Planespotting is the term for people that like to watch, photograph or video record airplanes taking-off or landing. There are some great places at and around Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to watch aircraft arrive in Las Vegas or depart to cities around the world.
You can start with the Arrivals/Departures on FlightAware.com 🌐, so you know what planes you are looking at. You can also hear air traffic controllers and pilots communicate with each other at LiveATC.net 🌐.
One of the most popular places to watch planes take-off and land is on Sunset Road. This is the one and only “official” planespotting spot in Las Vegas. It is located exactly across the touchdown zone of runway 26L. Good views of departures on 26R are also possible.
The official spot on Sunset Road has a very tall barbed wire fence, so you will see people standing on their SUV, truck, or they bring a tall ladder. If your camera allows you to shoot through the fence, you will be fine and be able to capture some great photos or video. Hours: 9am-9pm daily.
You may enjoy planespotting across Sunset Road at PT’s Gold (Airport) even more than the “official” spot. Here you can watch the planes talk-off and land from large windows inside or you can venture to the outside covered patio.
At PT’s Gold, there is no need to stand in a parking lot taking pictures when you can be in a nice 21+ only tavern dining and having a refreshing drink. PT’s Gold (Airport) address/hours: 1661 Sunset Rd, Las Vegas (Open 24/7)
Other good planespotting locations include the top floors of the parking garages at Harry Reid Airport, outside the cargo ramps for Fed Ex and UPS, next to the crash gate on Las Vegas Blvd, in the Executive Terminal parking lot, the top floor of the MGM Grand self parking garage and several other places.
If you are renting a hotel room in Las Vegas, there are several properties that have rooms that face Harry Reid Airport. When checking-in ask for a room on a high floor facing the airport (doing this, you may sacrifice a Las Vegas Strip view).
Hotels with good views of the airport include, Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, MGM Grand and for a bonus, book a balcony room at The Signature at MGM Grand.
Fun Fact: Janet Airlines has a large and highly classified fleet of passenger aircraft operated by the U.S. Air Force to transport military and contractor employees to the Nevada National Security Site (including Area 51) from a private terminal at Harry Reid Airport. Some of the Janet planes are Boeing 737-600 aircraft painted white with a red stripe.