New York-New York vs Excalibur: Which Budget Strip Hotel to Book?

New York-New York vs Excalibur is the closest budget matchup on the Strip: two MGM hotels on opposite corners of Tropicana Avenue, linked by a pedestrian bridge, with the same $45 resort fee plus tax and the same $20 guest self-parking (as of October 2026). Standard rooms are practically the same size, too. The difference is who you’re traveling with and where you’re headed: New York-New York sits steps from T-Mobile Arena and suits teens and arena-goers, while Excalibur’s castle has more for younger kids and a free tram toward Allegiant Stadium. Our New York-New York review and Excalibur review cover each hotel in full.

	New York-New York	Excalibur
Location	South Strip	South Strip
Price level	Budget	Budget
Best for	Families with teens, arena-goers, budget travelers	Families, budget travelers, stadium-goers
Pool	Single outdoor pool deck with cabanas	Four pools, a water slide and 19 cabanas
Casino	Yes	Yes
Resort fee	$45 + tax per night	$45 + tax per night
Parking	Self-parking $20/day for hotel guests; valet $40/day	Self-parking $20/day for hotel guests; no valet listed
Check-in / out	3 PM / 11 AM	3 PM / 11 AM
Rates	Check New York-New York Rates	Check Excalibur Rates

How we checked: room sizes, pool hours, attraction rules, fees and parking come from MGM’s official hotel pages and reservation terms (read in October 2026), and the ballpark and road-work details come from Clark County’s November 2026 notices and local news. Our review method explains how we date and source each fact.

New York-New York vs Excalibur at a glance

	New York-New York	Excalibur
Corner of Tropicana Ave	Northwest, 3790 Las Vegas Blvd S	Southwest, 3850 Las Vegas Blvd S
Rooms	2,024	3,981
Standard room (official)	Soho King or Two Queen, 350 sq ft	Resort or Royal Tower King or Two Queen, 352 sq ft
Step-up room	Soho Premier, 450 sq ft, with fridge	Resort Superior King, 372 sq ft, with soaking tub
Pools	One outdoor deck with cabanas	Four pools, water slide, 19 cabanas
Pool hours last posted	Oct. 2026: daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m.	Oct. 9: complex 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; Slide Pool Sat–Sun 10–5
Signature attraction	The Big Apple Coaster and arcade	Fun Dungeon arcade, Tournament of Kings
Resort fee (October 2026)	$45 + tax	$45 + tax
Guest self-parking / valet	$20 per 24 hours / $40 a day	$20 per 24 hours / no valet listed
T-Mobile Arena on foot (MGM)	0.3 mile, under 5 minutes	0.6 mile, 10 to 15 minutes

Location: one bridge apart at Tropicana Avenue

The Tropicana intersection has four corners: New York-New York on the northwest, MGM Grand on the northeast, Excalibur on the southwest and the former Tropicana site, now the Athletics’ ballpark construction, on the southeast. The Excalibur Bridge over Tropicana Avenue connects the two hotels, and a second bridge from New York-New York crosses the boulevard to MGM Grand and the nearest Monorail station. Clark County doesn’t describe these bridges as enclosed, so treat them as outdoor crossings.

New York-New York’s edge is T-Mobile Arena: walk out through The Park and you’re there in under 5 minutes, per MGM. Excalibur’s edge is the free tram, which runs south to Luxor and Mandalay Bay; Excalibur’s page lists weekday service from 8 a.m. and weekend service from 10 a.m., until midnight. MGM puts Luxor and Mandalay Bay less than half a mile from Allegiant Stadium, so Excalibur guests can ride most of the way. Our guides to hotels near T-Mobile Arena and hotels near Allegiant Stadium rank every option by distance.

Winner for location: New York-New York for arena nights and the shorter walk to the Monorail. Excalibur wins for stadium games and for riding the free tram to Luxor and Mandalay Bay.

What the ballpark construction means for your stay

The Athletics’ ballpark is rising on the former Tropicana site, diagonally across from New York-New York and directly across the boulevard from Excalibur. News 3 Las Vegas reported on Oct. 7, 2026, that the project was about halfway finished and expected to be ready for opening day in spring 2028, with the steel arches of its future dome visible from Las Vegas Boulevard. Don’t confuse it with Las Vegas Ballpark in Summerlin, home of the Aviators; our Las Vegas Ballpark hotel guide covers that one.

Three practical effects:

• Bridges: Clark County’s pedestrian-bridge map, still linked on the county’s bridge page on Nov. 4, marks the two bridges at the Tropicana intersection that lead into the construction site as closed. The bridges linking New York-New York with Excalibur and with MGM Grand are shown open.
• Road work: the county’s Las Vegas Boulevard Phase C and D project (Russell Road to Tropicana Avenue) kept two lanes open in each direction between Excalibur and Dewey Drive for daytime paving the week of Nov. 2, and the county says restrictions are subject to change. That stretch matters most to Excalibur drivers and airport runs.
• Noise: we found no official noise guidance from either hotel. Light sleepers should ask for a room facing away from Las Vegas Boulevard at either one.

Rooms: 350 vs 352 square feet

Room type	Hotel	Official size	What to know
Soho King / Two Queen	New York-New York	350 sq ft	Marble bath with tub-shower combo; up to 3 (king) or 4 (queens)
Soho Premier King / Two Queen	New York-New York	450 sq ft	Refrigerator, desk, 55-inch TV; View versions face the Strip
Marquis Suite	New York-New York	700 sq ft	Four-person whirlpool tub
Resort Tower King / Two Queen	Excalibur	352 sq ft	Marketed as newly renovated; 55-inch TV, personal-size fridge
Royal Tower King / Two Queen	Excalibur	352 sq ft	Classic castle style; 40-inch TV; no fridge listed
Resort Superior King	Excalibur	372 sq ft	Strip views and a deep soaking tub; two guests
Two Bedroom Luxury Suite	Excalibur	1,034 sq ft	MGM lists up to 7 guests in the Royal version

At the standard level, this is a tie on size. New York-New York’s Soho rooms add a tub-shower combination, while Excalibur’s Resort Tower adds a fridge and a renovation MGM hasn’t dated. The real upgrade is New York-New York’s Soho Premier: 100 square feet more than a Soho room, with a fridge, a desk and Strip views in its View versions.

Some rules match. Neither hotel puts a coffee maker in standard rooms, both charge $35 plus tax a night for each guest beyond two, and you must be 21 to check in at either. Excalibur’s Royal Tower fridge rental is $25, and its biggest suites are the better fit for a family of five or more.

Winner for rooms: New York-New York if you’ll book a Soho Premier; Excalibur’s Resort Tower if you’re buying the cheapest standard room.

Pools: four pools and a slide vs one deck

Excalibur has the real pool: four pools, a water slide, 19 cabanas and a 30,000-square-foot deck with Drenched Bar & Grill. On Oct. 9, 2026, the Excalibur pool page listed the complex open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and the Slide Pool on Saturdays and Sundays only, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. MGM says operations change seasonally without notice and hadn’t posted winter dates.

New York-New York has a single outdoor pool deck with cabanas and rentable lounge chairs, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily in October 2026, with free seating for hotel guests. Personal rafts and floaties are allowed. Neither hotel lists an adults-only pool.

There’s a shared workaround: MGM opens MGM Grand’s 6.5-acre Grand Pool Complex, with its seasonal lazy river, to guests of any MGM Resorts hotel. New York-New York guests reach it by one bridge; Excalibur guests by two.

Winner for pools: Excalibur, as long as the slide is running for your dates.

Kids and teens: coaster or castle?

New York-New York is the teen hotel. The Big Apple Coaster runs daily from 11 a.m. to midnight, weather permitting, with a 54-inch height minimum, a 203-foot drop and speeds above 67 mph. A ride is $25, and the resort fee includes 2-for-1 coaster passes for hotel guests (as of October 2026). The Big Apple Arcade, Hershey’s Chocolate World and the Hello Kitty Cafe fill out a rainy afternoon.

Excalibur is built for younger kids. The Fun Dungeon arcade has more than 200 games, open until 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday and until midnight Friday to Sunday. Tournament of Kings is a jousting dinner show in a 900-seat arena (under-18s must be with an adult), and The Mac King Comedy Magic Show plays afternoons for ages 5 and up. Thunder From Down Under, in the same building, is 18+.

Winner for families: Excalibur for kids too short for the coaster’s 54-inch minimum; New York-New York for teens. Our family hotels in Las Vegas list compares more options.

Food: food halls, 4 a.m. burgers and a buffet

New York-New York listed 21 dining venues in October 2026, from Gallagher’s Steakhouse and Il Fornaio to the NYNY Food Hall, Shake Shack (open until 4 a.m.), the 24-hour America and Nathan’s. Bars include the dueling pianos at the Bar at Times Square and Coyote Ugly. Since Mad Apple closed on Sept. 5, evenings here run on bars and whatever is playing at T-Mobile Arena.

Excalibur keeps something MGM Grand gave up in May: a buffet. The Buffet at Excalibur serves breakfast and brunch from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Buca di Beppo, Dick’s Last Resort, Johnny Rockets, TAP Sports Bar and a food court with Popeyes, Fatburger and Krispy Kreme cover the rest, and the tram puts Luxor’s and Mandalay Bay’s restaurants within reach.

Winner for food: New York-New York for range and late-night options; Excalibur for a family breakfast buffet.

Resort fees, parking and event nights

As of October 2026	New York-New York	Excalibur
Resort fee	$45 + tax	$45 + tax
With 13.38% room tax	About $51.02	About $51.02
Fee extras	2-for-1 coaster passes, fitness center (18+), Wi-Fi, calls	Fitness room (18+), Wi-Fi, calls
Guest self-parking	$20 per 24 hours	$20 per 24 hours
Valet	$40 a day	Not on MGM’s valet rate table
Oversized vehicles	Not offered	$50 per 24 hours
Event nights	Garage prepay-only for T-Mobile Arena events	Prepaid reserved parking for select Allegiant Stadium events
Incidental hold	$75 a day, capped at $300	$50 a day

With a car, either hotel adds about $71.02 a night before the room rate ($51.02 + $20). Self-parking is free for MGM Rewards Pearl members and above, MGM Rewards Gold members and above can have the resort fee waived, and a guest’s 24-hour parking charge covers the same parking type at every MGM resort in Las Vegas. Excalibur is the only MGM Strip resort with oversized parking. Compare more garages in our Las Vegas parking fees guide and fees in our Las Vegas resort fees guide.

Winner for fees and parking: tie on price. New York-New York wins for valet; Excalibur wins for RVs and stadium-day parking.

Which should you book?

Choose New York-New York if:

• You’re going to a T-Mobile Arena event and want to walk back in minutes.
• You’re traveling with teens who will ride The Big Apple Coaster.
• You’ll pay a little more for a 450-square-foot Soho Premier room.
• You want valet, late-night food or a Monorail station one bridge away.

Choose Excalibur if:

• Your kids are young and the pool and water slide matter.
• You’re headed to Allegiant Stadium or plan to use the tram to Luxor and Mandalay Bay.
• You want the cheapest renovated room in this corner, or a breakfast buffet on site.
• You’re driving an RV or another oversized vehicle.

For most adults and arena-goers, New York-New York is the better base; for families with younger children, Excalibur wins. Prices vary according to travel dates and availability, so compare the same nights at both against our cheap hotels in Las Vegas picks. If Luxor is also on your list, see our Luxor vs Excalibur comparison, and for the bigger picture, our best hotels in Las Vegas ranking.

FAQ

Is New York-New York or Excalibur better?

New York-New York is better for adults, teens and T-Mobile Arena events, with the coaster, more restaurants and a walk to the arena of under 5 minutes, per MGM. Excalibur is better for families with younger kids, thanks to four pools with a water slide, the Fun Dungeon and Tournament of Kings. Both charge a $45 resort fee plus tax (as of October 2026).

Are New York-New York and Excalibur connected?

Yes, by the Excalibur Bridge, a Clark County pedestrian bridge over Tropicana Avenue. The county doesn’t describe it as enclosed, so expect an outdoor crossing. From New York-New York, a second bridge crosses Las Vegas Boulevard to MGM Grand and its Monorail station, and from Excalibur the free tram runs to Luxor and Mandalay Bay.

Is the A’s stadium construction near Excalibur and New York-New York?

Yes. The Athletics’ ballpark is being built on the former Tropicana site, across the boulevard from Excalibur and across the intersection from New York-New York. In October 2026 it was reported about halfway finished, with opening targeted for spring 2028. The two bridges into the site are closed, and the county ran daytime lane restrictions south of Excalibur in early November.

Which has the better pool, New York-New York or Excalibur?

Excalibur. It has four pools, a water slide and 19 cabanas, against a single pool deck at New York-New York. On Oct. 9, 2026, Excalibur’s Slide Pool was open only on weekends, and neither hotel had posted winter hours. Guests of both can also use MGM Grand’s pool complex, which MGM opens to guests of any MGM resort.

Do New York-New York and Excalibur have the same resort fee?

Yes. Both charge $45 per night plus tax, about $51.02 with the 13.38% room tax (as of October 2026). New York-New York’s fee adds 2-for-1 Big Apple Coaster passes; otherwise the inclusions are similar, covering Wi-Fi, calls and fitness center access for guests 18 and over. MGM Rewards Gold members and above can have the fee waived.