Know before you go

• Confirm the date and ticket rules on the school's commencement page: guest tickets are often limited.
• Book the celebration dinner when you book the hotel. Every restaurant in town is full that weekend.

Airport to Thomas and Mack Center

Harry Reid International (LAS) is 10 minutes from the Strip. Rideshare is about $25 to $35; taxis use zone fares.

Off the Strip; rideshare.

Public transport directions to Thomas and Mack Center

Where to stay by budget

Three hotels we would book

• Budget: The LINQ Hotel
• Mid-range: Park MGM
• Splurge: Wynn Las Vegas

Links search the nights from 7 May to 9 May. Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Day plans for the free hours

Built around the usual graduation weekend schedule for Saturday, 8 May 2027. Session times change: check the official timetable and move the blocks around.

Family-friendly picks

• Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay.
• Adventuredome at Circus Circus.
• Springs Preserve.

Evening and day-trip tours

After dark

• Rooftop bars and clubs on the Strip.
• Fremont East bars.

Ten tours worth booking for UNLV

Event weeks sell out. Book tours with free cancellation as soon as the session times are published.

Where to eat

• Lotus of Siam Northern Thai, off-Strip
• Bacchanal Buffet Caesars Palace buffet
• Raku Japanese robata in Chinatown
• In-N-Out Burger Next to the LINQ
• Eataly At Park MGM
• Esther's Kitchen Italian in the Arts District

Reserve dinner for the nights around the event: restaurants near the venue fill up days ahead.

Rainy-day backups

• Neon Museum.
• Mob Museum.
• AREA15 and Meow Wolf.

Getting around on event days

• The Monorail runs along the east side of the Strip; the Deuce bus runs 24 hours.
• Walking the Strip takes longer than it looks: resorts are huge.

Day trips from Las Vegas

• Hoover Dam: 45 minutes
• Red Rock Canyon: 30 minutes
• Grand Canyon West: 2.5 hours

Questions people ask

When is UNLV Commencement 2027?

The next edition is Saturday, 8 May 2027, following the usual pattern. The organiser has not confirmed it yet.

How do I get from the airport to Thomas and Mack Center?

Harry Reid International (LAS) is 10 minutes from the Strip. Rideshare is about $25 to $35; taxis use zone fares. Off the Strip; rideshare.

Where should I stay for UNLV Commencement?

For most visitors the best base is Center Strip (Flamingo Road): Walk to most venues, many resort fees.

What else can we do around UNLV Commencement?

Good short outings in Las Vegas include Grand Canyon helicopter flight, Hoover Dam tour, Red Rock Canyon hike or e-bike. See the day plans on this page for a full schedule.

What is there for kids and families near UNLV Commencement?

Family-friendly picks: Grand Canyon West with Skywalk, Hoover Dam tour, Red Rock Canyon hike or e-bike. Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay.

How far is Thomas and Mack Center from Las Vegas centre?

About 3 km in a straight line. Off the Strip; rideshare.

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