7 Things You Can’t Miss at Area 15 Las Vegas

What is Area 15?

It’s hard to describe the AREA15 experience, but to put it simply, it’s a futuristic shopping center. As you enter, you come into a large open space where there are different vendors mixed in with art installations. To the left and right of you, there are spaces filled with museums, interactive exhibits, and shops.

It’s not only contained within the massive warehouse, there are also outside spaces that are used to house art from Burning Man plus other murals and art installations. It has also expanded to multiple buildings making it a full campus of attractions.

Local Tip: When you first enter, you walk through a spaceship airlock, which sets the mood for the rest of your experience. You don’t get much time in it when there’s a line.

See More: 101 Things to Do in Las Vegas Bucket List

Pin

Pin

Area 15 Las Vegas Tickets

Here’s what you need to know about what tickets to buy before arriving.

General Admission into AREA15 is free during the day, but they currently require you to reserve a ticket to help control capacity (you only need one entry pass per group). An entry pass isn’t required if you have tickets to an AREA15 experience or event. Once you arrive inside, you can purchase tickets for different attractions or walk around the browse the shops and restaurants.

They recently restructured their tickets to the following types of tickets. To see which attractions you get access to, see the chart here.

Access Level 1 ($49): One Day Pass with Access to 6 Attractions and Experiences
Access Level 2 ($99): One Day Pass with Access to 11 Attractions and Experiences
Access Level 3 ($124): Two Day Pass with Access to 12 Attractions and Experiences + Omega Mart
Access Level 4 ($250): Two Day Pass with Access to All of AREA15 + More

If you prefer, you can purchase tickets to individual attractions as well!

Area15 Current Hours:

Sunday to Thursday: 11 AM – 11 PM
Friday to Saturday: 11 AM – 1 AM (must be 18+ after 9 PM)

See More: 15 Unique Bucket List Worthy Experiences in Las Vegas

How to Get to Area15

AREA15 Address
3215 S Rancho Dr
Las Vegas, NV 89102 (map)

Getting to AREA15 is easy. It’s off the north end of the strip and they have a dedicated flow for ridesharing. If you’re driving, they have plenty of parking all around the building.

Pin

Pin

7 Things You Can’t Miss at Area 15 Las Vegas

We haven’t checked out everything in Area15 (some exhibits are still opening) but will eventually go and update you with our thoughts. In the meantime, check out our favorites below to help you plan your visit.

1. Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart →

Tickets: $59 for Adults, $50 for Children, $39 for NV Residents

Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart is the anchor experience at AREA15. It’s a huge space and hard to describe. It feels like you’re in another dimension, and you can either walk through and interact with the art on your own or follow the narrative.

Even though this exhibit is pricier, it’s still the best bang for your buck if you consider its size and on average how long people stay for the experience.

More: Meow Wolf Las Vegas – What You Need to Know Before You Go

Pin

Pin

Pin

2. Take a Tour and See the show at Lost Spirits Distillery →

Tickets: Starts at $59 (Locals $49)

This is another amazing experience that is nothing like we’ve seen before. Lost Spirits is a self guided tour where you can taste rums, see performers, and walk through a labyrinth of art. It’s a great way to spend the evening at your own pace giving you a sense of exploration and making each visit unique.

Check out our full guide below!

Local Tip: They also have a pre-fixe dining experience if you want to upgrade!

More: Lost Spirits Distillery Tour – Everything You Need to Know

Pin

Pin

3. Wink World

Tickets: $18 for Adults, $14 for Kids (Local Pricing Available on Site)

If you’ve ever been to a Blue Man Group and love the show, you will love Wink World.

Chris Wink, one of the three co-founders and Chief Creative Officer of Blue Man Group, created Wink World, which is a psychedelic art house. It gives you a small taste of his genius. You start out walking through a narrow hallway checking out art pieces that he’s curated.

Afterward, you enter six infinity mirror rooms. What’s different about these infinity rooms is it takes out the “self” and beautifully integrates sound, light, color, and motion. Our absolute favorite was the breathe room! 

Local Tip: You’ll want to purchase the Chromadepth glasses before checking out the Aliume 3-D Psychedelic Art Gallery (and the main piece outside). I dabble in painting, but it’s mind-blowing how the artist, Alex Aliume, uses different colors to create different depths.

More: Blue Man Group Las Vegas – What to Expect at the Show

Pin

Pin

Pin

4. Illuminarium →

Tickets: Starting at $35

This immersive experience brings tech, music, and visuals together to create a stunning experience.

There are currently two different exhibits: Space and Wild. When we visited, we saw O’Keeffe. You can also get upgrades to your experience including After Dark, which combines the experience with drinks.

Local Tip: There is also a cafe on site with good food and plenty of seating.

Pin

Pin

5. Liftoff →

Tickets: Starts at $10 for Guests 13+

LIFTOFF is one of the newer AREA15 attractions (opened Feb 2022), offering panoramic skyline views of Vegas.

It’s hard to miss the giant balloon and spiral structure located just outside the main entrance, and it’s the first of its kind built in the US.

When you board, you are all facing inwards with a seatbelt securing you into your seat. It looks like an inverted version of Big Shot at the Strat, except it’s more of a leisure ride for the views than a thrill ride.

The balloon then ascends to the 130-foot summit and spins around so you can enjoy the 360-degree view of the strip and surrounding area.

There’s a lounge area where you can hang out as you wait and a bar to grab a drink for your ride (there are cupholders!).

PS. Don’t look down at your dangling feet if you’re afraid of heights. You can see a reel of our ride here.

Local Tip: They provide a phone case for you that you wear around your neck.

More: 25 Fun Indoor Activities in Las Vegas

Pin

Pin

6. Museum Fiasco | “Cluster” by Playmodes Studio

Tickets: $18 for Adults, $12 for Children

Museum Fiasco is a fully immersive installation that uses light and sound to explore the relationship between space, time, and perception.

I know that sounds abstract but the exhibit is abstract! Imagine an infinity room filled with columns and mirrors. Then mix in intense sounds with lights on the columns that go along with it. The concrete floor is semi-reflective too creating an even more open space.

While you’re inside, you’re free to wander around, but I definitely recommend standing in one spot to take in the experience. The overall show last around 12 minutes.

We thought it was pricey for the one exhibit, but the exhibits will continue to rotate and this one is only here for a limited time.

Local Tip: For $1 more, you can purchase an all-day pass if you want to go in and out as you please.

More: 15 Best Museums in Las Vegas + Local Tips

Pin

7. Army of the Dead VR

Tickets: $30 for Adults, $25 for Children

Did you watch Army of the Dead on Netflix or do you love zombies? Army of the Dead is a VR experience located in one of the adjacent buildings on the AREA 15 campus. Unlike the free-roaming VR experiences we’ve been to in Vegas, you are stationary on a tactical taco truck on this one. What makes this experience unique is that the truck moves and bumps as you shoot your way through zombie-filled streets, so it feels like you’re in a moving vehicle.

Local Tip: Photos and video are not allowed during the VR experience but there are photo ops as you get ready and a taco truck sitting outside the building.

Pin

Pin

Pin

Bonus: Get a Drink Under Oddwood’s Maple Tree

Tickets: No admission. Purchase drinks.

This is our favorite piece in the whole place that is free to view. It’s so mesmerizing; I could watch it all day.

The 23-foot-high Japanese maple tree is located at the center of Area 15 and is made of over 5,000 twinkling LED lights that change color. Order a beer or cocktail and enjoy a drink under the branches.

Local Tip: The view of the tree is nicer from the second floor.

Pin

Past Experiences: Van GOgh the Immersive Experience at Area15 →

Dates: April 6 – September 30, 2022

If you love Van Gogh’s art, this 30-minute immersive art show is a great way to see his work come to life. They also have a guided painting experience (Sunflowers & Rose) happening 7/29, 8/12, and 8/26. Although they no longer have it in Las Vegas, you can still see it in a lot of other cities. Check our full guide below.

More: Van Gogh Immersive Experience – Everything You Need to Know

Pin

Upcoming and Ongoing Events

AREA15 hosts a ton of different events throughout the year. We will continue to update this list with upcoming events.

Pin

More: 15 Best Festivals in the US to Add to Your Bucket List

Pin

Best Places to Eat at Area 15 Las Vegas

There aren’t a ton of options for food in AREA15 yet but plenty of chances for snacks or drinks while you check out the other attractions.

• 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea at Lost Spirits – An immersive 16-course tasting dining experience with only 12 seats
• Conduit Cafe – Grab coffee and bite-sized grab-and-go food.
• Dream Weaver Milk & Boba Bar – Soft serve and Boba.
• Kaia Handroll – Tasty handrolls with countertop seating to watch everything being made.
• Lumin Cafe at Illuminarium – Great menu with items like Korean Chicken Sliders, Burger with Truffle Fries, and Poutine Tator Tots.
• Oddwood – Serves a wide variety of beers and cocktails.
• Rocket Fizz – It’s a chain, but if you’ve never been in one, think of a modern-day, old-fashioned soda and candy shop.
• The Beast by Todd English – Todd English is a renowned chef and four-time James Beard Award winner and has curated a menu of mouthwatering food. We enjoyed their BBQ, but I wasn’t a huge fan of their Korean fusion items.

Food Specials at Area 15

Kaia Handroll Happy Hour
Dates: Every Sunday through Thursday.
Time: 7 to 10 p.m.
Location: Kaia Handroll
Description: Offering a vibrant, modern take on sushi handrolls inspired by traditional Japanese flavors and techniques, guests are invited to be the hero of happy hour at Kaia Handroll. Visitors dining in can enjoy 25% off all sakes. Guests buying two handrolls will also get one free.

More Area 15 Attractions

If you have the time, here are some more things to check out at Area 15.

• A-Lot – Outdoor art space featuring large-scale and desert-festival inspired pieces.
• Asylum Bar + Arcade (Free) – Next level arcade bar + event venue.
• Birdly ($13.50) – A VR experience that mimics every aspect of the avian experience.
• Brainstorm ($5) – Reads your expressions and responds by giving you a unique experience every time.
• Dueling Axes (starts at $35) – Axe throwing! 20% off for locals.
• Five Iron Golf (starts at $35) – Indoor golf experience featuring industry-leading golf simulators, pro teachers, and a bar.
• Grand Prix Racing Sim ($13.50) – State-of-the-art fully immersive driving experience.
• Haley’s Comet ($18) – Hang glide + free falling on the first indoor, electric dual-track suspension ride in the US.
• Murals – There are massive murals on the backside of the building worth checking out.
• OZ Experience (starts at $30) – They have two VR experiences. We only did the seated one (which is skippable), but we definitely want to try the immersive one!
• Particle Quest ($8) – Interactive AR experience that takes you throughout the space.
• Portal – 360-degree 3D projection-mapped walls. While we were there it was a sports bar with TVs all around.
• Sanctuary – Giant volcano-shaped, airy dome built from natural materials. Great spot to take a break and grab a drink.
• Virtualis VR – Free Roam VR!
• Wild Muse Boutique – A unique shop with one-of-a-kind, handcrafted apparel, accessories, and art.

Pin

Essential Tips

• To avoid the largest crowds, arrive early. We got there 10 minutes before it opened, and there were already 20+ people in front of us.
• They offer bundled experiences with their packages, but you can also buy tickets to each individual attraction.
• Some of the experiences offer local discounts. You will need to check with each spot to verify what that is.
• Most attractions do not take cash so be sure you have your credit card.
• AREA15 was built for special events. Check this page for the latest events.
• Masks are required at all times.
• DSLRs are not allowed inside AREA15 and you will be asked to leave them in the car.

Best Places to Stay

More Resources

• 15 Unique Bucket List Worthy Experiences in Las Vegas
• Your Essential Guide to the Best Las Vegas Escape Rooms
• 49 Best Places to Eat in Las Vegas
• 9 Las Vegas Shows You Can’t Miss
• 15 Romantic Things to do for Couples in Las Vegas

Have you been to AREA15? What did you think? What were your favorite exhibits?