Via iStockphoto / @lootenant_ TikTok
A man tried to walk to his hotel in Vegas—and accidentally revealed why it's a really, really bad idea to do so.
One thing that many tourists in America quickly realize is that driving a car is essential.
Over the past century, most major American cities have bulldozed their walkable past in favor of wide, sprawling streets. In a downtown area, this means that walking from one section of the city to another now takes a considerable amount of time—and occasionally involves walking along freeways or around speeding vehicles.
If you’re lucky, a city will have adequate public transit to get you to your destination car-less. If you’re unlucky, your choices are between walking and hiring an overpriced rideshare.
But even walking can be more difficult than it looks, as one TikTok user recently learned on a trip to Las Vegas.
A Man Tries To Walk In Las Vegas
In a video with over 856,000 views, TikTok user Anthony Walker (@lootenant_) explains why he says that Las Vegas is “not real.”
“My hotel is right there,” he says. He then shows a tall building in the distance. “I’ve been trying to get there for the past 30 minutes. I ain’t got no closer.”
Walker isn’t the only person to complain about the walkability of Las Vegas. In a thread on Reddit, a user echoed the TikToker’s complaints.
“One of the weirdest things about the strip is that even if you see a resort/hotel ‘right there’, it still takes 20 minutes to get there,” the user wrote. “Almost like an illusion.”
Deceptive distances aren’t the only problem with walking in Vegas. Reddit users also note that it gets really, really hot, with summer temperatures regularly exceeding 100 degrees.
How Can You Get Around In Las Vegas?
Seeing all of this, one may wonder how they can actually get from point A to point B in Las Vegas.
The first option is, of course, to rent a car—but that comes with its own problems. Some hotels will offer free parking to guests. If you’re not a guest, however, you may find yourself paying a hefty fee for parking. This can result in parking costs of $20 or more per day.
The next option is using public transit. If you’re navigating the Strip and the surrounding areas, this may be an effective option. You can choose between the Monorail, the Tesla-filled Loop, or some of the other buses and shuttles that are available to people in the city.
Finally, you can use taxis or rideshare. Prices for rideshare fluctuate greatly, with prices being low in the off-season and expensive when conventions are in town. To be price-aware, one may need to mix taxis and rideshare depending on cost.
Alternatively, you can try walking, as the TikToker did—but it’s not recommended. In addition to the distance and high heat, walking in Las Vegas can be dangerous. The city has 3.46 pedestrian deaths per 100,000—the 5th highest for a city in the United States.
Viewers Say He’s Not Alone
In the comments section, users with experience in Las Vegas said that the TikToker’s experience was not unique.
“Vegas is the real backrooms,” a user joked.
“This place is a fever dream, and everything on the strip is a lie. Call a uber,” added another.
“I think every person who visits Vegas for the first time goes through this. My sister and I decided to walk from New York, New York to The Bellagio, because ‘it’s right there!’.. took us 40 minutes,” recalled a third.
“It took me FIVE HOURS to get from Luxor to secret pizza in the cosmopolitan,” detailed a further TikTok user. “FIVE HOURS!”
@lootenant_ Vegas is an illusion fr…🤦🏾♂️
BroBible reached out to Walker via email and Instagram direct message.