Payless Car Hire
in Nevada

After collecting your luggage at LAS, you won't find car-hire desks inside the terminals. Instead, follow the prominent signs for the 'Rental Car Shuttle'. These dedicated shuttles will take you on a short transfer to the consolidated LAS Rent-A-Car Centre, a separate facility housing all the major hire firms. Once you arrive at the centre, you can easily find the Payless desk in the main lobby alongside the other brands.

The airport provides a very convenient, luggage-friendly shuttle system for this purpose. After you exit the baggage reclaim area, follow the signs to the designated shuttle bus stops at the kerb. These buses are designed to accommodate travellers with multiple bags and offer ample space for your luggage. The shuttle provides direct transport to the Rent-A-Car Centre, where you'll find the Payless desk and collect your vehicle.

The pickup process at LAS remains consistent even for late-night arrivals, as the Rent-A-Car Centre and its shuttle service operate 24/7. After landing, proceed to baggage reclaim and then board the shuttle to the rental facility. While the airport itself may be quieter, the rental centre is usually active. Completing your paperwork at the Payless desk and retrieving your car from the garage follows the same procedure, though queues may be shorter than during peak daytime hours.

Friday afternoons are among the busiest arrival times in Las Vegas, so allowing extra time is sensible. In peak season you should budget roughly 60 to 90 minutes from the moment you board the rental shuttle until you are driving away. This accounts for potential waits for the shuttle, longer queues at the rental desk, and increased activity in the garage. Building this buffer into your schedule helps ensure a smooth start to your trip.

Returning the vehicle is a streamlined process designed for efficiency. As you approach the airport, follow the large, clear signs for 'Rental Car Return', which will guide you directly to the Rent-A-Car Centre garage. Once inside, look for the designated Payless signs and park in the indicated area. After collecting your belongings, proceed to the shuttle stop for your ride back to the departure terminal.

Once you have dropped off your car, expect the journey back to the airport terminals to take about 20 to 30 minutes. This includes the time to walk from the return area to the shuttle depot and the shuttle ride itself, typically around 10 minutes. Shuttles run frequently, so waiting times are usually minimal. This timeframe will bring you to the terminal entrance, from where you can check in and go through security.

The most direct route to the Las Vegas Strip is to leave the Rent-A-Car Centre and follow signs for I-215 East. You will be on the interstate for only a very short distance before taking the exit for Las Vegas Boulevard. This path lets you bypass the confusing airport terminal traffic loops entirely. Once on Las Vegas Boulevard, drive north to reach the major hotels and attractions on the Strip.

A good tactic is to pull into one of the large, easily accessible self-parking garages at the south end of the Strip, such as those at Mandalay Bay or Luxor. These garages are among the first you'll encounter and are typically less chaotic than those mid-Strip. Parking for a few minutes lets you safely programme your final destination into your sat-nav, review the map and prepare for navigating the busy resort corridor without the pressure of traffic behind you.

The centre of the Strip, particularly the area between Planet Hollywood and Caesars Palace, can be the most challenging for newcomers. This section is dense with pedestrian bridges that can obscure signs, complex multi-level entrances and frequent lane changes required for specific turns. The area around the CityCenter complex (Aria, Vdara) also has a network of internal roads that can be confusing. It's recommended to study your hotel's specific entrance on a map before arrival.

The most convenient method is to check out and leave your luggage with the bell desk. Then take a short taxi or rideshare trip with one person to the LAS Rent-A-Car Centre to pick up the vehicle. After you have the car, drive back to your hotel's main entrance or valet area. The bell staff will bring your luggage out, allowing a seamless and easy loading process.

The most efficient way to drive to Downtown Las Vegas is to take the I-15 North from the airport area. You can then exit at either Charleston Boulevard or Sahara Avenue and head east, following signs for Downtown or the Fremont Street Experience. A common mistake is trying to use surface streets like Las Vegas Boulevard for the entire journey, which involves significantly more traffic lights and congestion. Using the interstate is almost always faster and more straightforward.

On days with a game or major concert, avoid the roads immediately surrounding Allegiant Stadium. The area, especially the I-15 exits at Russell Road and Hacienda Avenue, experiences heavy gridlock starting around three hours before the event and lasting for about two hours afterwards. If you must drive during these times, use alternate routes like the I-215 beltway to bypass the stadium area completely. Otherwise, plan your travel well outside these peak congestion windows.

To have the best experience at Red Rock Canyon, aim to arrive early in the morning, ideally before 09:00. This is especially important at weekends and during the busy spring and autumn seasons. During peak times the park requires a timed entry reservation, which you should book online in advance to guarantee access. An early start helps you avoid long entry queues and makes it much easier to find parking at popular trailheads and viewpoints.

The 13-mile scenic drive within Red Rock Canyon is a one-way loop, which makes it naturally efficient for a visit. To see the highlights without spending the whole day, focus on a few key stops. Prioritise the Calico I and II viewpoints for their striking red rock formations and the High Point Overlook for panoramic views of the canyon. A well-paced visit focusing on these spots can be completed in about two to three hours, leaving plenty of time to return to the Strip.

For the most convenient access to the main attractions, parking on the Nevada side is your best option. The primary parking garage on the Nevada side is located directly next to the Visitor Centre, where all the tours begin. While there are some parking lots on the Arizona side, they require a longer walk across the dam to reach the tour facilities and exhibits. Choosing the Nevada garage will save you time and make for a much smoother visit.

A good way to see both is by creating a scenic loop. After visiting Hoover Dam, drive across the dam into Arizona and take US-93 North for a few miles. Then follow the signs for Lakeshore Road, which takes you into the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. This pleasant drive follows the shoreline and offers numerous viewpoints before connecting with Lake Mead Parkway, which leads you back towards Las Vegas.

With a half-day you can see the park's main highlights. Start by driving the main road, Valley of Fire Highway, and stop at the Beehives rock formations near the west entrance. Then take the scenic Mouse's Tank Road, an out-and-back route featuring the park's most famous landscapes. On this road you can see petroglyphs and take the short, popular walk to the Fire Wave, which will give you a memorable experience.

When driving to Mount Charleston, be prepared for a significant temperature drop, often 20 to 30 degrees cooler than in Las Vegas. It's essential to bring extra layers of clothing, even in summer. The roads are well paved but are winding and have some steep sections. During winter, road closures due to snow and ice are common, so always check current conditions before you go and be prepared for winter driving.

For any desert excursion, it's crucial to be prepared. Always pack more water than you think you will need; a safe guideline is about a gallon per person. Also include salty snacks, a basic first-aid kit, sunscreen, hats and a portable power bank for your phone. Having a physical map or downloaded offline maps is also a wise precaution, as mobile signal can be unreliable in remote areas.

Mobile reception can be very patchy once you leave the Las Vegas metro area. On routes to places like Valley of Fire, Death Valley, or parts of the drive to the Grand Canyon you will likely encounter dead zones. The best practice is to download the maps for your entire route for offline use on your preferred navigation app before you leave. This ensures your GPS will continue to guide you even when you don't have a signal.

To get efficiently to the I-15, avoid driving the length of the Strip itself. Instead, use one of the major east–west cross streets like Tropicana Avenue, Flamingo Road or Sahara Avenue. Driving a short distance east or west on one of these roads will lead you directly to an on‑ramp for the I-15 North or South. This strategy lets you bypass the heaviest pedestrian and vehicle congestion on Las Vegas Boulevard.

The most convenient and popular stop on the drive to Zion is the town of Mesquite, Nevada, located about 80 miles from Las Vegas. It's right off the I-15 and has numerous petrol stations, fast-food outlets and clean restrooms. A bit further along, St George, Utah, is a larger town that offers even more options and serves as a good final stop to refuel and grab supplies before you reach the park area.

A popular and manageable two-day itinerary starts with driving from Las Vegas to Zion National Park on day one, exploring the main canyon and staying overnight in or near Springdale. On day two, drive the scenic Zion–Mount Carmel Highway (UT‑9) east through the park to connect with US‑89 North. This leads you to the turnoff for Bryce Canyon National Park. After visiting Bryce, return to Las Vegas via UT‑14 to I‑15 South, creating an enjoyable loop with varied scenery each day.

Driving to the South Rim and back in one day is very tiring and not recommended. The best approach is to book an overnight stay in the town of Tusayan, just outside the park entrance, or at one of the lodges inside the park if you plan well in advance. This allows you to drive there on day one, enjoy a spectacular sunset and wake up for sunrise views the next morning. You can then explore more of the park before returning to Las Vegas feeling refreshed.

The drives and experiences are quite different. Grand Canyon West, home of the Skywalk, is a much shorter drive from Las Vegas, taking about 2.5 hours on well-maintained roads. In contrast, the Grand Canyon National Park's South Rim is a longer journey of about 4.5 hours each way. The West Rim is a focused attraction, while the South Rim offers a sprawling national park experience with numerous viewpoints and walking opportunities.

This is an important detail for planning. Utah is in the Mountain Time Zone, which is one hour ahead of Nevada (Pacific Time). So if you leave Las Vegas at 08:00, it will be 09:00 when you arrive in Utah. Arizona is unique because most of the state does not observe Daylight Saving Time, meaning it aligns with Nevada's Pacific Time from spring through autumn. Always double-check the current local time so you don't miss tour reservations or check-in times.

For a great half‑day drive, the 13‑mile scenic loop at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is an excellent choice and is less than 30 minutes from the Strip. Another good option is to drive towards Lake Mead. The journey along Lakeshore Road within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area offers stunning views of the desert landscape meeting the vast blue water. Both routes provide a real sense of Nevada's natural beauty without requiring a full day.

Visitors should be particularly mindful of their speed on the I-15, especially between Las Vegas and the California border, as this stretch is frequently monitored. The town of Boulder City, on the way to Hoover Dam, is also known for strict speed enforcement. Within the Las Vegas valley, pay attention to changing speed limits on surface streets and be aware of school zones, which have significantly lower limits at certain times.

One rule that often surprises visitors is that U-turns are permitted at most junctions unless a sign explicitly forbids them. While you can make a right turn on a red light after a complete stop, you must be extremely cautious of the high volume of pedestrians, particularly in tourist corridors. Jaywalking is common, so defensive driving and heightened awareness are essential for navigating the Strip and Downtown areas safely.

Fortunately, Nevada does not have any toll roads, so you will not encounter them while driving within the state. If your plans take you into a state that uses cashless tolling, such as parts of California, your hire vehicle is typically equipped to handle it. The rental company will usually have a programme that automatically processes these tolls, and you can ask for the specific details when you pick up your car at the desk.

The best practice for any desert road trip is to start with a full tank, filling up in Las Vegas or Henderson before you leave. For longer journeys, identify major towns along your route, such as Kingman in Arizona or St George in Utah, as planned refuelling points. A good rule of thumb is to never let your tank fall below a quarter full, as petrol stations can be few and far between in remote areas.

To make the process easier, have one adult wait with the children, car seats and luggage at the designated passenger loading zone outside the Rent-A-Car Centre. The other adult can then go to the desk, complete the rental process and bring the car around to the loading area. This avoids the difficulty of navigating the rental desk and garage with tired children and bulky equipment, making for a much smoother start to your trip.

A compact or mid-size SUV often provides the perfect balance for a Las Vegas break. It is small enough to navigate the often tight corners and narrow spaces of casino car parks with ease, while offering enough space, comfort and ground clearance for enjoyable day trips to nearby destinations like Red Rock Canyon or Valley of Fire. This versatility makes it a popular and practical choice.

When travelling with oversized items or a large amount of luggage, cargo space is the primary consideration. A standard saloon's boot may not be sufficient, so look at a mid‑size or full‑size SUV. Before you finalise the hire and leave the lot, do a quick test fit to ensure all your gear fits comfortably. This simple step can prevent the hassle of having to swap vehicles.

Before you drive away, perform a quick but important inspection. First, turn on the air conditioning to make sure it's blowing cold, as this is essential in the desert climate. Do a walk‑around of the vehicle to note any pre‑existing scratches or dents on your hire agreement. Finally, take a moment to adjust your mirrors and familiarise yourself with the lights and windscreen wiper controls for a safer driving experience.

If a warning light appears, your first step is to pull over to a safe location as soon as you can. Once stopped, consult the owner's manual, typically found in the glove compartment, to understand what the specific light indicates. For any serious warnings related to the engine, brakes or tyres, you should not continue driving. Instead, call the roadside assistance number provided with your hire paperwork for guidance.

Convention traffic is heaviest during the morning rush from about 07:30 to 09:30 and in the late afternoon from 16:00 to 18:30, especially around the Strip and Convention Centre. To avoid this, plan your driving for midday, between 10:00 and 15:00, or later in the evening. If you must travel during peak times, using the I-15 to bypass the most congested surface streets is an effective strategy.

If you plan to enjoy the walkable Strip for the first part of your stay, picking up a hire car mid‑week is often a great strategy. A Tuesday or Wednesday pickup can be ideal, as the rental facility is often less busy than at the weekend. This approach lets you handle off‑Strip excursions and day trips in the latter half of your holiday, providing a nice change of pace after exploring the main tourist corridor on foot.

The most efficient method is to drive to the airport and follow the signs for Departures. You can drop off all your passengers and their luggage at the kerb corresponding to your airline. Once they are safely on their way to check‑in, drive the car yourself to the Rent‑A‑Car Centre for the return. This avoids having the whole party take the shuttle back from the rental facility with all their bags.