The STRAT Tower and Thrill Rides

Reviewed by the Vegas Guide editorial team · Updated September 2026

The STRAT Tower is the tallest observation tower in the U.S. - 1,149 feet with indoor and open-air decks open to 1 AM, plus the Big Shot launch and SkyJump 900+ feet up, from $28.

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Is the STRAT Tower Worth It? Review, Rides & Best Time

The STRAT Tower is the tallest observation tower in the United States - 1,149 feet over the north end of the Strip, with an indoor deck behind floor-to-ceiling glass and an open-air deck above it. It crowns The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower, and it keeps the latest hours of any deck in town, running to 1:00 AM most nights.

The other reason to come up is what's bolted to the top: Big Shot, America's highest thrill ride, fires you 160 feet up the needle at 45 mph from the 921-foot platform, alongside the separate SkyJump controlled descent. Be aware the tower's other two rides aren't running: Insanity was removed for good in 2023, and X-Scream is still closed for maintenance with no reopen date, so ignore listings promising a trio. The rides also sit out Tuesday and Wednesday. Deck admission runs $28 including taxes and fees; one thrill ride plus admission is $36, so buy the combo up front if you plan to ride. One honest note on location: the tower sits at the far north tip of the Boulevard, so plan a rideshare rather than a stroll from mid-Strip.

Insider tipGo after 10 PM: the tour groups are gone, the deck runs to 1 AM, and the Strip is fully lit end to end. If you want Big Shot too, come Thursday through Monday and arrive before 8; the rides are dark on Tuesday and Wednesday and close at 10 the rest of the week.

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Venue

The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower

★★★★

The STRAT is the north Strip's landmark tower hotel, home to the tallest observation tower in the US - with sky-high thrill rides, the Top of the World restaurant and panoramic views - paired with budget-friendly rooms.

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2000 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

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Frequently asked questions

STRAT Tower, High Roller or the Eiffel Tower - which view is best?

The STRAT is the highest by far (1,149 ft vs 550 and 460) and usually the cheapest to enter, but it stands apart from the heart of the Strip - you look down the whole Boulevard rather than into it. For fountains pick the Eiffel deck; for mid-Strip immersion the wheel; for altitude and late hours, this one.

How much does the STRAT Tower cost?

Deck entry is $28 including taxes and fees. Adding Big Shot brings a one-ride combo to $36, and an unlimited-ride wristband with admission runs $49 Monday to Thursday, $59 Friday to Sunday. Buy the combo up front: paying for the deck and then the ride separately costs more.

Which thrill rides are still running?

Big Shot - the 4-G launch up the needle - plus the separately ticketed SkyJump descent, and neither Big Shot nor the rides desk operates on Tuesday or Wednesday. Insanity closed permanently in 2023 and X-Scream remains closed for maintenance, so any page selling all three is out of date.

How late is the observation deck open?

Until 1:00 AM most nights, and no other Vegas deck comes close. Tuesdays and Wednesdays the deck doesn't open until 4 PM, and the rides shut at 10:00 PM on the days they run, so ride first and linger on the deck after.

Do you need a lot of time here?

An hour covers the decks at a relaxed pace; add 15–20 minutes for Big Shot including queue. Sunset into darkness is the window worth planning around - the whole Strip switches on beneath you.

Rating

4.1

PriceFrom $28

WhereThe STRAT

Address2000 S. Las Vegas Blvd.

Tower vs ridesDeck admission is $28 including taxes and fees. One thrill ride plus admission is $36; an unlimited-ride wristband with admission runs $49 Monday to Thursday and $59 Friday to Sunday. Midweek promotions regularly knock a few dollars off each.

Up topBig Shot fires 160 feet straight up the needle at 45 mph, 48-inch minimum, plus the separately ticketed SkyJump descent. Insanity (removed 2023) and X-Scream (closed for maintenance) no longer run, and the thrill rides are dark Tuesday and Wednesday.

Under 16Riders under 16 need a parent or guardian with their own tower admission to go up.

TimingThe decks run until 1:00 AM, hours later than any other observation point in Vegas. The rides stop at 10:00 PM and don't run at all on Tuesday or Wednesday, so plan the ride first.

Opening hours SkyPod decks: Thu–Mon 10:00 AM – 1:00 AM; Tue–Wed 4:00 PM – 1:00 AM Thrill rides: 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM, closed Tuesday and Wednesday, weather permitting

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