Laughlin, Nevada
Fun on the Colorado River
Where to Stay | Things
to Do | History | Nearby
Resources
Aerial of Casinos in Laughlin, NV along the Colorado River –
Photo credit: Juniperimages from Photo images.
Laughlin is a small resort town on the banks of the Colorado River, located at the southern tip of Nevada, 90 miles south of Las Vegas. It is the geographic meeting point of San Bernardino County, California, Mohave County, Arizona, and Clark County, Nevada.
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Population / Elevation
8,990 / 504 feet above sea level
Weather / Climate
This hot, dry region, where the Mojave Desert meets the Colorado River, is known as the tri-state area.
| Laughlin, Nevada - Monthly Climate Normals | |||||||||||||
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| High °F | 86 | 64 | 70 | 76 | 84 | 93 | 104 | 108 | 106 | 96 | 88 | 74 | |
| Low °F | 61 | 42 | 46 | 50 | 57 | 67 | 76 | 84 | 81 | 74 | 62 | 50 | |
 |
|||||||||||||
| Avg °F | 73 | 53 | 58 | 63 | 71 | 90 | 96 | 94 | 75 | ||||
| Rain | 4.67 | .48 | .43 | .46 | .30 | .08 | .03 | .37 | .73 | .36 | |||
One of Laughlin's water taxis on the river.
Hotels/Motels in Laughlin, Nevada with location maps and nearby attractions.
Camping & RV Parks
- Cottonwood Cove Resort (702) 297-1464
Lake Mohave Resort at Katherine Landing (928) 754-3245 RV parking at most major Hotels. Davis Camp - Tent sites and RVs and campers on the Arizona side of the river in Bullhead City, Arizona. - Backcountry camping: Along the shores of Lake Mohave and along designated sites on unpaved roads.
History
Laughlin is located in Clark County Nevada, annexed in 1867 from the Arizona Territory by the State of Nevada as part of Lincoln County. Clark County was formed in 1909 when Lincoln County was divided. From a population of 3,321, growth in Clark County remained slow until the Great Depression when government projects such as Hoover Dam drew laborers to Southern Nevada.
Since its founding in 1966 when Don Laughlin opened the Riverside Casino, Laughlin has undergone phenomenal growth. In the late 1970s, a new surge in casino construction began dramatically increasing the population and transforming Laughlin from a small village into a bustling resort town. One casino and 10 hotel/casinos now attract many visitors from throughout the West. The bridge that spans the Colorado River between Bullhead City and Laughlin is used by nearly 40,000 residents and visitors daily.
Casinos in Laughlin Nevada – Dennis TangneyJr/Getty Images
The Flamingo Laughlin became the Aquarius in October 2006. The Aquarius is the largest hotel and casino located in Laughlin. Harrahs at the south end of Laughlin has a beach on the river.
Davis Dam Power Plant, Laughlin, NV – Cara Maria/Getty Images
Things to Do
Visit Old Western Mining towns and Points of Interest
- Oatman: Arizona town reenacts the Old West with staged gunfights in the middle of town.
- Chloride, Arizona: Chloride has been served by both stage coaches and trains during its colorful history. The Chloride Post Office, also established in 1862, is the oldest continuously operating post office in the state of Arizona.
- Grapevine Canyon: Many of the Indians gathered here for water and meetings. The signs on the rocks tell many stories of the past and give instructions on the local conditions.
- Katherine Mine: Katherine's Landing takes its name from the decaying Katherine Mine, located northeast of the current Marina.
- Davis Dam: Constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation downstream from Hoover Dam, it impounds Lake Mohave.
- Fort Mohave Indian Reservation: 41,884-acre home of the Mojave, noted for their basketry and beadwork.
- RT 66 Road Trip Adventure- Chloride - Route 66 - Oatman
- The Mojave Road - An Adventure Through Time
River and lake reports for boaters - click here for river information.
Events Calendar
Laughlin Desert Challenge (Score Off Road Races)
Annual Laughlin Leap, where off-road vehicles and monster trucks compete for cash and bragging rights in a contest that sees these vehicles fly off a dirt embankment, leaping more than 100’ through the air. Saturday and Sunday Laughlin will host SCORE Desert Challenge Off-Road Races.
Always held the last full weekend in April, there will be motorcycles as far as the eye can see! More than 50,000 bikers from all walks of life enjoy top-name entertainment, a poker run, displays, competitions - including awards for the best custom motorcycle in the bunch - and thousands of vendors in the West's largest ride-in bike rally.
- Rockets Over the River July 4th
-
Traditionally, these are 20-minute fireworks displays launched over the waters of the Colorado River, offered July 4th. Among the most spectacular displays in the West, these fireworks are choreographed to music on a high-fidelity sound system and broadcast on area radio stations. Free to the public with best viewing at the Laughlin resorts and casinos.
- Colorado River Regatta August (also called the Bullhead City Regatta - Bullhead City is just across the river from Laughlin)
International Gift and Craft Show March
Features several vendors showcasing unique and beautiful handmade items such as belly dancing apparel, jewelry and beaded items, hand-crafted women's fashions, home decorations, sculptures, candles and much more! This family-friendly event has something for everyone.
Holiday Boat Parade of Lights November of every year.
Light up your boat, invite your friends and help kick off the holidays Laughlin style! Join in the fun as festive decorated boats make their way up and down the Colorado River.
Off-Road in Southern California's deserts, check out our Mojave Road Guide (Starts off of RT 95) and The Bradshaw Trail. (near I-10) These hard to find guides will take you on a adventure through time.
Resources & Nearby Attractions
Resources
Cities & Towns
- Boulder City, Nevada: 70 miles north.
- Chloride, Arizona: 45 miles northeast
- Henderson, Nevada: 84 miles north.
- Las Vegas, Nevada:: 94 miles north.
- Bullhead City, Arizona: 2 miles east.
- Needles, California: 30 miles south.
- Oatman, Arizona 25 miles southeast
Parks & Monuments
- Death Valley National Park: 172 miles west
- Mojave National Preserve: 63 miles west.
Wilderness & Recreation Areas
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area: 70 miles north.
- Lake Mohave: 20 miles north.
- Mojave National Preserve: The Desert Protection Act created the 1.4 million-acre Mojave National Preserve in the heart of California's Mojave Desert.
- Big Bend State Recreation Area: The state of Nevada preserves this area along the banks of the Colorado River south of Laughlin.
- Dead Mountains Wilderness Area: 48, 850 acres in the eastern Mojave Desert (BLM).
- Havasu National Wildlife Refuge: Created for waterfowl, this is a wintering habitat for snow geese and other waterfowl.
Related DesertUSA Pages
- How to Turn Your Smartphone into a Survival Tool
- 26 Tips for Surviving in the Desert
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May Get You Killed
- 7 Smartphone Apps to Improve Your Camping Experience
- Desert Survival Skills
- Successful Search & Rescue Missions with Happy Endings
- How to Keep Ice Cold in the Desert
- Desert
Survival Tips for Horse and Rider
- Preparing
an Emergency Survival Kit
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Casinos in Laughlin Nevada – Dennis TangneyJr/Getty Images
