Don Laughlin's Riverside Resort Guide

Don Laughlin's Riverside Resort is where it all began. Don Laughlin purchased this property in 1966 and single-handedly built the town that now bears his name. The Riverside remains a family-owned and operated resort, offering incredible value with rooms starting from just $19 per night.

Features & Amenities

About Don Laughlin's Riverside Resort

Don Laughlin's Riverside Resort & Casino is a true Laughlin original. As the resort that started it all, the Riverside offers an authentic Laughlin experience with modern amenities at unbeatable prices. Rooms start from just $19 per night, making it one of the best values in Nevada gaming.

Beyond the casino floor, the resort features a bowling alley, a six-screen movie theater, an antique car collection, multiple restaurants, and a full-service RV park right on the Colorado River. Don Laughlin himself still oversees operations, ensuring the resort maintains its legacy of value and hospitality.

💡 Insider Tips

Call directly for the best room rates. The RV park fills up fast in winter — book early. Don't miss the classic car display on the lower level.

The Man Behind the Resort

Don Laughlin bought 8 acres of desert land on the banks of the Colorado River back in 1964 for $235,000. Everyone thought he was nuts. The nearest town was Bullhead City, Arizona across the river, and there was nothing out here but sand, rattlesnakes, and 120-degree heat. He opened a small bar and motel with 12 slot machines and 4 rooms. Fast forward to today and the place has over 1,400 hotel rooms, a 60,000 square foot casino floor, and the entire town is named after him. Not a bad return on investment.

Don himself is in his 90s and still comes to the resort regularly. Employees tell stories about seeing him walk the casino floor checking on things. The family-owned aspect matters because it means the resort doesn't answer to corporate shareholders demanding every inch of profit — they can afford to keep room rates at $19 per night because they own the building outright.

Why Rooms Cost $19 Per Night

No, it's not a typo. Don Laughlin's Riverside Resort regularly offers rooms starting at $19 per night Sunday through Thursday. That's not a promotional rate they advertise once and never honor — it's a legit everyday price for basic rooms. Here's why they can do it: the resort is privately owned (no franchise fees), the building is paid off (no mortgage), and they make money on the casino floor, not the rooms. The $19 rooms are a loss leader to get people through the door. It works brilliantly.

Midweek is the sweet spot. Sunday night through Wednesday night you'll get the rock-bottom prices. Thursday starts creeping up, and Friday-Saturday are the most expensive at $49-$89 depending on the season. Holiday weekends like Memorial Day, Labor Day, and New Year's Eve can hit $100+, and they sell out weeks in advance.

What's Inside Riverside Resort

This place is huge and a little quirky in the best way. Beyond the 60,000 square foot casino with 1,000+ slot machines and table games, you've got:

• Bowling alley — A full 34-lane bowling center that's popular with locals and families
• Movie theater — Six-screen cinema showing first-run movies at below-market prices
• Classic car museum — Don Laughlin's personal collection of antique automobiles, displayed in the lobby area. Free to browse.
• RV park — 800 full-hookup RV sites right on the property, extremely popular with snowbirds October through March
• Two swimming pools — One indoor, one outdoor with river views
• Shopping arcade — Small shops and boutiques inside the resort

The bowling alley alone sets Riverside apart from every other Laughlin casino. Families with kids actually stay here specifically for the non-gambling activities — which is rare for a casino resort.

Dining Options

Riverside has more restaurants than any other Laughlin casino. The Prime Rib Room is the fine dining option — proper white tablecloth steakhouse with excellent cuts. The Buffet is solid value: $12-$18 depending on the meal, and the Sunday brunch is worth waiting in line for. Losers' Lounge (yes, that's the real name) is the casual bar and grill where you'll find cheap beer and bar food. There's also a coffee shop, a deli, a Chinese restaurant, and a food court area.

The real insider move is the Players Club dining discounts. Sign up for free, play for an hour, and you'll earn enough points for 50% off your buffet dinner. The math works out to free food if you're playing anyway.

The RV Park — Snowbird Central

Riverside's RV park is the heart of Laughlin's winter community. From October through March, thousands of retirees from Canada, Montana, Minnesota, and other cold-weather states drive their RVs down to Laughlin and park at Riverside for weeks or months at a time. Full hookup sites (water, electric, sewer) run about $20-$30 per night, with monthly rates available.

The RV park has its own community vibe with organized activities, potluck dinners, and a shuttle that runs to the casino every 30 minutes. If you're doing the snowbird thing for the first time, Riverside is the most popular choice by far because of the price and the amenities.

Getting There

Riverside Resort is at 1650 South Casino Drive, Laughlin, Nevada 89029 — the northernmost casino on the strip, closest to Davis Dam. From Las Vegas, take US-95 south for about 90 miles. From Kingman, Arizona, take US-68 west. From Bullhead City, just drive across the bridge. Free parking, free RV parking, free everything basically. That's the Don Laughlin way.

Events at Riverside Resort

Riverside Resort hosts several annual events that draw visitors from across the Southwest. The resort's outdoor event area handles car shows, craft fairs, and vendor markets throughout the cooler months. Don Laughlin himself has sponsored boat races on the Colorado River for decades, and the resort serves as the home base for several river racing events. The bowling alley hosts league nights and tournaments that are popular with locals and long-term RV park residents.

For snowbird visitors staying at the RV park, Riverside organizes community events including potluck dinners, trivia nights, exercise classes, and day trips to nearby attractions. The RV park community has its own social calendar that keeps long-term guests entertained beyond the casino floor. It's one of the reasons Riverside's RV park fills up months in advance every winter — the social aspect is as much of a draw as the cheap rates and warm weather.