Heading to Las Vegas with kids? YAY! I’m so excited for you! Before you finalize plans, you’ll definitely want to book family-friendly lodging in Las Vegas. That’s why I’m excited to tell you about the best hotels for kids in Vegas, in my opinion.
What makes a great kids hotel in Las Vegas? You could ask my kids! When we go to Vegas, they want to see fun activities customized for kids, restaurants that cater to picky eaters, and did I mention the pool? Kids absolutely want an excellent pool situation—and I’m happy to report these 5 best hotels for kids in Vegas deliver!
These are a few of our top recommendations for family-friendly casinos in Las Vegas to book on your next trip. Plus, I’m sharing the best free kid-friendly casino attractions, no matter where you stay!
The most kid-friendly casinos in Las Vegas
You might be surprised at the wonderful hotels for kids in Las Vegas. Here, I’m sharing the hotel-casinos with the best family amenities and attractions.
The best hotels for kids in Vegas are:
- Mandalay Bay
- Circus Circus
- The Bellagio
- Excalibur
- New York-New York
Read on to find out why these are the best Las Vegas hotels for families on The Strip. But don’t stop there! Keep going to read about free family activities in Las Vegas casinos you’ll want to check out, no matter where you stay!
Mandalay Bay
A hotel in the desert—with a beach? Sign me up right now.
That’s what I thought about Mandalay Bay, one of the most family-friendly casinos in Las Vegas.
Most hotel-casinos in Vegas have pools, but Mandalay Bay’s has a sandy bottom. And a water park. Good luck getting your kids to do any of the other family activities in Las Vegas because they won’t want to leave the pool.
Features of this kid-friendly casino:
- Epic pool, lazy river and water park! (Some pools have a real sand bottom so you feel like you’re on the beach.)
- Aquarium inside the hotel
- Close to McCarran Airport and walkable to the Welcome to Las Vegas sign
- Kid-friendly restaurants, including House of Blues and Citizens Kitchen
Book your stay at Mandalay Bay
Circus Circus
Fun fact: I stayed at Circus Circus my first-ever time in Vegas, when I was about 10. My family and I still laugh over those memories! We had an amazing time back then—and Circus Circus continues to be a kid-friendly hotel and casino in Las Vegas.
Yes, it’s a casino, and yes it’s a hotel, but it’s also a theme park, carnival and water park—all rolled into one.
Features of this kid-friendly casino:
- Kid-friendly pool, water park and water slides!
- Circus and arcade games
- The Adventuredome is like a theme park, right inside this family-friendly Las Vegas hotel. You can go on indoor carnival rides and everything!
- Miniature golf
- Free clown shows, circus acts and entertainment
Book your stay at Circus Circus
The Bellagio
If your family likes luxury, without the $$$ price tags, the Bellagio is the best hotel for kids in Vegas for you. Room rates are comparable to other Las Vegas hotel-casinos, with an extra dose of fancy.
The deluxe casino remains kid-friendly, while leaving lots for the grown-ups to enjoy. Rooms give the whole fam space to spread out. Pools are big enough for kids to splash around, with poolside service for adults to order drinks with little umbrellas in them. (I’ll take 2, pls.)
And its central location makes the Bellagio a great home base to explore Las Vegas.
Features of this kid-friendly casino:
- Epic 8-acre fountain with light show
- Family-friendly suites
- Central location on the Strip, easy walking distance to many of the best Vegas attractions
- Hotel shuttle
- Kid-friendly breakfast included
- Family-friendly arcade
Book your stay at The Bellagio
Excalibur
“Huzzah!” That’s what your family—and the knights—will say of this medieval-themed hotel and casino. You can get as into character as you like. I definitely won’t judge if you waltz around Vegas like the queen you are.
The Excalibur reminds me of a Playmobil setup during the day, but its charm doesn’t stop there. Make sure you step outside Excalibur at night. Your kids will love seeing it lit up. It looks truly magical!
Features of this kid-friendly casino:
- Treasure hunts in the hotel
- Arcade with games
- Live show: the Tournament of Kings is an interactive event where you cheer for your knight to win the tournament.
Book your stay at Excalibur, Las Vegas
New York-New York
Question: Why would you go all the way to Las Vegas to visit… New York? Answer: Because it’s one of the most fun, family-friendly hotels in Vegas!
Its theme is over the top, literally. A roller coaster actually takes you above and around this smaller-sized NYC skyline.
Before you think the New York-New York hotel in Vegas is simply too odd, let go and embrace its quirks. I mean, you’re in Vegas. You don’t bat an eye about being “transported” to Italy, France or Egypt, do you? Your kids will get a kick out of gazing up at the Empire State Building and Lady Liberty.
Features of this family-friendly casino:
- Outdoor roller coaster (timed entry tickets)
- Kid-friendly arcade and games
- Hershey’s Chocolate World—yum!
- Dog-friendly rooms if you’re traveling with pups
Book your stay at New York-New York hotel in Las Vegas
Now that you’ve read all about the best hotels for kids in Vegas, it’s time to talk about the other family-friendly casinos on The Strip.
Free family-friendly casino attractions
No matter which family-friendly hotel in Las Vegas you choose, you can enjoy these casino attractions.
My kids and I like to walk from casino to casino, checking out the kid-friendly things to do in each.
I recommend doing a few at a time, rather than attempting a casino adventure marathon. The Strip is deceptively long, and it takes a lot of walking between attractions. My kids’ legs get tired out!
(Remember, you can also take the Las Vegas monorail. My kids love it!)
Check out my post on Kid-Friendly Things to do in Las Vegas for even more ideas, and download my family-friendly Las Vegas map as your guide:
Now, let’s get to all the fun and free kid-friendly casino attractions!
Bellagio Botanical Garden
Whether or not you stay at the Bellagio, you should definitely check out the casino’s Botanical Garden.
This fanciful attraction changes themes regularly. That means even if you visited the last time you were in Vegas, you’ll want to go again.
Artists and designers go completely overboard creating whimsical displays. They feature flowers and plants, of course—this is a garden after all. But that’s not all.
You may see animatronics, performers or animals when you visit. No matter the theme, you and your kids will love exploring the Bellagio Botanical Garden.
Flamingos at the Flamingo
Are there flamingos in Las Vegas? Yes! Though they’re not native, and you won’t find any in the wild, you can see flamingos at the Flamingo casino and hotel.
This free thing to do in Las Vegas with kids is open every day from 7am-8pm. You can also spot other birds (such as pelicans and hummingbirds) as well as fish and turtles.
My kids love animals, so of course we had to see the flamingos in Las Vegas. Naturally, the flamingos live at the Flamingo casino and hotel. (It’s the oldest casino on The Strip.)
The flamingos are out even when it’s cold. (Yes, it gets cold in Vegas.) Stop by and say hi!
Chariots Fountain at the Caesar
Maybe it’s all the mythology books Maxine reads, but my kids are totally into the Chariots Fountain at the Caesar hotel-casino.
This part of the Strip is designed like ancient Roman architecture. Expect a lot of columns, white stone, and of course fantastical creatures straight out of myth.
Maxine and Edie are both convinced that flying horses and mermaids are real. (“Why else would there be so many stories about them?” #KidLogic) They took the statues at the Chariots Fountain as further proof.
Bonus: The Fountain on the Strip is a great place to pause and have a snack. If your kids’ feet are tired from walking, take a seat next to the fountain. It’s also a great spot for people watching!
Chihuly Glass at the Bellagio
Artist Dale Chihuly creates fantastical, colorful sculptures of glass. You can see one of his more famous installations in the lobby of the Bellagio.
Roughly 2,000 glass blossoms hang from the ceiling in the Bellagio lobby. The piece, which weighs more than 40,000 pounds, is called Fiori di Como. (“Fiori” means flower in Italian.) You and your family might imagine what else the blooms look like. They remind me of jellyfish!
Whatever you think they look like, visiting this famous Chihuly glass sculpture in the Bellagio is one of the best kid-friendly casino activities in Las Vegas.
The Chandelier in the Cosmopolitan Casino
If you’re looking for glitz and glamour, you want the Chandelier in the Cosmopolitan. This Las Vegas attraction is at the center of the Cosmopolitan casino and hotel.
Layers of shimmering crystals hang in a multi-story installation. Soft purple light illuminates the Chandelier, casting sparkles everywhere.
The inside of the Chandelier is a series of bars—not exactly kid-friendly. But you and your family can check out this impressive thing to see from balconies that ring the Chandelier.
While this beautiful attraction isn’t necessarily worth its own stand-alone trip, it’s absolutely worth a detour if you’re in the Cosmopolitan! (Especially if you’re going ice skating. More on that below!)
Ice Skating in Las Vegas
Ice skating—in Las Vegas?! Yes!
While you probably think of the hot desert and Sin City, you can actually go ice skating here in the winter—in true over-the-top Las Vegas style.
(This family-friendly casino attraction isn’t free but I wanted to include it anyway because it’s awesome!)
For the winter season, the Cosmopolitan converts its rooftop pool to an ice skating rink. You don’t have to stay in the hotel to enjoy this kid-friendly thing to do in Las Vegas. Just buy your tickets ahead of time (it gets busy!) and lace up your skate rentals!
We went ice skating in Las Vegas on our most recent trip. We went at night to best see the lights of the Strip. It’s so cool to skate all aglow from the neon lights of the Strip!
You can also buy cocktails and snacks. Fire pits, which you can rent and use to toast marshmallows, ring the ice skating rink, too.
Which of these Las Vegas casinos and hotels would you choose for your family vacation? Did I miss any? Let me know in the comments!
PS – If you’re looking for more fun Vegas activities, check out these posts:
14 Unique Things to do in Las Vegas
Valley of Fire: Epic Hikes 1 Hour from the Strip
Kraft Mountain and Boulders: Easy Hikes 30 Minutes from Vegas
I definitely can see how kids would love Vegas! I had no idea that there was so much for them to do. I think I’ll take my granddaughter. I know she’d LOVE it, especially staying at New York New York!
Fantastic tips of hotels where to stay in Las Vegas, I would love to stay in Bellagio one day! it is such a mythical place! thanks for sharing this guide!
You convinced me! I need to stay at the Mandalay Bay with the kiddo next time we visit Vegas!
Great guide, thank you for sharing! I’ve been to Las Vegas many times, but never realized there was so much for kids to do, or hotels that were so accommodating for families. We’ll have to consider taking our granddaughter. 🙂
You’re very welcome, Gail! We absolutely love going to Las Vegas with kids. We meet my in-laws there, so they get lots of grandparents time with my kids, too. It’s a wonderful family-friendly destination!
These look so fun! I remember seeing the Bellagio the last time I was in Las Vegas, I’m sure it would be a ton of fun for kids.
Don’t they?! I can’t wait to take my kids to all these Vegas hotels!
Wow, I’m so glad to hear about these kid-friendly Vegas hotels, since we’re thinking about going there soon! The Chihuly art installation is my favorite, but I would probably love visiting Excalibur too.
Oh, I’d love to hear where you end up staying, Jenn! I hope you have a great family trip to Vegas!!
Thnx!