Last Updated on July 26, 2026 by Daniel Globe
The landmark many visitors still call the Stratosphere Hotel is now officially known as The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower. Its most recognizable feature is the soaring observation tower, which rises far above the north end of Las Vegas Boulevard. The resort opened in 1996, while the transition from the Stratosphere name to The STRAT began in 2019.
Quick Answer
The tower at The STRAT in Las Vegas is 1,149 feet (350 meters) tall. That makes it the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States. Its public observation decks are on Levels 108 and 109, while the Big Shot ride reaches about 1,081 feet on the tower’s mast.
Key Takeaways
- The STRAT Tower is 1,149 feet (350 meters) tall.
- It is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States.
- It is taller than the Eiffel Tower, Space Needle, and Washington Monument, but shorter than the Empire State Building’s 1,454-foot pinnacle.
- Indoor and outdoor observation decks are located on Levels 108 and 109.
- Big Shot, X-Scream, and SkyJump are high-altitude attractions associated with the tower, although ride availability can change because of maintenance, weather, and operating schedules.
Note: “Stratosphere” is the property’s former name and remains a common search term. The current official name is The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower.
How Tall Is the STRAT Tower?
According to The STRAT’s official tower information, the tower reaches 1,149 feet, or about 350 meters. The measurement refers to the tower, not to a conventional 1,149-foot-tall hotel building.
At 1,149 feet, The STRAT is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States.
The height is one reason the property has remained such a recognizable part of the Las Vegas skyline since opening in 1996. Rather than functioning only as a viewing tower, the upper levels combine observation areas, dining, drinks, SkyJump, and high-altitude thrill rides.
The tower’s numbered upper levels can also be confusing. The observation areas are labeled Levels 108 and 109, but that does not mean the hotel itself is a conventional 109-story skyscraper. These level numbers refer to spaces within the tower complex.
How the STRAT Compares With Other Famous Landmarks
The STRAT is taller than several world-famous monuments, but the original article incorrectly claimed that it exceeds the Empire State Building. The comparison depends on measuring each structure to its officially stated top or pinnacle.
| Landmark | Official Height | Compared With The STRAT |
| The STRAT Tower | 1,149 ft (350 m) | Reference point |
| Empire State Building | 1,454 ft (443 m) to pinnacle | 305 ft taller than The STRAT |
| Eiffel Tower | 1,083 ft (330 m) | About 66 ft shorter than The STRAT |
| Space Needle | 605 ft (184 m) | 544 ft shorter than The STRAT |
| Washington Monument | About 555 ft (169 m) | About 594 ft shorter than The STRAT |
These comparisons show why The STRAT looks so dramatic on the Las Vegas skyline. It is substantially taller than the Space Needle and Washington Monument and slightly taller than today’s 1,083-foot Eiffel Tower. However, the Empire State Building reaches considerably higher when its pinnacle is included.
The Observation Decks
Tower Facts at a Glance
| Annual Visitors | No current official annual attendance figure is published on the STRAT pages reviewed. |
| Tower Height | 1,149 feet (350 meters) |
| Observation Decks | Indoor and outdoor areas on Levels 108 and 109 |
| Posted Observation Hours | As of July 2026: Thursday–Monday, 10 a.m.–1 a.m.; Tuesday–Wednesday, 4 p.m.–1 a.m. Hours are subject to change. |
| Location | 2000 Las Vegas Blvd. S, on the north Strip near the gateway to the Arts District |
The observation decks at The STRAT provide indoor and outdoor views across the Las Vegas Valley. The official property information places them on Levels 108 and 109 rather than at one single exact elevation.
The indoor area is climate-controlled and uses large windows for panoramic views, while the outdoor deck provides an open-air perspective. The upper tower also includes 108 Eats and 108 Drinks. Visibility across the valley varies with weather, haze, and atmospheric conditions, so a fixed viewing distance such as “50 miles” should not be treated as guaranteed.
Pro Tip: For two very different views in one visit, arrive before sunset and remain after dark. Daylight makes the surrounding mountains easier to see, while nighttime brings out the lights of Las Vegas.
Thrill Rides and Attractions
The upper tower is unusual because its height is used for more than sightseeing. The official thrill-rides information currently describes Big Shot and X-Scream, while SkyJump is offered as a separate controlled-descent attraction.
Big Shot
Big Shot launches riders 160 feet upward at up to 45 mph. The ride starts from a platform about 921 feet above the ground and travels up the tower mast to roughly 1,081 feet before descending.
X-Scream
X-Scream operates from about 866 feet above the ground. Its track extends approximately 27 feet beyond the edge of the tower, moving its passenger car forward and backward over the Las Vegas skyline.
SkyJump
SkyJump is a controlled open-air descent rather than a conventional amusement ride. The STRAT describes the experience as beginning more than 800 feet above the Strip and reaching speeds above 40 mph.
Older information about the Stratosphere often includes a spinning attraction called Insanity. It appeared in past STRAT marketing, but it is not listed on the current official thrill-rides page and should not be presented as part of today’s regular attraction lineup.
Warning: High-altitude ride availability can change because of weather, maintenance, operating schedules, and safety restrictions. The official pages have displayed temporary closure or maintenance notices for individual rides, so check The STRAT’s live ticketing or attraction page before planning a visit around one specific ride.
The Top of the World Restaurant
Top of the World occupies Level 106 of The STRAT Tower, more than 800 feet above Las Vegas. Its dining room revolves a full 360 degrees approximately every 80 minutes, allowing the view to change gradually throughout a meal.
The current restaurant describes its cuisine as international, steakhouse, and seafood, with steaks and seafood forming major parts of the menu. Because menus, prices, operating hours, reservation requirements, and dress policies can change, visitors should check the current restaurant page before booking.
The revolving dining room provides a different experience from the observation decks. Instead of walking around to change viewpoints, diners remain seated while the room slowly rotates, revealing different parts of the Las Vegas Valley during the meal.
The STRAT’s Place in Las Vegas
The STRAT occupies a distinctive position at 2000 Las Vegas Blvd. S. The property describes its location as being on Las Vegas Boulevard near the north Strip and the gateway to the Arts District, with access toward both central Strip attractions and Downtown Las Vegas.
That location helps explain why describing it simply as being “Downtown” is misleading. It sits between the dense concentration of major Strip resorts farther south and the Downtown/Arts District area to the north.
Its identity also differs from many traditional casino resorts. The tower itself is a destination, combining indoor and outdoor observation decks, high-altitude attractions, drinks, casual food, and fine dining. Visitors can therefore experience the tower even when an overnight hotel stay is not the main purpose of the trip.
The STRAT Tower’s Impressive Height
At 1,149 feet, The STRAT remains one of Las Vegas’s most recognizable structures. Its height is impressive on its own, but the more useful distinction is that it is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States.
It also occupies an interesting place among famous landmarks: taller than the Eiffel Tower, Space Needle, and Washington Monument, but lower than the Empire State Building’s 1,454-foot pinnacle. Visitors can experience that height from the observation decks, the revolving Top of the World restaurant, SkyJump, and—when operating—the tower’s thrill rides.
If you’re planning a Las Vegas trip and also want ideas for a completely different kind of outdoor adventure, you may be interested in these tent camping spots.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the height of the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas?
The tower at the property formerly known as the Stratosphere is 1,149 feet (350 meters) tall. The current property name is The STRAT Hotel, Casino & Tower.
Is The STRAT the tallest building in Las Vegas?
It is more accurate to call The STRAT the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States. The 1,149-foot measurement applies to the tower, so describing it simply as the tallest conventional building in Las Vegas mixes two different structural categories.
Is The STRAT taller than the Eiffel Tower?
Yes. The STRAT is 1,149 feet tall, while the Eiffel Tower currently measures 1,083 feet after the installation of its newer antenna. That makes The STRAT about 66 feet taller.
Is The STRAT taller than the Empire State Building?
No. The Empire State Building reaches 1,454 feet at its pinnacle, compared with 1,149 feet for The STRAT Tower. The Empire State Building is therefore about 305 feet taller by those measurements.
Where are the observation decks at The STRAT?
The STRAT’s indoor and outdoor observation areas are on Levels 108 and 109. They offer 360-degree views across Las Vegas and the surrounding valley.
What attractions are at the top of The STRAT?
The upper tower includes observation decks, Big Shot, X-Scream, SkyJump, 108 Eats, 108 Drinks, and Top of the World restaurant. Individual rides may close temporarily for maintenance, weather, or operational reasons, so availability should be confirmed before visiting.
Is Insanity still a current ride at The STRAT?
Insanity appeared in older Stratosphere and STRAT attraction information, but it is not listed on the current official thrill-rides page. Current attraction information should be checked directly with The STRAT because ride availability can change.
Can you visit The STRAT Tower without staying at the hotel?
Yes. The observation-deck Tower Experience and other tower attractions sell admission separately, so an overnight hotel reservation is not required simply to visit the observation areas.
Sources
- The STRAT — Tower & Observation Deck — tower height, observation levels, posted hours, SkyJump, and Top of the World information.
- The STRAT — Thrill Rides — Big Shot and X-Scream specifications and operating-status information.
- The STRAT — 2019 Rebrand Announcement — transition from the Stratosphere name to The STRAT.
- Empire State Building — Facts & Figures — official 1,454-foot pinnacle height.
- Official Eiffel Tower — History of the Tower’s Height — current 330-meter/1,083-foot height.
- U.S. National Park Service — Washington Monument — official monument height.