North Las Vegas
Introduction
North Las Vegas is a suburban city in Clark County, Nevada, sitting within the Las Vegas Valley. Incorporated in the mid-1940s, it has grown into one of the state's larger cities while keeping its suburban character.
Getting there
Most visitors reach North Las Vegas by air, flying into McCarran International Airport (LAS), which sits just south of the Las Vegas Strip and roughly 15 miles south of North Las Vegas. North Las Vegas Airport (VGT) is a small field used mainly for general aviation, private planes, and scenic tours rather than scheduled passenger service.
By road, Interstate 15 runs into the Las Vegas metro area northbound from the Los Angeles area and southbound from Salt Lake City. Passenger trains no longer serve Las Vegas: Amtrak's Desert Wind stopped running in 1997, and while the Union Pacific Railroad still moves freight through the metro area, that does not help travellers. Amtrak instead sells motorcoach bus service into Las Vegas as part of a ticket, typically after a train ride gets you somewhat close, such as to Kingman, Arizona, or Bakersfield, California. Plans and studies exist for restoring rail service on the Union Pacific tracks and for high-speed rail to Southern California, but for now the bus connection is what you get.
Getting around
A car gives you the best way to get around North Las Vegas and the wider Las Vegas metro area. Rental cars tend to be relatively inexpensive here, freeways are usually not severely clogged even if you hit the occasional traffic jam, and the region's grid layout makes navigating fairly straightforward. If you're arriving from outside the region, Interstate 15 runs into the metro area, northbound from the Los Angeles area and southbound from Salt Lake City. There is no passenger rail service into or around North Las Vegas; the Union Pacific tracks carry freight only, and while plans exist to restore rail service and add high-speed rail to Southern California, nothing is currently operating for passengers. Amtrak still sells tickets that include motorcoach bus connections into Las Vegas, typically after a train ride to somewhere like Kingman, Arizona, or Bakersfield, California.
Bus service in North Las Vegas, Las Vegas and Henderson is provided by the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC), and getting around by bus here is not as difficult as in many western U.S. cities. You can pay per ride, buy a 24-hour pass when boarding, or pick up a 5-day pass at many supermarkets and check cashing institutions — though not on the bus itself. Taxis work by calling ahead and waiting; don't expect to hail one off the street as you would in New York City or Chicago. Cabs are only plentiful at McCarran Airport, at hotels on the Las Vegas Strip, and in Downtown Las Vegas, where they queue for passengers; elsewhere, expect to call and wait 20–40 minutes. McCarran International Airport (LAS) handles commercial arrivals and sits about 15 miles south of North Las Vegas, so allow time for the trip north, while North Las Vegas Airport (VGT) is used mainly for general aviation, private planes and scenic tours. Walking is not a realistic way to cover the city as a visitor — plan on motorized transport for anything beyond an immediate neighborhood.
Where to stay
North Las Vegas offers a handful of places to sleep, most of them casino-resorts rather than boutique stays. The largest is Aliante Casino + Hotel, a casino-resort hotel and spa on the northern side of the Las Vegas valley along the northern beltway; it sits about a 30-minute drive from the Strip and about 15 minutes from the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Other casino options include Santa Fe Station on North Rancho Drive, Cannery Hotel and Casino on East Craig Road, and Hotel Jefe at Ojos Locos Sports Cantina y Casino on Civic Center Drive. For a straightforward, no-frills stay, Best Western Plus North Las Vegas Inn on Donovan Way is an option.
If you're travelling with an RV or watching your budget, Hitchin' Post RV Park and Motel on North Las Vegas Boulevard offers sites that are cramped but cheap. Note that they take your name but don't take reservations when they are nearly full, so plan accordingly.
Food & drink
North Las Vegas has plenty of restaurants and fast food places to choose from, though it lacks the concentration of high-end establishments you'll find in Las Vegas proper. What it does offer is variety, and many spots stay open around the clock, which suits late-night appetites. For a more formal meal, MRKT Sea & Land at the Aliante Hotel on Aliante Parkway serves fine dining in the evening, with premium beef and poultry alongside seafood such as king crab, lobster, and scallops. It also keeps one of the area's most extensive wine lists, making it a solid choice when you want a sit-down dinner rather than a quick bite.What to see and do
If you are travelling with a car, North Las Vegas rewards a little wandering. The West Wind Las Vegas 6 Drive-In shows double features, a novelty if you come from a country without drive-ins. Nellis Air Force Base, home of the Thunderbirds demonstration squadron, opens to the public during airshows; otherwise you can watch military aircraft from a distance. Fossil hunters can head to Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, while Floyd Lamb Park offers a more accessible look at the same ground, with ponds, tules, the Tule Springs Ranch, roaming peacocks and Pleistocene fossil exhibits. The Desert National Wildlife Refuge, though not regularly visited, has a visitor centre and trails through Mojave Desert country framed by tall peaks, where you may spot bighorn sheep and, on a longer hike, a yucca forest. For an evening indoors, the Community College of Southern Nevada's planetarium and observatory runs shows on Friday and Saturday, with an adjacent astronomy store open at show times; note that the chairs do not lean back. Craig Ranch Regional Park covers skating and BMX, sports fields, a dog park and the AMP outdoor amphitheatre. Golfers have the Aliante Golf Club and the City of North Las Vegas Municipal Par 3 and Disc Golf Club. Motor sport is a draw here too: the Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosts NASCAR and other racing through the year, and its Neon Garage fan zone has live entertainment and views of the crews at work. Nearby you can take a session at the Exotics Racing School or rent a dune buggy from Sun Buggy Fun Rentals for off-roading on the Las Vegas dunes.When to go
North Las Vegas has a Mojave Desert climate, so plan around temperature extremes rather than seasons. Winters are mild by day, but overnight temperatures typically drop below freezing, so pack layers if you're out after dark. Snow is rare here, falling only once every few years on average, so you shouldn't count on seeing it — or worry much about it disrupting your trip. Summers are hot, and monsoon weather can reach the area, bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms. If you visit during the hotter months, expect the heat to shape your days and keep an eye on the sky for sudden storms.Festivals & events
North Las Vegas hosts NASCAR racing in March, giving you a chance to plan a trip around the event if motorsport is your draw. Beyond that, the city's festival and events calendar is limited, so check local listings closer to your travel dates for anything scheduled during your stay.Three days in North Las Vegas
Day one: Arrive at McCarran International Airport (LAS), the main gateway to the Las Vegas Valley, or at North Las Vegas Airport (VGT) if you fly into the smaller field. From either, reach North Las Vegas by Interstate, with Las Vegas itself just to the south. Settle into the city before an evening out; the Las Vegas Strip lies within the valley, though it sits outside North Las Vegas proper. If you prefer not to drive, taxis and cabs are available, and buses run through the region.
Day two: Use North Las Vegas as your base for exploring Clark County and the wider valley. The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) serves the area, with routes reaching Henderson and other parts of the valley. Rental cars are an option if you want to range farther. Note that Amtrak's Desert Wind once linked Las Vegas with Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Kingman in Arizona, and Bakersfield in California, though plans have been discussed to restore service over Union Pacific tracks toward Southern California.
Day three: Spend your final day in North Las Vegas before departing. Passenger rail history runs through the city by way of the Union Pacific Railroad, and the valley's air links connect it to New York City and Chicago among other destinations. Return to McCarran Airport for your flight, or to North Las Vegas Airport if you are flying out from there.