What Locals Love About the Neon Museum (and What They Skip)

When visitors think of Las Vegas, they might picture the dazzling lights of the Strip, but locals know the real magic lies just a few miles north, glowing beneath the desert sky at the Neon Museum. Home to some of the city’s most iconic vintage signs, the museum captures the golden era of Las Vegas like nowhere else.

WHY THE NEON MUSEUM RESONATES WITH LOCALS

For Vegas residents, many of the signs in the Neon Boneyard are part of their personal history. Locals grew up seeing these signs at hotels, casinos, and motels scattered across the city. The museum offers a rare opportunity to revisit those memories and reminisce on a Vegas of days past.

Rather than rushing through, locals often come back over time to notice details they missed, like the craftsmanship of the hand-bent tubing or the way each sign reflects a specific moment in Las Vegas history. It’s a living archive that regular visitors love to explore slowly.

FAVORITE PHOTO SPOTS (THAT AREN’T OVERCROWDED)

While some of the most recognizable signs, like the giant Hard Rock Café guitar or the colorful Stardust sign, draw a lot of attention, locals often gravitate toward quieter corners of the Boneyard. Weathered signs with visible rust or fading paint add texture and authenticity, creating dramatic backdrops that feel more connected to the city’s roots.

The La Concha Motel lobby, now repurposed as the museum’s visitor center, is another favorite. Its swooping curves make it a standout location for photos, especially in the late afternoon light.

Planning your visit around golden hour adds warmth and depth to photos and enhances the vintage atmosphere without the harsh desert sun.

THE BEST TOURS & TIMES TO GO

Couple taking a selfie at the North Gallery

In addition to walking around the Boneyard, locals often recommend the “Brilliant! Jackpot” experience for its immersive light and sound show. Using projection mapping technology, the show reanimates long-dark signs and plays a soundtrack of classic Vegas hits, offering a theatrical take on the city’s history. It’s a great way to experience the museum outside of seeing the signs themselves.

While the guided tours are great for first-time visitors, some locals skip the formal guided walk-throughs, especially if they’ve already been before. Instead, they opt for a self-paced visit that allows more time to linger, reflect, and explore favorite signs.

TIPS FOR AVOIDING THE CROWDS

Local visitors have a few tried-and-true tips for avoiding the busiest times and getting the most out of the experience:

Visit on a weekday evening, especially Tuesday through Thursday. These nights tend to be quieter than weekends or holiday periods.
Buy tickets in advance, especially for the Brilliant! show, which has limited seating.
Check the weather forecast before planning a daytime visit. Temperatures can climb quickly, and the outdoor Boneyard offers limited shade.
For those visiting with children, it’s best to come earlier in the day or look into one of the museum’s family-friendly programs, which offer a more tailored and manageable experience for little ones.

WHAT LOCALS TEND TO SKIP

Even with its charm, locals know that not every part of the museum needs to be part of every visit.

For example, repeat visitors may skip the daytime guided tours in favor of wandering the Boneyard on their own terms. And while the museum is highly photogenic, locals tend to treat it less like an Instagram playground and more like a cultural space. The focus is less on snapping every sign and more on soaking in the history.

WHY LOCALS KEEP COMING BACK

While some of the Neon Museum’s appeal comes from the dazzling signs, the draw is also in the way it tells the story of a city that’s always reinventing itself. Each visit offers something new, whether that’s a freshly restored sign, a different angle at sunset, or a deeper appreciation of the artistry behind neon design.

For locals, it’s a place to reconnect with the Vegas that existed before mega-resorts and LED billboards—a reminder that behind every glittering facade is a layered history of ambition, reinvention, and light.

Do you love The Neon Museum and want to keep coming back? Consider becoming a member! We have different membership tiers, all with benefits including free admission, discounts for guests, and much more. Becoming a member is a great way to support the work that The Neon Museum does.