Las Vegas is in the southern part of the state of Nevada, about 80km (50mi) east of the California border and 50km (30mi) west of the Arizona border. The city is divided into two main parts: a compact downtown centred on Fremont St, nicknamed Glitter Gulch, near the intersection of Highway 95 and Interstate 15; and the Strip, a corridor of hotels and casinos lining Las Vegas Blvd, parallel to but east of Interstate 15, a few kilometres south of downtown.

The casinos are divided between downtown's Fremont St and the Strip; most hotels are on or near the Strip. McCarran International Airport is located east of the southern end of the Strip, about 10km (6.5mi) from downtown. The Greyhound bus station is downtown and is located next to the Plaza Hotel and Casino.

Vegas' compact centre and devotion to the customer make getting around a breeze. It's easy to navigate your way around either on foot (if you can stand the desert heat) or in a car. Taxis are waiting for your lightest gesture; you can also jump on the cheap and efficient buses or on one of the trolleys (air-conditioned!) that chug up and down the Strip.