Exploring The Boring Company’s Tunnels in Las Vegas: A Journey Below the Strip

Elon Musk’s The Boring Company is revolutionizing transportation in Las Vegas with its ambitious underground tunnel network, known as the Vegas Loop. This innovative project, born from Musk’s frustration with surface traffic, promises to transform how people move through Sin City—faster, quieter, and out of sight. As of early 2025, the Vegas Loop is making significant strides, offering a glimpse into a future where underground transit could redefine urban mobility. Let’s dive into the current state of The Boring Company’s tunnels in Las Vegas, their appeal, and the exciting plans for future expansion.

The Boring Company, founded by Elon Musk in 2016, aims to solve traffic congestion by digging tunnels beneath cities, allowing vehicles to travel underground at higher speeds without the chaos of surface streets. In Las Vegas, this vision has taken shape with the Vegas Loop, a series of tunnels designed to transport passengers point-to-point using Tesla electric vehicles. Unlike traditional subways or buses, the Vegas Loop uses human-driven or potentially autonomous Tesla Model X and Y vehicles, whisking riders directly to their destinations without multiple stops.

The project began with the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) Loop, which opened in April 2021. This initial phase spans 1.7 miles of tunnels connecting three stations—West, Central, and South—across the convention center campus. It slashes a 45-minute walk between expo halls to a mere two-minute ride, handling up to 4,500 passengers per hour during peak events like the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). With a construction cost of about $47 million, the LVCC Loop has already transported over 1.5 million passengers, demonstrating its potential as a quick, efficient people-mover.

The Vegas Loop’s appeal lies in its simplicity, speed, and unique approach to transit. For the 32 million annual visitors to Las Vegas—many attending conventions or exploring the Strip—the tunnels offer a fast, weatherproof alternative to clogged roads and long walks. A trip from the LVCC to Allegiant Stadium, for instance, takes just four minutes underground, compared to up to 30 minutes on surface roads during peak hours. Fares are reasonable, ranging from $5 to $12 depending on the distance, making it an attractive option for tourists and locals alike.

For residents, the tunnels promise relief from Las Vegas’ notorious traffic, especially as the city grows. The system’s point-to-point design—where passengers are driven directly to their destination—eliminates the need for transfers, unlike traditional public transit systems. This efficiency, combined with Tesla’s electric vehicles producing no exhaust fumes, aligns with Las Vegas’ push for sustainable tourism, even if the project relies entirely on private funding from The Boring Company and participating properties, not public money.

However, the system isn’t without its critics. Some riders at CES reported traffic jams within the narrow tunnels, with vehicles limited to a top speed of 35 mph—far below Musk’s initial promise of 150 mph autonomous travel. Others, including Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, have labeled it “unsafe,” “impractical,” and an inadequate replacement for robust public transit like light rail or buses, citing the small passenger capacity of Tesla vehicles (typically three to four per car) and the lack of emergency exits.

As of February 2025, the Vegas Loop is expanding rapidly beyond the LVCC Loop. The Boring Company has completed tunneling for connections to Resorts World, Westgate, and Encore, with these stations expected to open in 2024 or early 2025. Construction is also underway for a new 2-mile tunnel connecting the LVCC to a station near the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) at 3150 Paradise Road, marking the furthest expansion from the convention center campus. This tunnel, launched in April 2024, could link to Harry Reid International Airport, enhancing the system’s reach.

The Vegas Loop now includes 2.2 miles of operational tunnels, with plans for a much larger network. Clark County and Las Vegas have approved expansions totaling 68 to 81 stations and 65 to 68 miles of tunnels, stretching from the South Las Vegas Boulevard to downtown Las Vegas, including stops at major landmarks like the Stratosphere, Fremont Street, Allegiant Stadium, and the airport. The system uses Tesla vehicles operated by chauffeurs, though The Boring Company aims to introduce autonomous driving as Tesla’s Full Self-Driving technology matures.

Despite the progress, no tunnels have been dug within Las Vegas city limits yet, and there’s no firm timeline for when the full network will be operational. Construction challenges, including city regulations, engineering disputes over tunnel depth, and the slow pace of boring (recent stretches have taken weeks per mile), have delayed progress. Still, The Boring Company remains optimistic, with CEO Steve Davis estimating station costs between $1.5 million and $20 million, depending on design and location.

The Boring Company’s vision for the Vegas Loop is nothing short of transformative. Future expansions aim to create a comprehensive underground transit system connecting key destinations across Las Vegas and Clark County. Here’s what’s on the horizon:

Las Vegas city engineers have rejected initial tunnel designs, citing safety concerns for high-rise buildings above the tunnels and frustration with The Boring Company’s use of foreign design codes (like EU/Swiss standards). Construction costs could rise if deeper or stronger tunnels are required, and logistical hurdles—such as navigating city permits and maintaining tunnel integrity—could slow progress. Critics argue the system’s focus on private vehicles and limited passenger capacity makes it less practical than traditional public transit, raising questions about its long-term viability as a city-wide solution.

To visualize The Boring Company’s plans, you can explore a detailed map of the Vegas Loop’s current routes, under-construction sites, and future expansions on The Boring Company’s official website. Click here to view the Vegas Loop map. The map highlights operational tunnels in yellow, approved projects in blue, and proposed expansions in light blue, offering a clear picture of how Las Vegas could soon move underground.

The Boring Company’s tunnels in Las Vegas represent a bold experiment in urban transportation, blending Musk’s penchant for disruption with practical transit needs. If successful, the Vegas Loop could serve as a model for other cities struggling with traffic congestion, proving that underground tunnels can offer a cost-effective, weatherproof alternative to surface roads. For Las Vegas, it could enhance tourism, reduce traffic, and position the city as a leader in futuristic infrastructure.

Yet, the project’s private funding model, slow progress, and technical challenges raise doubts about its scalability and accessibility. As Musk pushes forward with his vision of “solving traffic” by going 3D—either with flying cars or tunnels—the Vegas Loop’s success will hinge on overcoming regulatory hurdles, engineering obstacles, and public skepticism. Whether it becomes a game-changer or a cautionary tale, The Boring Company’s Las Vegas tunnels are a fascinating glimpse into the future of urban mobility. Stay tuned as this underground odyssey continues to unfold beneath the neon lights of Sin City.