The Las Vegas Neon Museum is cooler and more atmospheric by night, but there’s an argument for visiting in the day, too.
- To skip the information and choose from a massive range of Las Vegas experiences, head here.
What is the Las Vegas Neon Museum?
The Las Vegas Neon Museum is an organisation that saves and restores old neon signs from across the city.
Historic neon signs from the likes of the Stardust, Desert Inn and Riviera hotels are kept alongside the giant skull from Treasure Island and enormous neon guitar from the Hard Rock Hotel in what’s affectionately referred to as a neon boneyard.
Is it worth visiting the Las Vegas Neon Museum?
The Las Vegas Neon Museum is unquestionably worth visiting, and has become a much better attraction over the last decade or so. There are more signs restored, and both the guided tours and self-guided walks are full of information about these neon relics and Las Vegas’ past.
Many visit just to get photos of themselves amongst the giant, flashing signs. But the Las Vegas Neon Museum is also a heartening masterpiece of cultural preservation.
The best time to visit the Las Vegas Neon Museum
It is currently possible to visit the Las Vegas Neon Museum in the daytime and after sunset. During summer, the Las Vegas Neon Museum opening hours are 4pm to midnight.
But is it best to visit the Las Vegas Neon Museum by day or by night? Well, a lot will depend on what else you’ve got in your schedule.
However, I’d argue that the neon lights are best seen against the dark Nevada sky. The Neon Museum is more atmospheric at night. And, in summer at least, visiting at night allows you to avoid the roasting hot daytime temperatures. This is an outdoor attraction, and by day, it can be uncomfortably hot.
Las Vegas nighttime experiences
However, perhaps more than any city on earth, Las Vegas has plenty of nighttime experiences – whether tours or shows. You may end up with packed evenings, but at a loose end during the day.
If that’s the case, you can choose to visit the Las Vegas Neon Museum after the shows have finished or just go beforehand.
Where is the Las Vegas Neon Museum?
The Las Vegas Neon Museum is at 770 Las Vegas Boulevard N. This is a few not particularly walkable blocks north of the Fremont Street Experience in Downtown Las Vegas.
Things to do near the Neon Museum
- The Mob Museum – In downtown Las Vegas, this museum explores the history of organised crime and law enforcement in the United States through exhibits, artefacts and interactive displays.
- Fremont Street Experience – This pedestrian entertainment district has a huge overhead LED canopy, live music and historic casino signs, offering another perspective on Las Vegas neon.
- Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park – This historic site preserves the remains of an early settlement established in 1855, before Las Vegas became a major city.
- Las Vegas Natural History Museum – North of downtown, this museum covers dinosaurs, marine life, geology and the wildlife of Nevada and the wider region.
- Arts District – South of the Neon Museum, this neighbourhood has independent galleries, murals, antique shops, cafés and bars, making it a useful addition to a downtown visit.
Alternative attractions
- Atomic Museum – This museum explores the history of nuclear testing in Nevada, with exhibits on the Nevada Test Site, the Cold War and the effects of the atomic age on Las Vegas.
- Springs Preserve – A cultural and natural history attraction with botanical gardens, walking trails and exhibits about the springs that supported the original Las Vegas settlement.
- Punk Rock Museum – This museum traces the history of punk music through memorabilia, instruments, photographs and exhibits contributed by musicians and others from the scene.
- Clark County Museum – In Henderson, this museum explores the history of southern Nevada through historic buildings, domestic displays and outdoor exhibits.
- Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign – The famous roadside sign at the southern end of the Strip is a useful stop for photographs and a different example of the city’s visual identity.
More Las Vegas information
Other Las Vegas travel tips on Planet Whitley include:
- Which is the best Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil show for children?
- Why an ebike tour is the best way to explore Red Rock Canyon.
- 101 things to do in Las Vegas besides gamble.
- My number one tip for visitors to Las Vegas.
- Which hotels are on the Las Vegas Monorail?
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