I was wondering out loud on social media the other day – should you take your kids to Vegas? Bam – my Instagram feed blew up! So…is taking kids to Vegas worth the gamble? Let’s find out.
I had no idea how polarizing this topic would be. I’ve only been to Vegas once, with Charles, no kids. We aren’t big partiers or gamblers (I spent a whopping $20 on gambling over three days), and filled our days and nights with pool time, a show (which I fell asleep during lol), and discovering some incredible restaurants. It was a good time.
It’s been 10 years since we went to Vegas, and from the research I’ve done, a lot has changed. On one side, there are now far more activities for kids (keep reading, I made a list). On the other side, it isn’t called Sin City for no reason.
Should You Really Take Your Kids to Vegas?
I sifted through hundreds of comments in my Instagram DMs on this topic and thought this was the easiest way to share them with you. Since we haven’t actually taken our kids to Vegas, I thought I would share feedback from our Instagram family who weighed in. There was no grey in the responses: people either gave glowing reviews or thought it was the worst idea ever!
Yes, You Can Take Kids to Vegas!
“The shows. The food. The sounds. The lights. So much! Can’t wait to take her back!”
“My friend just took her 10 year old and had an amazing time. Her daughter loved it”
“Super fun, lots for kids to look at! M&M’s store, all the free shows: just lots of walking!”
“I brought my kids best trip so much to see and do”
Don’t do Vegas with Kids
“Absolutely NOT!! Disneyland is for kids… Vegas is for adults…leave them at home!”
“Never in a million years”
“We went with kids and definitely would not go again, it was not a good experience”
The results were completely divided when I asked our audience. Half of people said yes, it’s amazing for kids, and the other half said that it isn’t a good idea. Helpful? Not really, hey?
Then there were comments like this one that resonated with me, more of a yes, but be smart about it:
“Lots of drunk people, just research on where to stay and things to do and where to stay away from”
“Nice pools, amazing food. But don’t walk the strip at night with kiddos”
Top 26 Things to do with Kids in Vegas
While I’m still on the fence, I think that you probably could do Vegas with kids if you plan it carefully and are very mindful of the environment you’re in. There are a lot of colourful things that happen in Vegas, and you can’t unsee something. I thought it would be helpful to create a list of the top 25 things, based on hundreds of comments from people who have been there, to help guide you if you decide to go to Vegas with kids.
- MGM Grand: the pool is apparently amazing
- Blue Man Group
- Shark Reef Aquarium
- Circus Circus arcade
- M&M’s Store
- See a concert
- Big Ferris Wheel
- Cirque de Soleil show (Ka or O came recommended)
- Zipline on Bourbon Street
- World’s largest chocolate fountain at Bellagio
- Postcards From Earth
- Fake beach at the Mandalay
- Indoor amusement park
- Magic show: Mat Franco
- Roller Coaster at New York, New York
- Escape room
- Race cars
- Top Golf (for the golf fans)
- Hockey game
- Tahiti Village
- Mirage volcano
- Take pics at the iconic Las Vegas sign
- Fountain show outside the Bellagio
- Freemont street light show (6-8 min, top of every evening hour)
- Dinner at the revolving restaurant in the Stratosphere
- JABBAWOCKEEZ dance show
Where to Stay with Kids in Vegas
A lot of hotels allow smoking inside, so be sure to choose a non-smoking hotel for the little ones. Many people also called out to avoid casino hotels in order to avoid walking through the scene with the kids. Here were the hotels that were most commonly recommended to stay at with kids:
- Park MGM
- The Luxor
- Mandalay Bay
- Tahiti Village
Side Trips from Vegas
There are very cool side trips from Vegas. Many recommended 2-3 nights in Vegas and then renting a car and checking out these other place for a change of pace and stunning scenery. Make sure you book reservations ahead.
- Hoover Dam (46 minute drive): Considered one of the USA’s greatest engineering achievements, and is the most-visited dam in the world!
- Red Rock Canyon (25 minute drive): Great place for a spectacular hike to view the rock formations. There is an amphitheatre there where concerts are often performed under the stars (wouldn’t that be magical!?).
- Grand Canyon (5 hour drive): take a helicopter tour or stay at the South rim which has the most to do.
Top Advice for Taking Kids to Vegas
- Call ahead and make sure the hotel pool is open: many are not in the winter (October – March)
- Don’t stay out late and above all, avoid the strip at night at all costs
- It’s a lot of walking: plan accordingly. Consider renting or bringing a stroller if your kids are younger
- You can do it…but you’ve got to plan!
- Flights are cheap, but everything is so expensive once you get there!
- Costco has a Go City pass for attractions if you want to save money
What do you think? Have you taken your kids to Vegas? Would you take your kids to Vegas? Comment away below, including any extra tips for things I missed!
Good afternoon
Well our kids are adults now however we used to stay at Las Vegas when they were young, it was a stopover on our drive to Disneyland but I did not like it at all! We would walk on the strip to go find a restaurant and they would be throwing the naked lady cards in all our faces, it was disgusting! I would say there is so many other Beautiful Places to travel with children that a trip to Las Vegas isn’t necessary . I guess if you were not staying near the strip and you rented a car to see the outdoor nature sites maybe? Really think it through🩵
The cards are a thing of the past now. Haven’t been doing that for a few years%
Hey!
I lived in Vegas and took my kids down to the strip for loads of different things. There’s so much to do on and off strip as a family.
The mirage volcano isn’t there any more (they’re tearing the hotel down to rebuild).
Mystere is a great cirque for kids – it’s cheap and my young boys loved it.
The Avators baseball in Summerlin is an awesome day out.
Rock Rock hotel off strip is amazing, the pools are great, they have amazing restaurants and a movie theater and bowling.
If you don’t want to splash out for Golden Knights hockey games, the Silver Knights are the level down and are in Henderson but they are great games.
Red Rock National Park is worth going to, you can drive through and stop for lots of different walks.
Mount Charleston is only 45 minutes away and in the winter you can ski and summer you can escape the heat to go hiking.. plus it’s gorgeous!
Hoover Dam is cool for kids. Also kayaking Willow Beach is super worth it too.
The list is never ending!
Don’t skip on taking your kids.. it’s so fun!
Don’t forget Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart. That place is just so fun!
Yes Tahiti village all the way !!
There is a massive indoor water slide near by also u didn’t mention the coke store
Tasting all the cokes samples from around the world
We also waded in the narrows at mount Zion
Amazing
Lots of great outside shopping and restaurants at the open square by Tahiti village and chic fil a there too .
💯do it !!
We flew into Vegas last year to get to Lake Havasu. I wanted to take the kids in to Vegas but really it’s so busy I was scared we’d lose them ha
Take them! We JUST were there this weekend with our ten-year old twins and had a blast. We were able to see a couple concerts, and were always home by 10/11pm. A little extra planning traveling with littles, but so worth it. The fountains, show at the Wynn on the Lake of Dreams, Area 15 (although we didn’t make it there, it was recommended by several people), and the Sundry Food Hall for a cool eating experience off the strip.
Hi Kim! Thanks so much for sharing! I’m happy you all had a blast. Thanks for the recommendations! xo Tori
I want to take am daughter who will be 13 next year is this a good place to go
Next time you guys go you should totally check out Area 15!
Ohhhh! Interesting! Do you think kids would enjoy?!?!
The world is full of incredible sights. Save Vegas for when they are a little older.
Don’t know if you are smokers, but Vegas is. You are allowed to smoke indoors on Casino floors (aka the main floor of every hotel) and your clothes, luggage and family will reek of it. Nothing is as jarring as that. Even when you come home the smell lingers. That paired with people day drunk and partying no matter the time I’d look into another destination for a family vacation with kids.
You do what you feel is good for the family. We all have opinions, personally no maybe when they are older. Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam are a must if you go. The drive is long but so worth it.
We used to take our kids to Vegas every summer on our way to San Diego. They loved it, we loved it, we all had a ball. We bought a house in Vegas, by then the kids were old enough to go themselves. They brought their friends, girlfriends, boyfriends and now it’s a yearly trip or two. The shops, shows, restaurants, weather! It might not be for everyone but we made it work.
This is such a thoughtful and informative post! I love how you’ve laid out both the pros and cons of taking kids to Las Vegas. It’s great to see that you’re highlighting the many family-friendly activities in the city, like the shark reef at Mandalay Bay and the Discovery Children’s Museum.
As a local, I can also recommend the Springs Preserve—it’s a wonderful place for kids to learn about nature, history, and sustainability, and it’s a refreshing break from the usual hustle and bustle of the Strip.
Thanks for sharing such a balanced perspective—it’s really helpful for families considering a Vegas trip!