Parking is still free at Planet Hollywood for now.

But yeah, the surroundings of Las Vegas are great for nature lovers: Red Rock, Valley of Fire, and Mount Charleston are all within an hour drive, and there are a good number of national parks within day tripping distance.

I didn't crazy care for my time in Las Vegas, but I loved Valley of Fire park. It was incredible seeing the martian landscape and petroglyphs of ancient peoples.

I drilled the well at the visitor’s center.

Woah. When did they start charging for parking at the casinos on the strip?

I lived in Vegas from 2009-2012, and I used to always park at the Bellagio whenever I took tourist friends to the strip. My mom used to always tell me "Yeah, parking is free because the casinos pay for it!" Sad times now that that's no longer the case :(

At least the casinos' tax revenue still makes up for a lack of a state income tax...right?

> When did they start charging for parking at the casinos on the strip?

Years ago, sadly. And it's not just that it's no longer free, it's actually creating more traffic. The whole Vegas experience is non-trivially worse for it.

The Wynn/Encore apparently brought back free parking last year.

The parking charges are a pain. Previously I would just pick up a car at the airport if I were using it to go somewhere like Death Valley after a four-day conference or so. Now it makes more sense to either rent a car at one of the hotels or just go back to the rental car center at the airport.

Treasure Island has free parking as well as some others.

Recently. They need to pay for the new stadium they are are massively leveraged for.

Ah I forgot about this. The Las Vegas Oakland Raiders' stadium...

some (most?) of the casinos have free parking for nevada residents

Not anymore...

I was just there and parking was free at the palazzo.

Dang. I was just there last year, and it was so nice.