Excalibur Las Vegas Review: Is the Strip’s Castle a Smart Budget Pick?

Excalibur is the south Strip’s budget castle: a $45 resort fee, newly renovated Resort Tower rooms, four pools with a water slide and a free tram to Luxor and Mandalay Bay. The honest take from this Excalibur Las Vegas review: it’s one of the smartest cheap bases on the Strip for families and event-goers, as long as you book the Resort Tower and can live with 352-square-foot rooms and thin walls. Plan on that resort fee plus tax every night (as of October 2026).

We researched this review from MGM’s official pages, maps and reservation terms, checked in October 2026, and we don’t accept free stays; how we review hotels explains the method.

Location

Excalibur sits at 3850 S. Las Vegas Blvd., on the south Strip, where the Excalibur Bridge crosses Tropicana Avenue to New York-New York. Visit Las Vegas lists it in its Strip region, so yes, it’s on the Strip. A free tram runs from here to Luxor and Mandalay Bay, and a second bridge from New York-New York leads across Las Vegas Boulevard to MGM Grand and its Monorail station.

Event access is a real strength. MGM puts T-Mobile Arena 0.6 mile and 10 to 15 minutes away on foot; the arena’s own archived route list said 14 minutes, via the Excalibur Bridge and New York-New York. For Allegiant Stadium, there’s no published distance from Excalibur, so ride the tram to Luxor or Mandalay Bay, each less than half a mile from the stadium per MGM. Our guides to hotels near T-Mobile Arena and hotels near Allegiant Stadium compare the alternatives.

Expect construction. The A’s ballpark is rising on the former Tropicana site across Las Vegas Boulevard, the bridge landing on that side closed in 2024 for the demolition (we couldn’t confirm its current status), and the Review-Journal reported overnight lane restrictions on Las Vegas Boulevard between Tropicana Avenue and Russell Road through January 2027.

Rooms: Royal Tower vs Resort Tower, which is better?

Book the Resort Tower. Standard rooms in both towers measure 352 square feet, but MGM markets Resort Tower rooms as newly renovated, with a 55-inch TV, a personal-size fridge and granite counters. Royal Tower rooms keep the classic castle look, a 40-inch TV and no listed fridge, so take one only if it’s clearly cheaper.

Excalibur’s 3,981 rooms, by MGM’s count, are sold under two names. MGM markets everything in the Resort Tower as “newly renovated,” a label it began using in 2025 without publishing a completion date, while the Royal Tower keeps classic castle-style rooms with what MGM calls a “throwback Las Vegas feel.” Standard rooms in both measure 352 square feet.

	Resort Tower	Royal Tower
Look	Marketed as “newly renovated”	Classic castle style
TV	55-inch	40-inch
Fridge	Personal-size fridge	None listed; rental $25 (as of October 2026)
Bathroom detail listed	Granite countertops	Glass-enclosed shower
Strip views	Sold as Resort Strip View rooms	MGM doesn’t say which way rooms face
Rideshare	Not stated	Pickup and drop-off at the Royal Tower entrance

Room type	Size	Beds	Notes
Resort Tower King / Two Queen	352 sq ft	1 king / 2 queens	Renovated; 55-inch TV, personal-size fridge; up to 3 (king) or 4 (queens)
Resort Strip View King / Two Queen	352 sq ft	1 king / 2 queens	Renovated, with Strip views
Royal Tower King / Two Queen	352 sq ft	1 king / 2 queens	Classic rooms; 40-inch TV; no fridge listed
Resort / Royal Superior King	372 sq ft	1 king	2 guests; the Resort version has Strip views and a deep soaking tub
Resort / Royal Luxury Suite	682 sq ft	1 king	Separate living area; up to 3 (Resort) or 4 (Royal)
Resort / Royal Two Bedroom Luxury Suite	1,034 sq ft	1 king plus 2 queens, or 1 king	MGM lists up to 4 guests (Resort) or 7 (Royal)

The Resort Tower also adds a glass-top desk. In the Royal Tower, Excalibur’s FAQ puts a fridge rental at $25 (as of October 2026), which guests describe as a daily charge, and guests’ complaints about dated rooms and decor center on the non-renovated areas.

In either tower, guests mention there’s no coffee maker, and thin walls are a common complaint.

Beds

Standard rooms have one king or two queens, and the two-bedroom suites pair a king with two queens or come with a single king. A rollaway costs $35, a crib is free, and each extra person beyond two costs $35 plus tax per night (as of October 2026). Standard rooms sleep three with a king or four with two queens, so a family of five needs a suite; since MGM lists the Royal two-bedroom for up to seven guests but the Resort version for four, confirm occupancy when you book.

Bathrooms

Renovated Resort Tower rooms have granite countertops, and the Resort Superior King and Resort suites add a deep soaking tub. Royal Tower rooms have a glass-enclosed shower. The Royal Luxury Suite pairs a half bath with a master bathroom that has a deep soaking tub, a stall shower and a water closet.

Pools

The pool area has four pools, heated according to MGM’s contact page, plus a water slide, 19 cabanas, 30,000 square feet of deck and Drenched Bar & Grill. Cabanas come with a TV, fridge, safe and ceiling fan, and there are daybeds, reserved lounge chairs and two pool bars.

On Oct. 9, 2026, the Excalibur pool page listed the complex open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Slide Pool on Saturdays and Sundays only, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Drenched Bar & Grill until 5:30 p.m. Pool operations change seasonally without notice, so check before a late-fall or winter trip, especially if the slide is the point for your kids. Excalibur lists no adults-only pool; the 21+ pool clubs are at Mandalay Bay, at the other end of the tram line. Our ranking of Las Vegas hotels with pools covers the bigger complexes.

Restaurants and bars

• The Buffet at Excalibur: breakfast and brunch from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a weekend brunch.
• Buca di Beppo: family-style Italian.
• Dick’s Last Resort: a rowdy American bar-restaurant with live bands.
• Johnny Rockets: diner burgers and shakes, open 6 a.m. to 5 a.m.
• TAP Sports Bar: open Thursday to Monday.
• Quick bites: Dairy Queen and Orange Julius in the Fun Dungeon, and Drenched Bar & Grill at the pool.

For a bigger night out, the tram puts the restaurants at Luxor and Mandalay Bay within easy reach.

Casino

The casino is built for low stakes: MGM lists slots from a penny up to $10 and $5 live blackjack around the clock, plus a BetMGM Sportsbook. The poker room has closed. Rooms are smoke-free, but smoking is allowed throughout the casino floor, in stand-alone bars and in other designated areas. Smoking in a room brings a cleaning fee of at least $300, or $500 in suites (as of October 2026).

Entertainment and nightlife

As listed by MGM on Oct. 5, 2026:

• Tournament of Kings: a medieval jousting dinner show in a 900-seat arena, Wednesday to Monday at 6 and 8:30 p.m.; under-18s must be with an adult, and the listing showed performances from Oct. 8.
• The Mac King Comedy Magic Show: a family-friendly afternoon magic show, Tuesday to Saturday at 3 p.m., for ages 5 and up.
• The Australian Bee Gees Show: a tribute concert, Saturday to Thursday at 6 p.m., for ages 5 and up.
• Thunder From Down Under: a male revue for ages 18 and up.
• Fun Dungeon: an arcade with more than 200 games, including carnival midway games and claw machines, open from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday and until midnight Friday to Sunday.
• Rides: the Max Flight Simulator and the Ultimate 4D Experience.

Nightlife is low-key: live bands at Dick’s Last Resort, the sportsbook and TAP. For a nightclub, MGM Grand’s Hakkasan Nightclub is two bridges away.

Amenities

• Fitness room: included in the resort fee for guests 18 and over.
• Dogs: dog-friendly rooms with an outdoor dog park, for up to two dogs with a combined weight under 100 pounds. A nightly fee per dog applies; confirm the current amount with the hotel, and compare other pet-friendly hotels in Las Vegas.
• Car rental: an Avis desk in the tour lobby.
• Check-in: if you’ll arrive after 11 p.m., Excalibur suggests mobile check-in, and late checkout until 3 p.m. is available for a fee.

Parking

Registered guests pay $20 per 24 hours to self-park, any day (as of October 2026), and visitors pay $20 Monday through Thursday and $25 Friday through Sunday. Valet is the catch: Excalibur isn’t on MGM’s current valet rate table, so confirm valet before you count on it.

• Free self-parking: MGM Rewards Pearl members and above and MGM Rewards Mastercard holders.
• Nevada residents: three free hours, except during special events.
• RVs and oversized vehicles: Excalibur is the only MGM Strip resort with oversized parking, at $50 per 24 hours, free for Pearl members and above.
• Stadium nights: MGM sells Prepaid Reserved Event Parking at Excalibur for select Allegiant Stadium events.
• In-and-out: a guest’s 24-hour charge covers the same parking type at every MGM Las Vegas resort.

Compare garages across the Strip in our Las Vegas parking fees guide.

Getting around: transportation

• Free tram: the Mandalay Bay Tram runs to Luxor and Mandalay Bay. Excalibur’s page lists 8 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and 10 a.m. to midnight on weekends, while Mandalay Bay’s and Luxor’s pages say daily from 10 a.m., so don’t count on an early weekday ride. Both hotels’ maps also show a walkway to Luxor; see our guide to connected hotels in Las Vegas for the other indoor links.

• On foot: the Excalibur Bridge crosses Tropicana Avenue to New York-New York, and from there a bridge over Las Vegas Boulevard reaches MGM Grand, home of the nearest Monorail station.
• Rideshare: pickup and drop-off are at the Royal Tower entrance; taxis wait at the main entrance 24 hours a day.
• Airport: the taxi flat fare from the airport to this zone is $22.25 (as of October 2026), plus $3 by card.

Resort fee

The resort fee is $45 per night plus tax (as of October 2026), about $51.02 with the Strip’s 13.38% room tax ($45 × 13.38% = $6.02). Excalibur’s reservation terms, updated Aug. 26, 2026, say it covers in-room Wi-Fi, calls, boarding-pass printing, digital newspapers and fitness center access for guests 18 and over. The fee rose from $37 to $45 on Dec. 4, 2024, the Review-Journal reported, and MGM Rewards Gold members and above can have it waived.

That’s the same fee as Luxor and New York-New York, and $5 to $10 below Mandalay Bay ($50) and ARIA ($55). Drivers pay $71.02 a night in fee, tax and self-parking before the room rate ($51.02 + $20). Our guide to Las Vegas resort fees lists every Strip hotel’s charge.

You can also book through Marriott: Marriott’s MGM Collection FAQ lists Excalibur Hotel & Casino among the Las Vegas hotels in MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy (checked Oct. 13, 2026). Book on Marriott.com or the Bonvoy app to earn Bonvoy points; award stays still carry the resort fee unless you’re an Ambassador Elite member, and the MGM Rewards fee waiver needs a direct MGM booking.

Is Excalibur closing?

No. As of October 2026, Excalibur is open and operated by MGM Resorts, whose 2025 annual report counts its 3,981 rooms. MGM updated the hotel’s reservation terms on Aug. 26, 2026, markets newly renovated Resort Tower rooms, and listed four current shows on Oct. 5, 2026.

Las Vegas Advisor said in May 2025 that the rumor of Luxor and Excalibur being demolished has no basis, calling it a likely April Fools’ or social-media hoax, and noted that MGM has only a tentative plan for a possible new hotel tower on Excalibur’s surface parking land. A separate proposal to take MGM Resorts private was withdrawn on Sept. 24, 2026, and MGM said it will continue as a standalone company.

Nearby attractions

• Luxor: Blue Man Group and the Titanic and Bodies exhibitions, one tram stop away.
• Mandalay Bay: Shark Reef Aquarium, with more than 2,000 animals, and Michael Jackson ONE at the end of the tram line.
• New York-New York: The Big Apple Coaster (riders must be 54 inches tall) and Hershey’s Chocolate World, across the Excalibur Bridge.
• T-Mobile Arena: 10 to 15 minutes on foot, per MGM.

Who should stay here

• Budget travelers who still want to sleep on the Strip; compare more in our cheap hotels in Las Vegas guide.
• Families with younger kids: a water slide, an arcade, a jousting dinner show and an afternoon magic show. See our family hotels in Las Vegas for more.
• Arena and stadium fans on a budget: a walk to T-Mobile Arena and a tram toward Allegiant Stadium.
• Drivers with an RV or another oversized vehicle.

Who should avoid it

• Light sleepers: guests mention noise and thin walls.
• Travelers who want space: standard rooms are 352 square feet in both towers.
• Valet users: Excalibur isn’t on MGM’s current valet rate table.
• Smoke-sensitive travelers: smoking is allowed throughout the casino floor.
• Anyone under 21, who can’t check in.

Pros and cons

Alternatives nearby

Luxor or Excalibur? Both charge a $45 resort fee plus tax and $20 a day for guest self-parking (as of October 2026). Luxor’s standard rooms are bigger (420 square feet in the pyramid, 449 in its towers) and MGM puts it less than half a mile from Allegiant Stadium; Excalibur has more for younger kids and a shorter walk to T-Mobile Arena. Our Luxor vs Excalibur comparison goes category by category, and the Luxor Las Vegas review covers its Pyramid and Tower rooms.

New York-New York, across the Excalibur Bridge, charges the same $45 fee, puts T-Mobile Arena under 5 minutes away per MGM, and adds The Big Apple Coaster; its standard Soho rooms measure 350 square feet. Our New York-New York review covers it in full. Mandalay Bay is the upgrade at the end of the tram line: 550-square-foot rooms, an 11-acre beach with a wave pool and a lazy river, and Shark Reef, for a $50 fee plus tax. Our Mandalay Bay review has the details.

Is it worth staying here?

Yes, if you book the Resort Tower and value price, pools and kid-friendly entertainment over room size. Excalibur works best for families with younger kids, budget travelers who still want the Strip, and arena-goers. It’s less convincing for light sleepers, couples who want space or anyone counting on valet.

Why is it so cheap? The fee sits in MGM’s lowest bracket, the rooms are compact, and rates vary by day of the week, events and season. Excalibur’s and Luxor’s home pages also advertise an All-Inclusive Experience, which the Review-Journal described in April 2026 as a two-night package for two covering the room, resort fee, meals, a show and parking; price it if you’d eat on property anyway. Our best hotels in Las Vegas ranking shows where Excalibur fits.

FAQ

Is Excalibur a good hotel?

Yes, for the price, especially in the renovated Resort Tower. Guests call it budget-friendly and convenient, with a tram to Luxor and Mandalay Bay and a walk to the arenas, and families like the theme, the Fun Dungeon and Tournament of Kings. Common complaints are dated decor in non-renovated areas, thin walls, missing coffee makers and slow check-in.

Is Excalibur good for kids?

Yes. It has four pools with a water slide, the Fun Dungeon arcade with more than 200 games, Tournament of Kings (under-18s with an adult) and The Mac King Comedy Magic Show for ages 5 and up. Cribs are free, rollaways cost $35 (as of October 2026), and an adult 21 or older must check in.

Does Excalibur charge a resort fee and parking?

Yes to both. The resort fee is $45 per night plus tax, about $51.02 with tax, and registered guests pay $20 per 24 hours to self-park (as of October 2026). Self-parking is free for MGM Rewards Pearl members and above, and MGM Rewards Gold members and above can have the resort fee waived.

Are Excalibur and Luxor connected?

Yes, two ways. Both hotels’ maps show a walkway between them: Excalibur’s marks a “walkway to Luxor” on its upper Castle Walk level, though neither says whether it’s enclosed. The free Mandalay Bay Tram also links Excalibur, Luxor and Mandalay Bay; Excalibur’s page lists weekday service from 8 a.m. and weekend service from 10 a.m., until midnight. Our Luxor vs Excalibur comparison covers the rest.

Is Excalibur closing?

No. As of October 2026, Excalibur is open and operated by MGM Resorts, which updated its reservation terms on Aug. 26, 2026, and markets newly renovated Resort Tower rooms. The demolition rumor has no basis, Las Vegas Advisor said in May 2025; MGM has only a tentative plan for a possible new tower on Excalibur’s surface parking land.

How far is Excalibur from Allegiant Stadium?

MGM doesn’t publish a distance from Excalibur. The easy route is the free tram to Luxor or Mandalay Bay, which MGM puts less than half a mile from the stadium on foot. Drivers can buy MGM’s Prepaid Reserved Event Parking at Excalibur for select stadium events.