"The biggest casino resort in Vegas. The biggest casino floor. The most restaurants. The most rooms. The most everything. Also the most walking."
Overall Rating
MGM Grand is the largest hotel in the United States and one of the largest in the world. 6,852 rooms. 171,500 square feet of casino floor. 20+ restaurants. 5 pools. The numbers are staggering. The scale is both the appeal and the challenge.
The appeal: the casino floor is the best in Vegas for serious gamblers who want variety and volume. The Grand Pool Complex is excellent. KÀ by Cirque du Soleil is one of the best shows in Vegas. The location — at the corner of Las Vegas Boulevard and Tropicana, directly across from New York-New York — is excellent. Direct monorail access.
The challenge: the Walk Score is genuinely poor. The distance from a room in the main tower to the Strip sidewalk can be 15–20 minutes. The casino floor is so large that navigating it requires either a map or a guide. The resort fee is high. The rooms are solid but not exceptional by current Strip standards.
MGM Grand is the right call for serious gamblers, KÀ ticket-holders, and guests who want the biggest pool complex on the south Strip. It is not the right call for guests who prioritize room quality or walking efficiency.
MGM Grand is enormous and the distance from your room to the Strip can be 15–20 minutes. The casino floor is so large that navigating it requires either a map or a willingness to wander. Budget extra time for everything.
KÀ by Cirque du Soleil at MGM Grand is one of the most technically impressive shows in Vegas history. The stage is a massive hydraulic platform that tilts, rotates, and moves vertically. Book it.
The Signature at MGM Grand is a non-gaming tower complex adjacent to the main resort. The rooms are suites with kitchenettes and a quieter atmosphere. If you want MGM Grand amenities without the casino floor chaos, the Signature is the answer.
Solid but not exceptional. The 2021 renovation updated some rooms. The main tower rooms are large and comfortable. The West Wing rooms are more modern. The Signature towers are non-gaming suites with a quieter atmosphere. Request a higher floor for the best views.
How this resort holds up in peak Vegas summer (June–September)
The MGM Grand pool complex (Wet Republic) is a summer institution but gets extremely crowded. The covered walkway to New York-New York and the Showcase Mall provides some indoor relief. The property's size means a lot of outdoor walking between towers.
MGM Grand opened December 18, 1993, on the site of the Marina Hotel and Casino and the Tropicana Country Club. At the time, it was the largest hotel in the world. The original MGM Grand had a Wizard of Oz theme that was largely removed in subsequent renovations. The resort has been expanded and renovated multiple times. The Signature at MGM Grand (three non-gaming towers) opened in 2006.
Serious gamblers. KÀ ticket-holders. Convention attendees. Guests who want the biggest pool complex on the south Strip. MGM Rewards members. The vibe is large, busy, and diverse — this is the most demographically mixed resort on the Strip.
Shared with ARIA. One of the largest nightclubs in the world. Six-floor complex with multiple rooms and a rooftop terrace. Top-tier DJ residencies.
Uber / Lyft
Rideshare — fastest option
Taxi (Metered)
Metered. MGM Grand is very close to the airport.
Shared Shuttle
Shared shuttles available ($10–$15/person). Multiple stops.
MGM Grand is the right call for serious gamblers, KÀ ticket-holders, and guests who want the biggest casino floor on the Strip. The Walk Score is the primary trade-off. If walking efficiency matters to you, look at Cosmo, Aria, or Bellagio.
Marina Hotel and Casino / Tropicana Country Club
MGM Rewards
BetMGM Sportsbook
KÀ by Cirque du Soleil, Brad Garrett's Comedy Club
MGM Grand Spa
171,500 sq ft
2021
The most technologically sophisticated resort on the Strip. The rooms are exceptional. The casino is serious. The pool is excellent. The location is slightly south of center.
The Manhattan skyline replica is the best exterior on the Strip. The interior is a labyrinth. The roller coaster is still running.
The former Monte Carlo reinvented itself as a lifestyle resort. The smoke-free casino is a genuine differentiator. Eataly is the best food hall in Vegas.