Las Vegas Offers Free Gas to California Drivers to Boost Tourism

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) sent a pair of showgirls to a gas station in Southern California to offer free gas to drivers. The promotion was tagged as “fuel up and win big,” with up to $100 in gas for drivers.

LVCVA Vice President of Public Relations Molly Castano said, “We’re really doing this ahead of the summer travel season,” and that “About half of our visitors arrive by car, and those top-feeder markets are Southern California (and) Arizona.” The current average price for a gallon of gas stands at $4.52 per gallon, with Californians facing the highest average prices in the country at $6.16.

Las Vegas saw a major visitor downturn in 2025, with numbers dropping by more than 3 million people to 38.5 million. Total hotel occupancy dropped from 83.6% in 2024 to 80.3% in 2025. Average daily auto traffic fell from 44,072 in 2024 to 43,301 in 2025. Several casinos will be shuttered in July in the city of Primm, which is located on the Nevada-California border.