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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.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
USD
Best months
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
avoid Jun–Aug (desert heat, highs near 38°C), Dec–Feb nights near freezing
Airports
LAS · IFP · HSH · NV00
Nights
0–1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
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.

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.

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.

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 →

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.)

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

2°C

3 rd

Feb

15°C

3°C

3 rd

Mar

18°C

5°C

3 rd

Apr

23°C

9°C

2 rd

May

28°C

13°C

1 rd

Jun

34°C

18°C

1 rd

Jul

36°C

22°C

2 rd

Aug

35°C

21°C

2 rd

Sep

32°C

18°C

2 rd

Oct

25°C

12°C

2 rd

Nov

18°C

6°C

2 rd

Dec

12°C

2°C

3 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

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 & 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 & 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.

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, 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 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