Pros

  • Large family-friendly resort on the strip
  • Free circus performances throughout the day
  • Three outdoor pools, plus water park-style slides
  • Rooms have flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and hairdryers
  • Indoor theme park with 25 rides and attractions
  • Six restaurants, including a well-regarded steakhouse
  • Several bars and fast-food outlets
  • Beauty salon and a fitness center
  • Free Wi-Fi
See More Pros

Cons

  • Rooms feature dark, drab, and often worn decor
  • Cleanliness issues across the property
  • Crowds everywhere
  • Cheapest rooms are located in detached motel-style buildings
  • Fitness center is small for the size of the property
  • Daily resort fee (common in Vegas)
See More Cons

Bottom Line

With rock-bottom rates and tons of family-friendly features, the mid-range Circus Circus Hotel & Casino is a popular option on the Las Vegas strip. The mega hotel’s 3,773 dingy rooms are not the main attraction, instead the on-site amusement park, waterslides, arcade, and hourly circus performances attract families looking for affordable fun on the strip. However, guests should expect crowds everywhere. Also on the downside, cleanliness issues are common throughout the property, and rooms are quite drab and worn, plus they lack mini-fridges. On-site dining options are limited (by Vegas standards) and other amenities like the fitness center and beauty salon are underwhelming. For better accommodations on the strip, families should check out Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, though it’s pricier. 

See More Bottom Line

Amenities

  • Casino
  • Cribs
  • Fitness Center
  • Internet
  • Jacuzzi
  • Pool

Oyster Hotel Review

Circus Circus Hotel & Casino Las Vegas

Scene

A cheap hotel on the strip that attracts lots of families 

The Circus Circus's reputation precedes it: This huge, chaotic hotel was immortalized in the book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever. Its casino is one oldest in town, dating back to 1968 -- which counts as real history in a city that consistently tears down the old to make way for the flashy and new.

The name Circus Circus is derived from the property’s Bigtop-theme. But the hotel’s name also appropriately describes its atmosphere: pure bedlam. With rock-bottom rates and tons of family-friendly entertainment -- the huge indoor theme park is the standout here -- Circus Circus attracts lots of multigenerational families and groups traveling together. The atmosphere is chaotic, with thousands of guests constantly moving throughout the property’s main thoroughfares. The hotel’s dark interiors and dingy decor are common frustrations with past guests, as are cleanliness issues, in both rooms and common spaces. Overall, although rates are affordable, this hotel doesn't offer the best value until its rooms and common areas are updated.

Although more expensive, The Mirage Hotel & Casino and Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino are both better alternatives for families with kids and groups.

See More Scene

Location

On the northern end of the strip, away from all the action 

Circus Circus is located on the northern side of the strip, far from most of the action on the famous boulevard. The area around Circus Circus feels somewhat desolate, and doesn’t have the same thrilling feeling as points farther south. To get around, the majority of guests rely on cabs or ride-sharing services -- as the nearest monorail stop is a 12-minute walk away at the SLS Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. Circus Circus is a 15-minute drive from McCarran International Airport. 

See More Location

Rooms

Dated, drab decor and cleanliness issues throughout 

Travelers expecting huge Vegas-style suites or outlandish decor won’t be impressed by rooms at Circus Circus, where decor more closely resembles a motel than a themed Vegas resort. Rooms feature one king or two queen-size beds, and basic amenities like flat-screen TVs and electronic safes. Bathrooms have shower/tub combos and shower curtains. 

There are multiple room types at Circus Circus, but none of them are great. In a city known for cheap hotel rooms, it’s worth spending a bit more money to avoid the dingy rooms at Circus Circus. All guests should know that the hotel’s cheapest rooms (called “Manor Motor Lodge Rooms”) are not located within the hotel’s main towers. Instead, these rooms are housed in motel-style buildings located behind the main hotel complex. Not only are these rooms shabby, motor lodge-style accommodations, they’re far away from the resort’s amenities, like the casino, arcade, and circus ring. 

Within the main towers, the hotel has a few basic room types and several one-bedroom suites. Decor isn’t circus-themed, as one might assume. It’s actually the opposite of a Circus: dull, drab, and monotone. Beige walls, carpets, and bedspreads are not only boring, they’re not good at hiding stains. Like the rest of the property, rooms at Circus Circus are clearly rundown. During our visit we noticed broken lamp shades, worn-out pillows, stained furniture and carpets, and a musty smell in bathrooms. 

See More Rooms

Features

Tons of family-friendly attractions, like an indoor theme park and hourly circus performances 

Circus Circus is best known for its family-friendly amenities, particularly its indoor Adventuredome that's popular with hotel guests and other local visitors. It’s free to enter, but guests must pay for each ride and attraction. The Adventuredome has a few small roller coasters, a mini-golf course, boardwalk games, bumper cars, and 4-D interactive rides. Outside, hotel guests have exclusive access to the property’s two pools and waterslides. On warm, sunny days, the pool area is absolute mayhem, with tons of kids splashing around the entire space. The 50-foot waterslide tower features racing slides and a serpent tube slide. There’s also a kiddie splash zone with jets and fountains. The pool and water park are free for hotel guests, but it’s usually so crowded, there’s a line to get in. 

On the second floor of the casino is a circular arcade called the Midway. The Midway is lined with arcade games and a food court. In the center, the hotel’s hourly circus performances take place. The “circus” is mostly acrobatic acts that last about 30 minutes. For anyone who’d like to snag a great seat, we’d recommend arriving 20-30 minutes prior to the performance, as seating fills up quickly. On the casino floor, you’ll find more retired folk than stiletto-clad 20-somethings. It’s not the type of Vegas casino that attracts high rollers or professional gamers. Instead the penny slots and five-dollar tables are most popular. 

Unlike some of its neighbors on the strip, Circus Circus isn’t a destination for great dining. The hotel is home to six restaurants, along with multiple bars and quick-service eateries. Circus Circus has the compulsory Vegas buffet, a well-regarded steakhouse, burger joint, Tex-Mex eatery, pizzeria, and 24-hour deli. There are also several fast-food options, like McDonalds, Krispy Kreme, and Starbucks. The restaurants at Circus Circus aren’t anything to write home about. For great food, guests are better off dining somewhere else on the strip. Bars are dispersed across the hotel, so alcohol is never far from reach.  

Circus Circus doesn’t have a spa, but there is a ho-hum beauty salon and a fitness center that’s way too small for the size of the hotel. Wi-Fi is free, but daily resort fee and parking fees are sometimes more than the hotel’s nightly room rate. 

See More Features

Things You Should Know About Circus Circus Hotel & Casino Las Vegas

Also Known As

  • Circus Circus Las Vegas

Room Types

  • Casino Tower Room
  • Larger King Tower Room
  • Manor-Motor Lodge Room
  • Skyrise Tower Room
  • West Tower Room

Address

2880 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109-1138, United States

Phone

(877) 434-9175

Website

Oyster Hotel Review

Circus Circus Hotel & Casino Las Vegas

Scene

A cheap hotel on the strip that attracts lots of families 

The Circus Circus's reputation precedes it: This huge, chaotic hotel was immortalized in the book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever. Its casino is one oldest in town, dating back to 1968 -- which counts as real history in a city that consistently tears down the old to make way for the flashy and new.

The name Circus Circus is derived from the property’s Bigtop-theme. But the hotel’s name also appropriately describes its atmosphere: pure bedlam. With rock-bottom rates and tons of family-friendly entertainment -- the huge indoor theme park is the standout here -- Circus Circus attracts lots of multigenerational families and groups traveling together. The atmosphere is chaotic, with thousands of guests constantly moving throughout the property’s main thoroughfares. The hotel’s dark interiors and dingy decor are common frustrations with past guests, as are cleanliness issues, in both rooms and common spaces. Overall, although rates are affordable, this hotel doesn't offer the best value until its rooms and common areas are updated.

Although more expensive, The Mirage Hotel & Casino and Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino are both better alternatives for families with kids and groups.

See More Scene

Location

On the northern end of the strip, away from all the action 

Circus Circus is located on the northern side of the strip, far from most of the action on the famous boulevard. The area around Circus Circus feels somewhat desolate, and doesn’t have the same thrilling feeling as points farther south. To get around, the majority of guests rely on cabs or ride-sharing services -- as the nearest monorail stop is a 12-minute walk away at the SLS Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. Circus Circus is a 15-minute drive from McCarran International Airport. 

See More Location

Rooms

Dated, drab decor and cleanliness issues throughout 

Travelers expecting huge Vegas-style suites or outlandish decor won’t be impressed by rooms at Circus Circus, where decor more closely resembles a motel than a themed Vegas resort. Rooms feature one king or two queen-size beds, and basic amenities like flat-screen TVs and electronic safes. Bathrooms have shower/tub combos and shower curtains. 

There are multiple room types at Circus Circus, but none of them are great. In a city known for cheap hotel rooms, it’s worth spending a bit more money to avoid the dingy rooms at Circus Circus. All guests should know that the hotel’s cheapest rooms (called “Manor Motor Lodge Rooms”) are not located within the hotel’s main towers. Instead, these rooms are housed in motel-style buildings located behind the main hotel complex. Not only are these rooms shabby, motor lodge-style accommodations, they’re far away from the resort’s amenities, like the casino, arcade, and circus ring. 

Within the main towers, the hotel has a few basic room types and several one-bedroom suites. Decor isn’t circus-themed, as one might assume. It’s actually the opposite of a Circus: dull, drab, and monotone. Beige walls, carpets, and bedspreads are not only boring, they’re not good at hiding stains. Like the rest of the property, rooms at Circus Circus are clearly rundown. During our visit we noticed broken lamp shades, worn-out pillows, stained furniture and carpets, and a musty smell in bathrooms. 

See More Rooms

Features

Tons of family-friendly attractions, like an indoor theme park and hourly circus performances 

Circus Circus is best known for its family-friendly amenities, particularly its indoor Adventuredome that's popular with hotel guests and other local visitors. It’s free to enter, but guests must pay for each ride and attraction. The Adventuredome has a few small roller coasters, a mini-golf course, boardwalk games, bumper cars, and 4-D interactive rides. Outside, hotel guests have exclusive access to the property’s two pools and waterslides. On warm, sunny days, the pool area is absolute mayhem, with tons of kids splashing around the entire space. The 50-foot waterslide tower features racing slides and a serpent tube slide. There’s also a kiddie splash zone with jets and fountains. The pool and water park are free for hotel guests, but it’s usually so crowded, there’s a line to get in. 

On the second floor of the casino is a circular arcade called the Midway. The Midway is lined with arcade games and a food court. In the center, the hotel’s hourly circus performances take place. The “circus” is mostly acrobatic acts that last about 30 minutes. For anyone who’d like to snag a great seat, we’d recommend arriving 20-30 minutes prior to the performance, as seating fills up quickly. On the casino floor, you’ll find more retired folk than stiletto-clad 20-somethings. It’s not the type of Vegas casino that attracts high rollers or professional gamers. Instead the penny slots and five-dollar tables are most popular. 

Unlike some of its neighbors on the strip, Circus Circus isn’t a destination for great dining. The hotel is home to six restaurants, along with multiple bars and quick-service eateries. Circus Circus has the compulsory Vegas buffet, a well-regarded steakhouse, burger joint, Tex-Mex eatery, pizzeria, and 24-hour deli. There are also several fast-food options, like McDonalds, Krispy Kreme, and Starbucks. The restaurants at Circus Circus aren’t anything to write home about. For great food, guests are better off dining somewhere else on the strip. Bars are dispersed across the hotel, so alcohol is never far from reach.  

Circus Circus doesn’t have a spa, but there is a ho-hum beauty salon and a fitness center that’s way too small for the size of the hotel. Wi-Fi is free, but daily resort fee and parking fees are sometimes more than the hotel’s nightly room rate. 

See More Features

Best Rates

Amenities

  • Air Conditioner

  • Airport Transportation

  • Basic Television

  • Beauty / Hair Salon

  • Business Center

  • Cable

  • Casino

  • Children's Pool

  • Concierge

  • Cribs

  • Dry Cleaning

  • Fitness Center

  • Gameroom / Arcade

  • Internet

  • Jacuzzi

  • Kids Allowed

  • Laundry

  • Meeting / Conference Rooms

  • Pool

  • Poolside Drink Service

  • Rental Car Service Desk Onsite

  • Room Service

  • Separate Bedroom / Living Room Space

  • Smoking Rooms Available

  • Supervised Kids Activities

Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.