Is Las Vegas safe?
Safe on the Strip, which is heavily patrolled. Crime concentrates off-Strip, downtown at night and in casinos; heat and alcohol cause most real harm.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- Homicide rate in United States: 5.8 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in United States: 12.7 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
Safety in Las Vegas at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Pickpocketing and phone theft in casinos and crowds, car break-ins, and drink-related incidents. Some aggressive panhandling on the Strip and downtown. |
| At night | The Strip is busy and watched all night. Take a rideshare rather than walking between distant resorts or into downtown side streets. |
| Solo women | Fine on the Strip. Watch your drink in clubs, avoid taking ride-offers from strangers and use Uber or Lyft rather than walking late on side streets. |
| Other risks | Extreme heat: 40°C+ in Jun–Sep; Dehydration and alcohol at altitude and in dry air; Flash floods on desert roads after summer storms |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Costumed characters and street performers demanding large tips for photos
- Card handouts and 'free' show tickets that cost money later
- Unlicensed taxi or limo drivers at the airport inflating fares
- Timeshare touts offering free shows or dinners
Take care
- Downtown side streets and Fremont's east end after dark
- Leaving valuables or drinks unattended in casinos
- Walking the Strip in summer heat: dehydration is a real risk
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Drinking age is 21 everywhere; bars and shops check ID, so carry your passport.
- Open alcohol containers in public and in cars are illegal in most places.
- Cannabis is legal in some states but federally illegal; never carry it across borders or onto federal land.
How Las Vegas compares in United States
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Sedona | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Scottsdale | 5/5 · Very safe |
| New York City | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Las Vegas | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Orlando | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Honolulu | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Boston | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| San Diego | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Maui | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Nashville | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Austin | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Miami Beach | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Key West | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Denver | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Portland | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| San Antonio | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Charleston | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Savannah | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Fort Lauderdale | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kauai | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Big Island | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Los Angeles | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Miami | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| San Francisco | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Washington, D.C. | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Chicago | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| New Orleans | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Seattle | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Philadelphia | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Atlanta | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Las Vegas safe for solo female travelers?
Fine on the Strip. Watch your drink in clubs, avoid taking ride-offers from strangers and use Uber or Lyft rather than walking late on side streets.
Is Las Vegas safe at night?
The Strip is busy and watched all night. Take a rideshare rather than walking between distant resorts or into downtown side streets.
What is the crime rate in Las Vegas?
Pickpocketing and phone theft in casinos and crowds, car break-ins, and drink-related incidents. Some aggressive panhandling on the Strip and downtown. Nationally, United States records 5.8 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Las Vegas?
Police 911 · Ambulance 911 · Fire 911 · All emergencies 911.
More about Las Vegas
Going to Las Vegas solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Las Vegas meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- RTC Southern Nevada (buses and fares)
- Harry Reid International Airport
- Las Vegas Monorail
- Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.