MGM Grand vs Mandalay Bay: Which South Strip Resort Is Better?

MGM Grand is better for most first trips: its main-tower rooms finished a remodel in November 2025, and it has its own Monorail station and more shows. Mandalay Bay is better for pool days and families, with an 11-acre sand beach, a wave pool and 550-square-foot standard rooms. Both charge a $50 resort fee plus tax.

Fees checked October 2026: guest self-parking is $20 a day at both, so the fixed costs match and the decision comes down to the trip you want. Our MGM Grand review and Mandalay Bay review go deeper on each, and how we review hotels explains the method: official hotel pages and fee checks, not sponsored stays.

MGM Grand vs Mandalay Bay at a glance

	MGM Grand	Mandalay Bay
Opened	Dec. 18, 1993	March 2, 1999
Hotel rooms	About 4,760 in its own towers	About 3,209 Mandalay Bay-branded
Standard room	446 sq ft, remodeled 2024–25	550 sq ft, with a soaking tub
Pool	6.5 acres: four pools and a lazy river	11 acres: sand beach, wave pool, lazy river
Rail link	Its own Monorail station	Free tram to Luxor and Excalibur
Closest big venue	T-Mobile Arena, about 10 minutes on foot	Allegiant Stadium, under half a mile on foot
Resort fee with 13.38% tax	$56.69 a night	$56.69 a night
Guest self-parking	$20 per 24 hours	$20 per 24 hours
Fixed cost with a car	$76.69 a night	$76.69 a night

Fees and parking as of October 2026; the room rate comes on top and varies by date. Room counts are derived from MGM’s 2025 annual report, which counts The Signature, W Las Vegas and Four Seasons separately.

	MGM Grand	Mandalay Bay
Location	South Strip	South Strip
Price level	Mid-range	Upscale
Best for	Pool lovers, show-goers, families	Families, pool lovers, stadium-goers
Pool	Grand Pool Complex: four pools, three whirlpools, waterfalls and a lazy river	Mandalay Bay Beach: wave pool, lazy river and sand beach, plus 21+ Moorea Beach Club
Casino	Yes	Yes
Resort fee	$50 + tax per night	$50 + tax per night
Parking	Self-parking $20/day for hotel guests; valet $40/day	Self-parking $20/day for hotel guests; valet $40/day
Check-in / out	3 PM / 11 AM	3 PM / 11 AM
Rates	Check MGM Grand Rates	Check Mandalay Bay Rates

Location: the Monorail end vs the stadium end

MGM Grand sits at 3799 S. Las Vegas Blvd., at the north end of the south Strip, with the Las Vegas Monorail’s southern terminus inside the resort. A pedestrian bridge crosses Las Vegas Boulevard to New York-New York, and from there The Park leads to T-Mobile Arena; MGM and the arena both put the walk at about 10 minutes.

Mandalay Bay, at 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd., is the Strip’s southern anchor. A free tram runs to Luxor and Excalibur (our Mandalay Bay vs Luxor comparison covers the cheaper neighbor), a shopping skybridge leads indoors to Luxor, and MGM puts Allegiant Stadium less than half a mile away on foot. T-Mobile Arena is 1.1 miles and 20 to 25 minutes away, partly by tram. Mandalay Bay guests say it feels removed from the center Strip; MGM Grand guests mention long walks inside a very large property.

We found no published walking time between the two. The car-free route crosses from MGM Grand to New York-New York, takes the Excalibur Bridge over Tropicana Avenue, then the free tram to Mandalay Bay. Both resorts sit in the same airport taxi zone, a $22.25 flat fare (as of October 2026) plus $3 by card, and both are near roadwork: the A’s ballpark is rising across Tropicana Avenue from MGM Grand, and Las Vegas Boulevard between Tropicana Avenue and Russell Road has overnight lane restrictions through January 2027. Event-focused travelers can compare more options in our guides to hotels near Allegiant Stadium and hotels near T-Mobile Arena.

Rooms: newer at MGM Grand, bigger at Mandalay Bay

Room type	Size	Beds	Notes
MGM Grand: Studio King (Studio Tower)	350 sq ft	1 king	2 guests max; renovated in 2022
MGM Grand: MGM King / Two Queen	446 sq ft	1 king / 2 queens	Main tower, remodeled 2024–25; Strip View and Restore versions
MGM Grand: Executive King / Two Queen Suite	675 sq ft	1 king / 2 queens	Up to 4 guests
Mandalay Bay: Resort King / Two Queen	550 sq ft	1 king / 2 queens	Up to 3 (king) or 4 (queens); Strip View and Restore versions
Mandalay Bay: Elite King Suite	683 sq ft	1 king plus a pull-out sofa	Up to 4 guests
Mandalay Bay: Panoramic Two Bedroom Suite	1,450 sq ft	2 kings, or 2 queens plus 1 king	Up to 6 guests (queen version)

MGM Grand’s rooms are newer. Its $300 million remodel of 3,969 main-tower rooms and suites ran from December 2024 to November 2025, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, and guests frequently praise the renovated rooms as spacious and modern. The MGM King page lists a 55-inch TV, a personal mini fridge and a marble bath. Skip the Studio Tower unless it’s clearly cheaper: a Studio King is 96 square feet smaller than an MGM King (446 − 350).

Mandalay Bay’s rooms are bigger. Its standard room is 104 square feet larger than MGM Grand’s (550 − 446), with a separate glass-enclosed shower, a soaking tub and twin vanities. MGM calls the rooms “newly remodeled” but doesn’t give a date.

Both resorts require you to be 21 to check in and charge $40 plus tax per extra guest beyond two (as of October 2026). MGM Grand’s FAQ lists rollaways at $40 and refrigerators at $35 a night when available, though the remodeled MGM King page includes a mini fridge; Mandalay Bay doesn’t publish a rollaway or crib policy. We found no connecting-room policy at either, so a two-bedroom suite is the dependable way to get two sleeping spaces.

Pools: wave pool vs lazy river

This is the clearest difference, and Mandalay Bay wins it on scale and variety.

	MGM Grand	Mandalay Bay
Size	6.5 acres	11 acres
Main features	Four pools, three whirlpools, waterfalls, a lazy river	Real-sand beach, wave pool, lazy river, lagoons
Hours listed Oct. 9, 2026	Complex 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; lazy river 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.	Beach, wave pool and lazy river 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; East Lagoon Friday to Sunday
Rules to know	Pool page allows circular tubes only, but the FAQ welcomes personal rafts	Wave pool 48-inch minimum; tubes on the lazy river only
Adult pool clubs	Palm Tree Beach Club dayclub (age policy not stated)	Moorea and Tailgate Beach Club, both 21+
Who can swim	Guests of any MGM Resorts hotel	Mandalay Bay, W Las Vegas and Four Seasons guests

Which has the better lazy river?

Neither resort publishes its river’s length, so we can’t crown one on size. In early October 2026, Mandalay Bay’s ran longer hours, and it sits beside the wave pool and sand. MGM Grand’s has Premium Island River Daybeds for up to eight, and because its complex is open to guests of any MGM Resorts hotel, a Mandalay Bay guest can spend an afternoon there too. The reverse isn’t promised: Mandalay Bay’s FAQ says only a limited number of day passes may be sold.

Both shrink after summer. By early October, MGM Grand’s Splash Pool and Private Reserve had closed for the season, and Mandalay Bay’s East Lagoon was open only Friday to Sunday. Neither resort had published winter 2026–27 pool dates when we checked on Oct. 9, so confirm before a November-to-February trip. The year-round option is Mandalay Bay’s 21+ Tailgate Beach Club, with three heated pools (closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays). More complexes are ranked in our guide to Las Vegas hotels with pools.

Spas: Grand Spa vs Spa Mandalay

Both spas are for guests 18 and over. MGM Grand’s Grand Spa & Salon has 30 treatment rooms, saunas and whirlpools, opens 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and adds a 20% service charge. Spa Mandalay covers 30,000 square feet, keeps its facilities for Mandalay Bay and W Las Vegas guests, and sells hotel guests a facility day pass for $75 Monday through Thursday and $100 Friday through Sunday (at last check in October 2026). For a slow spa day, Spa Mandalay is the bigger facility; for a quick treatment between shows, Grand Spa keeps you inside the busier resort. Our guide to the best spas in Las Vegas ranks the Strip’s Forbes-rated options.

Dining

MGM Grand has the bigger fine-dining name: Joel Robuchon holds a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating, and L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon is Four-Star. Craftsteak, Hakkasan Restaurant, Morimoto, Luchini and Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House round out the dinner list, with Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, Grand Wok Noodle Bar, Bonanno’s late-night pizza and a food court for quicker meals. Don’t plan around a buffet: MGM Grand closed its buffet permanently on May 31, 2026, and CRUSH American Grill closed on Sept. 12.

Mandalay Bay leans on chef-driven rooms: Michael Mina’s Orla and StripSteak, Wolfgang Puck’s CARAMA, Border Grill with a patio over the beach, Libertine Social and KUMI, plus Bourbon Steak in the adjoining Four Seasons and a Sunday Gospel Brunch at House of Blues. For casual meals, Mandalay Place adds Hussong’s Cantina, Wahlburgers and Ri Ra Irish Pub.

Casino

MGM Grand’s casino covers about 144,000 square feet, with a BetMGM Sportsbook and a poker room, one of eight left on the Strip as of March 2026, according to the Review-Journal. Mandalay Bay lists “near 1,000 slot and video poker machines,” blackjack, craps, roulette and its own BetMGM Sportsbook; its casino page still describes a poker room, but the dedicated poker page returned an error on Oct. 5, 2026, so poker players should call ahead.

Neither casino is smoke-free. MGM Grand allows smoking on the casino floor, and Mandalay Bay has designated smoking areas throughout its casino and bars. Rooms at both are non-smoking; if casino smoke is a deal-breaker, start with our list of smoke-free hotels in Las Vegas.

Entertainment and nightlife

MGM Grand has more under one roof, as listed in October 2026:

• Shows: KÀ by Cirque du Soleil (no children under 3), the all-ages Jabbawockeez and Tape Face, Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club (18+) and Now You See Me Live from Oct. 15, 2026, to Jan. 5, 2027 (ages 5+).
• MGM Grand Garden Arena: the fall 2026 calendar includes Journey, the Jonas Brothers and the Latin Grammy Awards.
• Attractions: The FRIENDS Experience, Zero Latency free-roam VR and Topgolf next door.
• Nightlife: Hakkasan Nightclub, Whiskey Down, Losers Bar, the 21+ Bonus Round arcade bar and the Palm Tree Beach Club dayclub.

Mandalay Bay counters with Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil (no children under 5), Shark Reef Aquarium with more than 2,000 animals, the 12,000-seat Michelob ULTRA Arena, home of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces, and concerts such as Don Omar (Oct. 30) and Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Dec. 4). After dark, there’s Tailgate Beach Club, Ivan Kane’s Forty Deuce, 1923 Prohibition Bar and the House of Blues Music Hall, while Skyfall Lounge is closed for a remodel.

Resort fees and parking

The real nightly add-ons are identical. Both charge a $50 resort fee plus tax (as of October 2026), about $56.69 with the Strip’s 13.38% room tax ($50 × 13.38% = $6.69), covering Wi-Fi, calls, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, boarding-pass printing, digital newspapers and the fitness center for guests 18 and over. MGM Rewards Gold members and above can have it waived on eligible direct bookings.

Registered guests pay $20 per 24 hours to self-park and $40 for valet at either resort, and visitors pay $20 Monday through Thursday and $25 Friday through Sunday. A driver’s fixed cost is $76.69 a night at both ($56.69 + $20) before the room rate. The small differences:

• EV charging: free stations in MGM Grand’s self-park garage; valet-only at Mandalay Bay, at $15 per vehicle plus the valet fee.
• Stadium nights: MGM sells prepaid reserved parking for select Allegiant Stadium events in Mandalay Bay’s garage.
• Deposits: both hold $100 a day for incidentals, and MGM Grand caps its hold at $400.

Self-parking is free for MGM Rewards Pearl members and above, and a guest’s 24-hour parking charge includes in-and-out privileges in the same parking type at every MGM Las Vegas resort. Compare the rest of the Strip in our guides to Las Vegas resort fees and Las Vegas parking fees.

Price positioning

In our price-level ratings, Mandalay Bay sits a notch higher: upscale, against mid-range for MGM Grand. With the resort fee and parking identical, any gap is in the room rate, and Mandalay Bay’s buys you 104 more square feet and the beach, while MGM Grand’s lower level comes with newer rooms and the Monorail. Neither publishes fixed rates, and prices vary according to travel dates and availability, so price both for your exact dates.

Which is better for couples?

It depends on the trip you’re planning. Mandalay Bay suits a slower, pool-and-spa getaway: bigger rooms with a soaking tub and twin vanities, the 21+ “toptional” Moorea Beach Club in season, Spa Mandalay and dinner at Orla or StripSteak. MGM Grand suits a night-out weekend, with Joel Robuchon, KÀ, comedy and Hakkasan Nightclub in the building and the Monorail to the center Strip.

Which is better for families?

Mandalay Bay, when the pool is open. The beach is “open to all ages for the season,” with a lazy river and lagoons alongside the wave pool (48-inch minimum height), and Shark Reef fills the hottest hours. Swingers crazy golf welcomes kids until 5:30 p.m., and the Panoramic Two Bedroom Suite sleeps six.

MGM Grand is the better pick for older kids and cooler months: Jabbawockeez and Tape Face are all-ages shows, and Topgolf’s first, second and fourth levels are open to all ages. Mandalay Bay has no childcare, though its concierge can arrange a nanny, and we found none listed at MGM Grand. More options are in our family hotels in Las Vegas guide.

Which is better for nightlife?

MGM Grand. Hakkasan Nightclub, a string of bars, Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club and the Palm Tree Beach Club dayclub are on site, and the Monorail runs until 2 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 3 a.m. Friday through Sunday (midnight on Mondays). Mandalay Bay’s nights revolve around Tailgate Beach Club, burlesque at Forty Deuce and concerts, and its free tram stops at midnight.

Which is better for first-time visitors?

MGM Grand, unless the trip is built around the pool or a stadium event. Its Monorail station reaches Horseshoe and Paris, Flamingo and Caesars Palace, Harrah’s and The LINQ, the Convention Center, Westgate and SAHARA, and New York-New York and The Park are a bridge away. From Mandalay Bay, the center Strip means a tram plus a walk, or a ride. Our first time in Las Vegas guide and Las Vegas Monorail guide help plan the rest.

What about Park MGM or W Las Vegas?

Park MGM is the pick if smoke bothers you. The whole resort, casino included, is smoke-free, it’s the closest MGM hotel to T-Mobile Arena (0.2 mile, under 5 minutes on foot), and it has Eataly, the 5,200-seat Dolby Live theater and the free ARIA Express tram to ARIA and Bellagio. Standard rooms are 406 square feet, the resort fee is the same $50 plus tax, and its pool area, with cabanas, doesn’t list a wave pool or lazy river. See our Park MGM review, or the head-to-head MGM Grand vs Park MGM if those two are your shortlist.

W Las Vegas, the former Delano, is a non-gaming, smoke-free suite hotel on the Mandalay Bay campus. Suites start at 725 square feet, guests get the WET Deck pool plus Mandalay Bay Beach, and the fee is also $50 plus tax. Our Mandalay Bay review compares it with Four Seasons in its campus section.

Which should you book?

Choose MGM Grand if you want the most to do without leaving the building, freshly remodeled rooms, the Monorail for the center Strip or a T-Mobile Arena event, at a lower price level. It’s the better default for first-timers and short trips.

Choose Mandalay Bay if the pool is the point, you want the bigger standard room, or you’re going to a Raiders game, an Aces game or a convention at Mandalay Bay (our guide to hotels near Mandalay Bay Convention Center covers the walk from each neighbor). Families visiting in pool season should start here.

Still weighing other resorts? Our best hotels in Las Vegas ranking puts both in context.

FAQ

Is Mandalay Bay nicer than MGM Grand?

It depends on what “nicer” means to you. Mandalay Bay has bigger standard rooms (550 square feet against 446) and the better pool complex. MGM Grand’s main-tower rooms were remodeled more recently, in a project finished in November 2025, while MGM doesn’t say when Mandalay Bay’s “newly remodeled” rooms were updated.

Which pool is better, MGM Grand or Mandalay Bay?

Mandalay Bay’s, for most people. Its 11-acre beach has real sand, a wave pool (48-inch minimum height), a lazy river and lagoons, plus two 21+ pool clubs. MGM Grand’s 6.5-acre complex has four pools and a lazy river, and it’s open to guests of any MGM Resorts hotel.

MGM Grand or Mandalay Bay with kids?

Mandalay Bay in pool season, for the beach, the lazy river and Shark Reef Aquarium. MGM Grand works better for older kids or cooler months, with all-ages shows such as Jabbawockeez and Tape Face and Topgolf next door. Both charge $40 plus tax per extra guest beyond two (as of October 2026).

Which is closer to Allegiant Stadium?

Mandalay Bay. MGM’s Fan District page puts it less than half a mile from the stadium on foot. We found no published walking time from MGM Grand; the car-free route crosses to New York-New York, takes the Excalibur Bridge, then the free tram to Mandalay Bay.

Is MGM Grand or Mandalay Bay closer to T-Mobile Arena?

MGM Grand. MGM and the arena both put the walk at about 10 minutes, over the pedestrian bridge to New York-New York and through The Park. From Mandalay Bay, the arena is 1.1 miles and 20 to 25 minutes away, partly by tram. Mandalay Bay is the pick for Allegiant Stadium instead.

Are the MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay pools open in winter?

Partly. Neither resort had published winter 2026–27 dates on Oct. 9, and both had already scaled back: MGM Grand’s Splash Pool and Private Reserve had closed for the season, and Mandalay Bay’s East Lagoon was open only Friday to Sunday. Mandalay Bay’s 21+ Tailgate Beach Club, with three heated pools, runs year-round except Tuesdays and Wednesdays.