Las Vegas – a city you’ve undoubtedly heard lots about, and for good reason. Vegas is one of the most eclectic and exciting cities you’ll find in the U.S. and the world. While Vegas is most famous for its big casinos and headline shows, there is much more to do in Las Vegas than just gambling.
Plus, visiting in October is even better since most of the summer crowds would have dispersed, leaving you with ample opportunities to explore Vegas properly.
So, what can you do in Las Vegas in October? Stick around to find out.
Things to Book in Las Vegas Before You Leave Home
Few things are more frustrating on vacation than missing out on that amazing hotel or tour because it is sold out. Here are my top things to book in Anchorage before your vacation.
🎡 Most Popular Things to Do in Las Vegas:
1. Book A Show – from Cirque du Soleil to David Copperfield & more, hot Vegas shows sell out fast
2. Helicopter Ride over the Grand Canyon and Vegas Strip – my favorite tour
3. Hoover Dam Tour – be blown away by this engineering marvel
4. Skip the Line at the fantastic Mob Museum – my favourite attraction in Vegas
🛏️Where to Stay in Las Vegas
1. The Bellagio – the classic and where I stayed
2. The Venetian – Vegas at its biggest and best
3. Downtowner – hip and great value in downtown Vegas
Las Vegas Weather in October
Las Vegas lies within the larger region of the Mojave Desert, so its climate varies each month.
May to September sees high temperatures as high as 40°C (104°F). On the other hand, October brings in a wave of cooler temperatures. You can expect lows of about 21°C (69°F) and highs of 21°C (82°F).
There’s also very little chance of rainfall in October, so you don’t have to worry too much about bad weather.
What to Pack for Las Vegas in October
Weather conditions can fluctuate in Las Vegas during October, so here are a few things you should carry along with you:
- Casual outfits: Vegas is all about the glitz and glam, but the reality is you won’t need to dress up everywhere you go. So please keep it simple with a few casual items like jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers for everyday outings.
- Evening wear: After a day of sightseeing, you might be heading to a fancy restaurant or show that will require you to dress up a bit. You can keep it stress-free by packing in an evening dress, a fancy blouse, and a shirt and pants for gents.
- Light Jacket: As evening settles in, temperatures drop, so it’s best to carry a light jacket to avoid a chill.
- Walking shoes: Sightseeing usually involves a lot of walking. So, I highly recommend packing in a pair of walking shoes with good foot support to power you through the day.
- Crossbody Bag: Walking around with a large backpack is not always practical or comfortable for exploring. In that case, bringing a lightweight crossbody bag for all your essentials might be better.
- Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses: While October is much cooler than the summer months, during this time, Las Vegas is still much warmer than many cities. And, the sun is quite harsh. So don’t forget to protect yourself by packing all the necessary sun protection.
Top Things to Do in Las Vegas in October
Now that we’ve covered the basics let’s get into the fun bit. Here are a few activities that you can look forward to in October:
1. Attend a Major Sporting Event
Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay
Las Vegas is home to various sports teams and hosts multiple teams and individual sporting events throughout the year.
It’s the home of the Las Vegas Lights, a professional soccer team in the U.S.L. Championship, who play their home games at the Cashman Complex. Their seasons extend into October, so if you’re into soccer (or football), you can catch one of their games.
Other sporting events in October include the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Cup Series, and the P.B.R. Bull Riding Team Series. If any of these events pique your interest, then be sure to attend.
Dates: Various throughout October
2. Check Out the Las Vegas Oktoberfest
Image by Brett Sayles on Pexels
If there is one event that Germany is famous for, it’s got to be the epic Oktoberfest. So much so that this beer-loving event is held in other parts of the world, too – including Las Vegas.
This two-week festival usually begins at the end of September or early October. Various restaurants and pubs across Las Vegas celebrate this German festival, some putting their own spin on it.
More than 20 different types of beer are on display, with some even flown in from Germany. You can pair this along with some other German classics like schnitzel or badenwurst.
Dates: To be announced
3. Enjoy a Ride on the High Roller at the LINQ
Image by Tim Trad on Unsplash
Now Vegas is a pretty cool place to see when you’re on the ground. But what if I told you there’s a better way to see it? Through the air, of course. And, no, I don’t mean seeing it in the air via a helicopter or private plane ride, which will cost you an arm and a leg.
I’m talking about a ride on the High Roller Ferris Wheel, which sits along the iconic Las Vegas Strip Boulevard.
Standing at 167.6 m (550 feet) tall and 158.5 m (520 feet) wide, it is the second largest ferris wheel in the world, after the Ain Dubai. That’s right; it is even bigger and taller than the London Eye and Singapore Flyer.
From that height, you can see Las Vegas in all its greatness with clear, 360 degrees views of the city. Ticket prices start at around $28, making it a much more affordable sightseeing experience from the air.
There’s also the S.T.E.M. guided tour where you and the kids (if you have them) can learn more about its history, the technology used to build it and its architectural design.
➡️ Book your High Roller Tickets
4. Hangout in Area15
If a unique and adventurous experience is what you’re after, then you’ll find it at super fun Area15. This massive entertainment zone offers everything from multi-sensory concerts to virtual reality events and art installations.
Once you enter, you’ll feel like you’re transported into a different world with the alternate universe theme and neon lights hitting you right away.
5. Admire the Seven Magic Mountains
If you’ve searched for things to do in Las Vegas, one attraction that would likely have popped up is the colorful Seven Magic Mountains. Sitting 10 miles south of Las Vegas, the Seven Magic Mountains is a public art display of seven brightly colored stacked limestone boulders.
When the exhibition opened in 2016, it was only supposed to be on display for two years. Due to its popularity, it was made a permanent exhibition, which is great because now you might get to see it on your trip to Vegas.
The Seven Magic Mountains’ location outside of the city means that it’s one of the first things you’ll see when entering Vegas or the last thing you’ll see when leaving.
Read more about Las Vegas:
Fun Things to do in Vegas that aren’t Gambling
Interesting Facts about Las Vegas
Things to do in Vegas in January
Things to do in Vegas in May
Things to do in Vegas in June
Things to do in Vegas in August
Things to do in Vegas in September
Things to do in Vegas in November
Pumpkin Patches in Las Vegas
Things to do in Vegas in December
6. Pay the Neon Museum a Visit
The Neon Museum is the perfect place to visit for all things bright and light themes. Built in the 1930s, it became a graveyard where many casinos, hotels and restaurants would go to discard their used neon signs. Now, it’s an open-air museum that houses over 200 neon signs and other artifacts.
Most of the items have been saved from ruin and given new life. Many of these also provide a glimpse of Vegas’ past and how it became the glitzy and glam spot it is today.
Since this is an outdoor venue, October is the perfect time to visit the Neon Museum, as temperatures would have cooled by then. The Neon Museum is filled with gems, making it the ideal place for some highly Instagrammable pictures.
So if you’re looking to spice up your Instagram feed with some inspiring travel photos, the Neon Museum is the place to do so. There’s also a Hard Rock Cafe, with its flashy neon light sign, where you can head to after exploring for something to eat or drink.
7. Experience the Fountains of Bellagio Show
Image by Michelle Raponi from Pixabay
Can you say that you’ve been to Vegas without visiting the Fountains of Bellagio? One of its most iconic attractions? Well, you could, but there’s no fun in that. The Fountains of Bellagio sit along the Las Vegas Strip outside the Bellagio Hotel and Casino.
Every day after midday, the musical fountain show takes place every half an hour when 1214 water nozzles and 4792 lights put together a perfectly synchronized performance to music.
This is the second largest fountain show in the world, after the Dubai Fountain. What makes this one so popular is the fact that it’s free. As you can imagine, getting a good view in the busy tourist months is hard when everyone flocks to them.
So, October is the perfect month to visit, as you won’t have to fight your way through crowds to get a good view of the Fountains of Bellagio.
8. Hang Around in the Downtown Arts District
Many travelers think everything happens on the Las Vegas Strip and Fremont Street. This is true, seeing that many of Vegas’s attractions are here. But, there’s one area many people forget to mention when discussing Las Vegas’ outstanding attractions – the Downtown Arts District (also called “18b”).
This vibrant area sits between the excesses of the Las Vegas Strip and Fremont Street, extending into West Charleston. Here you’ll find a vast collection of art galleries, quirky workspaces, cafes, restaurants and antique stores. This is one of the most authentic areas in Las Vegas and is worth checking out if you want to get away from all the mainstream activities.
Where to Stay in Las Vegas in October
Las Vegas is not really about boutique hotels. I am sure there are some but honestly to have the full Vegas experience I am breaking with my boutique positioning and saying go for the full-on decadent 5-star experience – I consider it almost a tourist attraction to do this.
Here are my top choices on the Las Vegas strip:
For European glamour and top-end luxury, I loved my stay at The Palazzo.
⇒ Check Prices and Availability for The Palazzo
For the full Oceans 11 experience, I highly recommend a stay at The Bellagio – there is so much going on at this stunning hotel.
⇒ Check Prices and Availability for The Bellagio
For a more old-world Las Vegas experience check out New York New York.
⇒ Check Prices and Availability for New York, New York
Final Thought on Las Vegas in October
Las Vegas has a wealth of activities to keep you entertained all year round. That said, October is a great time to visit since you’ll beat the summer heat and the overwhelming crowds. That’s a double win if you ask me.
Tip: Planning on travelling to Vegas later than October? Why not read up on things to do in Las Vegas in December next?
Who Paid for What in this Post?
I paid for everything on this trip apart from my ticket to the Mob Museum. However, this things to do in Vegas in October post does contain affiliate links. That means that if you click through on them and make a purchase I may well receive a small commission. I just wanted to make sure that you knew.
Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.