Rio Hotel & Casino sits at 3700 West Flamingo Road, just west of Interstate 15 and about a mile off the Las Vegas Strip. Opened January 15, 1990, it was the valley’s first all-suite hotel-casino, and every one of its rooms is still a suite rather than a standard box. Dreamscape Companies bought the resort from Caesars Entertainment in 2019 and has poured roughly $340 million into a phased renovation, culminating in the Ipanema Tower joining World of Hyatt in late 2024 as a Destination by Hyatt property — the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Nevada and the largest hotel by room count in Hyatt’s global portfolio.
Stay here for value and space rather than Strip-front glitz: suites run larger than typical Strip rooms, the Brazilian Carnival theme gives the property a distinct identity, and long-running headliners like Penn & Teller keep it a genuine entertainment destination rather than just an overflow hotel. It suits couples and value-minded travelers who don’t mind a short rideshare or monorail-adjacent hop to reach the Strip’s casinos and arenas.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: 3700 W Flamingo Rd, off-Strip (west of I-15, ~1 mile from the Strip)
- Operator: Dreamscape Companies
- Opened: January 15, 1990
- Rooms: 2,520 all-suite rooms across the Ipanema and Masquerade towers
- Price tier: Mid-range
- Casino: 117,330 sq ft with 800+ slot machines and 40 table games
- Signature attraction: All-suite rooms and Brazilian Carnival-themed pool district
- Headline venue: Penn & Teller Theater (residency running since 2001)
Rooms, Pool and Casino
Every room at the Rio is a suite, split between the renovated Ipanema Tower — now operating as a 1,501-room Destination by Hyatt property with rooms averaging around 580 square feet — and the Masquerade Tower, which is slated for its own remodel in the resort’s next renovation phase. A separate Palazzo Suites building serves high-roller and long-stay guests. The refreshed pool district includes an adults-only pool with a swim-up bar alongside family-friendly pools, cabanas, and the rooftop Sapphire Pool Club, all wrapped around new exterior LED lighting programmed by Phish’s longtime lighting director. The 117,330-square-foot casino floor carries 800-plus slot machines and 40 table games, including a dedicated Baccarat Room, and for 16 years was the home of the World Series of Poker before the tournament relocated to Bally’s/Paris in 2022.
Shows, Attractions and Dining
Penn & Teller have headlined the Rio’s namesake theater since 2001, one of the longest-running residencies on the Vegas circuit and extended by Dreamscape through 2026. VooDoo Rooftop, a restaurant and lounge perched atop the Masquerade Tower, delivers panoramic Strip views alongside steaks and cocktails. Dreamscape’s renovation added eight new food and beverage concepts, including the Canteen Food Hall (replacing the old Carnival World Buffet), Guy Fieri’s El Burro Borracho, Hash House A Go Go, and Smashburger, plus Kiss by Monster Mini Golf for families.
Location and Who Should Stay Here
The Rio sits off-Strip, so getting to Sphere, T-Mobile Arena, the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, or Allegiant Stadium means a short rideshare, taxi, or drive rather than a walk. That tradeoff buys larger suites and lower nightly rates than comparable Strip-front resorts. It’s a solid fit for value-focused couples, poker and convention travelers using the resort’s meeting space, and anyone prioritizing room size over ground-floor Strip access; families will find the mini-golf and food hall useful but should budget for transportation to Strip attractions.
Explore more: Compare more Las Vegas hotels on the Where to Stay hub, Tips for catching a Las Vegas residency show.
Rio Hotel & Casino FAQs
What is the resort fee and is parking free at the Rio?
The Rio charges a resort fee of around $52 per night plus tax (about $59 total), which covers WiFi, pool access, and local calls. Self-parking is complimentary on-site for registered guests, including RV, bus, and truck parking.
How far is the Rio from the Las Vegas Strip?
The Rio sits about a mile west of the Strip near Interstate 15, so it isn’t walkable to Strip casinos — plan on a short rideshare, taxi, or drive (roughly 5-10 minutes) to reach venues like Sphere or T-Mobile Arena.
Is the Rio still an all-suite hotel?
Yes. Since opening in 1990 as the valley’s first all-suite property, every one of the Rio’s 2,520 rooms has remained a suite, spanning the renovated Ipanema Tower (now a Destination by Hyatt property) and the Masquerade Tower.
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Photo: Riolasvegasdigital / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.