Las Vegas is best visited in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). Temperatures sit between 18C and 30C, outdoor pool culture is active, and the desert air is manageable. October is a favorite: mild days around 24C, no summer heat, and the Life is Beautiful music festival brings big names to the downtown Fremont area. March's Las Vegas Marathon and the NCAA basketball tournament (March Madness) fill hotels quickly. Book accommodation several months ahead if traveling around major sporting events or concert residencies. June, July, and August are brutally hot, with temperatures hitting 40C to 45C. The Strip is navigable because every casino and hotel is aggressively air-conditioned, but walking outside during midday is genuinely punishing. The pool scene thrives in summer. December and January are cold by desert standards, dropping to 4C to 10C at night, though the Strip is heated and active. New Year's Eve on the Strip is one of the largest outdoor celebrations in the US.