I mean, this place deserves five stars for its name alone because it is THE perfect one for a sleeply little desert town, right? Searchlight is a blink and you'll miss it type of place. We usually stop here to use the bathroom when driving between Las Vegas and Laughlin. There's really nothing here of note, but I've always thought it had the absolutely coolest name for a desert town in the history of the world! This was a gold rush town and I swear you can "feel" the ghosts of old miners hanging around. Nowadays it's a tiny little community that a few hundred residents call home. There's a Denny's, a liquor store, Gus's beef jerky stop, a roadside motel, the world's smokiest casino, a McDonald's, and a couple of gas stations. That's it. This isn't a destination but a place you pass through or take a break during a road trip. read more

On the way to Fort Mojave on the Colorado River. Population was 309 two years ago. Could be a stop for fuel or McDonalds. No Signals. Section of town is a section of highway at 35 mpg read more

Searchlight is a small town in Clark County, Nevada about 60 miles from of Las Vegas on Highway 95. Searchlight was named by George Frederick Colton, who was looking for gold in the area in 1897, he supposedly said that it would take a searchlight to find gold ore there. The town boomed to ~1,500 people in the late 1800's when gold found-more people than Las Vegas. Today, Searchlight has fewer than 1,000 full-time residents now comprised of retirees, miners, ranchers, artists and small business owners. It's best known for the hometown of Nevada Senator Harry Reid. Though, we know it as a gas stop and place to stretch before finishing the drive to Las Vegas. There is a Terrible's Casino, McDonald's, gas station and pretty good convenience store. Terrible's Roadhouse Casino and Denny's restaurant and a Nugget Casino. My biggest issue with the casinos is that the ventilation doesn't keep up so there is a stench of smoke. Luckily, the C-store has its own entrance so I don't go near the casino. They have a historical museum which should provide and interesting walk through time. Maybe someday we will spend an hour or so to explore the town and museum but it's a good- really, the only place the stop to stretch before making the last push to Las Vegas. read more

Searchlight-Town of - Casinos Near Me - Searchlight, Nevada

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Little town between Laughlin and Las Vegas it's an old gold mining town with a couple small casinos. It's also famous for being the birthplace of Senator Harry Reid I always stop in the Terribles gas station because there's a Mcds inside read more

Searchlight-Town of - Casinos Near Me - Searchlight, Nevada

I've been through Searchlight many times--some on the way to Laughlin, but more times when I was a volunteer for the National Park Service in an abandoned mines identification project east of Searchlight off Cottonwood Cove Road. The town's speed limit is legendary. I'm sure they patrol often and set up radar often, but in fact, the only thing I've seen there has been an empty squad car to make you slow down. I'm sure if I didn't, I would be the one caught. There is an interesting museum in Searchlight and it's worth a stop if you have the time. Mostly, this is a town that you stop at Terribles to get a drink or to use the bathrooms and then off you are to wherever you were headed. It is a quaint town with a great mining history but the average tourist driving through only sees some of the remnants of the mining boom and just keeps on driving. That's a shame. read more

Searchlight-Town of - The Searchlight home of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. - Casinos Near Me - Searchlight, Nevada

There's two stories and how it get its name b when Colton founded the town he had a box of searchlight matches. The other story is it takes a searchlight to find a gold. How do I know this because he's my great great great uncle. there's a lot of things to do around searchlight that most city folk don't know about. It's a great place to find turquoise if you know where to look. read more

Remember the time you bragged to your friends about the great time you had at Searchlight, Nevada? Me neither. When you're traveling between Las Vegas and Laughlin, Searchlight is one of those small towns that you cannot help but drive through. Known for nothing really, Searchlight has become a regular pit stop for me. This is really my last chance to use the rest room, get gas, or grab a snack. When I think of Searchlight, I also think of slowing down. From 75 miles an hour to a screeching 25 miles an hour to be exact. And if you're traveling through here, you better slow down since they do ticket. The stretch of slowness is about a mile long but can seem to take forever. I'm not docking Searchlight. Actually, I am. But it's one of those places you just can't avoid when traveling between Laughlin and Las Vegas. Can't give them any worse than 3 Stars because it is what it is. PS: Watch your speed!! read more

Have you ever driven from Las Vegas south toward Laughlin, NV? Maybe you need to go to Lake Havasu to see the London Tower? Or you want to take the scenic route to Kingman, AZ from Vegas to dream of a simpler time where you can get your kicks on Route 66? Well, let me warn you about that trip. You will proceed south from Las Vegas, going from the I-215 to Highway 95. And pretty quickly, there is absolutely nothing around. No bright lights, casinos, truck stops, nada! Nada thing. For about 30 miles going south on Highway 95, there is nothing but a large valley, with high power lines going north-south, and duststorms. Yep, high wind advisary, Bhagdad-like duststorms. You can't see 30 feet type duststorms. If it wasn't for the Joshua Trees here and there (one of the oldest tree types in the world) to protect, we would be best served by laying out a huge grid of solar cells here, using the power grid already in place, and giving Sin City clean solar power. Enough to light up the entire city. After 30 miles of nothing, where you are going at least the speed limit of 65 or more, the road rises a bit, and all of a sudden, within 1/2 a mile's time, the speed limit signs change from 65, down to 45, quickly to 35, and immediately to 25 miles an hour! You are so busy trying to figure out what speed you are travelling at, that you can't slow down soon enough! And then the bright lights and the siren song of the Vegas strip comes back into focus.......in your review mirror! Yes, this is a speed trap! And those bright lights and sirens are not a flash back to Vegas, but the Nevada state trooper pulling you over for speeding. Maybe it is politics. Senator Harry Reid, Democratic Majority leader in the Senate, comes from Searchlight, NV. Maybe this speed trap has been his Stimulus Plan for this tiny little town of Searchlight, Nevada. read more

Nothing to see here little town I've been passing by since I was a child heading to the river further down the road. My family has a few little vacation homes here, great prices. read more

Searchlight-Town of - Happy 4th - Casinos Near Me - Searchlight, Nevada

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Yes officer, please make it to Leo M. Searchlight, a quiet little town between Vegas and Laghlin, that you would probably miss if you were to blink, but that wouldn't be good for the survival and livelihood of this little town, so someone had to come up with the greatest idea of them all to keep this town alive. " let's make everyone that comes through here stop and take something that will make them remember us forever! Yes! let's make this the largest speed trap in the world!" I thanked the officer as I put my most expensive souvenir inside the glove compartment and slowly went on my way. I stopped at the terribles gas station since I had some sh*t to take care of after waiting for about 40 minutes for the cop to create my custom made souvenir, otherwise I would've left that cute little town asap. It reminded me of the old western movies where travelers would get robbed in the middle of the desert before getting to their destination. Ok, I know........it was my fault, so I'm not going to punish the nice Searchlightians living here for my mistakes by giving them one star, I'm sure Searchlight is a very nice place. Not only that, this little town gave us one of the most admirable individuals of our time.... Yes I'm talking about Edith Head, costume designer that won more Oscars than any other woman! Yay! And also let's not forget the greatest Algoberto's taco shop. So on your next trip to Laughlin from Vegas make sure to keep your eyes open for this beautiful little town. SLOW down and enjoy the view, there may be nothing here to see but you'll be saving some cash....... You'll need it in Laghlin. read more

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Hmmmm. Searchlight. How did you guys get that name anyway? I guess I gotta go look it up. I think it's because your town is so small that you need an ACTUAL SEARCHLIGHT to find it! Im just kidding you fellow Searchlighters! Actually, here's what about 100 percent of everybody that goes through here does no matter how many times you do this trip and that includes me. So you're goin 75 (for you law abiders anyway). All of a sudden you you see a 45 mile an hour speed limit sign. By the time you you realize you should slow down, you see another one for 35, and finally 25. At this point you are almost slamming your brakes because there is a big sign that says "Speed Limit 25 MPH Strictly Enforced". For those that think its BS and just cruise around 35 or more, that one time you decide to do it, there sittin waiting for you is a motorcycle cop. For those that follow rules (also the ones that are familiar with this route), you do one of three things: 1. Stop for gas. 2.Bathroom break. 3. Food. Sometimes all three, especially when you have kids. As soon as they see the golden arches, it's pretty much over. They also have a Taco place across from there but I don't recommend going there. (refer to my Taco Express review). Once you're done going through this town, you're back to 75 for a while. Nothin really special. Just another potential stop on your way to Laughlin, Lake Havasu or where ever your heart desires. read more

I drive down to searchlight once a month for work and it is always a pleasant drive. The town is small and the people interesting. DO NOT DRIVE FASTER THAN 25MPH You've been warned.... read more

Why 5 stars for a small, nothing to see here town? Loved passing through this town as a kid because it meant we were heading to Vegas. Always stopped for a pit stop and possibly got mcdonalds to tide us over until Vegas. They had a police car at the beginning of town to slow down the speeding drivers. Once, we saw a dummy (mannequin) in the driver seat which we thought was cool as kids. One of these days I'll pass by searchlight again. Just for nostalgic reasons. This isn't a goodbye, this is a see you later read more

Ah, Searchlight. A small town of much of nothing. It's the birthplace of Sen. Harry Reid. There's some old mining stuff. There's a crappy casino. There's nowhere to eat. But it's fun to see some of Nevada's smaller towns. So why come here? When the I-15 is backed up in either direction, switching and coming through Searchlight to go to or from California is actually shorter. Never any traffic or congestion on this route. Sure, you miss Primm and Baker, but I'd rather miss those towns than sit in traffic and take 5+ hrs to get to or from SoCal. So come through Searchlight and be able to go the speed limit the whole way and reach your destination in less time. read more

Great little town. Every town has its problems but all and all a great little community. I would recommend moving here.

Have driven several times through Searchlight... back and forth from Vegas to Laughlin. Stopped this last time at the Nugget for famous 10 cent coffee and breakfast. One waitress reminded me of an older, dust-ridden, saddle-sore gal from the old west who would just as soon shoot your mule as get you a cup of coffee. Not friendly or talkative. The other waitress was bright and chatty and would've (back in the day) surely been a showgirl. The casino was comfy and welcoming without the glare of Vegas lights or the plethora of unemployed wino's begging for cash or vagrants trying to sell bottles of tap water for a buck a piece (a la Vegas Strip). I stopped long enough to buy a cute Nugget coffee mug and look around a bit and really liked the little town. The mountains cradling clusters of modern day America, such as McDonalds and gas stations, seemed to "rise above" the frivolities of 21st century necessities. I hope to spend a few days at Searchlight on my next visit. Maybe rent a Jeep and explore the area, find a nice mountain top to plunk my weary butt on a rock and contemplate life and the value of serenity. Then check out the slots at the Nugget (gotta support the local place!) and just drive around and see the park and other areas. Gotta love these little towns that cling to survival and blend the past with the present. O.k., it's a speed trap, so what? Could be worse... could be a toll road! read more

Searchlight is the BOMB at 11 pm or later. The $3 pitchers at Terribles is enough to keep us going until the launch ramp opens in the am at Cottonwood Cove. The wings are honestly one of the best I have ever had. They have a weird machine that puts them in the top and they come out cooked in the bottom, OUTER SPACE. THE saggy breast bartender is awesome! A must stop for us on the way to the river! read more

I like Searchlight because it is quaint, picturesque, has pleasant weather, great views and is the hometown of Harry Reid. A decent place to be. read more

I can understand how if you're just blowing through, or stopping to take a leak you could miss the zen of this town. You have to spend a little time. My gf has a little doublewide trailer here and we come 2 or 3 times a year before going to Vegas, or heading down to the River. You have to see the world differently to appreciate Searchlight. The people who live here are hard core desert people. They have a different mentality.There is a total lack of pretension. This desert is really intense and desolate. If you head out of town west on 164, you'll soon come to a Joshua Tree "forest". Stop here at 3am, turn out your lights and look up at the sky. You may as well be on the frickin' moon. Thousands of stars and moonlit Joshua Trees. The Nugget is cool and laid back. It has a hundred year old slot machine which is pretty damn cool. Saturday night is pretty much like Tuesday night. But the bartender is chill and the food is just fine. Terrible's is OK, but kinda corporate. If you want nightlife, go to Vegas. Searchlight is is nowhere, and is like nowhere else. Hey, they should put that on their welcome sign. read more