The barricades begin going up in the street in front of Mandalay Bay Resort at 4pm, and they work their way down the Vegas strip until it's completely shut off from traffic by 6pm.
If you're staying at one of the strip hotels and go out to dinner, be aware of the fact most properties lock their entrance doors at 11pm to keep the drunks out of their casinos = you're locked out of your hotel, until after the fireworks end at approximately 12:30am.
The strip reopens at 3am, and will be bumper to bumper traffic.
The hotel valet will only be accepting hotel guests, and will fill up quickly.
The hotel garages will be jammed with sightseers, who park there...so, it will be difficult to find parking.
I spoke with limo companies, and they require a 6 hour booking on NYE.
Most hotel properties require a 2 night stay, and the rates are higher than usual.
If you plan to rendezvous on NYE, on the strip, I'd advise only accepting a 12 hour booking because of the road closure and traffic issue.
If you love crowds and lots of drunks surrounding you, and you just want to go to the strip to view the fireworks...go for it.
Have a Safe & Happy 2017!
Robbin
xox
as other were saying:
6pm NYE to maybe 6am (usually hours earlier) the strip is blocked off for any vehicles. I-15 exits to the strip are closed (Sahara to Russell).
hotels garages close early and only accept hotel guests and high rollers. If you park, you can pretty much leave it there until daylight since that's when it'll be accessible to get out.
casinos will only let hotel guests and gamblers (having a players card) in roughly 11pm on. If you have to use the restroom, do it early and make sure you don't have to again until you get away from the strip. Can't remember if they had portapotties in places since it's like a festival.
300k people partying in Vegas on NYE so you can imagine a nice chunk of those people will be walking up and down the strip.
LVRJ usually does an article about the conditions.
The 2 times I was on the strip for NYE, I parked on a side street on the west side of I-15, south of Trop, maybe closer to Hacienda since I recall walking over the overpass there to get to the strip. It was chilly enough both times to wear a heavy jacket outside. The smart people say to wear layers, maybe if you're going inside and out a fair amount. As it got closer to midnight, you wanted to be between 2 of the hotels doing fireworks so you got a decent view of it. You'll probably do a lot of walking so comfortable warm shoes, couple layers of socks. I feel it's like doing NYE in Times Square, worth doing once to say you've done it, something to cross off the bucket list. Pretty boring unless you like to people watch. Don't know if there's anything around the outdoor part of the Linq between the strip and High Roller or if the MGM Park area between NYNY and Monte Carlo has anything going on that might be a decent diversion.
No firsthand experience of FSE but they've been ticketed (wristband) events for a bunch of years now. At least they have live bands and the casinos have outside bars if you're thirsty. Parking fees are probably jacked up so getting close and taking a cab (or just take Uber/Lyft from home these days) probably the way to get in/out for NYE.
