Where is Las Vegas, NV?

Written and fact-checked by | Last Updated: January 07, 2025, 11:55 AM ET

The given Las Vegas location map shows that Las Vegas is located in the south-west of the United States and in the south of the state Nevada.

Location Map of Las Vegas

Where is Las Vegas?

Las Vegas, is the 28th-most populous city in the United States, seat of Clark county, located in the southeastern Nevada. Interestingly, Las Vegas is recognized as "The Entertainment Capital of the World" because it is an international major resort for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. Furthermore, due to city's tolerance for diverse forms of adult entertainment given the title of Sin City, and this image has made Las Vegas a popular setting for films and television programs. Above all, the most parts of the city have been adorned with various outdoor lighting displays on Fremont Street, as well as elsewhere in the city.

The city is established in the year 1905; however, it became a city in the year 1911 and since this time, the city has experienced manifold growth. Surprisingly, the name Las Vegas is often applied to unincorporated areas surrounding the city, more specifically the resort areas on and near the Las Vegas Strip.

Las Vegas, Nevada Quick Facts

FactDetails
CityLas Vegas
CountyClark County
StateNevada
State CapitalCarson City
US RegionWest
Latitude36.1699° N
Longitude115.1398° W
Elevation2,001 ft (610 m)
Land Area141.8 sq mi
Water Area0.2 sq mi
Total Area142.0 sq mi
Population (2020 Census)641,903
Population DensityApproximately 4,527 per sq mi
ZIP Codes88901, 88905, 88915, 89101, 89102, 89103, 89104, 89106, 89107, 89108, 89109, 89110, 89113, 89115, 89117, 89118, 89119, 89120, 89121, 89122, 89123, 89124, 89128, 89129, 89130, 89131, 89134, 89135, 89138, 89139, 89141, 89142, 89143, 89144, 89145, 89146, 89147, 89148, 89149, 89156, 89161, 89166, 89169, 89178, 89179
Area Code702, 725
Time Zone StandardPacific Standard Time (PST, UTC-8)
Time Zone DaylightPacific Daylight Time (PDT, UTC-7)
CurrencyUS Dollar (USD)
FIPS Code32-40000
Congressional DistrictNevada 1st Congressional District

Top Places to See in Las Vegas

Bellagio Hotel and CasinoFremont Street ExperienceSahara Las VegasEl Cortez Hotel and Casino
Las Vegas StripFountains of BellagioShark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay BayGold & Silver Pawn Shop
MGM GrandThe Neon MuseumThe Mob MuseumZak Bagans' The Haunted Museum
The STRAT Hotel, Casino & SkyPodFremont StreetSprings PreserveThe D Casino & Hotel
Luxor Hotel & CasinoThe Adventuredome Indoor Theme ParkDiscovery Children's MuseumPalace Station Hotel and Casino
Red Rock Canyon NationalGolden Nugget Las Vegas HotelFour QueensNevada State Museum, Las Vegas
The MirageTreasure IslandSlotZilla ZiplineLas Vegas Mini Grand Prix Family
New York-New York Hotel & CasinoSkyJump Powered by MTN DewPlaza Hotel & CasinoRed Rock Canyon Visitor Center

Location and Surroundings

Las Vegas is located in Clark County in southern Nevada within the Mojave Desert. It lies about 270 miles northeast of Los Angeles and is surrounded by mountain ranges and desert landscapes. The city is internationally known for entertainment, tourism, gaming, conventions, and luxury resorts.

Nearby Cities to Las Vegas, Nevada

  • North Las Vegas, Nevada - 5 mi North
  • Paradise, Nevada - 4 mi Southeast
  • Winchester, Nevada - 3 mi East
  • Spring Valley, Nevada - 7 mi West
  • Sunrise Manor, Nevada - 8 mi East
  • Enterprise, Nevada - 10 mi South
  • Henderson, Nevada - 16 mi Southeast
  • Boulder City, Nevada - 26 mi Southeast
  • Mesquite, Nevada - 80 mi Northeast
  • Pahrump, Nevada - 62 mi West

Las Vegas, Nevada Climate and Weather Overview

MonthAvg High (°F)Avg Low (°F)Avg Rainfall (in)
January58390.5
April80560.2
July104810.4
October82590.3
Annual81594.2
Climate AttributeDetails
Climate Classification (Köppen)Hot Desert (BWh)
Annual RainfallAbout 4.2 inches
Annual Sunshine DaysApproximately 294 days
Hurricane/Tornado RiskVery low hurricane and tornado risk
SnowfallRare, less than 1 inch annually

Driving Distances from Las Vegas, Nevada

CityStateDistance (mi)Approx. Drive Time
ParadiseNevada410 min
North Las VegasNevada510 min
Spring ValleyNevada715 min
Sunrise ManorNevada815 min
EnterpriseNevada1020 min
HendersonNevada1625 min
Boulder CityNevada2635 min
PahrumpNevada621 hr 10 min
MesquiteNevada801 hr 20 min
KingmanArizona1071 hr 45 min

Transportation and Connectivity in Las Vegas, Nevada

CategoryDetails
Airport NameHarry Reid International Airport
IATA CodeLAS
PortNot Applicable
Major HighwaysI-15, I-11, US 93, US 95, SR 160
Train/Amtrak ServiceNo direct Amtrak service; connections available via regional bus links
Local Bus/Transit ServiceRTC Southern Nevada Bus System
  • Interstate 15 - Connects Las Vegas with Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, and Southern California.
  • Interstate 11 - Links Las Vegas with Henderson and the Phoenix corridor.
  • US Highway 95 - Major north-south route serving Nevada communities.
  • US Highway 93 - Connects the city with Arizona and northern Nevada.
  • State Route 160 - Provides access to Pahrump and western desert communities.

Key Landmarks and Places to Visit in Las Vegas, Nevada

Landmark NameType
Las Vegas StripEntertainment District
Fremont Street ExperienceEntertainment Attraction
Bellagio FountainsLandmark Attraction
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation AreaNatural Attraction
The Neon MuseumMuseum
Mob MuseumMuseum
High Roller Observation WheelObservation Attraction
Hoover DamHistoric Landmark
AREA15Entertainment Complex
Shark Reef AquariumAquarium

Waterbodies in Las Vegas, Nevada

Lake Mead, Colorado River, Las Vegas Wash, Lake Las Vegas, Boulder Basin, Callville Bay, Black Canyon Reservoir Area, Virgin River, Muddy River, Government Wash

Golf Courses in Las Vegas, Nevada

Shadow Creek Golf Course, TPC Summerlin, Bali Hai Golf Club, Las Vegas Paiute Golf Resort, Angel Park Golf Club, Rio Secco Golf Club, Bear's Best Las Vegas, Reflection Bay Golf Club, Desert Pines Golf Club, Wynn Golf Club

Economy and Major Employers in Las Vegas, Nevada

SectorMajor Employer or IndustryNotes
TourismResort and Casino IndustryPrimary driver of the local economy.
HospitalityMGM Resorts InternationalMajor employer in entertainment and lodging.
HospitalityCaesars EntertainmentOperates numerous resorts and casinos.
HealthcareUniversity Medical CenterLeading regional healthcare provider.
GovernmentClark County and City AgenciesMajor public-sector employers.
TransportationHarry Reid International Airport OperationsSupports aviation and logistics employment.
TechnologyTechnology and Data Center FirmsGrowing diversification sector.
Convention ServicesLas Vegas Convention IndustryHosts major international events and trade shows.

Colleges and Universities in Las Vegas, Nevada

Institution NameTypeLevelNotable For
University of Nevada, Las VegasPublicUniversityResearch, hospitality, and business programs
College of Southern NevadaPublicCommunity CollegeCareer and workforce education
Nevada State UniversityPublicUniversityGrowing public higher education institution
Touro University NevadaPrivateUniversityHealthcare and medical education
Roseman University of Health SciencesPrivateUniversityPharmacy and health sciences programs
DeVry University - Las VegasPrivateUniversityTechnology and business education

Las Vegas, Nevada - Key Historical Facts

  • Las Vegas was founded in 1905 as a railroad town in the Mojave Desert.
  • The construction of Hoover Dam during the 1930s brought workers and economic growth to the region.
  • Nevada legalized gambling in 1931, helping establish Las Vegas as a gaming destination.
  • The development of large casino resorts transformed the city into a global tourism center after World War II.
  • Las Vegas became one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States during the late twentieth century.
  • Today, the city is recognized worldwide for entertainment, conventions, hospitality, and tourism.

Sources

Last Updated: Nov 7, 2020