Posted by Ali on Dec 01 2015
See all packing list posts here.
Despite its reputation as a hot desert location, Las Vegas does actually get cold in the winter. It won’t be frigid and it’s highly unlikely you’ll see snow, but it’s not balmy all year round. Average temperatures in December and January are around 55F/13C for the highs and 38F/3C for the lows.
My best friend lives in Las Vegas, so I’ve been there several times to visit, including in the middle of winter.
If you’re wondering what to wear in Vegas in January, or what to pack for Vegas in February, it’s definitely not shorts. Here’s what I had on my packing list for Vegas in winter. This should work for a long weekend trip.
>> Hear how one traveler went to Vegas with no luggage.
Clothing
This will depend on the exact activities you choose to do. If you’re going to gamble, you might not need dressy clothes, but if you’re planning on hitting the clubs or going to see a show, you’ll want to include one or two nice outfits.
- 1 pair of jeans
- 1 pair of nice pants: black works well
- 3 long-sleeved shirts
- 1 cute top
- 1 dress: for the club or a show
- 1 cardigan
- underwear
- 1 pair of tights or stockings: if you’re packing a dress
- socks
- 1-2 bras
- 1 jacket
If your plans do include going to a club, be aware that you might have to wait in line outside for awhile in the cold. Maybe this means wearing nice black pants instead of a dress, but if you have your heart set on a cute dress, just know that your legs might get a bit chilly while you wait. And look up the club you plan on checking out to make sure they have a coat check.
>>Going to Vegas in the summer? Check out the packing list for Las Vegas in summer.
Shoes
- 1 pair of comfortable walking shoes: for exploring the strip during the day
- 1 pair of nicer shoes: heels or flats for the club or a show
Many clubs have strict dress codes and require ladies to wear high heels. It might be worth bringing a pair of roll-up or fold-up flats to wear on the walk to the club and switching when you get there.
Toiletries
There really isn’t anything out of the ordinary here. Pack your normal toiletries and you should be fine. If you’re trying to pack carry-on only, think about replacing liquids with solids when possible.
- Shampoo, conditioner, soap/shower gel
- Make-up
- Moisturizer: the desert air is quite dry
- Lip balm
- Lotion
- Razor
- Deodorant
- Solid perfume
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Hair brush and hair ties
- Prescription medications
Accessories
Like with your clothing, this depends on what you’re doing in Vegas. You don’t need to wear jewelry if you’re spending the weekend sitting at the slot machines, but you might want to add a necklace and some earrings to your outfit if you’re going clubbing.
- A scarf: one that can dress up your outfit and keep your neck warm at night
- Jewelry: don’t bring anything expensive
- Purse
- Sunglasses: just don’t wear them to the club
Electronics
Despite the saying that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, you’ll probably want to capture some of the memories with your camera.
- Camera
- Smartphone
- E-reader
- Plug adapter: if you’re coming from outside North America
- Chargers, cords, and batteries
Tips to enjoy your Las Vegas trip
Don’t forget to have your ID on you at all times. You must be 21 or older to drink, gamble, or even be on the casino floor.
If you’re not set on a specific show, you can often get discount tickets the day of or the day before a show.
Vegas parties every night of the week, but it’s a little less crowded on weekdays. Try going Wednesday through Saturday instead of on the weekend itself. You can often find deals on flights and hotels that way too.
Have fun but don’t get too carried away. No one wants their trip to Vegas to turn out like The Hangover.
What else would you pack for a trip to Vegas in the winter?
Book a Viator Tour for Your Trip to Las Vegas in Winter
Small-Group Downtown and Fremont Street History Walking Tour ↗
Discover the bright lights of old Las Vegas on this walking tour.
Grand Canyon West Rim Bus Tour & Hoover Dam Photo Stop with Optional Skywalk ↗
Visit the Grand Canyon, and see several other sights along the way, on this full-day tour from Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Lights Night Tour – $49.99
Las Vegas comes alive at night, when the lights of the casinos dazzle the dark sky. There’s no better time to explore the Strip than after the sun has gone down, and the Las Vegas Lights Night Tour will take you to the best spots. The approximately 3.5-hour tour includes stops at the erupting volcano at The Mirage, the famous dancing fountains at Bellagio, the iconic neon “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign and the incredible Fremont Street Experience light show.
Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour from Las Vegas
Enjoy an exclusive experience of the Grand Canyon on this exciting helicopter tour from Las Vegas! After a smooth, scenic flight over Hoover Dam and Lake Mead to the West Rim, land on a private bluff deep in the canyon for a Champagne toast and snacks. No other Grand Canyon helicopter tour lands this deep, so you’ll get an unparalleled viewing of the Grand Canyon in all its glory.
Download This Packing Checklist Now
Plus get access to 100+ more FREE downloadable packing lists.
Written by Ali
Ali Garland is a freelance writer, blogger, and travel addict who made it to all 7 continents before her 30th birthday. She enjoys travel planning, encouraging others to see the world, and packing carry-on only. She and her husband are expats living in Berlin. You can find Ali at Ali's Adventures and Travel Made Simple.
More posts you may like
Ultralight Packing List: I Traveled for 3 Weeks with a 12L Handbag
Pack Light for Paris in Spring: One Woman’s Essential Packing List
Ultimate Female Packing List for Spain in Spring
Ultimate Female Packing List for Japan (in Spring)
Travel Resources
HPL Learnables
HPL Packing Method – Learn to pack your lightest bag ever in this revolutionary packing course by HPL founder, Brooke.
Book Your Trip
Viator – Enhance your trip experience by booking from thousands of tours across the globe.
Booking.com – Search for hotels, hostels, and apartments using this one resource. Use it for flights, car rentals, and airport taxis as well.
Trusted Housesitters – Save money on travel accommodation by becoming a housesitter. Housesitters often have extra duties, like caring for pets and gardens.
See More Travel Resources
Reader Interactions
Comments
Stacey saysFor some reason I always expect Vegas to be hot, but even though I visited in September I still needed plenty of warm clothes purely because the air conditioning is always so cold in the restaurants and hotels!
Reply
- Ali says
Very true! The air conditioning is definitely strong enough to want a sweater or something even in the summer.
Reply
- Jojo says
As I googled for info I noticed info about it being WINDY.. in January. Is this true? I know high buildings and no trees may allow the winds to whip up. Do you remember exceptional wind? Traveling in 2 weeks.
Reply
- Ali says
Hmm…I know it gets windy there because my best friend who lives in Vegas is an air traffic controller and talks about how windy it is. I honestly don’t remember it being strong enough to be noticeable, but maybe it just doesn’t stick in my memory? If your hair goes all over the place in wind (only takes a faint breeze for mine) bring some hair ties or a headband or something like that. But also remember that, despite the colder weather in the winter there, it won’t be frigid temperatures.
Reply
- Jo says
I am going to Vegas tomorrow for the 1st time ever at the age of 55. I wasn’t planning on taking high heels. What shows require you to wear heels? Light weight jacket or a winter coat? I live in Iowa and right now it is -7
Reply
- Phyllis says
Jo how was your trip
I’m attending for the first time in a few weeks
And I’m 53 years young.
How was the weather and what show did you see, did they require heels??Reply
- LINDA says
my bf and I are planning on going the second week of December and now im debating if its a good plan. I love to plan ahead especially my outfits LOL and I was planning on taking long floral dresses and long skirts with strapless tops? would that be considered a bad idea?
Reply
- Ali says
I think you might get a little cold dressed like that. Maybe bring jeans or some other kind of pants for during the day and if you want to wear dresses/skirts to go out at night, make sure you have a jacket. It’s not hot in the winter, and can actually get kind of cold.
Reply
- Tawana Calloway says
How Is the weather In Vegas for the Month of November?
Reply
- Ali says
November is still warm, but not as crazy hot as it is in the summer. Search for average temperature in Vegas in November to get more solid numbers.
Reply
- Kate says
I’m going inFebruary. Is it gonna cold in this month?k
Reply
- Ali says
The weather can vary, definitely check the forecast a couple days before you go. It’ll most likely be cold at night, so prepare for that, and pack clothes you can layer.
Reply
- Michelle says
Just found your website and I love it! Going to Las Vegas from my birthday with my mom in mid-October, and was wondering what the weather will be like at that time. Would you still suggest the summer packing list? Do you have a Las Vegas fall packing list?
Reply
- Ali says
I’d probably pack a little closer to the summer list than the winter list. October will still be warm (when I look at the forecast for this week, it says the highs are anywhere from high 70s to low 90s) so you shouldn’t have to worry about cold weather. Probably worth packing a sweater or something in case it’s super air conditioned inside somewhere though!
Reply
- Florence says
Hi me and my husband were going on vacation on mid December for 1 week. don’t know what I’m gonna bring.do I need winter clothes , is the weather warm or cold
Reply
- Ali says
Hi Florence, when I look at the weather forecast for this week, it’s still warm, like mid 60s to mid 70s, but down in the 40s at night. Check the weather as it gets closer to your trip, but your best bet is to pack clothes you can layer so you won’t be too hot during the day but you can easily layer up at night when it gets colder. And keep in mind the casinos are often air conditioned pretty heavily, so you could get cold inside too. The weather can vary this time of year, so just make sure to look at the forecast a few days before you go. Enjoy!
Reply
- Elsie says
So I will be traveling to Vegas tonight from Miami I know there’s slight differences between the two right now. But when I checked the weather it’s showing more high 60s 70s I plan on bringing one sweater two pairs of heeled shoes something comfortable to wear on the strip and two dresses for dinner and the club.
Reply
- Louisa Whitehead says
Hi I’m going out 17th January for my 40th. What do you suggest to take for an 8 day break.
Reply
- Tawana N Blake says
Me and my sisters are coming to Vegas in January the 29th to be exact how should I pack for Vegas for January being that I’m from Delaware and it’s cold here during this month need help
Reply
- Ali says
It won’t be as cold as Delaware. Check the weather a few days before you go, but my weather app says the highs right now are mid 50s to mid 60s, and the lows are mid 30s to low 50s. Make sure you can layer up at night, and don’t expect to be able to wear shorts during the day. Bring a light jacket. It won’t be hot, as some people expect it to be year round.
Reply
- Claudette says
Hi Ali, going to Vagas for the first time my 70th birthday gift to myself. My two nieces are going also. Should we book tours in advance or could we just do it when we get there? It’s 5 days…
What’s a must do list?Reply
- Ali says
Hi Claudette! If there’s something specific you KNOW you want to do, it might be worth booking ahead of time. But there’s also plenty of things you can book at the last minute. There are places all over selling tours to nearby places like the Grand Canyon, as an example. There are some places that do last minute discounts on tickets to shows in Vegas. But if there’s a specific show you want to see, if you’re worried about not being able to get tickets, think about booking ahead.
Reply
- Kaydee says
I’m going later this month …and I’m not a dressy type of person…just simple….wat do u recommend
Reply
- Brooke says
If you’re not going to any clubs or planning on fancy dinners, there is no need to bring dressy clothes. Stick to what’s comfortable for you. Definitely comfortable shoes for all the walking you will probably do. Layerable tops to put on when cold and take off when warmer.
Reply
- KD says
Hi Ali! Is it safe to say no swimming end of January?
Reply
- Ali says
Probably no swimming in January. Last time I was there in January, it was coat weather. Maybe throw in a bathing suit in case your hotel has a heated or indoor pool.
Reply
