Overview
This article comprises the part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area that is West of I-15, but south of Summerlin Parkway and US 95.
Many just-off-strip attractions and lodging can be found here, as well as Chinatown Vegas along a 3 mile stretch of Spring Mountain Rd. (representing other ethnicities besides just Chinese).
5 sights · 13 things to do · 2 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 6 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about West of I-15
Springs Preserve
A large complex in the center of the city that features a Desert Living Center, interactive wildlife shows, galleries, museums, various gardens, and historical and nature trails.
Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas
Hollywood Cars Museum
A 30,000 square foot car museum featuring vehicles that have appeared in over 100 films and TV shows. Visitors can see, among others, several James Bond cars, Knight Rider's KITT, Batmobiles, and a Back to the Future Del…
Area15
Just a hop away from The Strip, Area15 is an experiential entertainment amusement complex that has become a top Vegas destination since it opened at the end of 2019. Blacklights and fluorescent decorations abound to crea…
Red Rock Canyon
Features a scenic drive through Red Rock Canyon, taking about 30 minutes to complete. There are opportunities to park up and get out of the car whether to take in the view, or get moving with a hike. Getting there withou…
Cowabunga Canyon
Water park on the west side of town.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Feb–May, Oct–Nov. Summer highs reach about 104°F; winter lows dip to about 40°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Feb and Jan. (climate data from nearby Las Vegas)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- LAS Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas — 6 mi away (major hub). Directions
- BLD Boulder City Municipal Airport, Boulder City — 25 mi away. Directions
Rideshares or taxis will provide the most convenient access to destinations near The Strip, especially if you don't have a designated driver among your group.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Las Vegas Chinatown Plaza, The Basement - A Live Escape Room Experience, Machine Guns Vegas
- Lunch Monta Noodle House
- Afternoon Area15, Penn and Teller
- Dinner Zippy's
- Evening Frankie's Tiki Room
Day 2
- Morning Springs Preserve, Nevada State Museum, Las Vegas
- Afternoon Lockdown Escape Rooms - Sahara, Liberace Garage
Day 3
- Morning Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas Aviators
- Afternoon College basketball tournaments
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
Rideshares or taxis will provide the most convenient access to destinations near The Strip, especially if you don't have a designated driver among your group.
The Rio and The Palms can be accessed by walking along W Flamingo Rd. Walking is not recommended to other destinations due to the distance involved in the oppressive heat.
More distant destinations, such as Summerlin or particularly Red Rocks Canyon are best accessed by car, although there are bus routes throughout the area as an alternative option.
By bus
If you must get in and around by bus, it's not totally horrific in the Las Vegas area as it could be in many western U.S. cities. Bus service in West Las Vegas, west of I-15, as well as Las Vegas and Henderson, is provided by the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC). Fares are $2 per bus ride. However, it may be more useful to purchase a 24-hour pass for $5 when boarding the bus. If you plan to be in the area for a while, RTC also sells a 5-day pass for $20 at many supermarkets and check cashing institutions, but this pass is not available on the bus itself.
By taxi
Taxi service in North Las Vegas is handled by calling for a taxi and then waiting for it to come and pick you up. Do not expect to hail a cab off the street as though you were in New York City or Chicago. Taxis are only plentiful and easily accessible at McCarran Airport, hotels on the Las Vegas Strip, or Downtown Las Vegas where they are queued up waiting for passengers. Outside of these areas, expect to call a cab and generally wait 20-40 minutes for it to come to you.
See
See Las Vegas Chinatown Plaza
Chinatown Plaza is where Chinatown in Las Vegas was born and designated as Chinatown in 1996. The Mall is a place to experience Asian culture, baked goods, dim sum, and an Asian market are available to explore. Throughout the year the mall hosts various cultural events such as Lunar New year. Since then the area have grown to include 20+ other surrounding strip malls with a wide range of businesses, including restaurants, shops, and other establishments catering to the Asian community. Visitors can find restaurants serving Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Thai cuisine, with everything from dim sum and noodle soups to sushi and Korean barbecue on the menu. click here for a list of other strip malls surrounding Chinatown Plaza along Spring Mountain Rd.
See Liberace Garage
A gallery operated by the Liberace Foundation that exhibits several of Liberace's cars including a mirrored Rolls Royce and rhinestone-studded Dusenberg. This exhibit comes from the now defunct Liberace Museum. Tour package can include transportation to and private viewing of the Liberace Museum Collection located inside Michael Jackson's home, Thriller Villa.
Do
Do Area15
Just a hop away from The Strip, Area15 is an experiential entertainment amusement complex that has become a top Vegas destination since it opened at the end of 2019. Blacklights and fluorescent decorations abound to create an other-worldly gateway into alternate reality experiences. Open to all ages until 9PM.
- Meow Wolf Omega Mart: Omega Mart is an interactive art installation created by American Arts company Meow Wolf. Visitors can explore the "interesting" products for sale in the Omega Mart storefront, and discover the background of the unique grocery store through an alternate reality game. Family-friendly.
- Illuminarium: The Illuminarium uses the latest in video projection and other technologies to create immersive sensory experiences. Family-friendly.
- Liftoff: Ride a balloon 130 feet up and enjoy a 360 degree view of The Strip. Family-friendly.
- Lost Spirits Distillery: Called the "Willy Wonka of Booze", tickets include drinks, a show, and a distillery tour.
- There are also several different VR Experiences available at Area15.
Do Red Rock Canyon
Features a scenic drive through Red Rock Canyon, taking about 30 minutes to complete. There are opportunities to park up and get out of the car whether to take in the view, or get moving with a hike. Getting there without a car is hard, though organized bus tours do exist.
- A campground is open Labor Day–Memorial Day.
- Rock climbing is possible year-round on hundreds of routes, though spring and fall tend to be most comfortable. Though the area does not receive much precipitation, if the sandstone becomes wet (from rain or snow) it becomes brittle and you'd be wise to avoid it for at least two day before checking if it dried out. See guidebooks for more information about specific routes.
Escape Rooms
Do The Basement - A Live Escape Room Experience
Based on the original Basement in Los Angeles, this location has a pair of horror themed rooms that include the original Basement escape from a serial killer and a sequel called 'The Study'. One thing that sets the Basement apart from other escape rooms is the use of live actors in the experience.
At the Rio
The Rio has a reputation among frequent visitors and locals as a resort property that is run-down and well past its prime. While it's not recommended to stay here (at least, until its upcoming renovation), there are still some worthwhile activities.
Sports
Do Las Vegas Aviators (Las Vegas Ballpark)
A Triple-A baseball club, the Aviators have been in Las Vegas longer than any other professional sports team. The Aviators began as the Las Vegas Stars in 1983, changed their name to the Las Vegas 51s, a reference to Area 51, in 2001, and became the Aviators for 2019 and beyond. They have won 2 Pacific Coast League crowns and 10 division titles. The team opened a new ballpark in Summerlin in 2019.
Do College basketball tournaments
Of the four NCAA Division I conferences that hold their men's and women's basketball tournaments in the Las Vegas area, two of them hold those events at Orleans Arena, part of The Orleans hotel/casino complex. The West Coast Conference and Western Athletic Conference both hold their men's and women's tournaments in early March, with the winner of each tournament receiving its league's automatic berth in the NCAA men's or women's tournament.
Do UNLV Rebels (NCAA)
The new stadium is also home to the local Division I college football team, the UNLV Rebels. While most other UNLV teams play on their campus near Harry Reid Airport, the football team plays here. Uniquely, the Rebels play on an entirely different surface from the Raiders—the Rebels play on a permanently installed artificial surface, while the Raiders play on a grass field that slides in and out as needed.
Buy
Shop Downtown Summerlin
Located in the western outskirts of Las Vegas, Downtown Summerlin offers 125 stores, restaurants and entertainment venues located in a 106-acre shopping district. Downtown Summerlin hosts 30 dining establishments and is in proximity of many other restaurants nearby as well as the Red Rock Casino. Plans exist to expand the area to 400 acres. Opened in 2014.
Eat
Eat Monta Noodle House
A small ramen shop along Spring Mountain Rd. serving authentic bowls of soup for cheap. A welcome reprieve from the prices that many may be used to paying on The Strip.
Eat Zippy's
This sole mainland outpost of the much-loved Hawaiian plate lunch chain is a testament to Las Vegas' nickname of the "ninth island". In terms of the menu, fans of Zippy's know what to expect, including a wide variety of plate lunches and other Hawaiian specialties.
Drink
Drink Frankie's Tiki Room
Authentic and pleasantly unpolished tiki bar with lots of great decor and potent drinks. Look for the pink neon sign.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Splurge
Nearby
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Pahrump
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Moapa Valley
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Shoshone
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