I was wondering at how many hours people have been entering the actual "Strip".
I haven't been there yet and I'm:

Level 28
53 hours
Story Mission: Confront Benny

All my friends think I'm crazy for doing this because they've all finished it in 40 or so hours on their 1st playrhroughs. I was curious as to how long people waited.
So, post away I guess.
(They also call me mad for boycotting stimp packs).

I think I was about 10 hours in when I first reached the strip. Are you deliberately avoiding it?

First time I got there pretty fast like 17 hours in at like level 8

First time it took me about 6 to 8 hours of playthough to get to New Vegas (got hooked on going through the main storyline).

Second and subseqent times though I have usually been able to get into the strip in an hour to an hour and a half tops, if I decide to go straight there. I've actually gotten really good at completely dodging the Deathclaws that try to prevent a "straight across" trip.

Very early. Around level 6-9. Some, well, less than 10 hours played (now lv28 with 35 hours)

The first hour, because I was expecting a lot more. I was very disappointed.

Not yet.

Still haven't been there and I have had the game since release. Of course I haven't had much time to play and the farthest I've been is Novac.

It took me a while on my first playthrough, I think I was level...20? Thereabouts. I wasn't purposefully avoiding it, I just did all the side quests I came across, randomly explored and generally mucked about. Took me a long time to get there.

I dont do many side quests. I proberly could get there quite quickly.

Don't remember, but understanding that was where the main quest would inevitably lead, I put it off for as long as possible.

I probably broke the game somehow doing that. Certainly didn't get invited to you-know-where and the bloody game couldn't be completed. Oh, well.

Let's see...I was probably around level 2-3 and the first 40 minutes.

I don't understand why people deliberately avoid the Strip until they get to a certain level, just so they can go "i gotz 2 da strip aftah 85 hours i so cool"

Not saying you did, or anything.

It took about 30 hours in my first playthrough.

On my first game, I did what you're doing. I stayed out in the Mojave and explored to my heart's content. I was in no hurry to pursue Benny or the Main Quest because there was so much to do. It was great. Now that I know things, I get there about Level 5 with my Luck high and go to Mick and Ralph's for some lucky attire and then I go gambling so I don't have to scrounge as much. I know how to get the Safe Houses, etc. It's different but still fun when you get there earlier. You don't have to stay and I don't. I prefer it out in the desert and I know where the baddies are. Stimpak boycott? Oh no, not me. hardcoe wasn't for me either...just didn't care for it. See you in the casino some day.

Wasn't to bad. I think I was roughly level 12ish? I wasn't avoiding the Strip, but I was taking in and doing everything along my way. :laugh:

Went there pretty early on my first character, followed the linear path pretty much. My second playthrough I went there at level 2. I have been taking my time on every playthrough since.

I think I might have been level 30 and about 100hrs in before I went there on the first play through. Partly because I don't like be pushed along by story lines but mostly because I knew that entering triggered the end game and wanted to explore the world.

It depends on who I'm siding with... If I'm going with the legion I just go in as soon as possible to take out Benny but if I'm going with house yes man or NCR I do all the quest and Crimson Caravan Camp McCarran and freeside before I start doing anything in New Vegas

Depends on my character. If I have a high luck I get there asap for caps. If im just me, I go f with the powder gangers and whatnot before I head there. Usually get to level 11 before I make it in either way.

Why wouldnt you go there in 53 hours???

Very first playthru? Probably around level 18. I don't remember, too long ago. It was after quite a bit of wandering tho...I'd already made a lower-xp-gain mod long before, so lvl18=a lot more playtime than vanilla.

After that...whenever I feel like it. I've been there at lvl-1, lvl-5, lvl-10, etc. etc. Depends on objective or my mood. Typically however, I tend to avoid it for a while...I like to set up certain other things before I trigger the MQ. Or these days more often I only go there because I want to experiment with some very specific purpose (eg, trying The Fort at lvl-2, setting up an npc-battle on the Strip, or to make Benny umpa-dance, haha).

I was deliberatly trying not to go into the strip, but for the exact reasons, I do not know. It's kind of a psycological thing I have with games sometimes were I randomly get an idead in my head and it sticks. This idead was pretty much "DO NOT GO TO THE STRIP UNTILL YOU HAVE DONE HEAPS OF STUFF".
I actually forgot to say I haven't been to Westside or Freeside yet either. Because all of my current side quests point to freeside and the strip I think I'm going to go to west side at 55 or so hours, Freside at 60-65 then the strip at 70-75+?