LAS Las Vegas McCarran International Airport Ridesharing Guide (Uber & Lyft)
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I was there on the first day that ridesharing was allowed at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. Lyft was the only company approved at the time and it took five minutes of back and forth with my driver just to find the designated pickup spot. Since then it has gotten much busier and the spot they had designated simply wasn’t working. With that in mind our Las Vegas McCarran International Airport ridesharing guide is here to help so you can know where to go and when to request your ride!
Terminal 1 LAS Ridesharing Pickup
In September, 2019 LAS McCarran International Airport improved the location of Uber & Lyft pickups at the airport. Before that time pickups were on the “2M” level which required an elevator ride or using the stairs after crossing the bridge into the garage. As of September, 2019 the Uber & Lyft pickup area is directly across the bridge from the terminal on the 2nd level. (The same level as the pedestrian bridge). This means that Uber and Lyft passengers no longer need to wait for an elevator (the waits could get long) or maneuver their luggage up or downstairs. This is a huge improvement.
To access Uber and Lyft pickup at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport Terminal 1 simply head across the pedestrian bridge from the terminal and turn right. You no longer need to go to level 2M. This is a much improved experience.
Terminal 3 LAS Ridesharing Pickup
The location for Uber and Lyft at Terminal 3 has remained constant and has not moved for several years. It is located on the Valet level of the parking garage all the way to the “West” or left side as you face the garage. You will need to go down to the “V” level from the bridge access, although Terminal 3 is much less busy than Terminal 1.
As you can see below, McCarran’s Terminal 3 has three separate pedestrian bridges. If you use anything other than the “West” bridge then you will need to walk to that area once you reach the Valet level. Hopefully with the movement of the pickup area in Terminal 1, they’ll find a better spot for Uber or Lyft pickup in Terminal 3 as well.
Ridesharing (Uber & Lyft) Tips for McCarran International Airport
When it comes to ridesharing with Uber & Lyft at McCarran International Airport there are a few things to keep in mind. First, we’ll talk about which pickup area to use and second I’ll give you suggestions on when to call your Uber/Lyft after landing.
Which McCarran Uber & Lyft Pickup Should You Use?
If you arrive at the “D” Gates in Terminal 1 consider using Terminal 3 for your Uber/Lyft pickup. While the Terminal 3 pickup area is a bit harder to get to, it is A LOT less busy. From the “D” Gates you either need to take the Blue Line train to Terminal 1 or the Red Line train to Terminal 3. If you have not checked baggage the journey to Terminal 3 is shorter and like I said the crowds are significantly less.
If you haven’t checked a bag, here is how I suggest choosing the terminal for your Uber or Lyft pickup at McCarran:
- “D” or “E” Gates – Terminal 3 pickup. From “E” Gates simply walk outside and from “D” Gates take the Red Line tram.
- “A”, “B”, “C” Gates – Terminal 1 pickup. See below for when to call your Uber or Lyft to time it right!
When to Call Your Uber or Lyft from Each Terminal at LAS Airport
Uber and Lyft drivers currently hold in a waiting area about 5 minutes or so from the pickup area at the airport. Because of this it can be advantageous to call them ahead of time, but I urge you not to do this too soon. You may incur a charge for making them wait and it isn’t cool either.
If I am not waiting on checked luggage, I have had great success timing my Uber/Lyft requests so I arrive right when the car does. Here is where I recommend calling Uber/Lyft depending on where you land:
- A & B Gates (Terminal 1): When walking past the security area out of the terminal
- C Gates (Terminal 1): When boarding the tram to terminal 1 or if walking, when passing through security on the way out
- D Gates (Terminal 1): When boarding the Blue Line train to Terminal 1 or Red Line Train to Terminal 3
- E Gates (Terminal 3): When exiting the aircraft
All of those locations are around 3-5 minutes by foot from the Uber or Lyft pickup area at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport and should have you arriving just before the car with a little spare time built in. This ensures you aren’t waiting a long time for a car, while at the same time you aren’t making the driver wait a long time for you.
Uber & Lyft Dropoff at McCarran Airport
While getting picked up at LAS McCarran International Airport is hopefully easier now, thankfully you don’t need to worry about it when you are getting dropped off. As of now Uber & Lyft can drop off passengers at the normal drop off areas in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. Simply determine which terminal your airline operates out of and have the driver drop you off there. Simple and easy!
Bottom Line
Over the years it has become easier to find Uber and Lyft at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. With the recent relocation of the pickup area in Terminal 1, it should be much easier to get into your rideshare and to your hotel in no time. As always we’ll keep this Las Vegas McCarran International Airport ridesharing guide up to date if they make any further changes.
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Have you used Uber or Lyft at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS)? Let us know your LAS ridesharing experience in the comments!
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