The Plaza and the D are the bookends of the Fremont Street Experience, the covered pedestrian mall at the heart of downtown Las Vegas: the Plaza at its west end, on Main Street, and the D at its east end, where Fremont East’s bars begin. Both sell some of the cheapest rooms in town, both park hotel guests for free, and they’re a seven-minute walk apart. The Plaza is the bigger resort, with a rooftop pool and pickleball; the D is the livelier one, with a vintage casino upstairs and free passes to Circa’s Stadium Swim. Here is how they compare.
Location: Two Ends of Fremont Street
The Plaza stands at 1 Main Street, looking straight down Fremont Street under the canopy; it was built in 1971 on the site of the old Union Pacific railroad station. Circa is across Main Street and the Golden Nugget a short walk away. The D is at 301 Fremont, at the east end of the canopy, a step from Fremont East, the strip of bars and restaurants beyond Las Vegas Boulevard. Between them it’s about a third of a mile, six or seven minutes on foot, all of it under the light show. The Strip is a taxi, rideshare or Deuce bus ride away. Our getting around guide has every way, and our downtown vs the Strip guide helps if you’re still deciding where to stay.
Rooms: Simple at Both
The Plaza has about 1,000 rooms. The standard rooms are all 325 square feet, with one king or two queens: the Luxe rooms are on high floors with a mountain or Fremont Street view, and the Pool Patio Rooms open onto the rooftop pool deck through a private covered patio. Suites go from the 500-square-foot Mini Suite to a 1,000-square-foot two-bedroom.
The D’s 34-story tower has king and two-queen rooms in black and red, with vintage Las Vegas touches; the D doesn’t publish their size. The Corner King Premium rooms look out over the valley and add a sofa and a refrigerator, and the D Suite, 650 square feet, has a separate living area with a wet bar and a 65-inch TV. The two-bedroom suites are on a 17th-floor suite level with keyed access.
Room Types at the Plaza
| Room | Size | Beds | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deluxe Room | 325 sq ft | 1 king or 2 queens | Tub-shower in most |
| Luxe King or Two Queens | 325 sq ft | 1 king or 2 queens | High floor, mountain or Fremont Street view |
| Pool Patio Room | 325 sq ft | 1 king or 2 queens | Private covered patio onto the pool deck |
| Mini Suite | 500 sq ft | 1 king | Sitting area |
| One Bedroom Suite | 650 sq ft | 1 king | Separate living room, wet bar |
| Luxe Room Suite | 725 sq ft | 1 king | Separate living room |
| Penthouse Suite | 945 sq ft | 1 king | Top-floor loft, skyline views |
| Two Bedroom Suite | 1,000 sq ft | 1 king or 2 queens | Two bedrooms, living room with a wet bar |
Room Types at the D
| Room | Size | Beds | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| King Room | Not published | 1 king | Black and red decor |
| Double Queen Room | Not published | 2 queens | Black and red decor |
| Corner King Premium | Not published | 1 king | Corner view of the valley, sofa, refrigerator |
| The D Suite | 650 sq ft | 1 king | Living area, wet bar, 65-inch TV |
| Two Bedroom Suite | 1,300 sq ft | 2 kings | 17th-floor suite level, keyed access |
Which is better? The Plaza, if you want to know what you’re getting, or a room that opens onto the pool. The D, for a bit more style, and for its corner rooms.
Pools: A Rooftop Deck or Two of Them
The Plaza’s rooftop deck covers about 70,000 square feet above Fremont Street, with a pool and a hot tub heated all year, a bar, cabanas and daybeds to rent, and more than a dozen pickleball courts, with paddles to rent. Only hotel guests get in. The D has a smaller outdoor pool and hot tub, shared with the Golden Gate’s guests and open to children. Its real perk is two free general-admission passes per room per night to Stadium Swim at Circa, the six-pool amphitheater facing a 143-foot screen, with early entry; Stadium Swim is for ages 21 and over.
Which is better? The Plaza, for families and for a pool you can use all year without a ticket. The D, for adults who want a party: Stadium Swim is better than either hotel’s pool.
Casino and Nightlife
The Plaza’s casino covers 80,000 square feet, with a bingo room and keno, and the Carousel Bar looks out over Fremont Street. The D has two casino floors: the ground floor is modern, and the second, Vintage Vegas, has older machines and the only Sigma Derby still running in Las Vegas, a mechanical horse-racing game. The D is owned by Derek and Greg Stevens, and Derek also built Circa, so the two hotels share perks like the Stadium Swim passes.
Restaurants
The Plaza’s best table is Oscar’s Steakhouse, in the glass dome at the front of the hotel, looking down Fremont Street. It also has Hash House A Go Go for big breakfasts, Pop Up Pizza, Fresh Mexican Grill and a Pinkbox Doughnuts. The D has Andiamo Italian Steakhouse, Bacon Nation, and American Coney Island, an outpost of the Detroit hot dog stand. Downtown, you’ll eat all over Fremont anyway.
What a Night Costs
The rates at the top of this page are today’s lowest at each hotel, per night, with the resort fee: $39 a night plus tax at the Plaza and $39.95 at the D. Both fees cover self-parking for hotel guests; the Plaza’s also includes early check-in when a room is ready and baggage storage, and the D’s includes the Stadium Swim passes. The D offers free valet, tips aside; the Plaza has no valet. Room tax comes on top. Our pages for the Plaza and the D list every rate we track.
The Plaza or the D: Which Should You Book?
Book the Plaza if you’re traveling with kids, want a rooftop pool and pickleball, a room on the pool deck, or a steak in the dome.
Book the D if you’re an adult group that plans to spend afternoons at Stadium Swim and nights on Fremont East, or you like old-school slots.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far apart are the Plaza and the D?
About a third of a mile along Fremont Street, six or seven minutes on foot under the canopy.
Is parking free at the Plaza and the D?
Yes, for hotel guests at both: the resort fee covers it. See our parking guide.
Can the D’s guests use Stadium Swim?
Yes. The resort fee includes two general-admission passes per room per night at Circa, with early entry, for guests 21 and over. Seats and cabanas cost extra.
Which is better for families?
The Plaza, for its rooftop pool and pickleball. The D’s own pool also takes children, but its best perk is for adults only.
Do they charge resort fees?
Yes, $39 a night plus tax at the Plaza and $39.95 at the D, among the lowest in Las Vegas. Our resort fee guide compares every hotel.
