platter…it was SO much food and delish), spend the rest of your night explore the immersive art installations of Meow Wolf. This one is hard to explain and its really something you just need to experience for yourself.

Other things to do near Las Vegas:

  • The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat: Wander outside behind the Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino and you will find The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat. The Flamingo Wildlife Habitat is totally FREE, and open daily from 8am to dusk. If your schedule permits, shoot to be there for one of the two live feedings every day, at 8:30am and 2pm.
  • Bellagio Fountains: One of the most iconic attractions in Las Vegas, the Fountain Show at the Bellagio Resort & Casino is a must-see for anyone visiting the Strip. Combining music, dancing water and light, the Bellagio delivers beautiful performances daily with its majestic fountains. The show is set to everything from classical music to opera to Broadway show tunes to rock and roll, and of course plenty of Elvis and Frank Sinatra. Best of all, the show is totally FREE! Bellagio Fountain performances run every day of the year and begin at 3pm Monday through Friday, 12pm on Saturday and holidays, and 11am on Sunday.
  • The Downtown Container Park & Treehouse Playground: Swing by for lunch, shopping, or just the chance to let kids run around and play at the Downtown Container Park. This unique venue in Downtown Las Vegas is literally made from shipping containers. At the center of the Container Park is the Treehouse Playground, which includes a 33-foot slide, bridges, and an interactive NEOS play system. There are also free live concerts, family-friendly events, movie nights and holiday celebrations. Kids are allowed in the park until 9pm, daily. After 9, the park is open to adults 21+ only.
  • The Mermaid Show: If your kids are fascinated by mermaids, check out the free Mermaid Show at the Silverton Casino Hotel. Named the “Best Free Attraction in Las Vegas,” the Mermaid Show takes place in the casino’s 117,000-gallon aquarium. (There are also thousands of tropical fish swimming about, fun to watch even if mermaids don’t happen to be your thing.) You can also catch their interactive feedings every day at 1:30 and 4:30pm. The Mermaid Show is 100% free and runs several times throughout the afternoons on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
  • Enjoy Time at the Pool: This one might sound obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people overlook the sheer joy of just hanging out by the pool. Part of what makes Las Vegas resorts so great is there amazing pool areas. We love the Mandalay Bay pool because it has a lazy river, wave pool, and sandy beach. Check for pool day passes if you want to check out other pools on the strip.

Other Tips to know before visiting Las Vegas:

  • Summers are HOT HOT HOT. Check out some of my top fans that my family used in my Amazon store.
  • Be sure to check for events in Vegas before visiting in order to get the best deals on hotels on the strip (no events=much cheaper hotels)
  • I do recommend spending a bit more money on a hotel to ensure you get a clean non-sketchy room. It’s worth it in Vegas.
  • If you have more time to spend in Vegas, I would recommend checking out one of the many shows on the strip. There are shows for everyone to enjoy.
  • If traveling with your family you can see the items that we never leave home without in my Amazon store.

3-day Las Vegas Weekend Trip Itinerary Recap:

  • Day 1: Hoover Dam, Fremont Street
  • Day 2: Circus Circus
  • Day 3: Valley of Fire State Park and Meow Wolf

One Weekend In Las Vegas Isn’t Enough

As you can see, there’s SO much to do in Las Vegas that one weekend would never be enough to see it all. You can customize your 3-day Las Vegas itinerary based on what interests you. No matter what you’re looking for, you’ll find plenty of entertaining activities to create your own fun-filled, jam-packed adventure weekend in Las Vegas. Have you taken your kids to Vegas?

Discounts: Caesars Palace rewards the leadership and work of First Responders, Military and Teachers. That is why Caesars Rewards and ID.me have proudly partnered to provide year-round discounts on hotel reservations made online by these heroes who verify their identity through ID.me.

What else would you add to this “One Weekend in Las Vegas” Itinerary?

The information provided here at Kids.FolsomTimes.com reflects our own opinions, experiences, and some events and dates may be subject to change. Always verify details with the respective businesses, and please be aware that there may be affiliate codes in use. We welcome advertising and feature inquiries. Please email us at kids.folsomtimes@gmail.com for more information.