Henderson
Introduction
Henderson sits in Clark County, Nevada, roughly 16 miles southeast of Las Vegas, and forms part of the Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area. If you are basing yourself in southern Nevada, the city works as a quieter counterpoint to its better-known neighbour while keeping you within the same metropolitan region.
Before you go
Henderson sits within the Las Vegas Valley, and its layout reflects a planned approach to growth: Green Valley, one of its areas, was the first master planned community in the state. Keep that in mind as you plan, since the city spreads across distinct neighbourhoods rather than clustering around a single centre.
Before you arrive, check the Visiting Henderson web page for current tourist information. Summer conditions in this part of Nevada are extremely hot, so plan around the heat if you are travelling in the warmer months.
Getting there
By road, Henderson sits within the Las Vegas Valley freeway network, and how you approach depends on where you're coming from. From Boulder City or Arizona, you can take I-11/US 93 or Route 166; Route 166 is Lakeshore Drive and becomes State Route 564 once it no longer overlaps with Route 147. US 93 runs through Boulder City as Boulder City Pkwy and merges into I-11 west of Railroad Pass Hotel & Casino. From Lake Mead or Lake Las Vegas, get on SR 564 and continue until you enter Henderson. I-11 bypasses Boulder City and continues toward Las Vegas, becoming I-515 in Henderson, concurrent with US 93 and US 95. Henderson is accessed from I-11/515 between Boulder Hwy (Nevada State Dr & Wagonwheel Dr at Exit 17A/56A) and Russell Rd (Exit 23/65), with five exits into the city.
From Central Las Vegas, get on I-515/I-11, I-215, or any east-west road toward Henderson Drive. To enter Central Henderson via I-515, take exit 61 to Lake Mead Pkwy (NV-564); on I-215, simply continue until the freeway ends, as I-215 becomes Lake Meade Pkwy (NV-564) east of its interchange with I-11/515. From North Las Vegas, get on I-15 and then I-515 or I-215, following the same directions as from Central Las Vegas.
By plane, Henderson Executive Airport (HSH) is the town's main airport, acting primarily as a reliever for the much busier Harry Reid International Airport (LAS). Henderson Executive is otherwise available only for general aviation and VIP flights, though it can serve as a reliever for Harry Reid if needed. Most travelers arrive in the area via Harry Reid Airport on commercial flights.
Getting around
Henderson is a spread-out, car-oriented city on the eastern side of the Las Vegas Valley, and there is no rail, metro, or tram network serving it. If you are staying in one area and mainly visiting nearby spots, you can manage without a car, but to explore widely you should plan on combining walking with buses, taxis, or ride-hailing. Walking suits short trips within a single district or resort area rather than crossing the city.
Bus service in Henderson and the surrounding east Las Vegas area is provided by the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), the main public transport option for visitors without a car. A 24-hour pass can be purchased when boarding the bus and is often the more useful choice for a day of sightseeing; a 5-day pass is sold at many supermarkets and check cashing institutions but is not available on the bus itself, so buy it in advance. Check routes and schedules before relying on a specific trip. Taxis are not hailed off the street here; call for one and expect to wait, often 20 to 40 minutes. They are most plentiful at the airport, at hotels on the Las Vegas Strip, and in Downtown Las Vegas, where they queue for passengers. Ride-hailing apps are a practical alternative for point-to-point trips, especially outside those areas. Most travelers arrive through Harry Reid International Airport, the main commercial gateway, where taxis queue and from which you can continue by taxi, ride-hailing, or bus; Henderson Executive Airport mainly handles general aviation and VIP flights.
Where to stay
Henderson spreads across several distinct areas, and where you stay depends on whether you want casino-floor energy or a quieter base. Along the Boulder Highway corridor you'll find the Best Western Plus Henderson, with guest rooms and suites that include a microwave and mini refrigerator, plus a heated outdoor pool, a 24-hour fitness center, and free wireless internet. Nearby on the same strip are Hawthorne Suites and Arizona Charlie's Boulder, a casino hotel and RV park with easy interstate access that suits an overnight stop. Further along Boulder Highway, Boulder Station offers a modest, lower-key alternative to the typical Vegas hotel, while Sam's Town is a large property with considerable parking and excellent facilities for RVs. Sunset Station Hotel and Casino sits on West Sunset Road, and the M Resort Spa Casino anchors the far southern end of Las Vegas Boulevard. If you'd rather be near Green Valley, the Courtyard and the Residence Inn both serve that area, and the Best Western Plus Las Vegas South Henderson on St. Rose Parkway offers executive two-bedroom suites and meeting space. For a resort-style stay, The Spa at Ravella at Lake Las Vegas pairs accommodations with a spa setting. Campers and RV travelers have several options: the Oasis Las Vegas RV Resort south of the Strip has full-service hookups and two pools and hot tubs, Thousand Trails Las Vegas RV Resort offers a swimming pool, spa, WiFi and laundry facilities, and the Las Vegas KOA at Sam's Town provides tent and RV sites with a pool and hot tub open year round and a shuttle to the Strip. Note that some of these properties sit well outside Henderson proper, closer to the Strip and Convention Center, so plan on driving or using a shuttle for those.Food & drink
For a celebratory German meal, head to the Hofbräuhaus, a Bavarian-style beer hall with festive food and nightly entertainment; you can choose the livelier beer hall with live music or the quieter beer garden, and reservations are recommended. Steak lovers have several options: Envy Steakhouse offers innovative dishes built around premium ingredients, including Kobe filet, prime rib roast, black angus filet and prime bone-in rib eye, alongside a walk-in wine cellar. Lawry's The Prime Rib serves its namesake with original spinning bowl salad, Yorkshire pudding, mashed potatoes and whipped creamed horseradish, plus a ribeye and a couple of fish dishes if you want something else. For a break from the Strip crowds, Bahama Breeze serves tropical food in large portions, known for jerk chicken pasta, cinnamon mashed sweet potatoes and hand-crafted tropical drinks. Ellis Island Casino Restaurant is a cheap, casual pick - ask specifically for the steak special, which isn't on the menu - and it has barbecue every night and brews its own beer. Sushi fans can try Nobu at the Virgin Hotel, where traditional Japanese cuisine meets Latin spices and flavors. When you want a drink, Lovelady Brewing pours 16 taps with weekly flavors and offers shuffleboard and cornhole, but no gambling; it's non-smoking, dogs are allowed on the outside patio, and while snacks are sold you can bring in your own food. For something with more atmosphere, the Double Down Saloon is a bit out of the way but worth it for a classic dive-bar experience.What to see and do
Henderson rewards curiosity beyond the casino floor. At the Ethel M Chocolate Factory you can take a tour and wander a large cactus garden. The Clark County Museum displays restored houses from various decades of the area's history, while the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, set within the water treatment facility, draws migratory waterfowl and resident birds to its ponds. The Lion Habitat Ranch and the National Atomic Testing Museum round out the roster of sights, the latter offering artifacts, pictures, maps and video footage on nuclear weapons testing and development in the southwestern US. The Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art and the Clark County Wetlands Park, with its nature center, are further options, and in northeast Henderson you can stroll residential streets named after Pokémon characters. The Simpsons House, a full-size replica of the cartoon home, is now a private residence.
For active days, Cowabunga Bay Water Park and Reflection Bay Golf Club are the headline draws, and the City of Henderson runs recreation centers across town with amenities and activities ranging from indoor pools to archery classes. The Gun Store pairs retail with a range where you can shoot an automatic weapon, and the Pinball Hall of Fame keeps old-style machines alongside the newest ones. Escape-room fans can test their wits against locked rooms, and Maverick Helicopters flies tours over the Grand Canyon, the Strip and the Colorado River. Sports fans can catch UNLV Rebels teams, most of whose venues sit on campus, and the Thomas & Mack Center hosts the Mountain West basketball tournaments and the National Finals Rodeo, while the Big West basketball tournaments are played at the Dollar Loan Center. Gambling is a popular pastime throughout the area, with casinos ranging from the upscale Green Valley Ranch to smaller, more intimate locals' establishments such as Jokers Wild and Klondike Sunset.
Three days in Henderson
Day one: Start in Green Valley, the suburban heart of Henderson, where you can settle in and get your bearings. From central Las Vegas, take Henderson Drive or Lake Mead Pkwy into central Henderson. If you are arriving from North Las Vegas or central Las Vegas, Henderson Executive Airport is the closest arrival point. Spend the afternoon along Lake Las Vegas, then follow Lakeshore Drive toward the water. In summer, expect warm and humid conditions, so plan your walking for the cooler parts of the day.
Day two: Head out from Boulder City along Boulder City Pkwy or US Route 93 toward Railroad Pass Hotel and Casino, a landmark on the route between Henderson and Boulder City. From Lake Mead, take Lake Mead Pkwy or Lake Meade Pkwy back toward central Henderson. Keep the pace easy: Nevada State Dr and Wagonwheel Dr connect you across the southern part of the valley. Before returning, use Exit Russell Rd from Boulder Hwy if you are coming back from the direction of Las Vegas.
Day three: Use SR 582, also known as Boulder Hwy, to link the older corridors of Henderson with the wider Las Vegas Valley. From Arizona, the natural approach is via US Route 93 through Boulder City. If you are leaving from central Henderson, Lake Mead Pkwy and Nevada State Dr give you a straightforward route out. Visiting Henderson for three days works best if you treat Green Valley, Lake Las Vegas and the Boulder City corridor as separate outings rather than trying to cover them all at once.