January to April
January is a genuine bargain outside CES (early January), when the Convention Center fills and Strip rooms that normally list at $75 jump to $350+. After CES clears, expect $60-90 midweek at Excalibur, Luxor or Flamingo, with highs around 58F and cold desert nights. February brings Super Bowl weekend spikes and Chinese New Year at the Asian-facing casinos (Wynn, Palazzo). Everything is open; pools reopen mid-month at some resorts.
March is the busiest non-holiday stretch: spring break, March Madness (sportsbooks packed at Westgate and Circa's Stadium Swim), and NASCAR weekend. Rooms double from February. April is the sweet spot — 80F days, all pools open, EDC anticipation building, and rates settle to $120-180 on the Strip midweek before summer conventions arrive.
May to August
May kicks off with EDC weekend (third weekend), when every hotel within shuttle distance of the Motor Speedway sells out and rates triple. Outside that window, May is warm (90F) and reasonable. June through August is low season for a reason: 105-115F daily, pool decks that close early for heat, and Strip rooms at $50-80 midweek at properties like Harrah's, Ballys and Treasure Island.
If you can handle the heat, summer is the deal window — dayclubs (Encore Beach Club, Ayu) are in full swing, and indoor everything is running. July 4 weekend spikes; the rest of summer is soft. Bring a hat, hydrate, and do not park more than a block from your destination between noon and 6pm.
September to December
September stays hot through mid-month, then eases. Rates stay low until Formula 1 weekend in late November, which is now the single most expensive week of the year — Strip-view rooms at Bellagio, Cosmopolitan and Caesars run $1,500+ and require multi-night minimums. October is excellent: 80F, all pools still open, Life is Beautiful festival downtown mid-month.
November outside F1 is quiet and cheap ($70-100). December splits: the first two weeks are dead (rates as low as $45 at off-Strip properties like The Orleans), then NFR rodeo takes over for ten days, followed by New Year's Eve, when the Strip closes to traffic and every room requires a 3-4 night minimum at holiday pricing.
Good to know
What is the single cheapest week to visit?+
The first full week of December, before NFR rodeo begins. Midweek rooms at properties like Excalibur, Circus Circus and The Orleans routinely drop below $50, and weather is mild (65F days).
When do the pools close?+
Most Strip pools close roughly late October through early March, though heated pools at Encore, Aria and Cosmopolitan operate year-round. Dayclubs run mid-March through late September.