How To Ride The Vegas Loop (Cost, Stations & Future Routes)
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Las Vegas has been dealing with severe traffic congestion for years due to the high volume of tourist visitors. Tesla has responded to this challenge by building an underground loop system for passenger vehicles.
You can ride the Vegas Loop for free from one station to another as a conventioner via the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC). But the best way to enjoy a good Tesla tunnel ride experience is through the Resort World Station, although this would cost you some money.
This article gives you the low-down on the ambitious Vegas Loop tunnel system run by Tesla’s Boring Company. You’ll learn how much it costs to ride the loop, where it stops, and the future expansion plans for the project. Read to the end to get answers to some frequently asked questions about the Las Vegas Loop!
What is The Vegas Loop?
The Vegas Loop is an innovative and futuristic method of transportation that transports people via underground tunnels that have been bored out beneath the city. The system uses Tesla electric vehicles, which are luxurious to ride in, produce no exhaust, and are very quiet.
The ultimate idea is to have each of these vehicles be completely autonomous, meaning that they would be self-driving and no driver would need to be behind the wheel. For now, however, each vehicle is driven by an actual human driver.
As of now, the Vegas Loop route is relatively small and only covers the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) and Resorts World. However, now that the proof of concept system has been proven to work, many casinos and properties around the Las Vegas Strip and downtown are clamoring to have their own routes added. Expansion plans are well underway.
Steps to Riding The Vegas Loop
Riding on the Vegas Loop is quite simple.
First, you’ll enter one of the Loop stations. Some of the stations are above ground, while others are below ground.
Wait in a short line, if necessary, and hop into a car when it arrives. (We’ve used the loop tunnels on several occasions now during large conferences at the convention center and never encountered much of a line.)
Your car will then enter the tunnel. Sit back and relax. You’ll be at your destination in just a few minutes. That’s about all there is to it.
How Much Does It Cost To Ride the Vegas Loop?
Your first Tesla ride experience could come at no cost if you are a conventioner. Navigating through the Las Vegas Convention Center is free. However, riding via the Resort World expansion for a day will cost you $4.50, while one ride will cost $1.50.
So, basically, if you’re riding from one side of the Vegas Convention Center to the other, it is free to ride the Loop. This is because the LVCC sponsored the cost of the system’s construction. It’s only if you want to come and go from Resorts World that you will have to pay a small amount due to the resort property paying for the construction of this particular route.
The Loop even has projected prices for tentatively planned extensions.
Projected Loop Prices For Potential Future Expansion
The Boring Company’s website provides sample price information on the possible Vegas Loop routes:
- The five-minute, 4.9-mile ride from Harry Reid International Airport to and from the Las Vegas Convention Center would cost $10.
- The four-minute, 3.6-mile trip from Allegiant Stadium to the Las Vegas Convention Center will cost $6
- Riding from Downtown Las Vegas to and from the Las Vegas Convention, a three-minute trip, is projected to cost $5.
Note: In July, CNN reported that Boring would join the list of Musk’s companies accepting Dogecoin as payment.
Vegas Loop Stops
The Las Vegas Loop currently has two routes:
- The Las Vegas Conference Center (LVCC Loop)
- The Resort World Loop
Tesla Boring Tunnels have been open to all from the start of the project at the LVCC and, lately, the Resort World. There are currently four stops at the Vegas Loop: three on the LVCC loop and one at the Resort World Loop.
The Las Vegas Convention Center Loop
The Las Vegas Convention Center Loop is the most used of the Tesla Loop project. These tunnels move people across the convention center faster, reducing a forty-five-minute walk across the giant property to a two or three-minute loop trip.
However, without your LVCC official attendee ticket, you won’t be allowed to stop at any LVCC stations. You must prove you’re a registered conventioner to get full access to the free rides through the stations.
Right now, riding in the LVCC loop is only possible during conventions, but that will change as the project develops.
Convention Center Stations at LVCC
There are three stations in the LVCC Loop, which include:
- The South Station is situated above the ground and is adjacent to the South Hall in the LVCC, which hosts events like the Las Vegas Souvenir and Resort Gift Show.
- The Central Station (Convention Center central station) is underground, and you must get to it through an escalator or elevator.
- The West Station is above the ground and is adjacent to the LVCC West Hall.
Tesla Boring tunnels started by transporting convention attendees around the Las Vegas Convention Center. But the loop system is now expanding beyond commuting conventioneers.
The Resorts World Loop
In July 2022, Resort World opened its Las Vegas Loop station, marking significant progress for the Tesla Boring project. This is an important project for the Resort World because it is the first casino to have an open tunnel station. You now have more reasons to book a stay at Resort World. The station offers direct access to the exhibition halls in LVCC.
Driving underground from the Resort World loop to the convention center saves you a tremendous amount of time. Driving from Resort World to LVCC on the loop only takes four minutes, compared to the 30 minutes it would take to walk there from the convention center.
Also, it normally takes 25 minutes to walk from West Hall to Central Hall, but you can shorten it by taking a 2-minute trip on the loop!
The Riviera Station
The Resort’s World Loop has only one stop at the Riviera Station, which is above ground. Conventioneers can hop in a Tesla at the Riviera Station (Resorts World) and be at the convention center in just a couple of minutes.
The Loop also has plans to connect the Resort World station directly to the South, Central, and West Stations of the LVCC Loop. You can access some of Tesla’s best vehicles in the Resort World Station at the North end of the Strip, like the X/Y models.
The Resort World station is easily accessible but isn’t free, unlike riding the Convention Center stations. Going to or from the Resort World and Convention Center will cost about $1.50 for a one-way trip and $4.50 for a day pass. You can even now pay with Dogecoin.
Access to the Resort World Station is usually closed when there is no convention at the LVCC. You can purchase the Resort World station tickets on their official site.
The Boring Company’s Vision and the Loop System
Elon Musk, the founder of the Boring Company, came up with the idea of an underground transport system in response to the terrible traffic problem in Las Vegas.
However, the company had to overcome tunneling challenges that made people and companies weary of using the system.
The company has made tunneling cheaper and more effective through technology. But most importantly, they’ve created very safe tunnels where electric passenger vehicles can pass through safely without any cause for alarm.
The tunnels are safe because Boring Co. builds them from non-flammable material (concrete), and there are ventilation systems and emergency exits in the tunnel as well. They’ve even been built to address issues of flooding due to the occasional Las Vegas monsoon rainstorm.
Long-Term Plans
The Boring tunnel system is relatively new, and many plans are still developing, so many changes and developments will occur within the system.
For instance, while human drivers currently operate tunnel cars, the long-term plan is to run the system with autonomous Tesla EVs or a custom-designed 16-passenger shuttle.
Also, the loop system is not operating at full speed because the constructed tunnels are short. The system has a speed potential of 155 mph (249.45 kph) but currently only uses 35 mph (56.33 kph) at most. But with longer and straighter channels, the speed will increase.
When the expansion project is complete, there will be more stops within the LVCC. The Boring Company plans to expand the four current stations in Las Vegas to 51 stops. The company has already identified the Las Vegas strip, the University of Nevada, the airport, and the Allegiant Stadium as points to build new stops.
Some of the plans have gotten approval from the city of Las Vegas and Clark County and are already underway. The Clark County commissioners have approved Boring Tunnels’ expansion plan and opened direct routes to major resorts, including Westgate and Encore. The encore tunnel will connect to the LVCC too. The network will expand to a downtown loop with several stops spread between The STRAT and the Fremont Street Experience.
Features of the Vegas Loop
The Loop is a novel transportation system that enhances the movement of people from one point to another. The Loop can significantly improve the traffic situation in Vegas, and with the promise of more stations in the future, tourism in the city has a bright future.
Here are some of the features of the Loop that make it a unique transportation system.
- Innovative Transport System: Most people liken the Loop to a subway system. The Loop is not a subway system that makes many stops on the way. In the Loop, you move directly to your destination without stopping anywhere.
- Passenger Capacity: The LVCC Loop can move an incredible number of people, with a capacity of 4,400 people per hour. The Vegas Loop even promises much more, with a potential capacity of 57,000 people per hour.
- Safety Features: The Loop has numerous safety features that should put your mind at ease. The Loop can safely serve many people with a built-in fire suppression system, flooding controls, and emergency exits.
RELATED: [Does Las Vegas Have Public Transportation?] (Article coming soon)
Vegas Loop FAQs
The loop transportation system is still relatively new, and people have many questions. Here are the most commonly asked questions about the Las Vegas Loop:
What if Cars Get Stuck in a Tunnel?
I first want to mention that this rarely happens. But, the Tesla loop drivers are trained to respond to such situations appropriately without panic. If a car stalls or blocks a tunnel for some reason, all the drivers behind that car will clear themselves out, help tow the stalled vehicle, and move everyone to safety.
Is There a Provision To Help Disabled People?
The Las Vegas loop has a good plan for everyone. With people who find it difficult to get into cars in mind, Tesla has developed a model (Model X vehicles) designed primarily to help the disabled feel comfortable in a ride.
The model X Tesla was designed to make life easier for the disabled. For example, the forward-opening falcon door makes it easy to enter and exit the car.
What Is the Average Speed of Vegas Loop Vehicles?
The average speed range of a vehicle in the Vegas Loop system is 30 mph (48.28 kph) to 40 mph (64.37 kph). Vegas loop vehicles can get you to your destination a lot faster than typical surface streets. It is not unusual to see the normal time it would take to complete a journey shortened tremendously because of using the Vegas Loop.
How Many Loop Stations Are in Las Vegas?
Currently, there are four stations in the Las Vegas territory, including the West Station, Central Station, South Station, and Riviera Station. However, there are plans to expand the Loop, and they expect to have 51 stations once the expansion is completed.
Why Are There Disco Lights in the Tunnel?
Tunnel and station operators use white lights on a normal day. But on a special day, they design and decorate the whole place with colored lights. The colorful lights enhance the Vegas Loop experience and make it a more unique and enjoyable experience for passengers.
How Do They Load Passengers Into the Tesla Vehicles on Vegas Loop?
Tesla loop vehicles run efficiently. They have a smooth and seamless way of loading passengers into the vehicle. Once a rider has entered a station, they will simply choose a short line and wait for a vehicle to arrive. Departing passengers are asked not to close the door when they exit. They leave the door open for passengers coming on to close it.
Where Should I Stand in the Las Vegas Loop Station?
First, you must understand how drivers pick up their passengers. The vegas loop uses individual slips for each car, and drivers pick the first open slip they reach. To be picked up quicker, you shouldn’t be too far down the slip in the direction you are traveling.
Are the Boring Companies Tunnels Too Tight?
You would think the tunnels are too tight when you see them in pictures, but it’s not. The tunnel is wide enough and is, in fact, wider than some roads. Riding in the tunnel is unlikely to trigger you if you are claustrophobic. It just feels like driving through a tunnel anywhere else on the road.
Keep in mind, however, that, unlike regular tunnels with two lanes or more of traffic heading in opposite directions, the loop tunnels are only wide enough for a single lane of traffic heading in the same direction. So, in a sense, this does make the tunnels seem smaller.
Conclusions
The Tesla Boring Loop project is relatively new, but it’s the best response so far to Las Vegas’s transit problems. It has effectively reduced the traffic issues at the Las Vegas Conference Center and significantly increased movement speed.
If you are attending a conference at the LVCC, trips on the Vegas Loop are free. However, you’ll have to pay to move through to the Resort World station.
The loop system offers direct access from the Resort World Loop to the LVCC with four stops. However, there are plans to expand the system to include more than 50 stations.
