Spring Valley

Just minutes west of the casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, the streetscape changes: Chinese characters glow on neon signs, and dim sum houses, hot pot restaurants, and karaoke bars line Spring Mountain Road. If you visit Spring Valley on a trip to Las Vegas, you'll discover the most exciting culinary corner of the metro area – with none of the slot-machine glitz.

A Suburb Without City Status

Spring Valley is officially not a city but an unincorporated area of Clark County, governed by the county administration just like the Strip itself. Until the 1970s, this was mostly desert; then housing developments sprang up at a rapid pace for casino employees. Today around 200,000 people live here, many of them with Asian or Latin American roots. UNLV's main campus is east of the Strip, but many students and hotel employees live in Spring Valley.

Chinatown and Sights in Spring Valley

Las Vegas Chinatown began in 1995 with Chinatown Plaza, a Tang Dynasty-style shopping center with an archway and a statue of the traveler Xuanzang. Since then, the district has stretched for miles along Spring Mountain Road and includes Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, and Filipino shops and restaurants. At Chinese New Year, there are lion dances and fireworks. Beyond that, parks such as Desert Breeze Park with its sports facilities are worth a visit. To the west, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and the Spring Mountains rise up, reachable in about 20 minutes.

Eating and Going Out in Spring Valley

Many chefs and restaurant workers from the casinos live nearby – and head to Chinatown to eat after their shifts. The hours are correspondingly long: ramen, pho, Sichuan cuisine, Korean barbecue, or shabu-shabu is often available until late at night. You'll also find bubble tea shops, dessert cafés serving bingsu, and bakeries with mooncakes. Many of the bars are relaxed neighborhood taverns with video poker, typical of Nevada. For the big nightlife scene, the Strip is just a short taxi ride away.

Nature and Recreation on the Doorstep

Spring Valley's greatest advantage is its location between the Strip and the mountains. Red Rock Canyon, with its roughly 13-mile scenic drive, red sandstone cliffs, and climbing routes, is only a short drive to the west; a reservation is sometimes required for entry. In winter, you can reach the Lee Canyon ski area on Mount Charleston in about an hour. Golf courses, sports facilities, and parks can be found in the neighboring areas of Summerlin and Enterprise. If you head out early in the morning, you'll experience the desert at its most beautiful, before the heat sets in.

Getting Around Spring Valley and the Best Time to Visit

Harry Reid International Airport is only about a 15-minute drive away. Regional Transportation Commission buses connect Spring Valley with the Strip and downtown Las Vegas, though most visitors use rental cars or ride-hailing services. The best time to visit is spring and fall, when temperatures are pleasant. In summer, the thermometer regularly climbs above 100°F, and in winter nights can turn frosty. Good excursions include Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam, Valley of Fire State Park, and, as a longer day trip, the Grand Canyon.