When We Were Young Travel Guide: Hotels, Tickets and Transportation

• When We Were Young is a single-day emo and pop-punk format repeated over multiple dates each October at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds, a fully outdoor venue on asphalt and artificial turf near the north end of the Strip.
• Launched in 2017 in California, the festival moved to Las Vegas in 2022 and expanded to two days in 2023, drawing past headliners like Green Day, Blink-182, and Avril Lavigne, with 2024 editions featuring full-album performances.
• Ticket tiers run from GA and GA+ up through VIP and VIP Cabana, plus bundled hotel-and-ticket packages, with layaway plans available for deposits starting at $19.99.
• Harry Reid International Airport sits roughly 4 miles from the venue, and North Strip hotels near SAHARA and Circus Circus offer the shortest walk to the gates.
• Late-October Las Vegas swings from daytime highs of 75-82°F to nighttime lows of 48-55°F, so layers are essential across a roughly 12-hour festival day.

After a 2026 hiatus, When We Were Young is confirmed to return in October 2027, though exact dates remain TBA. Current-year dates, lineup, and policies should always be confirmed on the official festival site before you book flights or tickets, and the destination festivals Vewtopia covers can help you compare When We Were Young against other city-based and camping events before you commit to a single trip.

• Next edition: October 2027, with exact dates still to be announced.
• Booking timeline: Tickets usually go on sale roughly a year in advance; book flights and hotels three to six months before the event once dates are confirmed.
• Weather: Late October in Las Vegas brings daytime highs in the mid-70s to low-80s°F and nighttime lows in the upper 40s to mid-50s°F.
• Crowd: Skews toward dedicated fans of 2000s emo and pop-punk, with a strong all-ages mix throughout the day.
• Stay areas: North Strip near SAHARA for walkability, Mid-Strip resorts for classic Vegas atmosphere, Downtown Fremont Street for value, or off-Strip convention-area hotels for lower rates.
• Transportation: Rideshare, walking from North Strip hotels, the Las Vegas Monorail to SAHARA station, and The Deuce bus route.

• Event name: When We Were Young.
• Venue: Las Vegas Festival Grounds, 311 W Sahara Ave, Las Vegas, Nevada.
• Festival type: Single-day format repeated over multiple dates.
• Genres: Emo, pop-punk, and alternative rock.
• Venue capacity: Approximately 85,000.
• Usual dates: Third weekend of October.
• History: Launched in 2017 in California, moved to Las Vegas in 2022, expanded to two days in 2023.
• Past headliners: Green Day, Blink-182, Avril Lavigne; 2024 editions featured full-album performances.
• Age policy: All-ages, with 21+ ID required for alcohol.
• Payment: Cashless.
• Nearest airport: Harry Reid International (LAS), approximately 4 miles away.
• Neighborhood: North end of the Strip near SAHARA and Circus Circus.
• Time zone: Pacific.
• Ticket categories: GA, GA+, VIP, and hotel packages.
• Surface: Fully outdoors, asphalt and artificial turf.
• Weather: Daytime 75-82°F, nighttime 48-55°F.

When We Were Young's biggest draw is that it packs a deep roster of 2000s emo and pop-punk headliners into a single, fully outdoor Strip location rather than forcing you onto shuttle buses across a distant fairground or a multi-day camping commitment. For fans who want a nostalgia-driven, guitar-forward lineup paired with the convenience of Las Vegas hotels, that combination is genuinely hard to match.

Best for

• Emo and pop-punk fans who want a nostalgia-heavy lineup without a camping commitment.
• Travelers who prefer a walkable, hotel-based Strip base over a remote fairground or desert camping venue.
• Groups who want easy access to Las Vegas dining, pools, and attractions between and after sets.
• Attendees comfortable with a single, intense 12-hour day per ticket rather than a spread-out multi-day festival.

Potential drawbacks

• North Strip and Mid-Strip hotels book up fast and carry a real premium during the festival weekend.
• The fully outdoor, asphalt-and-turf surface means no shade breaks beyond designated structures across a long day.
• Rideshare demand spikes sharply around gate-open and post-headliner exit times each night.
• Desert temperature swings between day and night mean layers are not optional.

A full When We Were Young trip generally falls into three tiers. A budget-minded trip with a GA ticket and an off-Strip or Downtown hotel keeps costs lean. A mid-range trip with a GA+ ticket and a North Strip hotel near the venue balances comfort and cost. A splurge weekend with VIP or VIP Cabana access and a Mid-Strip resort delivers the full premium experience at a significantly higher price point.

VewTopia may earn a commission if you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.

The only fully safe way to buy When We Were Young tickets is through the official festival website and its official FrontGate Tickets ticketing page. Random resellers, social media offers, and unofficial ticket sites carry a real risk of fake barcodes, canceled orders, and zero refund options at the gate.

Ticket tiers

• GA: General admission access to the full festival grounds.
• GA+: Upgraded perks including shade, a dedicated entry lane, and loungers for a more comfortable day.
• VIP: A separate entrance, dedicated bars, air-conditioned restrooms, and closer viewing near the stages.
• VIP Cabana: The top-tier hospitality option with complimentary drinks, food vouchers, and private spaces away from the general crowd.
• Hotel and ticket packages: Bundled rooms plus a GA or VIP ticket, which can sometimes be cost-competitive against booking each piece separately.
• Layaway plans: Deposit-based payment plans starting at $19.99 make it easier to spread out the cost of a ticket ahead of the on-sale rush.

Tickets typically go on sale roughly a year in advance, opening with a presale window before moving to general on-sale, and demand spikes intensely during the first on-sale window, which has historically sold out within minutes. Once you've locked in your ticket, comparing hotel-and-ticket package totals against building the same trip manually can help you decide which route saves more money for your group.

Safe purchasing tips

• Buy directly from the official When We Were Young website or its official FrontGate Tickets page.
• Treat any social media offer of discounted tickets as a likely scam until proven otherwise.
• Consider a layaway plan if you want to lock in a ticket early without paying the full price up front.
• Download the official festival app before you travel for the live set-time schedule and any last-minute policy updates.

Zone 1: North Strip

• Hotels near the Las Vegas Festival Grounds, SAHARA, The STRAT, and nearby motels offer a 10-15 minute walk to the gates.
• Best for travelers prioritizing zero-commute convenience and easy access back to their room between and after sets.

Zone 2: Mid-Strip Resorts

• Bellagio, Caesars, and the Flamingo corridor deliver the iconic Las Vegas atmosphere along with a short rideshare ride to the venue.
• Best for travelers who want the classic Strip experience alongside their festival trip.

Zone 3: Downtown Fremont Street

• A budget-friendlier, old-school Vegas option with a longer commute to the North Strip venue.
• Best for travelers who want to pair a festival trip with a more classic, less touristy Downtown Vegas vibe.

Zone 4: Off-Strip Value Hotels

• Palace Station and other convention-area hotels offer lower rates and easier parking than Strip properties.
• Best for travelers on a tighter budget who don't mind a longer rideshare or drive to the venue.

Booking tips

Avoid booking short-term rentals for this event, since last-minute cancellations near major Strip events are a recurring problem, and hotels offer more reliable recourse if something goes wrong. A hotel search tool focused on the best areas to stay for Las Vegas festivals can help you compare North Strip, Mid-Strip, Downtown, and off-Strip options side by side before you commit to a longer commute or a pricier North Strip room. Sometimes hotel-and-ticket packages end up cost-competitive against booking each piece separately, so it's worth checking both routes before locking in your stay.

Airport

Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is the main gateway for When We Were Young travelers, sitting roughly 4 miles from the Strip and handling heavy domestic nonstop traffic plus some international routes. Book your flight early, since Las Vegas weekends in October fill up fast around major festival dates.

Rideshare and taxis

Uber and Lyft pickup zones at the airport are well marked, with rides to the Strip typically taking 15-25 minutes depending on traffic, while taxis queue outside baggage claim as another straightforward option. Limited airport shuttles still operate for some hotel groups, and rental cars only really make sense if you're planning to explore outside the city beyond the festival weekend.

For a deeper breakdown of getting around the city for this specific event, Vewtopia's Las Vegas festival transportation guide covers timing, surge pricing, and transit options in more detail than a single section here can capture.

Walking, Monorail and transit

Walking from North Strip hotels typically takes 10-20 minutes depending on your exact property, while the Las Vegas Monorail to the SAHARA station leaves just a short walk to the venue gates. The Deuce bus and other Strip routes also serve the north end, making transit a viable alternative to rideshare during peak surge windows.

Rideshare congestion and parking

Rideshare and taxis work but face heavy congestion near show start and end times, so build in extra buffer time on both ends of the day. No parking is available at the festival location itself, so plan to park in nearby casino garages or hotel lots with posted fees if you're driving.

Knowing when to arrive, how security screening flows, and how to move efficiently around the Las Vegas Festival Grounds makes a real difference across a full 12-hour emo and pop-punk lineup.

Gates, security and arrival timing

• Main gate entry sits along Las Vegas Boulevard, with security bag checks, metal detectors, ID checks for 21+ alcohol wristbands, and mobile or physical ticket scanning.
• For barricade spots, arrive when gates open, typically midday, though mid-afternoon arrivals avoid the longest entry queues while sacrificing front-row positioning.
• Latecomers arriving after 4 p.m. often face shorter lines but miss several earlier sets.
• VIP tickets offer a separate entrance that avoids the longest general admission lines entirely.

Moving between stages

With multiple stages running overlapping performances, walking between the farthest stages can take 10-15 minutes, so plan your must-see bands ahead of time and accept that some schedule conflicts are inevitable. Wear comfortable, broken-in shoes, since attendees typically walk about 5 miles across a full festival day on asphalt and turf.

First-hour plan

• Apply sunscreen, fill your hydration pack, and grab a site map as soon as you're inside.
• Take a photo of the set-time schedule and locate water refill stations, since cellular service can be poor once the crowd fills in; download offline maps and screenshot the schedule ahead of time.
• Agree on a group meeting point in case anyone gets separated or phones run out of battery.

Re-entry policies vary by edition, so confirm the current-year rules on the official festival FAQ before you plan to leave and come back during the day.

Clothing and layers

• Broken-in sneakers or boots, since you'll walk about 5 miles on asphalt and artificial turf across the day.
• Breathable band t-shirts and black denim or skinny jeans for the classic emo and pop-punk fashion vibe.
• Light layers for the evening, when temperatures drop into the 40s-50s°F, plus a compact windbreaker or light jacket.
• A hat and sunglasses for the blazing daytime desert sun.

Sun, hydration and hearing protection

• High-SPF sunscreen and lip balm for extended sun exposure across a fully outdoor venue.
• Hydration packs are allowed and recommended for water; bring yours empty to pass security.
• Concert earplugs to protect your hearing across a 12-hour day of stage-level sound exposure.

Daily carry items

• A compact portable charger, essential for your phone given the poor cell service inside the venue.
• Basic pain relievers and blister plasters for the amount of walking involved.
• A small packable blanket to sit on during breaks between sets.
• Clear bags up to 12" x 6" x 12", or a small clutch bag no larger than 6" x 9" with one pocket.
• Empty hydration packs with no more than two main compartments are permitted; a transparent sling bag can speed up security screening.
• Digital and physical copies of your tickets, a government-issued ID, a backup payment card, and a small amount of cash for slower vendors.
• A saved offline copy of your hotel booking confirmation.

Do not pack non-sealed liquids other than alcohol, glass containers, large cameras with detachable lenses, selfie sticks, or large umbrellas, since the festival generally prohibits outside food and drinks along with these items. Reviewing Vewtopia's complete music festival packing list before you leave home can help you catch smaller items you might otherwise forget. You can buy forgotten basics in Las Vegas, but don't rely on festival-ground merchandise for everyday essentials.

Music add-ons

Official sideshows at smaller Las Vegas venues, emo night club events, and karaoke bars where 2000s emo and pop-punk hits dominate the playlist are all common ways to extend the music experience beyond the main festival grounds. Booking a guided experience or tour ahead of time can help you fit more of these add-ons into a short trip without overplanning every hour on your own.

Classic Las Vegas attractions

• The Bellagio fountains, free and walkable from most mid-Strip hotels.
• The Fremont Street Experience downtown, for a classic old-school Vegas atmosphere.
• The High Roller observation wheel for sweeping Strip views.
• The Neon Museum, showcasing decades of retired Las Vegas signage.
• The Arts District, offering a less touristy bar scene away from the casino floors.

Daytime decompression

Pool time at your hotel resort, desert excursions to Red Rock Canyon, and quieter coffee shops away from the casino floors all make good recovery activities on non-festival days. One budget warning worth keeping in mind: drinks, gaming, and impulse activities on the Strip can easily exceed the cost of your festival ticket if you're not tracking spending closely.

Day 1: Arrival and warm-up

Fly into LAS on Thursday or Friday with a midday flight, take rideshare to your hotel, and check in. Take an evening walk to learn the route to the Las Vegas Festival Grounds, grab a casual dinner at a North Strip or Mid-Strip restaurant, and optionally catch a sideshow or emo bar night at a smaller venue.

Day 2: Festival focus

On Saturday or your first ticketed day, sleep in and grab brunch before packing your clear bag with sunscreen, a charger, earplugs, and layers. Arrive at the gates for your preferred entry window, pace food, water, and shade breaks throughout the day, and after the final set, walk or rideshare back to your hotel safely rather than joining the immediate post-show surge.

Day 3: Recovery and Vegas highlights

Sunday starts with a slow morning, a pool or spa session, and time to explore the Strip, Fremont Street, or the Arts District. If a second WWWY date is scheduled on Sunday, repeat Day 2's strategy, and pre-book a restaurant reservation for this night, since popular spots fill up quickly on festival weekends.

Extra days

With additional time, visit Red Rock Canyon, hit premium outlet shopping, or attend other concerts and residencies that pair well with a pop-punk weekend slot. Fitting merch shopping into your first day if possible is worth considering, since merch lines at the festival itself are notoriously brutal.

These clearly labeled estimates are meant as a planning starting point, not a guarantee. Actual costs vary by ticket tier, hotel choice, and how much you spend on food, drinks, and gaming during your trip.

Cost categories to plan around

• Festival ticket: GA at the lowest tier up through VIP Cabana at the top.
• Flight: Economy booked 4+ months out up to last-minute or premium cabin fares.
• Hotel per night: Including resort fees, ranging from off-Strip or Downtown to a Mid-Strip resort.
• Daily transport: Walking plus the Monorail up through rideshare both ways.
• Food and drinks: Pre-bought snacks and one to two meals inside, up to full on-site dining and bars.
• Merch: One t-shirt up to filling a suitcase with festival gear.
• Extras: Free Strip sightseeing up to multiple sideshows and paid experiences.

Money-saving tips

• Be flexible on trip dates around the festival weekend to find lower airfare.
• Choose Downtown or off-Strip hotels and split rooms with friends to cut nightly costs.
• Use public transit instead of rideshare during peak surge times around gate-open and headliner-exit windows.
• Pre-game with snacks and water from a nearby grocery store before heading to the venue.
• Set a merch limit before you see all the WWWY t-shirts and hoodies on site.
• Compare hotel-and-ticket package totals against building the same trip manually before booking either way.
• Build your own spreadsheet using these categories and revisit it once official ticket prices and hotel promos for the 2027 edition go live.

When We Were Young shares many safety dynamics with other large rock and alternative concerts: big crowds, sun exposure, alcohol availability, moshing, and occasional crowd-surfing. Large crowds and extensive walking are simply expected at an event of this scale, so planning ahead matters.

Official policies to verify each year

• Allowed and prohibited items, plus re-entry rules and the last re-entry time.
• Water and hydration pack policy, acceptable bag types and sizes, and camera rules.
• Age and ID requirements for alcohol wristbands.

Personal safety tips

• Stay with a buddy or group and agree on a meeting point before you separate.
• Pay attention in dense pits and help people up if they fall.
• Know your limits with alcohol and heat so you can enjoy the full day without incident.
• Keep your phone in a zipped pocket or secured pouch to avoid losing it in a crowd.

Moshing etiquette

Help people up, don't throw elbows, and keep phones secured if you choose to be near the pit. If you're not comfortable in high-energy areas, stand farther back or off to the sides where the crowd is calmer.

Desert climate risks

Attendees should plan to stay hydrated due to the hot desert climate, since dehydration and sunburn are the most common medical issues at October Las Vegas events. Take advantage of shade structures, misting stations, and free water refills when offered, and remember that weather swings significantly between day and night, so layers are not optional. For a broader framework you can apply to this and any other event, Vewtopia's festival safety plan guide walks through building a simple, repeatable safety routine before you ever set foot on festival grounds.