CES is the largest tech trade show on earth. Every January, over 100,000 people descend on Las Vegas to see what the next year in technology looks like. For entrepreneurs, it is one of the most high-density business environments you can put yourself in: partners, press, investors, vendors, and potential customers all in one city for five days.

But CES is also logistically brutal if you are not prepared. Las Vegas hotel prices triple. The convention center is genuinely massive. The Strip turns into gridlock. Meetings get missed, bags get lost, and opportunities slip through the cracks because people did not plan ahead.

This guide is about logistics. If you want the networking strategy for CES, read our companion post: Networking at CES 2026. This one is about getting there, getting around, and showing up ready to perform.

When to Book: September for January

CES runs the first full week of January. You need to be booking travel in September. This is not an exaggeration.

In a normal week, a solid hotel on the Las Vegas Strip costs $80 to $200 per night. During CES, that same room costs $300 to $600 per night or more. The rooms adjacent to the convention center, at the Venetian, the Palazzo, and the Aria, routinely hit $500 to $800 per night during peak CES dates.

CES badge holders get access to a hotel block booking system through the Consumer Technology Association (CTA). These rates are better than open market pricing, but they still sell out fast. Register for your badge first, then book through the CES housing system immediately.

Flights follow the same pattern. January is shoulder season for Vegas travel generally, but CES turns it into peak demand. Book in September or early October for the best combination of price and seat selection. If you want a broader framework for booking business travel without overpaying, the strategies in our guide to best business travel credit cards can offset a significant portion of CES trip costs.

Best Areas to Stay

The Venetian and Aria Corridor: Convention Center Premium

The Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) is the heart of CES. The Venetian is directly connected to the Venetian Expo (formerly Sands Expo), which hosts significant portions of the show. The Aria and the Park MGM are close enough to walk to the LVCC in 10 to 15 minutes.

Staying in this corridor means: no car needed, easy return to your room between meetings, ability to drop back for calls without burning 45 minutes in transit. It costs more. If your time is worth money, and at CES it is, the premium is worth it. For a ranked breakdown of Las Vegas properties by business traveler needs, see our guide to the top hotels in Las Vegas for business owners.

Off-Strip Savings

If budget is the constraint, the Convention Center area has several more affordable options north of the Strip. The Renaissance Las Vegas, the Hampton Inn near the Convention Center, and several Marriott/Hilton properties in the Convention Center District are a short rideshare or free shuttle ride from the main venues.

You will save $150 to $300 per night compared to Strip rates. The tradeoff is friction: every move between your room and the show floor adds time. For a 4-day event with a packed schedule, that friction compounds.

Before booking, it is worth understanding which hotel loyalty programs stack the best perks for business travel — a topic we cover in detail in our guide to the best cities for corporate retreats in 2026, which breaks down hotel ecosystems across major business destinations.

For more on navigating Las Vegas as a business traveler beyond just CES week, the Las Vegas Business Traveler Guide has a full breakdown of the city from an entrepreneur’s perspective.

Getting from the Airport to the Strip

Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is one of the most convenient major airports in the country: 15 minutes from the Strip in normal traffic. During CES, “normal traffic” does not exist.

Your options in order of reliability:

• Rideshare (Uber/Lyft): Available from the rideshare lot after baggage claim. Expect 20 to 45 minutes wait time during peak arrival windows (Sunday through Tuesday of CES week). Surge pricing will be active. Budget $25 to $50 for the airport-to-Strip ride.
• Town car or pre-booked car service: More reliable than rideshare during peak chaos. Book before you land. The rate is fixed and the driver will be waiting.
• Hotel shuttles: Several major Strip hotels run shuttles from the airport. Slower but free. Good option if you are not in a hurry.
• Taxi: The taxi queue at LAS is well-managed. Line is longer than rideshare but moves consistently. Fixed meter rates, no surge pricing.

Avoid renting a car for airport-to-Strip transit. Parking on the Strip during CES is paid, slow, and stressful. Save the rental car option for off-site meetings.

The Convention Center Layout

The Las Vegas Convention Center is genuinely enormous: over 4.5 million square feet across three main halls (Central, North, South) plus the West Hall, which opened in 2021. CES also spreads into the Venetian Expo and several hotel ballrooms on the Strip.

Key things to know:

• The West Hall houses major consumer tech brands and vehicle tech. Plan extra time to get there from the central halls.
• The Las Vegas Convention Center Loop (the underground tunnel system by the Boring Company) moves people between halls quickly. Worth using during peak hours.
• Download the official CES app. It has a live map, exhibitor search, and schedule manager. It is actually useful.
• Get a printed copy of the floor plan on Day 1. Your phone will die. It always does.

Badge Types

CES badge categories break down roughly as follows:

• Exhibits Plus: Standard access to the show floor and exhibitor halls. The baseline badge for attendees.
• Conference: Adds access to the official keynote sessions and conference programming. Entrepreneurs who want to attend the main keynotes and panel sessions need this tier.
• All Access: Highest tier. Adds exclusive networking events, early access, and invitation-only sessions. Worth it if you are actively fundraising, pitching, or meeting potential partners.

Register early. CES badge prices increase significantly as the event approaches. Early Bird pricing (typically available September through October) can save $200 to $500 per badge depending on the tier.

What to Pack for 4 Days of Walking

CES will put 8 to 12 miles per day on your feet. This is not a metaphor. Pack accordingly:

• Shoes: Worn-in, comfortable, supportive. Do not debut new footwear at CES. You will regret it by 2 PM on Day 1.
• Portable charger: Your phone will be dead by noon. Bring a high-capacity battery pack (20,000 mAh minimum) and charge it every night.
• Layers: Las Vegas in January is cold at night (40s) and the convention center is air-conditioned aggressively. A packable light jacket handles both.
• Collapsible bag or light backpack: For swag, product samples, printed materials, and all the things you will inevitably carry.
• Business cards or a QR code setup: You will meet 50 to 100 people who matter in 4 days. Have a fast, frictionless way to share contact information.
• Snacks: Convention center food is expensive and lines are long. A few bars in your bag save 30-minute meal detours.

Pro Tips for CES Logistics

• Rent a car for off-site meetings. If you have investor meetings, partner dinners, or press events at off-Strip hotels and restaurants, rideshare will destroy your schedule. Renting a car for 1 to 2 days gives you control.
• Pre-schedule everything before you land. CES inboxes explode during the event. Reach out to people you want to meet in November and December. Get calendar holds locked before January.
• Book dinner reservations in advance. The good restaurants are booked solid during CES week. Make reservations before you arrive. Spago, Carbone, and other Strip restaurants fill up weeks out.
• Give yourself 30 minutes between meetings. The convention center is too big to do back-to-back meetings across different halls with no buffer.
• Use the buddy system for hall navigation. If you are attending with a team, designate meeting points. Cell service in the convention center is patchy. You will lose your team.

Connect Logistics with Strategy

Once you have the logistics sorted, the question becomes: how do you actually make CES productive? That is exactly what our companion post covers. Read Networking at CES 2026 for the full playbook on meetings, conversations, and turning a trade show into real business outcomes.

If you are building a company and considering which major events belong in your travel calendar for the year, it is worth thinking about your full event strategy. Northwest Registered Agent can help you get your business structure squared away so you are showing up to these events as a properly formed entity, not just an idea.

While you are in town, it is worth knowing who built empires in this city. Read about the top hustlers from Las Vegas to understand the operators who turned Vegas into a real business ecosystem.

CES rewards preparation. Show up ready, and the city delivers.