PARKING FOR FREE ON THE STRIP

[monk]

I read parking at the TI is still free. Does the lot fill up pretty quickly at night? Also best place to park there is going on the strip to Bellagio to have the buffet and best way to drive there from South Point...... can I take the back road to self park or valet?  Thank you in advance, Monk

[thermonuclear]

It's a little slow, but you can drive all the way up Dean Martin from South Point, crossing underneath I-15 at Twain to Sammy Davis. If it's not rush hour, I-15 should be efficient from South Point because you can exit at Spring Mountain and be just a few hundred yards from TI.

I don't know about TI parking capacity, but Fashion Show Mall is also an option on the other side of Spring Mountain.

Either way it's a long walk to Bellagio, although I'm not sure there's a better possibility unless you have a Total Rewards Diamond card. Then you could park at Caesars Palace.

[Bob B]

I'll echo I-15 to Spring Mountain. I believe you turn right at the first light on Spring Mountain and that takes you right to the TI or Mirage lots.

[StatFreak]

... Then you could park at Caesars Palace.

Which is also a long walk to the Bacchanal. lol.

[monk]

I have read it is 7/10 mile from TI to Bellagio. I know I will be about 5 hours so that saves $15.00. It's a damn shame they started charging for parking. I will not gamble 5¢ in the place. I don't even want to go to their overrated buffet because it is a mere shadow of when WYNN ran the place but my buddy still thinks it is a fantastic buffet.  Last year it SUCKED TOTALLY.
In all honesty the SP Friday night seafood buffet last year had better legs and raw oysters on the 1/2 shell which beat the shit out of Bellagio. I don't give a shit about those foofoo deserts they have. Rather have a big piece of Coconut cream pie which I can get at SP or a lemon meringue. Also the prime rib at SP is always good. Servers are way more friendly at the SP too.
But once every couple years we get together , friends since he came to this country at age of 9, so I put differences aside like this and try to make the best out of it. But no fucking way am I going to pay for parking.

Thank you all for the ideas. I think I might take Dean Martin Drive all the way. I have to see where I get on it from the SP.  The time we will be going would be rush hour and I know hoe I15 bottlenecks before that exit.

[thermonuclear]

I think I might take Dean Martin Drive all the way. I have to see where I get on it from the SP. 

The Dean Martin route should be stress-free. Westbound from South Point on Silverado Ranch, continue over I-15, and Dean Martin will be immediately the next right. Then the only major red lights will be at Blue Diamond just past Silverton, and later at Tropicana. The transition from Dean Martin to Sammy Davis near Twain may be slightly confusing, but you're basically just continuing straight under I-15.

Thanks for the Bellagio buffet feedback. I liked it, but it was a few years ago for me.

[monk]

Thanks, I never went past I 15 from the SP going west so I never knew that was Dean Martin Drive all these years.

When I go to In & Out I always went via I 15 but will now take Dean Martin to Blue Diamond.  Dean Martin you say turns unto Sammy Davis? I will watch for that. Hopefully it is very clear.

Thank for the tips.

[thermonuclear]

Dean aArtin you say turns unto Sammy Davis?

Yes, Dean Martin is west of I-15, Frank Sinatra is east. Northbound past Twain, they converge into Sammy Davis on the east side of I-15. Sammy Davis Jr Drive was previously known as Industrial, and apparently the segment north of Sahara is still known as Industrial.

[monk]

I am not a connoisseur on food, but I do some buffets where I happen to stay because of easy comps. I have seen the SP buffet get better over the last 5 years. I got to know a server here and there and ask for them when they are on. Never found the Bellagio servers to be friendly and it seems they are always looking to how to cut back on expense. When WYNN owned it, granted that was years ago, they used to have JUMBO shrimp from the GULF. To be fair I do not think anyone has these on a buffet anymore but when they took them over they changed it in the first few months. The fish choices seem to be cut in half at the Bellagio and even the prime rib seems better at the SP. Never had a bad piece of prime rib at SP at their buffet. I sometimes wonder if it is the exact same as they serve at Primarily Prime or in their Steak House.
Anyways I am sure as I read the LVA poll on buffets that some still think their buffet is very good. I haven't had a good one here in about 3 years now. But like I said my buddy feels a trip isn't complete without going there so I go. The benefit of going alone becomes clear.

[knagl]

Parking is still free at TI, and there's still the tram that runs from essentially the TI parking garage to Mirage, which helps a little with the amount of walking to get around. The garage is very large, and I wouldn't anticipate it being full except for very busy weekends on the strip.

As far as I know, the parking garage at Planet Hollywood is still free, as it's the parking for the Miracle Mile Shops. While it's a hike through the shops to get to the casino, I'd venture to say that's your closest free option for Bellagio.

[tom.mckenzie]

Parking is still free at TI, and there's still the tram that runs from essentially the TI parking garage to Mirage, which helps a little with the amount of walking to get around. The garage is very large, and I wouldn't anticipate it being full except for very busy weekends on the strip.

As far as I know, the parking garage at Planet Hollywood is still free, as it's the parking for the Miracle Mile Shops. While it's a hike through the shops to get to the casino, I'd venture to say that's your closest free option for Bellagio.

The Miracle Mile/PH garage has been my go-to option for several years now. I usually plan to drive to the top floors, and can generally get pretty close to the elevator, which makes it a lot easier to find my car when I am ready to leave.

[KarenTN]

Does the Cosmopolitan charge for parking?   Pretty sure they are closer to Bellagio than TI? 

[The Crazy Brazilian]

Does the Cosmopolitan charge for parking?   Pretty sure they are closer to Bellagio than TI? 

Yes, they do: https://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/parking

[bardolator]

Miracle Mile Shops deck behind PH is not a bad walk to Bellagio. It's free unless it was changed quite recently. The deck is convenient for us because Mag likes to visit a couple of stores there anyway.

[thermonuclear]

Miracle Mile/PH is a good suggestion, although I try to avoid crossing Las Vegas Blvd. (when driving).

If you're coming up I-15, there's no Harmon exit, so you'd need to exit at Tropicana.

From northbound Dean Martin, you would turn left at Jerry Lewis, then loop around counterclockwise to access the Harmon overpass. Then the intersection at Las Vegas Blvd. is awkward because the path of Harmon Avenue is distorted by the CityCenter complex.