Camping Nearest to Laughlin, Nevada

Laughlin basks in the Nevada desert along the banks of the Colorado River. Tall buildings and riverfront casinos give a bustling, big-city feel to its streets, but you need only gaze into the distance to feel the rugged black mountains and broad expanse of remote shorelines calling to your inner camper. Whether your favorite camping shelter fits in your backpack or rolls along behind your pickup, you'll find myriad options for sleeping under the stars.

Gamble and Camp

• While you won't find a place to pitch a tent within Laughlin city limits, you can park your trailer or RV within a few steps of a casino. Most casinos have areas where you can dry camp in their parking lots, but a few spots provide camping amenities for guests. The Avi Casino KOA provides full hookups with cable TV and Wi-Fi at sites adjacent to the Mojave Resort Golf Course or the casino's sparkling white beach. Don Laughlin's Riverside Resort RV Park has 733 sites with full hookups and cable TV. Both campgrounds are suitable for rigs of any size.

Hear the Wind Whistle

• If you'd rather hear the wind through canyon walls than the clang of a one-armed bandit, head 5 miles south of Laughlin to Big Bend of the Colorado, a state park. The area has 24 sites where you can pitch a tent or take advantage of pull-through parking for RVs. Each site comes with a shade ramada, picnic table, grill and fire ring. Enjoy flush toilets and hot showers, as well as miles of hiking trails and a boat launch. For the more adventurous, paddle or hike on Bureau of Land Management lands that border the Colorado River, and set up camp at a site of your own choosing. Camping is free, but you're limited to a seven-day stay during the warm months and 14 days from September through March.

Sing Around the Campfire

• If singing and telling stories by the light of a campfire is a must for your camping trip, make sure to check regulations before you go. You may build a fire only within metal fire rings and grills in developed campgrounds. The Bureau of Land Management recommends purchasing firewood locally to prevent the spread of insect pests that kill trees, increasing the likelihood of brush fire. Wood brought from out of state must be burned immediately.

Shut the Front Door

• Shake out your shoes and keep your tent flap zipped to avoid a visit from venomous creatures like brown recluse or black widow spiders, scorpions or snakes. Insects are common during the muggy weather that follows summer monsoon rains, when they emerge to feed and breed. Keep your camp free of garbage, crumbs and spills to avoid attracting bugs, as well as skunks and rodents, which attract rattlesnakes.

Pick Your Season

• The cool waters of the Colorado River make camping near Laughlin a treat even when outside temperatures soar above 110 F in the summer months of July and August. Nighttime temperatures drop, but sometimes stay close to 100 F. Winter temperatures are mild, with nights rarely dipping to freezing and daytime temps staying in the mid-60s F during December and January.

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What to Do in Laughlin, Nevada if You're Young

In the very southernmost tip of Nevada sits Laughlin, a former mining town tucked in between the borders of California and Arizona. Although it’s best known today as a gambling resort town, Laughlin’s location on the Colorado River makes a wide variety of outdoor recreational activities easily accessible for the young at heart. Fly into the Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport or drive 90 miles from Las Vegas. It’s a four-hour drive from Phoenix and five hours from Los Angeles.

Gambling and Other Entertainment

• Laughlin’s casinos draw millions of visitors every year. In addition to the lure of the slots and gaming tables, the resorts bring in well-known performing artists to headline shows. Laughlin also hosts a variety of music festivals, car exhibits and other entertainment throughout the year. Nine casino resorts provide ample accommodations. Among these is the Riverside, owned by Don Laughlin, for whom the town is named. This resort includes a movie theater and a classic car collection and operates the U.S.S. Riverside, a luxury boat running tours of the Colorado River. The Colorado Belle is shaped like a 19th century paddle wheel boat. This resort sits right at the river’s bank, where you can sip beer from the resort’s Pints, the town’s only microbrewery. If you like your lodging Las Vegas style, the flashier Tropicana and Harrah’s may be the resorts for you.

Lake Mohave

• In 1951, Davis Dam created Lake Mohave between Laughlin and Bullhead City, Arizona. The reservoir extends 67 miles from Hoover Dam along the two state borders and most of the water lies within steep and colorful canyon walls. Lake Mohave is part of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. A variety of watercraft rentals are available nearby at Katherine Landing and Cottonwood Cove, including houseboats, fishing and ski boats. These marinas, operated by the National Park Service, are open year round and offer boat slips, a launch ramp, camping, supplies and other amenities. Fishermen will find the cold water of Lake Mohave ideal for catching rainbow trout and striped bass.

Colorado River

• Water taxi services provide non-traditional transportation between Laughlin and Bullhead City. A variety of outfitters rent boats and equipment for paddling, tubing and fishing along the river. Guided tours and excursions are also available. For the adventurous, scour 58 miles of the Colorado River at a breezy 40 mph with the London Bridge Jet Boat Tours. This purveyor provides six-hour tours with a two-hour layover at Lake Havasu, Arizona, near London Bridge, which was transported to the U.S. and reconstructed in 1971.

Golfing and Dining

• Six 18-hole golf courses are located within 30 miles of Laughlin, providing golfers of any ability the opportunity to fit in a round of play. Laughlin attracts people of every age so restaurants here are diverse, ranging from the ubiquitous casino buffets and well-known national chains to barbecue, ethnic and gourmet fare. Many restaurants are located along the river giving diners a scenic view to go along with their meals.

Take a Walk

• With an average temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit, Laughlin is ideal for getting out. Enjoy bird watching and hiking at the Big Bend of the Colorado State Park south of Laughlin. Seven miles west is Christmas Tree Pass Road, where you can picnic, hike or just gawk at the scenery. Grapevine Canyon is known for its bubbling spring and petroglyphs on its rock walls. The gravel road may not be appropriate for many low-clearance passenger vehicles.

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Laughlin River Run Events

Laughlin, Nevada, a casino community along the banks of the Colorado River, was first settled in the 1940s. Originally, the town was just a small hotel and bar that catered to construction workers for the Davis Dam, which was completed in the early 1950s and formed Lake Mojave about 3 miles north. Today, Laughlin is home to a set of nine casino resorts providing more than 10,000 hotel rooms, restaurants, lounges and theaters, surrounded by rugged desert and an abundance of protected natural resources. Each spring, the Laughlin River Run motorcycle rally and festival draws more than 50,000 bikers for a long weekend full of adventure and events.

Festival Facts

• Laughlin, set in the Colorado River Valley near where Arizona, California and Nevada meet, is just across the Colorado River from Bullhead City, Arizona. One of the area's biggest annual events is the Laughlin River Run, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2012 and is typically a five-day gathering held in late April. An official event pass includes an event T-shirt and pin, as well as admission to some River Run events and contests. Accommodations are available at Laughlin's casinos and at a number of RV parks in Bullhead City.

River Run Fun

• The Laughlin River Run is headlined by the namesake motorcycle ride on historic U.S. Route 66, which winds alongside the Colorado and through the desert hills from Kingman to Oatman, a pair of Arizona towns with numerous Old West attractions. However, the festival also has a number of other associated events and live performances held at various casinos to attract bikers and non-bikers alike. A charity poker run benefits U.S. veterans in the region, and the Ms. Laughlin River Run Contest determines the belle of this annual biker ball. Other attractions include motorcycle exhibits, a custom bike show, stunt performances and a collection of vendors selling custom motorcycle parts and accessories, leather wares and all types of apparel.

Live and On Stage

• A number of musical concerts, including some with nationally known performers, are held at several casino theaters throughout River Run week. Performers often include country music singers as well as tribute bands for popular musical groups such as Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bad Company and Blood, Sweat & Tears. Tickets to individual concerts are available through the Laughlin River Run website.

Laughlin's Natural Side

• If you're planning a visit to Laughlin for the River Run, take time to enjoy some of the area's natural attractions. Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area in Laughlin, a short drive south of casino row, is home to about 2 miles of Colorado River shoreline and provides the opportunity to view scenic canyons and washes, cactus and wildlife such as cottontail rabbits, coyotes, fox, roadrunners and perhaps even a bobcat or bighorn sheep. Activities and amenities include a boat ramp, fishing, 4 miles of hiking trails and a 24-site campground with full hookups. Just north of Laughlin is Lake Mojave, which has more than 200 miles of shoreline and is part of Lake Mead Natural Recreation Area, which includes several campgrounds, marinas and activities such as boating, fishing, hiking and scuba diving.

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Romantic Getaway in Laughlin, Nevada

On the Colorado River, which divides the states of Nevada and Arizona, is the city of Laughlin. This Nevada resort town has many things to offer, not the least of which being average temperatures that rarely dip below the mid-60 degrees Fahrenheit. Once a mining town, Laughlin became a resort destination in the 1940s. Nine major resorts and casinos – plus many smaller hotels and motels – can be found in the area, catering to visitors seeking the fun and sun that comes with a getaway to Nevada. For couples seeking Las Vegas-style luxuries in a smaller, more manageable setting, Laughlin can be a perfect destination.

Ample Lodging for Every Taste

• Accounting for one-third of Laughlin’s 9,000 hotel rooms is Harrah’s Laughlin Casino Resort and the Tropicana Laughlin Casino Resort. They are two of the largest resorts in Laughlin. Harrah’s features a long stretch of sandy beach along the Colorado River, as well as an adults-only pool with private cabanas. Harrah’s also has several nightclubs. The Tropicana is one of the more recently renovated resorts, with 1,500 finely appointed rooms and suites, many of which are in an adults-only tower, making for a more relaxed getaway experience.

Cool Off in Lake Mojave

• The Colorado River is controlled by Davis Dam about 4 miles north of Laughlin, creating nearly 30,000 acres of cool, clean Lake Mojave water in which to explore. Lake Mojave Resort is less than 15 minutes away from Casino Row, providing everything from houseboats to personal watercraft. For couples who want to spend time sunbathing and swimming, the small, private coves are perfect for dropping anchor, and enjoying a swim or afternoon picnic -- especially at the southern end of the lake.

Pamper Yourself at a Spa

• Spa services are available at the Laughlin Ranch Golf Club, which sits on the Arizona side of the Colorado River. Many of the resorts, such as Harrah’s, coordinate with the spa and can facilitate transportation for the 5-mile drive. Massage, aromatherapy and reflexology treatments are available, as well as more specialized treatments such as the Water Lily After Sun Body Wrap or the Arizona Copper Mineral Body Wrap, which is a mud treatment with minerals native to the desert. For couples who want to get a massage together, the facility includes a couples massage suite. Patrons of the spa also receive access to the fitness center and the swimming pool. And, true to its name, the club includes a par-72 championship golf course with an expansive view of Casino Row.

Non-Stop Entertainment

• Laughlin is a stopover for many music acts en route to California or Las Vegas, so you'll almost always find a wide variety of top-shelf entertainment here. All nine casino resorts have Las Vegas–style entertainment, many featuring national touring acts. One location is the state-of-the-art outdoor amphitheater at the Aquarius Casino and Resort, a 3,300-seat venue with panoramic views of the desert. World-class entertainers such as Kid Rock, Randy Travis and The Beach Boys play the Aquarius Outdoor Amphitheater, which always has a full slate of entertainers on the calendar.

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