We love Las Vegas and all, but we’ll admit—Vegas isn’t always a good idea.
While it’s one of the most iconic cities in the U.S., there are definitely a few times of the year where the experience can shift from fun to frustrating real quick. We’re talking shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, sky-high hotel prices, and heat so intense you’ll question your life choices after a five-minute walk.
We’ve visited Vegas during these “worst” months/time periods—March and July, for starters—and can confirm they live up to the chaos.
March is infamous for March Madness. You either hate it or you love it. We stayed with friends who live in town (thanks to Papu’s UNLV days), so we were able to avoid the hotel price gouging that hits during March Madness.
In July, we again saved on the exorbitant lodging costs, but couldn’t walk more than a quarter mile without feeling like we were going to pass out. It’s easily the hottest time of the year. Like, record-breaking hot.
As for NYE? We don’t even DARE to try. Between the insane flight prices and jam-packed crowds, it’s just not worth it.
Now, that doesn’t mean these months are off-limits for everyone. If you’re into big events, nonstop action, and can tolerate the mayhem, they might actually be your ideal time to go. But if you’re looking for a more relaxed, affordable, or temperate trip, read on to find out which months to think twice about—and what makes them stand out (for better or worse).
March
There’s nothing wrong with Vegas in March weather-wise—honestly, it’s actually pretty great. You can still walk the Strip or hit up outdoor attractions without melting into the pavement.
That said, it’s not a month we personally recommend visiting unless you fall into one of these categories:
- college spring breaker
- March Madness fanatic
- love watching college sports
- someone who doesn’t mind shelling out more cash to be surrounded by people who are
March Madness isn’t just one basketball game weekend—it’s a knockout-style college basketball tournament where teams from totally different regions (that never normally play each other) suddenly face off. The potential for unranked colleges to beat top elite programs is what makes it so unpredictable and exciting.
In Vegas, the energy goes off the charts. From late February til the end of March, people flood into sportsbooks and bars to watch multiple games at once on massive screens, place bets, build parlays, and ride the highs and lows of buzzer-beaters. If you’re into that, it can be a super fun time to visit. But just know: you’ll be paying a premium for hotels, especially anywhere near the Strip.
We’ve visited Vegas in March a few times and stayed with friends who live in town (which saved us from the ridiculous hotel rate spikes), but unless you’ve got a similar hookup, expect higher prices and major crowds.
Between the young spring break energy and sports fans glued to TVs at every bar, the city can feel more chaotic than fun if you’re not into that scene.
May
May can be a surprisingly solid time to visit Vegas if you go early in the month. The weather hasn’t hit furnace levels yet, so you can actually enjoy walking outside during the day without feeling like you’re being roasted alive.
But once the second half of May hits, things change.
Prices spike fast thanks to two big events: EDC (Electric Daisy Carnival) and Memorial Day Weekend. Hotel rates, flights, club cover charges—everything gets inflated.
If you’re into EDM festivals or big holiday weekend crowds, then sure, it’s a grand time to visit. But if not, aim for the first week or two of May to avoid the madness and keep your costs low.
Read Next:
Top Things To Do In Las Vegas In May
July
Straight up? July is a no from us—especially over the 4th of July weekend. Unless you’ve got something specific to celebrate and absolutely no flexibility on timing, skip it.
Crowds are thick, hotel rates spike, and flights are oversold (and often delayed). We learned the hard way when we brought our parents to Vegas in early July 2024, trying to avoid the holiday rush with a Sunday-Tuesday trip. Didn’t work. Both our return flights were delayed.
And we haven’t even talked about the heat yet—in 2024, Vegas hit its hottest temperature ever: 120°F. No, that’s not a typo. July 7, 2024 = Las Vegas’ hottest day on record, reaching a high of 120°F.
It was so bad that the city broke its previous record of five consecutive days over 115°F by hitting seven. SEVEN–that’s a whole week! No human needs to feel that. You could literally feel your soul leave your body just by walking outdoors for three minutes.
To make things worse, excessive heat can also trigger flight delays, thanks to the added stress on aircraft systems. Combine that with regular summer vacation airport traffic? Hard pass. Go during a cooler, quieter month if you can.
If you do still decide to go, make it a weekday trip and plan to stay indoors as much as possible. Just know that summer still means larger crowds, higher dayclub/nightclub costs, and more expensive rooms. We don’t even try to deal with all that unless we absolutely have to.
November
Not all of November is bad. In fact, most of the month is pretty chill (literally and figuratively, har har har).
The good stuff about the month? The weather cools down, Halloween and pool party season are officially over, and the summer crowd thins out.
Now onto the bad: avoid F1 weekend like the plague. The Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix (November 20–22, 2025) turns the Strip into a luxury playground where only the rich, famous, and heavily comped can afford to play.
Hotel rates skyrocket, especially if you want a Strip-view room (which technically gives you a front-row seat to the race). If you’re not in town for F1, skip that weekend entirely—it’s not worth the chaos or the cost.
Read Next:
Top Things To Do In Las Vegas This November
NYE (New Year’s Eve)
While this list is about months to avoid, New Year’s Eve in Vegas deserves a category of its own. It’s the only thing people really plan trips around in December—and for good reason. The energy is wild, the fireworks show is massive, and nearly every club and bar throws a party.
But unless you’re prepared to shell out major money, we don’t recommend it.
We’re talking sky-high hotel prices, overpriced flights, and party cover charges easily topping $100 per person—just to get in the door.
Want to sit down somewhere for dinner before midnight? Good luck finding a reservation that won’t cost a small fortune.
Vegas does NYE big, but that also means big crowds, big costs, and big headaches. We personally skip it unless we have a really good reason (and maybe a local friend to crash with).
Pro Tip
The rest of December? Totally different story. If you time it right and visit on the week right before Christmas, hotel rates are actually some of the lowest you’ll see all year. You can actually find rooms at Wynn Las Vegas for under $200 per night. Crazy, I know.
December is great for fewer tourists, mild weather, and plenty of holiday spirit without the NYE chaos!
Read Next:
18 New Las Vegas Attractions That Are Worth Your Time
28 Unique And Totally Free Things To Do In Vegas
