Despite Circus Circus Las Vegas being a rather mediocre place to stay during your time in Las Vegas, you can actually have a lot of fun when it comes to the attractions at Circus Circus.
I remember visiting Circus Circus for the first time when I was just about seven years old. I had just moved to the West Coast from New York, and I remember Circus Circus being the coolest thing ever! Burned into my memories are the glimmering lights of the arcade games at The Midway and the circus performers floating through the sky while we were busy trying to win stuffed animals from the colorful carnival games.
Once I grew up, I actually avoided Circus Circus for almost a decade. I was in my party phase and there was absolutely no partying going on at Circus Circus!
But once I found out that I was missing out on the Adventuredome and THE Steak House, I went back. And you know what I realized? Circus Circus has a lot going on.
Now, I wouldn’t recommend you book the rooms (there are much better hotels on the Strip), but I’d definitely recommend you take some time to go enjoy the various attractions at Circus Circus! Here are all the attractions at Circus Circus, ranked from best to meh.
Adventuredome Theme Park
First up on our list is the Adventuredome Theme Park. How they managed to get a whole theme park on the Las Vegas Strip — and make it all indoors for that matter — is beyond me! This is my #1 favorite thing to do at Circus Circus Las Vegas!
The Adventuredome at Circus Circus is one of the largest indoor theme parks in the country. Spanning 5 acres, it offers more than 25 rides and attractions, including roller coasters, thrill rides, mini golf, rock climbing, a laser challenge, and more.
You can easily spend a few hours here, busying yourself with all the thrill rides, roller coasters, and family-friendly attractions at the Adventuredome Theme Park.
Aside from the many coasters and big rides you’ll find, adrenaline lovers will love the Xtreme Zone where you can test your skills at rock climbing and bungee jumping. Families, friends, and couples on date night will enjoy the 18-hole Pirates Bounty mini-golf.
For those of you who enjoy laser tag, there are multiple Bank Heist Laser Challenges you can choose from. There’s even a new Virtual Reality Room with 10 different games to choose from.
If it happens to be raining in Vegas, this indoor theme park is the place to be for unstoppable thrills.
Which Rides We Recommend At Adventuredome
We’re adrenaline junkies, so naturally, we’ll always recommend the rides with the loop-dee-loops and the ones that make your stomach drop!
Canyon Blaster – This is the world’s only indoor double-loop, double-corkscrew roller coaster. Riders must be at least 48 inches tall to ride the Canyon Blaster.
El Loco – Riders will experience twists, turns and drops very unique in the coaster world as they ascend 90 feet before dropping over and under to experience a 1.5 vertical-G while reaching a maximum speed of 45 mph. Riders must be at least 48 inches tall to ride El Loco.
NebulaZ – The newest thrill ride at The Adventuredome! Spin through the air on this action-packed ride, as riders sit at the ends of four rotating arms on a large spinning tower. Riders must be at least 42 inches tall to ride El Loco.
Sling Shot – Who doesn’t love a little stomach drop at a theme park? The Sling Shot will shoot you up its tower with 4 Gs of acceleration and then back down again for a maximum head rush. Riders must be at least 48 inches tall to ride the Sling Shot.
SpongeBob’s Crazy Carnival Ride
Debuting in 2024, the newly-built SpongeBob SquarePants-themed dark ride at Circus Circus promises an unforgettable experience for members of the whole family. If you’re a true Spongebob Squarepants fan like us, then this $6 million attraction is a must-visit for you (and the kids, of course).
The ride takes guests on a whimsical journey through Bikini Bottom, complete with colorful sets, animatronics, and immersive projections. From Mr. Krabs’ zany carnival games to Plankton’s mischievous antics, riders will find themselves fully immersed in the nautical world of SpongeBob SquarePants.
With seating for five per vehicle, you and your group will really feel like you’re in a theme park while riding this!
Midway Games
The Midway is where I go to relive my childhood. It’s everything you love about the carnival games at your local county fair — turned into a permanent venue.
Head upstairs from the casino floor to The Midway inside Circus Circus for classic carnival games, state-of-the-art arcade games, claw machines filled with useless little stuffed animals, and prizes, prizes, prizes!
Even though Midway Games caters to kids and families, it can be a pretty cute spot to take your date, play some games, and people-watch!
PRO TIP: If you show up in the daytime on a random weekday, it’ll likely be very slow, quiet, and dead. For a more energetic carnival atmosphere, we recommend going after 5pm on weekdays or on weekends.
Free Circus Acts
As Circus Circus’ theme suggests, you’re going to be getting some circus vibes while you’re here. You can watch daily free circus performances under the big top, featuring acrobats, clowns, and other entertaining acts.
This is the world’s largest permanent circus, showcasing daily performances at the Carnival Midway. If you stay long enough at The Midway, you might be able to witness acts including:
- The Flying Poemas doing high-flying trapeze tricks from Argentina
- Hossein demonstrates feats of strength and balance hailing from Persia
- Naira showcasing a breathtaking aerial display on silk
- Noelia delivering a solo trapeze performance high above the Midway Stage
- Dave, Tonya, Rocco, and Huel‘s wild and wacky clown acts
- Yongjian & Yong Zhang, twin juggling masters that bring whimsical fun to the big top
- … and more!
THE Steak House
When I first heard that there was a high-end steakhouse nestled inside Circus Circus, I couldn’t believe it. I mean, Circus Circus isn’t particularly known to be a high-end kind of place!
A Las Vegas dining tradition for over 30 years, THE Steak House at Circus Circus is acclaimed for serving high-quality Midwestern beef, dry-aged to perfection in a glass-enclosed room viewable from the main dining room. Prime cuts are prepared over an exhibition-style, open-hearth mesquite charcoal broiler.
I know what you’re thinking. How is this ranked below the games???
The reason why I’ve ranked THE Steak House lower than some of the more fun, lighthearted activities is that while it did have a very nostalgic Old Vegas-style atmosphere and all, we surprisingly didn’t have the best meal here.
Sad, I know — we really wanted to like this steakhouse. My cousin ordered the prime rib medium rare, and it came out a lot more cooked than it should’ve been given the price they were charging. Everyone else’s steaks (two ribeyes and one NY steak) were just okay in our opinion. It may have been just an off night at the steakhouse, but our overall experience was just OK.
Neon Nights at The Adventuredome
Neon Nights at The Adventuredome is a nighttime experience that transforms the indoor amusement park into a glowing wonderland. Spanning 5 acres of indoor fun, the event amps up the excitement with neon-inspired rides, attractions, and Midway Games.
Admission: Neon Nights is included in The Adventuredome’s all-day ride pass
4-D FX Theater
For kids who want to catch a cool little show in 4D while they’re in the Adventuredome, they can choose between the following:
Ice Age 4D: No Time For Nuts – Join Scrat, Ice Age’s resident nut-crazed saber-toothed squirrel, as he time travels in his zaniest adventure to date! Scrat battles a wonky time machine that has zapped his beloved nut, and with buddies Manny, Diego and especially Sid along for the ride the laughs are right on time in this custom 4-D special effects extravaganza!
Scooby Doo – Scooby and the Mystery Inc. gang face their biggest, most challenging mystery ever in “SCOOB!4DExperience”.When they learn of a plot to unleash a wild beast from a prehistoric underworld, the team rallies other heroes to help. Get ready for the Mystery Machine’s wildest adventure yet!
Angry Birds The Ride – Your favorite characters from the world’s #1 mobile gaming series take on those mischievous piggies and their never-ending bag of tricks, complete with swarms of buzzing bees and massive TNT explosions!
Splash Zone and Pools
If you happen to be a hotel guest at Circus Circus, you’ll be able to enjoy the pools and the new-and-improved Splash Zone here.
The Splash Zone is a water play area perfect for cooling off from the desert heat — Circus Circus’ newly expanded pool experience features a 50-foot waterslide tower with three exciting slides and their Splash Pad, an all ages water playground with waterfalls and splash buckets.
For the adults, there are two refreshing pools and relaxing whirlpools. There is also the Splash Snacks food truck and cabanas for rent. Cabanas include lounge chairs, straight-back chairs, a TV, mini-fridge, safe, and a storage cabinet. Cabanas seat up to four people and pricing starts at $50.
The Bars at Circus Circus
In total, Circus Circus offers three bars with the most popular one being West Bar. This is a full bar equipped with TVs showcasing major sporting events 24 hours a day.
If you’re looking to save a couple of bucks, don’t miss the happy hour at West Bar! It runs from Monday to Friday between 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM and 3:00 AM – 6:00 AM. Enjoy special deals including $5 Mimosas, $6 SKYY Vodka Bloody Mary or Jim Beam/Jack Daniel’s Cocktail, and a combo of a Bottle of Beer and a House Shot for $8.
The Big Chill and The Big Chill 2 serve your favorite frozen beverages with the option to keep a specialty glass. They offer great prices on refills along with draft and bottled beer.
Shopping Promenade
Shopping is another attraction at Circus Circus. The stores within the 40,000-square-foot shopping Promenade may not offer anything out of the ordinary, but they do provide convenience and essential items for visitors and hotel guests who need things in a pinch.
“IT’S VEGAS” serves as the go-to spot for Circus Circus and Las Vegas souvenirs, with two locations. Circus Spirits, near the hotel lobby, is where you can go to pick up liquor, beer, and snacks. Market Express, open 24 hours on the casino level, is a quick-stop convenience store stocked with essentials.
Slots A Fun Gift Shop inside the casino provides Las Vegas and Circus Circus souvenirs, along with spirits and tobacco products. The Midway Gift Shop, above the main casino on the Midway level, has toys, snacks, apparel, and souvenirs for a complete shopping experience.
Other Hotels To Explore Near Circus Circus Las Vegas
The STRAT Hotel, Casino & SkyPod: A 20-minute walk north from Circus Circus will bring you to The STRAT, boasting the iconic STRAT Tower and the SkyPod. The hotel features various restaurants (including the famous Top of the World restarant), thrilling rides, and a spacious casino.
Resorts World Las Vegas: A newer addition to the Strip, Resorts World is around a 20-minute walk from Circus Circus and offers a variety of dining, entertainment, and gaming options. Most notably, we love Resorts World for its Asian-inspired Famous Food Street Eats food hall!
Wynn and Encore Las Vegas: Just a 15-minute walk away from Circus Circus is Wynn and Encore. These two sister properties provide luxury accommodations, epic fine dining, and access to some of the best nightlife and partying on the Las Vegas Strip.
Other Kid-Friendly Hotels In Las Vegas
Excalibur Hotel & Casino: With its medieval theme, Excalibur offers one of the most family-friendly environments on the Las Vegas Strip. While Circus Circus is home to the Adventuredome, Excalibur is known for the huge assortments of kid-friendly shows, arcades, and exhibits like The Mac King Comedy Magic Show, Ultimate 4-D Experience, and The Fun Dungeon arcade.
Excalibur also has a pool area with waterslides and the Tournament of Kings dinner show, providing endless entertainment for kids!
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