In 2006, the start/finish was from the Mandalay Bay Convention Center parking lot at the far south end of the Las Vegas Strip. The route goes up the Strip, and road closures begin before 5 am. I took a cab to the start and got an earful the whole way from my cab driver and what a crime it was to block traffic for a few hours on Sunday morning. True, the taxis and others would have to take a different route to get in and out of the hotels and to the airport. Sorry!
The race warns you to arrive early. With 16,000 participants, I can imagine there was congestion getting into parking lots. Expect to walk a half mile from parking to the start, at the closest. I stayed further up the Strip and took a cab. I walked back, using the Tram that runs from Mandalay Bay to Excalibur to cut the walk a bit shorter.
I walk the Strip for exercise and sightseeing whenever in Vegas, it is safe and walkable at all hours.
