We're just one week away from the mass migration of poker players to the Las Vegas Valley for the 2026 World Series of Poker.
It's 6-7 grindy weeks of air-conditioned poker, and millions of dollars are waiting for you all summer long. All you have to do is survive it.
Surviving a Las Vegas summer isn't easy. What starts as a relatively welcoming summer vibe in May will eventually turn into 120-degree days, and you will need to stay sane through it all.
We've already produced several guides to navigating the summer scene, a few of which you can see below. There are also essential apps to download and a few outdoor adventures to get you out of the house.
Beat the heat at our pools, drink lots of water, and lock in for a long summer.
Navigate the WSOP
We have produced several useful guides that can help you survive the summer series already, and you'll find a few of the best ones below. You'll need to plan a lot of meals and get yourself around without breaking the bank.
The late-night scene isn't what it once was in Las Vegas, but you will still need to have a regular spot to wind down with a bustout meal away from WSOP trauma. Chinatown is a short trip away, but that's not the only option:
You will also find plenty of healthy eating guides throughout our sides and others, but sometimes survival means comfort. Stock up on snacks and candy, because you're an adult and it's a free country.
Efficient dinner breaks are everything, should you be so lucky to survive the tournament until the evening. Make sure you're back in time for the late levels with our local guide.
Public transportation in Las Vegas is a D-minus but it doesn't bite. You can still make use of useful bus routes up and down the strip and along the major artery streets. Ubers add up.
Touch some grass
You can't spend all summer in a casino. You just can't. It's not good for your mind, body, or soul. At some point you will need to get outside, but it's boiling hot, so you need to think outside The Strip.
Drive into Utah and enjoy a day at Zion National Park. Our national parks are a can't-miss proposition, and ZNP is among the best. It's only three hours away and an easy day trip. You'll also find slightly cooler weather.
More cool temperatures are available if you make your way up Mt. Charleston. You'll need a car to get there but it's still within Las Vegas, so it's not that far away. Head up the mountain for cooler temperatures and a nice hike.
You can also golf at one of the valley's dozens of golf courses, which enjoy a slower season when the temperatures reach record highs. Try to get out in the early morning and let the hot weather come on slowly throughout the round, or take advantage of cheap twilight rates.
We don't have a lot of parks in the traditional sense, but you can get some soccer in over at Sunset Park.
Get these apps
UberEats - You'd be surprised what you can get delivered to the side door at Horseshoe. From healthy to very unhealthy, there are more options than you realize just steps away from the poker room.
TickPick - There are a lot of ticket apps available and most of them will be useful throughout the summer if you like last-minute tickets to shows. You can find great deals during the slower hot season, so keep an eye out if you dump all your chips early in the day.
RTC Transit - An essential app for riding any public transit in Las Vegas. Pay fares and scan your way onto the bus.
Caesars Rewards - Keep track of your rewards points and use your phone as a room key when you inevitably lose the real one.
InMapz - An app that features maps of casino interiors, ensuring you don't get lost in our many mazes.
All of the above plus water. Make sure you drink water. If you think you've had enough water, enjoy another glass. You can never have enough water in Las Vegas. Don't pass out at the WSOP. Drink water.
