MGM Grand vs. Park MGM: Which Is The Better Hotel?

Overall Winner: It’s a tie.

In our deep-dive analysis below, MGM Grand won in two categories (amenities / entertainment and restaurants) and Park MGM won in two categories (rooms and user reviews). They tied in these two categories: location and price.

MGM Grand is the better option when it comes to being in the middle of all the action. Sure, it looks and feels like an older hotel, but they’ve got tons of shows, restaurants, bars, and even a pretty epic pool complex perfect for families.

Park MGM is the better option for people who appreciate a quieter, trendier, more compact, and smoke-free hotel.

If you ask us, we like Park MGM for solo / couples trips and MGM Grand for families / larger groups.

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MGM Grand is known as Vegas’ “Entertainment Authority” and one of the city’s most recognizable hotel brands.

This massive resort complex is world-famous for its star-studded events at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, spectacular entertainment options like KÀ by Cirque du Soleil, world-class dining featuring celebrity chefs, and some truly fun nightlife options.

Park MGM is like MGM Grand’s hip and modern cousin — a nature-themed hotel that also happens to be the only hotel with a smoke-free policy. Nestled near landmarks like the T-Mobile Arena, The Park, and Eataly, this Palm Springs-like hotel makes for a fantastic home base for your Vegas stay.

Prior to MGM Grand’s renovation in 2022, there would have been no competition in the MGM Grand vs. Park MGM debate. I would have told you that Park MGM was the clear winner!

After a portion of the hotel rooms got a much-needed upgrade, staying at both hotels is quite enjoyable now. The debate about which is better gets a bit more interesting too!

The “better” hotel will depend mostly on:

• Who you’re traveling to Las Vegas with (solo, as a couple, with the kids, or as a larger group?)
• What you plan to do during your time in Vegas (especially when it comes to shows/nightlife)
• Whether you smoke or not (one allows smoking, the other has a no-smoking policy)

Let’s talk about it in detail!

MGM Grand vs. Park MGM: Rooms

For an apples-to-apples comparison, we’ll be comparing the resorts’ standard suites here.

Rooms at MGM Grand

When we talk about rooms at MGM Grand, we need to break them down into two categories: the newly renovated Studio rooms and the older Grand King/Queen rooms.

Studio Tower Rooms

The newly remodeled Studio Tower rooms draw inspiration from the mid-century design style of Palm Springs, incorporating a desert palette of fresh pinks and chartreuse greens with clean lines and soft shapes.

You’ll find rounded window seats, enlarged headboards, and carefully chosen artwork that accentuates the sculptural furnishings. Each guest bathroom features stylish, space-saving barn doors, wood flooring, a backlit vanity, marble shower floors, and other thoughtful designs.

These rooms are super cute and trendy looking, but because only the Studio Tower has been renovated thus far, these updated rooms are on the smaller side (350 square feet).

Grand King/Queen Rooms

These are the larger rooms, clocking in at 446 square feet. Nothing special here—these rooms have a slightly outdated look and feel but offer everything most other Strip hotels provide, which means everything but a coffee machine or a usable mini-fridge (both are common omissions for Vegas Strip standards).

There are Stay Well options for these rooms, which include amenities like aromatherapy, air purification, and additional wellness-focused features.

Standard Suites: What most people will end up booking.

• Standard 1-King Rooms at MGM Grand are 446 sq ft.
• Standard 2-Queen Rooms at MGM Grand are 446 sq ft.
• Studio 1-King Rooms at MGM Grand are 350 sq ft. – These are the newly remodeled rooms pictured above.
• Speciality Suites are larger and range from 675 – 1500 sq ft.

Rooms at Park MGM

Personally, I love how unique Park MGM’s look is. It’s retro, modern, and effortless.

I can’t quite describe it in words, but each room is thoughtfully curated to evoke the feel of staying in a friend’s retro yet meticulously curated New York City apartment. The hotel features two main room themes: some rooms have a lively bright red color scheme, while other rooms embrace a more calming atmosphere with a dark forest green palette.

The hotel features over 2,700 guest rooms and suites, all of which are beautifully decorated with unique wall art and eclectic room decor.

Within the rooms, you can expect tasteful yet simple amenities like a sitting nook by the window, comfy bedding, Bluetooth capability, and cute bathrooms that come with colored tiling that matches the room’s color scheme.

Standard Suites: What most people will end up booking.

• Standard 1-King Rooms at Park MGM are 406 sq ft.
• Standard 2-Queen Rooms at Park MGM are 406 sq ft.
• Speciality Suites are slightly larger and range from 700 – 900 sq ft.

Winner: Park MGM.

While MGM Grand’s Studio Tower rooms look super cute and trendy, these are the only ones that are currently renovated. Compared to the rooms at Park MGM, they’re on the smaller side which is not ideal.

We once made the mistake of booking a room at MGM Grand thinking we’d get the updated room, but it turned out that we accidentally booked the outdated version, boo. The room felt (and smelled) outdated, but it was clean and did the job.

On the other hand, since ALL the rooms at Park MGM have the same updated look, there’s more consistency across rooms there.

MGM Grand vs. Park MGM: Location

When it comes to location, both MGM Grand and Park MGM are situated smack dab in the middle of The Strip.

They are directly across the street from each other, about a 5-7 minute walk away on foot. Because they’re so darn close to each other, it’s hard to say one’s location is better than the other.

Both are within walking distance of popular hotels/attractions like Showcase Mall, New York-New York, Excalibur, Bellagio and its glorious fountains, Planet Hollywood and the Miracle Mile Shops, Paris Las Vegas, and ARIA.

One thing you’ll wanna pay attention to is arenas. Park MGM is just across the street from the T-Mobile Arena and The Park Plaza. If you happen to be catching a show or a game at this venue, this is the most ideal hotel to base yourself out of.

Likewise, access to Grand Garden Arena is easiest if you choose to stay at MGM Grand.

Winner: It’s a tie.

MGM Grand vs. Park MGM: Entertainment + Amenities

This section looks at what the hotels offer in terms of things to do, pools, spas, etc. We’ll also call out all the good stuff that’s included with your nightly resort fee.

Entertainment and Amenities at MGM Grand

They don’t call MGM Grand the Entertainment Authority for nothin’. You can trust that there’s a ton of stuff to do here.

Here’s an example of the resort amenities and entertainment options offered at the hotel:

• KÀ by Cirque du Soleil: An epic show that combines acrobatics, martial arts, and pyrotechnics.
• Jabbawockeez: A high-energy dance show featuring the world-famous masked dance crew.
• Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club: Offering intimate, nightly stand-up performances from top comedians.
• David Copperfield: The legendary magician brings his mind-blowing illusions and captivating storytelling to the MGM Grand stage.
• Hakkasan Nightclub: A multi-level nightlife experience featuring top DJs. It’s one of the premier nightclubs on the Strip.
• Wet Republic Ultra Pool: A massive dayclub with multiple pools, luxurious cabanas, and live DJ performances.
• Grand Pool Complex: A sprawling pool area featuring four swimming pools, whirlpools, waterfalls, and a lazy river. Kids and families love this pool complex!
• Topgolf: A high-tech hitting bay where you hit golf balls embedded with technology that automatically records and tabulates different game metrics in real time.
• Level Up Arcade: Featuring everything from nightly entertainment to live sports on big-screen TV’s and endless arcade games.
• Losers Bar: Spend the evening with country music artists at an intimate, no-frills venue for live performances.

Entertainment and Amenities at Park MGM

• Smoke-free policy: This is a biggie for people who don’t smoke. As non-smokers, we love that Park MGM is an eco-friendly and smoke-free hotel!
• Dolby Live: A state-of-the-art venue hosting concerts, shows, and events by top entertainers and artists (like Bruno Mars and Maroon 5).
• On The Record: A speakeasy and low-key nightclub experience with a hidden entrance through a record store, featuring live DJs and a dance floor.
• Park MGM Pool: Three gorgeous pools surrounded by lush greenery and retro loungers / umbrellas.
• The Spa at Park MGM: A boutique spa that’s smaller than other spas, but certainly gets the job done.
• A pretty spacious and well-stocked gym: This fitness center is one of the best for a hotel at this low price point. It’s got a cardio section, free weights area, weight machines, and even a separate yoga room with its own therapeutic equipment.
• Super close to T-Mobile Arena: The walk from your hotel room to the venue doesn’t get easier than this.

Winner: MGM Grand.

MGM Grand easily takes the cake in this category. With the sheer number of nightly shows, nightlife options, and its massive pool complex, this hotel is hard to beat when it comes to amenities and entertainment.

Having said that, Park MGM is still a great option for people who don’t smoke and appreciate a quieter, more laid-back stay. You can easily walk to MGM Grand (in under 10 minutes) to take advantage of everything offered there.

MGM Grand vs. Park MGM: Restaurants

Both resorts offer a ton of great places to eat, but there are some key differences.

Restaurants at MGM Grand

First and foremost, if you’re after fine dining or a high-end meal, you’ll probably wanna head straight for MGM Grand. Many of the restaurant options at MGM Grand are world-famous.

There’s Joël Robuchon, Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak, Wolfgang Puck, Morimoto Las Vegas, International Smoke, Hakkasan Restaurant, and many other high-end dining options for guests to indulge and splurge at.

And despite it not being anything to write home about, the MGM Grand does get extra points for having an onsite buffet (we say skip this one though, there are much better ones in Vegas).

The good thing about MGM Grand is that not everything is high-end. There are actually a fair amount of casual, family-friendly eateries too (ranging from Greek, Creole, brunch, pizza, and everything in between).

Restaurants at Park MGM

Unlike the ritziness of many restaurants at MGM Grand, Park MGM’s restaurant collection is way more casual, which is not a bad thing! We love that nothing is too outrageously expensive — at least for Vegas standards.

Primrose, the French brasserie, is a popular choice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Then there’s Roy Choi’s Best Friend, featuring a family-style menu of Korean-inspired dishes, including kimchi fried rice, spicy pork belly, and Korean-style fried chicken.

Other great eateries include Bavette’s Steakhouse & Bar and La La Noodle. And you can’t forget about Eataly and Crack Shack near the entrance of the hotel — these two spots are some of our favorite places to eat on the Las Vegas Strip!

Winner: MGM Grand.

MGM Grand offers 20+ eateries in its restaurant collection, while Park MGM offers half of that. And because there’s variety in the restaurants (some cater to fine diners and some cater to more budget-conscious eaters), MGM Grand wins this category.

MGM Grand vs. Park MGM: Price

MGM Grand and Park MGM play in the same price category. For the most part, you’ll find pretty similar pricing between the two hotels, with a variation of about $10-20 per night.

If you happen to come across a massive price difference between the two hotels, then chances are there’s a special event taking place at the more expensively-priced hotel.

For example, if a big conference or a music event is happening at MGM Grand, you’ll find higher prices there (and vice versa).

PRO TIP: Don’t forget to factor in resort fees and parking fees. Both hotels charge these pesky fees, sadly.

Winner: It’s a tie.

MGM Grand vs. Park MGM: Hotel Reviews

At the time of researching for this guide, here’s what we found when it came to user reviews on various hotel booking sites that we know and trust:

Hotel Site	MGM Grand	Park MGM
Booking.com	7.5/10 (7k+ reviews)	8.1/10 (5k+ reviews)
Hotels.com	7.8/10 (15k+ reviews)	8.6/10 (‎8k+ reviews)
Priceline	7.6/10 (11k+ reviews)	6.9/10 (‎5k+ reviews)

Even though there are way more reviews for MGM Grand (which makes sense, it’s been around a lot longer than Park MGM), Park MGM is the one that gets the higher marks and ratings on most of the third-party booking sites.

I say “most” because Priceline shows a pretty negative score for Park MGM, which I would wholeheartedly disagree with. I’m thinking it’s a fluke?

During all my previous stays at Park MGM, I’ve never experienced anything so negative that would warrant a rating lower than an 8.5. The hotel looks great, feels great, smells great, and is great — point blank.

Winner: Park MGM.

Sure, it lacks excitement and things to do when compared to MGM Grand, but it’s a great place to go back to after a long day of exploring in Vegas.

Overall Winner

It’s a tie. MGM Grand won in two categories (amenities / entertainment and restaurants), and Park MGM won in two categories (rooms and user reviews). They tied in these two categories: location and price.

So which is better for you — MGM Grand or Park MGM?

Despite these hotels having fairly similar names, they could not be more different. We think this decision really boils down to what you’re looking for in your Vegas trip.

MGM Grand is the better hotel for you if you fit into one or more of these categories:

• You want to be near all the action, day and night (lots of shows, WET Republic pool parties, Hakkasan Nightclub, Topgolf)
• You plan to upgrade to one of the larger suite options (the specialty suites are larger here compared to Park MGM)
• You’re traveling with kids who love to swim (MGM Grand’s got the super fun lazy river)
• You plan on lounging around at the hotel pools yourself
• You plan on catching a show/concert at MGM Grand Garden Arena
• You don’t mind the smell of cigarette smoke in the casino floor areas
• You don’t mind slightly outdated rooms (unless you’re opting for the smaller yet newly renovated Studio Tower rooms)

Park MGM is the better hotel for you if:

• You like a smaller and slightly quieter hotel
• You appreciate the fact that the hotel has a no-smoking policy
• You like more laidback dining options
• You plan on dining at Eataly on multiple occasions
• You plan on catching a show/concert at Dolby Live or T-Mobile Arena
• You plan on working out a lot during your stay (Park MGM’s gym is nicer)

Still stuck between the two? If you really can’t pick between the two, you should just book whichever one is showing a cheaper price. Pocket your savings, spend it on one of Las Vegas’ new shows or attractions, or spend it on an epic seafood buffet.

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Our Pick: Which One We Like More

If you ask us, we’d pick Park MGM over MGM Grand on most days. We just love the fact that no smoking is allowed. Because you can breathe easily, the entire property just feels cleaner. And because we’ll always take newer-looking rooms over older ones, Park MGM is our go-to.

Plus, the two hotels are so close to each other that you’ll have pretty easy foot access to all the restaurants, bars, spas, shows, and other entertainment options between both hotels.

The only time we choose MGM Grand over Park MGM (or any other hotel, for that matter) is when we plan on spending a whole day at their massive pool complex. MGM Grand’s pool is just so much more fun than the majority of other hotel pools in Vegas!

No matter which you choose, you’re going to be located in the Center Strip area. You’ll be spoiled with choices when it comes to shows, dining, bars, and nightlife options!

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FAQ: MGM Grand and Park MGM

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