Things To Do In Laughlin, Nevada: The Ultimate Guide

Las Vegas gets all the attention, but 90 miles south along the Colorado River sits a Nevada resort town with a personality all its own.

Laughlin, Nevada was essentially built from scratch by one man — Don Laughlin — who in 1966 bought a shuttered bait shop on the Nevada side of the river and turned it into a casino. Today it anchors a strip of riverside hotel-casinos that draw millions of visitors annually with something Las Vegas can’t quite replicate: the combination of casino excitement and an honest-to-goodness natural waterway running right alongside the action.

Whether you’re looking for low-minimum table games, water sports on the Colorado, some of the best value hotel rooms in Nevada, or a jumping-off point for exploring the Mojave Desert and nearby Arizona, Laughlin rewards visitors who know what to look for. This guide covers the best of all of it.

About Laughlin, Nevada

Laughlin sits at one of the lowest, hottest corners of Nevada, where the Colorado River forms the boundary between Nevada and Arizona. Across the water is Bullhead City, Arizona — the two communities function as a single metro area connected by a free water taxi that runs between the casino strip and the Arizona side.

What distinguishes Laughlin from other Nevada gaming destinations is its approachability. Room rates are consistently among the lowest in the state — weekend nights that would cost $200–$400 on the Las Vegas Strip regularly run $40–$80 here. Table minimums are lower, buffets are cheaper, and the atmosphere is more relaxed. Laughlin draws a devoted repeat clientele that returns specifically for the value and the river setting.

How to Get to Laughlin

The most common approach is by car from Las Vegas via US-95 South. The 90-mile drive takes approximately 90 minutes and passes through open Mojave Desert with dramatic mountain scenery. Several tour companies operate day-trip buses from Las Vegas to Laughlin if you prefer not to drive.

From Phoenix, the drive heads northwest on US-93 through Wickenburg and Kingman, Arizona before crossing the Colorado River into Laughlin — roughly 200 miles and about 2.5 hours. From the Los Angeles area, I-40 East to US-95 North is the most direct route, approximately 280 miles (around 4 hours depending on traffic).

Laughlin/Bullhead City Airport (IFP) serves the area with limited regional flights. Most visitors drive. Parking at all casino properties is free.

The Laughlin Casinos

Nine hotel-casinos line the Nevada bank of the Colorado River in Laughlin, each with its own personality. They are connected along the waterfront by a riverside walk, and a free water taxi ferries guests between properties and across to Arizona. Here are the major players:

Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort

Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort is where it all began. The founder still lives on the property, and the resort carries a tangible sense of living history. The free antique car museum in the basement is one of the best surprises in Laughlin — a collection of beautifully restored automobiles spanning a century of automotive history that draws car enthusiasts from across the Southwest. The Riverside also has its own bowling alley and movie theater, which is unusual for any casino property.

Harrah’s Laughlin

Harrah’s Laughlin is the most polished property on the strip and the one most likely to appeal to guests used to Las Vegas standards. The Beach Club is the standout feature: a sand beach with river access, lounge chairs, and a pool area that feels genuinely tropical against the desert backdrop. The adjacent amphitheater books national touring acts, and the rooms are the most recently renovated in Laughlin.

Aquarius Casino Resort

The Aquarius boasts the largest casino floor in Laughlin, with a strong selection of slot machines, video poker, and table games including blackjack, craps, and roulette. The outdoor pool deck overlooks the river, and the concert venue regularly books nationally recognized acts. Rooms facing the Colorado River command the best views in town.

Golden Nugget Laughlin

The Golden Nugget brand — synonymous with the best of Downtown Las Vegas — brings its signature warmth to the Laughlin strip. The tropical atrium lobby is striking, and the outdoor pool with waterslide gives families a reason to linger. The steakhouse here is consistently rated among the best restaurants in Laughlin.

Edgewater Hotel & Casino

The Edgewater is Laughlin’s classic budget option — clean, central, and straightforward. Its 24-hour diner is an institution, serving generous portions of comfort food around the clock to gamblers who have long since lost track of time. Room rates here are reliably among the lowest on the strip.

Colorado River Activities

The Colorado River is Laughlin’s most distinctive asset and the thing that makes it unlike any other Nevada gaming destination. The water is warm, the current is manageable, and on summer weekends the river fills with jet skis, pontoon boats, kayakers, and inflatable floats drifting downstream in the sun.

Water sport rentals are available from several outfitters operating out of Bullhead City on the Arizona side. Options include:

• Jet ski and WaveRunner rentals — Hourly rentals available from multiple vendors. No special license required; operators provide a brief safety orientation.
• Pontoon boat rentals — Half-day and full-day rentals for groups. Great for floating downstream toward Davis Dam and back at a leisurely pace.
• Kayak and paddleboard rentals — Available from several outfitters; the river is calm enough for beginners. The stretch between Laughlin and Davis Dam is especially scenic.
• River rafting to Davis Dam — A relaxed float trip downstream past dramatic canyon walls. Shuttle services return you to the launch point.
• Fishing — The Colorado River at Laughlin holds striped bass, largemouth bass, channel catfish, and bluegill. A Nevada or Arizona fishing license is required depending on which bank you fish from.

The free water taxi that runs between the Laughlin casinos and Bullhead City is a trip in itself — a short but memorable crossing with views of both casino row and the Arizona cliffs beyond.

Outdoor Adventures Near Laughlin

Laughlin sits at the intersection of Nevada, Arizona, and California, with some remarkable desert scenery within easy driving distance.

Oatman, Arizona

Oatman is one of the most charming ghost towns in the American Southwest, and its proximity to Laughlin makes it an easy and extremely worthwhile day trip. The town sits on Historic Route 66 in the Black Mountains of Arizona, a former gold-mining boomtown that had a brief moment of modern fame as a filming location for movies in the 1940s and ’50s.

The main attraction today is the wild burros — free-roaming descendants of the pack animals abandoned when the mines closed — who wander through the main street with complete nonchalance, accepting carrots from tourists and occasionally blocking traffic. The old wooden boardwalk storefronts sell Route 66 memorabilia, turquoise jewelry, and hand-panned gold. On weekends, actors stage mock gunfights in the street at noon and 2 p.m.

The drive from Laughlin over Sitgreaves Pass on the old Route 66 is spectacular in its own right — steep switchbacks with panoramic views of the Black Mountains and the Colorado River valley below.

Grapevine Canyon

Grapevine Canyon is one of the most accessible and impressive petroglyph sites in the entire Southwest, and almost no one outside the region knows about it. A short trail — less than a mile round-trip — leads into a narrow desert canyon whose walls are covered in hundreds of ancient rock carvings left by the Mojave people, some dating back over a thousand years.

The petroglyphs include geometric patterns, human figures, animals, and abstract symbols carved directly into the dark desert varnish of the canyon walls. The concentration of imagery here is extraordinary. Bring water, wear sturdy shoes for the rocky trail, and visit in the morning before the canyon walls heat up in the afternoon sun.

Christmas Tree Pass

Christmas Tree Pass is a backcountry road through the Newberry Mountains that offers outstanding wildlife viewing, Joshua tree forests, and dramatic Mojave Desert scenery with almost no other visitors. The pass is named for the Joshua trees that early travelers decorated with trinkets during the holiday season.

Desert bighorn sheep are regularly spotted along the rocky cliffs flanking the pass road, particularly in the early morning. Spring brings bursts of wildflowers — desert marigold, prickly pear cactus blooms, and the occasional patch of globe mallow — that transform the normally austere landscape. This is the type of Nevada experience that rewards visitors who venture beyond the casino floor.

Where to Eat in Laughlin

Laughlin’s dining scene is built around value, and it delivers. The buffets here are a genuine draw — not as elaborate as the Bacchanal at Caesars Palace, but substantially cheaper and consistently satisfying.

• Prime Rib Room at Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort — The most beloved steakhouse in Laughlin, with generous cuts of prime rib and a classic Nevada supper club atmosphere. Reservations recommended on weekends.
• Fresh Market Square Buffet at Harrah’s Laughlin — The best buffet in town, with live cooking stations, fresh seafood on weekends, and a wider selection than most properties its size.
• William Fisk’s Steakhouse at the Golden Nugget — A step up in formality from most Laughlin dining options, with quality cuts and attentive service in an intimate room.
• The Edgewater Diner — Open 24 hours, serving no-frills diner classics at prices that seem impossible in 2024. Eggs, pancakes, burgers, and blue plate specials that have barely changed since the 1980s. An institution.
• Sidewalk Café at the Aquarius — A 24-hour casual option with a solid menu of American comfort food, reliably low prices, and a view of the casino floor.

Annual Events in Laughlin

Laughlin hosts several annual events that bring enormous crowds and a distinct energy to the town:

• Laughlin River Run (late April) — One of the largest motorcycle rallies in America, drawing 50,000–70,000 riders to the river strip for five days of concerts, vendor shows, poker runs, and the spectacle of Casino Drive lined bumper-to-bumper with Harleys. Book accommodation months in advance if you plan to attend.
• Laughlin International Film Festival (October) — A growing independent film festival that screens features, documentaries, and shorts across multiple casino venues.
• Laughlin Triathlon (March) — A triathlon that uses the Colorado River for its swim leg — one of the more unusual triathlon settings in the Southwest.
• Laughlin BASH (November) — A music and entertainment festival at various casino venues across the strip, typically featuring multiple headliner performances over a long weekend.

Best Time to Visit Laughlin

Laughlin sits at 535 feet elevation in the lower Mojave Desert, and its climate shapes the visitor calendar significantly.

October through April is the prime season. Daytime temperatures range from the mid-60s°F to the low 80s°F, ideal for river activities, outdoor dining, and day trips to Oatman and Grapevine Canyon. Spring weekends can be busy, especially around the River Run in late April.

May and September are transition months — warm but manageable, with fewer crowds than peak season and good hotel rates. The river is comfortable for water sports from May onward.

June, July, and August bring intense heat, with average highs regularly exceeding 110°F and occasional spikes above 120°F. Laughlin is one of the hottest inhabited places in North America during these months. Summer visitors should plan all outdoor activity for before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m., stay rigidly hydrated, and accept that the casino floor and hotel pool will define most of the day. Room rates plummet in summer, which draws budget-focused visitors willing to tolerate the conditions.

Tips for Visiting Laughlin

• Take the water taxi. The free boat service between casino properties and across to Bullhead City is one of the most pleasant ways to get around. Use it instead of driving between properties whenever possible.
• Bring cash for table games. ATMs at Laughlin casinos carry higher fees than most Nevada properties. Bring cash from home or withdraw before you arrive.
• Book River Run weekend early. The late-April motorcycle rally fills every hotel room within 50 miles. If you want to attend, hotel reservations six months in advance are not excessive.
• Do the Oatman drive in the morning. The Route 66 switchbacks through the Black Mountains heat up fast. Leave by 8 a.m. in summer to enjoy the drive and the burros before the midday sun makes it miserable.
• Laughlin is a genuine alternative to Las Vegas. If you want casino gaming, decent shows, and outdoor access without Strip prices and Strip crowds, Laughlin delivers on all counts. It’s not trying to be Las Vegas — and that’s exactly the point.
• Sunscreen is not optional. At low elevation with intense reflected light off the water, Laughlin’s UV index is severe. Pack high-SPF sunscreen and reapply every 90 minutes if you’re spending time on the river.