A Guide for the Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival

At any moment, Las Vegas is a different place for different people and you may have no idea what might be going on in another part of town. That could very well be said for the Route 91 Harvest country music festival – while the Strip will be flooded with country music fans between September 30th and October 2nd, half the people visiting Las Vegas during that time won’t even know there’s a festival going on.

For the country music fans who will be there, even if you don’t have a ticket for the festival you’ll find a slew of like-minded people who share your musical taste throughout the city. Here are 10 of the best places all over Las Vegas that all fans of country music will enjoy.

10. Coyote Ugly (New York-New York)

Sometimes the party has to start (or continue) at one of the most obvious places. The Las Vegas outpost of this worldwide chain of old country saloons has female bartenders, bar top dancing as well as free line dancing lessons throughout the week.

9. John Mull’s Meats

This “non-restaurant” is on the other end of the spectrum from Coyote Ugly. You may know John Mull’s Meats from various features on Food Network, but this is a unique store for Las Vegas and you won’t find others around town like it. This meat shop and BBQ joint is located far from the strip and is reminiscent of a roadside BBQ stand you might see in the south with simple picnic tables.

8. PBR Rock Bar (Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood)

This is not a country bar. It’s a “country friendly” bar in the center of the Vegas Strip, at Planet Hollywood, that features a menu chock full of BBQ and a mechanical bull. Consider your musical main course to be rock n’ roll and your appetizer of mac n cheese to be the country music.

7. Double Barrel Roadhouse (Monte Carlo)

Double Barrel is a Vegas-style roadhouse where country meets rock n’ roll. Like you’d expect in a roadhouse, the restaurant features southern food and cocktails.

6. Whiskey Down Bar & Casino (MGM Grand)

Almost all of the country music fans I know love whiskey. This bar has one of the best whiskey selections on the Vegas Strip. In addition to being a whiskey bar, this is also a separate gambling area at MGM Grand. Sure, they have more than 50 different types of whiskey but they also have blackjack and video poker for the gamblers.

5. Hogs and Heifers in Downtown Las Vegas

Cheap drinks, loud music, and motorcycles outside are all hallmarks of this country and southern rock dive bar in downtown Las Vegas. I wouldn’t say anything goes here, but it’s a great place to be yourself. And head up to the Fremont Street Experience for some fresh air and catch the Viva Vision shows at the top of each hour.

4. Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill (Harrah’s)

This bar and restaurant has live country music at 9 p.m. every night and was named after Toby Keith’s song “I Love This Bar.” After you’re finished drinking and dining, head to the Toby Keith section of the casino. Better yet, see him perform at Route 91 Harvest Festival on Friday night.

3. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (Silverton)

There are a lot of great places to get a bite to eat or a drink on this list but Cracker Barrel is the only place you’ll get a good southern breakfast. The Las Vegas location for this national chain restaurant has the same food you’ve come to enjoy all around the country. I prefer the Sunrise Sampler with double hash browns and no apples. That’s just me. Whatever your preference, just make sure you get some biscuits.

2. Gilley’s Saloon & BBQ (Treasure Island)

This is the best country bar in any Vegas Strip casino. Enjoy country music, line dancing, a mechanical bull, BBQ and fairly priced suds in an atmosphere you won’t find in another casino on the Vegas Strip. ‘Nuff said.

1. Stoney’s Rockin Country (Town Square)

Stoney’s is easily the most popular country bar with the Las Vegas locals. It’s away from the tourist corridor and not too far from the festival. Oh, did you forget about the Route 91 Country Music Festival?! Live music, line dancing and plenty of specials. Visit stoneysrockincountry.com for specific groups and promotions when you’re in town.

Bonus: Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival

Las Vegas is host to many large events every year and this has become one of the most popular of the year. Major headliners like Brad Paisley, Luke Bryan, and Toby Keith will keep Route 91 Harvest as popular as ever.

If you’re a fan of country music, you’ve probably already made plans to visit Las Vegas for the Route 91 festival. If you haven’t made plans you can still win your way into the festival. Mercury Insurance is giving away 2 VIP tickets, hotel room for 3 nights and a swag bag of goodies. Just click here to enter. If you purchase a new auto policy, your Mercury agent will give you two 3-day passes as a way of saying thank you!

I’m asked for recommendations on things to do whenever there’s a major event in Las Vegas. Gathering information like this is helpful for the readers of this blog, my followers on social media and for me since I have to know everything about Las Vegas.