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Major city · United States

SearchlightSearchlight, Nevada

Stop 1–2 hours on the US-95 between Boulder City and Laughlin: museum, jerky, a casino meal. Sleep in Laughlin or Boulder City, not here.

Not yet checkedSourcesWhat these labels mean

Searchlight is a former gold-mining town of about 540 people on the US-95 in southern Nevada, roughly 40 mi from both Boulder City and Laughlin. It has a small county museum, a historic ranch, two casinos and a jerky store. There is almost nowhere to sleep and almost nothing to eat beyond a Denny's and a McDonald's, so it works as a road stop, not a base.

basic guide: no trip line yet
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
avoid Jun–Aug (desert heat, highs near 38°C (100°F)), Dec–Feb nights near freezing
Airports
LAS · IFP · HSH · NV00
Nights
0–1
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • United States ↗Check whether you need an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) or a visa on the official CBP and State Department sites; apply only through esta.cbp.dhs.gov, not third-party sites, and allow time before you book.
  • United States ↗Several popular national parks use timed-entry or vehicle reservations in peak season; check each park's page on nps.gov and book on recreation.gov before fixing your dates.
  • United States ↗Medical care is very expensive for visitors; buy travel insurance with high medical cover before you fly.
  • United States ↗Tipping is expected: about 15–20% at sit-down restaurants and bars, and a tip for taxis, hotel staff and guides.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Searchlight911 ▾
  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Searchlight, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or a soft drinkcheck$2–5
  • Museum or sight ticketMuseum entrycheckFree–$5
  • Budget bedLaughlin hotel-casino room, a night, per roomUS$60
  • Mid-range bedSmall-town motel room, a night, per roomUS$95
  • High-end bedSmall-town motel room, a night, per roomUS$130

A day, not counting the bed: Budget US$70 · Mid US$130 · High US$220

Prices in local money; change the currency in the header to see yours next to them. Every price and the budget calculator →

DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Gold-mining history and the Searchlight Historic MuseumWalking Box Ranch, once owned by Rex Bell and Clara BowGus's Fresh JerkySmall casinos on US-95Fallout: New Vegas setting
Airports
LAS Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas (The practical gateway; drive time and distance to Searchlight: check before you set out.) · IFP Laughlin-Bullhead International Airport (Nearest airport with any scheduled service; no major airline, check current schedules.) · HSH Henderson Executive Airport (General aviation only, northwest of Searchlight.) · NV00 Searchlight Airport (Unmanned, no services; do not plan on it.)

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    12°C (54°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    15°C (59°F)

  3. Mar

    Best

    18°C (64°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    23°C (73°F)

  5. May

    Best

    28°C (82°F)

  6. Jun

    Avoid

    34°C (93°F)

  7. Jul

    Avoid

    36°C (97°F)

  8. Aug

    Avoid

    35°C (95°F)

  9. Sep

    not flagged

    32°C (90°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    25°C (77°F)

  11. Nov

    Best

    18°C (64°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    12°C (54°F)

Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jun–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →

Warmest Jul (36°C (97°F)), coolest Jan (2°C (36°F) low), wettest Jan (3 rain days), driest May (1). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Searchlight: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

12°C (54°F)

2°C (36°F)

3 rd

Feb

15°C (59°F)

3°C (37°F)

3 rd

Mar

18°C (64°F)

5°C (41°F)

3 rd

Apr

23°C (73°F)

9°C (48°F)

2 rd

May

28°C (82°F)

13°C (55°F)

1 rd

Jun

34°C (93°F)

18°C (64°F)

1 rd

Jul

36°C (97°F)

22°C (72°F)

2 rd

Aug

35°C (95°F)

21°C (70°F)

2 rd

Sep

32°C (90°F)

18°C (64°F)

2 rd

Oct

25°C (77°F)

12°C (54°F)

2 rd

Nov

18°C (64°F)

6°C (43°F)

2 rd

Dec

12°C (54°F)

2°C (36°F)

3 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

You need a car. US-95 runs through town; SR-164 heads west toward Nipton and I-15, SR-163 runs southeast to Laughlin. There is no local transit; the Southern Nevada Transit Coalition runs Las Vegas–Laughlin buses on weekdays, check the timetable before relying on it.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Boulder City

go

Door to door: About 45 min

US-95 north, about 40 mi

Hoover Dam and a historic main street; the better base in this direction.

Laughlin

go

Door to door: About 45 min

US-95 south then SR-163 east, about 40 mi

Hotel-casinos on the Colorado River; where to sleep if you stay in the area.

Primmcaution

Door to door: About 50 min

SR-164 west to I-15 north, about 42 mi

Casinos and a lottery store on the California line; little else.

Cottonwood Cove, Lake Mohave

go

Door to door: Check

Cottonwood Cove Road east off US-95

Marina on Lake Mohave; check seasonal hours, water levels and road conditions before you turn off.

Las Vegasovernight

Door to door: Check

US-95 north then US-93

Too far for a casual return trip; go there to stay.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Searchlight town centre (US-95)

A couple of small motels and an RV park; availability is thin, so book ahead or arrive with a fallback.

Laughlin

About 40 mi southeast; hotel-casinos, the usual choice for a night in this corner of Nevada.

Boulder City

About 40 mi north on the US-95; motels and services, handy before or after Hoover Dam.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
$60–100 excl. bed
Mid
$100–160 excl. bed
High
$160+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Small-town motel room1 × 1 night × US$95US$95
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × US$130US$260
Fuel, Las Vegas to Laughlin and back1 × US$60 · checkUS$60
eSIM, about a week of data2 × US$20US$40
Casino meal for two1 × US$40US$40
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeUS$50
Trip total≈ US$273 per person per day, bed includedUS$545

check availability

2026 estimate in US dollars; prices shown before sales tax and unsourced — treat as a planning band, not a quote. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or a soft drinkcheck$2–5
Fast-food mealcheck$8–14
Diner plate at the casinocheck$12–22
Jerky or dried fruit at Gus'scheck$8–20
Gallon of fuelcheck$4–5
Museum entrycheckFree–$5

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very low crime; the real risks are desert heat, long empty drives and patchy phone signal. Carry water, tell someone your route, and do not walk far from US-95 after dark.
  • Summer heat: June–August highs near 38°C (100°F), little shade and long gaps between services.
  • Fill up and buy food in Boulder City or Laughlin; what is open in Searchlight varies by day — check before you arrive.
  • Cell coverage on the stretches either side of town: check your carrier's map.
  • Casino floors are the main indoor space; there is no late-night alternative.
  • Non-US visitors: gambling winnings can face a 30% withholding tax — keep the 1042-S form.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
911

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

SearchlightSearchlight, Nevada

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

To this address, pleaseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance911

Embassy

No consulates in Searchlight; national embassies are in Washington, DC, with consulates in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Drive, Las Vegas airport → Searchlight: check distance and time
  • Drive, Searchlight → Laughlin: about 40 mi, 45 min
  • Drive, Searchlight → Boulder City: about 40 mi, 45 min

Say or show

  • Where is the gas station? — Where is the gas station?
  • Is the museum open today? — Is the museum open today?
  • How much is it? — How much is it?
  • Can I pay by card? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where is the restroom? — Where is the restroom?

Tipping: 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, $1–2 a drink, 15–20% taxis.

Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Searchlight. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jun–Aug (desert heat, highs near 38°C), Dec–Feb nights near freezing · month by month →
  2. 4 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Field-check the museum's opening hours and the Walking Box Ranch access before publishing times.
  2. Confirm which motels in town are still taking bookings, and add a Laughlin fallback.
  3. Verify the Southern Nevada Transit Coalition weekday timetable and stop location.
  4. Add a heat-safety fixture for June–August drives.

Meanwhile

Back to United States

Sources