Sam’s Town Shuttle – Schedule to Harrah’s & Fremont Street

(Updated July 6th, 2022)

(Editor’s note: While Sam’s Town is open, unfortunately its shuttle is not running. We’ll update this article as soon as it’s back up.)

Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall is a fun, affordable, low-rollers resort located 6 and 1/2 miles east of the Strip.

Even though its combination of low limits, cheap hotel rooms, movie theater, bowling alley and laid-back vibe attracts the budget-conscious gambler, a lot of people, (like me), find it hard to be so far away from the action of the Strip and downtown Las Vegas, (especially when you can see the Strip skyline from your hotel room!)

The Free Sam's Town Shuttle Harrah's Stop
The Free Sam’s Town Shuttle Harrah’s Stop

Sam’s Town makes staying there an easier decision by providing guests with completely free shuttle service to and from both the Las Vegas Strip, and to downtown Las Vegas.

The shuttles are large, comfortable, air-conditioned buses with lots of seating (56 passengers), even though seats can get filled during busy times at the hotel. The stop is located on the south end of the resort. You’ll get there by going out the doors by the food court, then following the sidewalk down the stairs and to the right.

There are two separate buses, one that only goes to the Strip and back, and another one that goes to downtown and then to the Strip and back. The route to the Strip is non-stop to Harrah’s Casino and Hotel, while the downtown shuttle has a total of two stops once you’re in downtown Las Vegas: the California Hotel and Casino, and the Fremont Hotel and Casino.

Each route has five daily departures from Sam’s Town.

The schedule for the free Sam's Town Shuttle
The schedule for the free Sam’s Town Shuttle

Sam’s Town’s Free Shuttle

The shuttle service is described as “complimentary to hotel guests,” however anyone can ride it. On their website, Sam’s Town says that hotel guests get first priority, followed by anyone with a “B Connected” card, which is the player’s card for Sam’s Town, the California, and other Boyd Gaming properties.

When riding it, I personally wasn’t asked to show a room key, however my understanding is that when the shuttle is busy and looks to be near capacity, Sam’s Town hotel guests showing their room key will be given boarding priority.

Sam’s Town Shuttle to and From Harrah’s on the Las Vegas Strip

With a stop at Harrah’s, the Sam’s Town bus drops you off right in the heart of the Strip.

You’ll be within easy walking distance of the Linq promenade, Venetian, Mirage, and the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.

If you’re still looking to go elsewhere however, another benefit to the Harrah’s location is that there is a Las Vegas Monorail Station here, in between the Linq and Harrah’s. You could hop on the monorail from Harrah’s and easy get to and from the MGM Grand, Paris, or one of the other stops.

The free Sam’s Town shuttle ride lasts 35 minutes, as the driver just takes a straight shot towards the Strip on Flamingo Road.

The shuttle drops you off (and picks you back up), at Harrah’s parking garage, behind the valet area behind the hotel. You’ll see the signs for the shuttle.

Sam’s Town Shuttle To and From Downtown Las Vegas

The bus runs directly from Sam’s Town to two different casinos in downtown: the Fremont Hotel & Casino, and the California. This drive takes about 25 minutes.

The first stop is at the Fremont. The actual drop-off/pick-up location is on Casino Center Blvd, which is the street that runs between the Fremont Hotel/Casino and Binion’s.

You’ll be dropped off on this street, right near the valet entrance to the hotel.

The second stop is a few minutes later, when the shuttle goes to the California Hotel and Casino.

The pick-up/drop off at the California Hotel & Casino will be on 1st Street, also near the hotel’s valet parking entrance, (on the east side of the hotel/casino).

Whether you choose to get off at the Fremont, or at the California, you’ll be within easy walking distance to all of the downtown Las Vegas casinos.

Sam’s Town Shuttle Schedule

From Sam’s Town to the Strip

The shuttle leaves Sam’s Town for Harrah’s at the following times:

9 AM 11:40 AM 2:20 PM 6:20 PM 9:50 PM

From Harrah’s to Sam’s Town at these times:

9:45 AM 12:25PM 3:05 PM 7:05 PM 9:15 PM 10:35 PM

From Sam’s Town to Downtown

The shuttle leaves Sam’s Town for Downtown at the following times:

10:20 AM 1 PM 3:40 PM 5 PM 7:40 PM

From Downtown Fremont Street back to Sam’s Town

As mentioned above, the shuttle takes off from two different downtown hotels, both owned by Boyd Gaming, the owners of Sam’s Town.

From Fremont Hotel & Casino

The shuttle leaves the Fremont Hotel & Casino to Sam’s Town:

8:15 AM 10:55 AM 1:35 PM 4:15 PM 5:35 PM

From the California Hotel & Casino

The shuttle leaves the California for Sam’s Town at the following times:

8:30 AM 11:10 AM 1:50 PM 4:30 PM 5:50 PM

Sam’s Town Shuttle From Downtown to the Las Vegas Strip

A feature started in the spring of 2018 is a once-daily free ride from Fremont Street to Harrah’s on the Las Vegas Strip.

Leaving from Fremont Hotel at 8:15 PM every evening, the shuttle then goes to the California Hotel, leaving there at 8:30 PM to go to the Strip.

The shuttle goes to Harrah’s, and then on to Sam’s Town.

This one nightly route is the only Sam’s Town shuttle that goes between downtown and the Strip.

It takes about 50 minutes to get to the Strip, then another 35 minutes back to Sam’s Town, making this a hardy hour and twenty-five minute ride from Fremont Street to Sam’s Town. Every other downtown to Sam’s Town ride will take you only 25 minutes.

Other notes:

*** Riders have to be at least 21 years old, or accompanied by someone who is 21 years old.

*** Boyd Gaming, owner of Sam’s Town, also owns The Orleans Hotel/Casino and Gold Coast Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas. They also offer a complimentary shuttle from The Orleans and Gold Coast to the Las Vegas Strip

*** The Sam’s Town shuttle does not go to the airport.

*** While the shuttle is free, it’s customary to tip the driver.

By Steve Beauregard. Photos copyright of gamboool.com