The Ultimate F1 Las Vegas Road Closure Guide: 5 Crucial Things To Know About The NEW 1 PM Strip Shutdown
Planning your trip or commute around the Las Vegas Strip for the 2025 Formula 1 Grand Prix requires you to throw out last year's traffic playbook. The biggest change for the upcoming race, scheduled for November 20-22, 2025, is a significant shift in the daily road closure schedule, which will begin hours earlier, creating a much more intense traffic impact across the Resort Corridor. This new timeline is a direct result of the earlier 8 PM race start time, making it essential for locals, tourists, and event-goers to understand the phased, rolling closures that will turn the heart of Las Vegas into a complex, high-security circuit.
As of today, December 24, 2025, the official transportation information confirms that the "hot track" closures will begin much earlier, impacting major arteries like Las Vegas Boulevard and Sands Avenue well before the evening rush. Navigating the 3.8-mile street circuit—which encompasses some of the city's most vital roadways—will be a major logistical challenge, necessitating meticulous planning for all travel, including rideshares, public transit, and pedestrian access.
The Critical 2025 F1 Las Vegas Road Closure Timeline: 1 PM Shutdown
The 2025 F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix introduces a major change to the daily race-week closure schedule. Unlike previous years where the main Strip closures began closer to the evening, the entire circuit will now be completely shut down much earlier. This shift is the single most important piece of information for anyone in the area during the race weekend.
The core race week runs from Thursday, November 20, through Saturday, November 22, 2025. During these three days, the following critical closure times will be in effect:
- Rolling Closures Begin: 1:00 PM (13:00 PST)
- Full Circuit Closure: All roads, including Las Vegas Boulevard and Sands Avenue, are completely closed by 3:00 PM (15:00 PST).
- Circuit Reopening: Roads will reopen each morning, typically around 4:00 AM, though this is subject to track breakdown and safety checks.
This early shutdown means that the Las Vegas Strip, a crucial north-south artery, will be inaccessible to regular vehicular traffic for approximately 13 hours each day of the race weekend. The impact on travel will begin long before the 1 PM hard closure, as preliminary barriers and traffic movement restrictions are put in place.
Key Streets and Duration of Closures
The 3.8-mile track utilizes four primary streets, each facing different levels of disruption, with construction phases beginning weeks in advance of the main event. Understanding the specific streets affected is key to finding effective alternative routes.
Koval Lane: The Longest Closure
Koval Lane faces the most extreme closure period due to its pivotal role in the paddock and main event infrastructure. A full, 24-hour closure of Koval Lane, running from Rochelle Avenue to Harmon Avenue, is scheduled to start well before race week, typically around November 15, and remain in effect until November 24, 2025. This extended shutdown severely limits north-south travel east of the Strip.
Las Vegas Boulevard (The Strip)
The iconic section of Las Vegas Boulevard, from Harmon Avenue north to Sands Avenue, transforms into the main straightaway. This area is subject to the new, earlier 1 PM to 3 PM full closure schedule during race days. Outside of race week, construction may limit lane access, such as the initial closure of three southbound lanes between Flamingo Road and Bellagio Drive, which can last through mid-November.
Sands Avenue and Harmon Avenue
These two major east-west corridors form the north and south boundaries of the circuit's main loop. They are included in the 1 PM rolling closures and the 3 PM full shutdown on race days. Traffic attempting to cross the Strip will be redirected to alternative routes further north or south.
Navigating the F1 Las Vegas Traffic Chaos: Essential Alternative Routes and Tips
With the heart of the Resort Corridor effectively blocked for half the day, planning your travel using alternative routes and public transportation is non-negotiable. The goal is to avoid the circuit area entirely during the afternoon and evening closure window.
The Best Alternative Routes
For north-south travel, the closure of Koval Lane and Las Vegas Boulevard forces all traffic to the outermost edges of the resort area. These routes will experience significant congestion, so travel times should be heavily padded.
- Interstate 15 (I-15): This is the primary and most reliable north-south alternative route, running parallel to the Strip on the west side. Expect heavy traffic, especially during peak travel times.
- Paradise Road: Located east of Koval Lane, Paradise Road becomes a critical north-south thoroughfare. It is the closest alternative to the circuit, making it prone to severe congestion.
- Swenson Street/Joe W. Brown Drive: Further east, these roads offer additional north-south relief, particularly for access to the airport and areas east of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
Rideshare and Public Transit Strategy (RTC Detours)
Rideshare services (Uber/Lyft) will be heavily impacted, with surge pricing and difficulty accessing pick-up/drop-off zones near the closed circuit. Dedicated rideshare zones will be established outside the perimeter. The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) will implement numerous bus route detours. Always check the RTC’s official schedule for the most current information, as routes crossing the Strip will be severely limited during the closure window.
The Las Vegas Monorail: Your Lifeline
The Las Vegas Monorail, which runs along the east side of the Strip, remains the most efficient way to travel north-south *within* the resort corridor during the closures. It operates outside the circuit perimeter and will likely extend its hours to accommodate the massive influx of race traffic. It connects key locations like the MGM Grand, Horseshoe/Paris, Flamingo, LINQ, Harrah's, and the SAHARA.
Pedestrian Access and Viewing Restrictions: What to Expect
The F1 Grand Prix transforms the Strip into a high-security zone, which has a massive impact on the typical Las Vegas experience, particularly for walkers. Pedestrian access is heavily restricted, and viewing is actively managed.
Fenced-Off Areas and Pedestrian Bridges
Expect extensive fencing and barriers along the circuit, particularly on Las Vegas Boulevard, Koval Lane, and Sands Avenue. In a move that drew significant attention in previous years, many of the famous pedestrian bridges spanning the Strip will be enclosed with aluminum walls or screens.
- No Free Viewing: The enclosures are explicitly designed to prevent unauthorized viewing of the track from public walkways and hotel infrastructure.
- Redirected Footpaths: Walking routes will be redirected around the circuit, adding significant time to what would normally be short walks between resorts.
- Temporary Bridges: Temporary vehicle and pedestrian bridges are installed to allow hotel guests and emergency services to navigate the circuit perimeter, but these are often limited to ticketed guests or specific access points.
In summary, the 2025 F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix demands a proactive approach to transportation planning. The new 1 PM daily closure is a critical detail that will dramatically shift the traffic timeline, making early morning travel essential and afternoon/evening travel within the corridor nearly impossible. Always rely on the official LVGP Transportation website and RTC updates for the most current, real-time closure maps and schedules.
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