Downtown North Las Vegas - North Las Vegas, NV Area Guide

Settled in the late 1860s by the Conrad Kiel family, North Las Vegas was then founded as a city in 1917. Tom Williams is largely considered the founder of North Las Vegas, while the name of the neighborhood was chosen as the name for the township in 1931, and the city was then incorporated on May 6, 1946.

North Las Vegas offers no museums of its own, again because so many amenities and recreational opportunities can be accessed with a short hop across the city limits to the Vegas Strip. Additionally, you will find little to no arts scene in the area, but you need only travel a short distance to experience the many options in Las Vegas. The only annual events to speak of in North Las Vegas itself are the regularly scheduled Christmas festivities.

North Las Vegas offers only a handful of solid eateries above and beyond the obvious and expected chain restaurants, with fare that tends to range from American and Mexican to Hawaiian and Soul Food. Most of the local eating establishments can be found near or around the Las Vegas Freeway.

For a taste of Hawaii at lunchtime, visit Poke Express on West Craig Street. Only open in the daytime, this restaurant and carry-out destination serves traditional Hawaiian Poke dishes (cubed ingredients that make up a traditional Hawaiian appetizer), incorporating fresh seafood such as tuna, mussels, imitation crab and octopus, all seasoned in a variety of flavors. Sample before you make a decision, then order your chosen dishes by the pound.

For authentically prepared Italian pizza, antipasti or salad, head to East Craig Road. Old School Pizzeria offers take-out only but invites you to build your own calzone or pizza in a variety of sizes. Pick up an order of the garlic knots to take with you, enjoy a specialty meal, such as the aptly named “Crazy Good Chicken,” or finish up with cannoli as a sweet treat.

Locals in the mood for classic barbecue claim that SNS Diner blows away the competition. BBQ aficionados head to this restaurant to savor the finely smoked brisket or perfectly tender pulled pork, served with a variety of sides, such as smoked beans or mac and cheese.

You won’t find much in the way of nightlife in North Las Vegas owing to the neighborhood’s proximity to Las Vegas proper and its iconic strip. The South Padre Nightclub on Texas Star Lane is one of the few nightclub scenes in North Las Vegas. Part dance club and part music venue, it also serves as one of the few spots to see live music in North Las Vegas.

Expect to be limited to driving, rather than walking or cycling, when travelling any real distance around the large North Las Vegas neighborhood. Inexpensive car rentals can be accessed in the neighborhood if you don’t own your own vehicle. Locals meet with the occasional traffic jam but, for the most part, rely on personal vehicle as the most efficient means of getting around North Las Vegas and into Las Vegas itself.

Pay $2 per ride on the public buses, or invest $5 for a 24-hour pass. Purchase longer term passes at many supermarkets and check cashing locations in the area.

North Las Vegas offers 15 miles of trailways along the Lower and Upper Las Vegas Wash. Designated as multiple use, these adequately lit trails can accommodate plenty of users at once and include amenities such as water fountains and shade areas.

Taxis wait to be hailed outside of the airport or can be called to your location through Uber; expect a 20 to 40 minute wait per request. Find plentiful parking in North Las Vegas on private lots, public lots that charge a fee or free along the streets. North Las Vegas offers easy access to two major highways, which include routes to reach Los Angeles, California, and Salt Lake City, Utah.

Find several parks in the neighborhood of North Las Vegas, including the Silver Mesa Recreation Center, Desert Horizons Park, Eldorado Park and Aliante Nature Discovery Park. Of particular interest to locals with children, the discovery park features a large play space and a mock archaeological site, where youngsters can dig through the sand to “excavate” some dinosaur bones.

Other local parks offer amenities such as green grass, shade trees and water features, while some include sports courts and field facilities. Visit the Las Vegas Mountain Range and the Lower and Upper Wash Trail System s more rugged outdoor exercise experience. Most parks are dog friendly, though animals must always be kept on a leash, and feature plenty of space for exercise activities. Despite the clement weather, outdoor events are seldom held in these parks.

With a cost of living only marginally higher than the average for Nevada State, those who live in North Las Vegas tend to do so because of the neighborhood’s growing commercial and residential population. Largely industrial, a number of large-scale businesses operate in the area.

Expect to pay an average rental cost for a one-bedroom apartment of around $1,140 per month, approximately 13% higher than the state average. The average cost of gasoline in the city is $3.26 per gallon which almost matches the national average, while a pint of beer will set you back around $8.50.

Shopping options in North Las Vegas consist mainly of chain stores such as Kmart or Walmart. Locals generally choose to travel the short distance to Las Vegas to visit one of its sizeable outlet malls or partake of the unique vendors in Las Vegas.

Watch out for a small number of unique locations in the North Las Vegas area. A large flea market open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, Broadacres Marketplace and Event Center spreads across 44 acres of land with 22 acres of paved parking. Pay a fee of $1.50 to get into the marketplace and peruse from over 1,150 vendors. This market also puts on live music shows, while its large HD televisions broadcast popular sporting events.

A staple of the community, Hahn’s World of Surplus displays military and outdoor gear surplus, from MREs (meals-ready-to-eat) to combat fatigues and camping gear. Located on East Lake Mead Boulevard, the store can also be accessed via its online store.

For rare finds and eclectic wares, try Epic Thrift on W Craig Road. This well organized thrift shop runs some kind of special every day of the week. Goods are arranged by gender, age and size, making it is easy to spot the hidden gems that will suit your needs.

To restock your groceries, head to one of many options in the neighborhood. One of the four Hispanic Marian’s Supermarkets in the region can be found in North Las Vegas, on East Cheyenne Avenue. Fresh produce and a variety of meats and seafood help this store stand out among the rest. No farmer’s markets takes place in North Las Vegas itself, so head to the Las Vegas Farmer’s Market close by on North Rampart Boulevard.