Where to Stay, How to Get Around, and What to Do in Las Vegas When You’re Under 21

Las Vegas is an adult wonderland, but if you’re under 21, it can be hard to navigate. Luckily, there’s plenty to do even when you’re not of legal drinking and gambling age—it just takes a bit more digging to find it. With this nifty guide, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you.

Before EDC Las Vegas 2017 takes over Las Vegas next week, read our tips on where to stay, how to get around, and what to do when you’re under 21 in Sin City.

WHERE TO STAY

Let’s start with the basics: hotels and transportation. Most hotels on the Strip require any group checking in to have at least one person who’s over 21. If your group is all underage, there are some hotels off the Strip that have you covered. As a general rule, if it doesn’t have a casino inside, or if it’s part of a ubiquitous chain brand, then you’re probably not going to have any problems.

If you haven’t yet booked your hotel, we’ve gathered a preliminary list of places that allow 18-and-over bookings below. If you book elsewhere, make sure to call the hotel in advance and ask about their age policy.

Near the Las Vegas Festival Grounds EDC Shuttle Stop:

Westgate Las Vegas (0.9 miles)
Las Vegas Marriott (1.2 miles)
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Las Vegas Convention Center (0.7 miles)

Near the LINQ EDC Shuttle Stop:
Residence Inn Las Vegas Hughes Center (1.2 miles)

Near the MGM Grand EDC Shuttle Stop:
Hyatt Place Las Vegas (1.4 miles)
Best Western McCarran Inn (2.5 miles)

Near the Las Vegas Village EDC Shuttle Stop:
TravelLodge Las Vegas Airport North (0.7 miles)

Near the Mandalay Bay EDC Shuttle Stop:
DoubleTree Las Vegas Airport (3.9 miles)

Airbnb is also a great alternative to traditional hotels, and there are spaces available near all the shuttle stops. Try near the Las Vegas Festival Grounds or the Downtown stop at 902 E. Fremont St. for the cheapest deals.

HOW TO GET AROUND

While the EDC shuttles are the most convenient way to get to and from the festival, they can’t get you around the city. When you’re under 21—and in many cases, under 25—renting a car can get wildly expensive due to an extra “young driver” fee that companies tend to add to your overall rental fee. Luckily, there are a few ways to get around said extra charge.

If you or someone you’re with is a USAA member, you can get the “young driver” fee waived for Budget, AVIS, Enterprise, and Hertz rentals, plus a sweet discount to boot. AAA has a similar program with Hertz, which will waive the “young driver” fee if you book through them using your AAA membership. If you’re a college student, you can register for a membership with Zipcar through their university portal, which allows drivers over 18 to book.

If none of those options are feasible, there’s always Uber and Lyft to get around. We recommend staying in a hotel on or very close to the Strip, as well as close to a shuttle stop, to avoid exorbitant surge fees.

WHAT TO DO

Whether you’re staying on the Strip or far from it, come to Vegas a few days before EDC and take some time to wander the famous Las Vegas Boulevard. The people-watching there is the best you’ll get in the States, if not the world, and the antics of hundreds of thousands of open-container-toting adults are something you can’t see anywhere else. (A side note: Those open container laws might tempt you to fill that reusable water bottle with something a little harder, but trust us: It’s no fun getting a minor-in-possession charge from a cop who’s been catching underage drinkers on the Strip their entire career. Ditto for trying to sneak in a game of blackjack.)

Spend the hottest hours of the day wandering some of Vegas’ wacky museums, including the Mob Museum and the Neon Museum, or head downtown to the 18b Arts District, the so-called “heart of art and culture in Southern Nevada.” Downtown is also home to Container Park, where you’ll find the Dome, a 360-degree theater where you can watch trippy visuals to the tunes of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. Just make sure you arrive before 9pm, when Container Park’s nightly 21+ rule kicks in.

And don’t forget about EDC Week 2017, our weeklong celebration taking over all the best clubs and venues in Las Vegas from Monday, June 12, through Monday, June 19. The Bassrush and Basscon crews are hosting two very special shows for our 18+ Headliners. Hardstyle-loving fans can cool off from the hot desert sun at the Basscon Pool Party at the Stratosphere Pool at Stratosphere Las Vegas Thursday, June 15, with Audiofreq, Code Black, Da Tweekaz, DJ Isaac, Gammer, TNT and Wasted Penguinz. The hype continues later that night at the annual Bassrush Massive, which takes over the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, with performances from Andy C, Datsik, Ed Rush & Optical, Flux Pavilion, Kai Wachi, Riot and Zomboy.

EDC Las Vegas 2017 takes place Friday, June 16, through Sunday, June 18, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. For more information, visit the official website.

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