Skip to Content

10 Fun & Best Things to do in Primm, Nevada

When we talk about Nevada, Las Vegas immediately comes to mind. But there are other attractions in the state that are worth visiting like Primm. This article will cover some of the best things to do in Primm, Nevada.

Primm is a small town located off Interstate 15, right at the border between Nevada and California. So a lot of Californians also frequent the place either for it or on their way to Las Vegas.

For a small town, it has done pretty well for itself, attracting both gamblers and general tourists to the area.

About Primm, Nevada

Primm, Nevada | Things to Do & See [4K HD]

Primm is located about 40 miles south of Las Vegas or a 25 minutes drive. It comes in Clark county. Primm Nevada history goes back to the 1920s when there was just a gas station here. The gas station was owned by one Pete MacIntyre, who was known as Whiskey Pete. The Whiskey Pete casino in the town is named after him.

Its previous name was State Line, given that it was literally on a state line. The town gradually grew from a rest stop on the way to Vegas, hosting gas stations, a garage, a restaurant, and a small casino.

Today, its economy is largely dependent on the three main casinos. However, it’s so much more than just a mini Vegas to test your luck. Most of the residents of the town work in these hotels and casinos. There are apartment complexes where the employees live.

Although other businesses are slowly popping up, it’s mostly about casinos.

Things to Do In Primm

Fun & Best Things to Do in Primm, Nevada

If this town has grabbed your attention and you want to book a tour, here are some of the best things to do at Primm Nevada:

Golf at Primm Valley Golf Club

Primm Valley Golf Club Scenery
image by Management/TripAdvisor

Primm has a beautiful gold course for golfers, complete with the natural beauty of the desert. It’s designed by Tom Fazio and has a very professional feel.

You’ll surely find this course a bit challenging, which makes it all the better. The Primm Valley Golf Club course looks like an oasis in the desert. The carefully maintained narrow green fairways create a striking contrast with the sandy surroundings.

The lakes and river systems in the area add to the depth of the aesthetics of this course. Spread over 22 acres, the golf club operates year-round because of the regional climate. That said, it can be quite hot in the dead of summer.

You don’t even have to bring your own clubs, as you can rent almost everything you need to have a great round. This is obviously something for those who regularly golf, but even if you’re not a golfer and have some time at hand, you’d love to golf for the first on this beautiful course.

The Primm Nevada golf packages are pretty reasonable, so you won’t be splurging out a lot. These can be booked online on sites like Booking.com.

See Related: Ways to Book the Cheapest First Class Flights

See the Desperado Roller Coaster

At one of the three Primm Nevada casinos lies one of the tallest roller coasters in the world, the Desperado Roller Coaster.

See the Desperado Roller Coaster

It wasn’t built tall just to make the ride more thrilling but rather to attract people driving on the interstate highway. And it does attract a lot of people, ever since its inception, all the way back in 1994.

Now, it will again serve the same purpose, as the roller coaster was permanently closed for operation earlier this year. You can visit it and admire its behemoth size.

Just to give you an idea of how insane this roller coaster was, it had a 225 feet drop at an inclination of 60 percent. When coming down, it went as high as 80 mph. It’s safe to say that it was not for the faint of heart.

Although the roller coaster has closed and reopened for the public many times, this time, it seems like it might never open again. But who knows, something better might just come along. Nevertheless, it’s worth seeing if you’re passing by Primm.

See Related: Best Travel Accessories

Visit the Casinos

Empty Casino Floor with Lights

The three Primm Nevada hotels and casinos are Buffalo Bill’s Hotel and Casino, Whiskey Pete’s Hotel and Casino, and Primm Valley Resort and Casino.

Even if you’re not there for the casinos, you’d likely stay at one of the three hotels. Each one of them has something unique to offer in terms of experience.

Buffalo Bill’s Hotel and Casino, which also has the Desperado Roller Coaster, has an old west theme. It has over 1200 rooms and suites, with lots of game choices down at the casino. You can play slots, poker, sports/racing bets, and video poker.

While there are several restaurants at this hotel, you can also go to the nearby Primm Valley Resort to eat. The other popular Pete’s Whiskey has seen recent renovations. The hotel was first founded back in 1977 and helped bring casinos to town. It has 777 rooms, several dining areas, and an outdoor swimming pool.

Again, you can also visit the Primm Valley Resort by monorail from this hotel, in case you want a round of golf or want to try your luck gambling at the Valley’s casino.

If you’re thinking about whether going to casinos at Primm is worth it, it definitely is. You’d be surprised how many gamblers stop at these either on their way or from the casinos in Las Vegas.

All three of these are available on Kayak. However, if you want to look for something cheaper, Airbnb is the perfect place to start.

See Related: Best Things to do in Nashville, Tennessee

Shop at Prizm Outlets

Shop at Prizm Outlets

If you’re looking for a ‘shop till your drop’ experience, you’ll love the Prizm Outlets. This mall boasts over 100 designer brands, both American and international.

The great thing is that the prices are pretty good even at luxury outlets.

It’s also popular with tourists and locals in Las Vegas who come down to shop at their favorite brands. A daily shoppers’ shuttle runs from popular Vegas locations like the MGM Grand, Trump, LVH, and Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.

The discounts will seriously surprise you, as some stores have 75 percent off. If you appreciate a good bargain, Prizm Outlets is the place to be at.

The mall also has a friendly layout with circular navigation that brings you back to where you started. No getting lost like in the Mall of America! When you’re done shopping, you can also grab a bite or relax with a coffee at the food court of the mall.

You can also check out the actual car on Bonnie and Clyde on the rotunda on the walkway between the Prizm outlets and the Primm Valley Resort. It’s the actual car on display in which they were shot. If you’re a fan of the 1967 movie by the same name, you’ll love the display.

See Related: 29 Best Things to do in Reno, Nevada

Chill at the Ivanpah Dry Lake

Ivanpah Dry Lake

Primm is actually located on a dry lake bed that spread out from the north and south of the town. Known as Ivanpah dry lake, it’s one of the most exciting things to do in Primm, Nevada.

Most of this lake is actually in California, but a 13-mile stretch is in Silver State. The Primm Nevada things to do list cannot be complete without this recreational lake, well, not a lake, but a dry lake area.

It does get filled up a little when it rains, but the water quickly dries up, hence the name. It’s a rough lake bed that’s open only to non-motorized vehicles. For this reason, it’s surrounded by locked gates. You can use it for land-sailing if you like, which is one of the most popular activities to do there.

For those who like to fly kites, the even dusty land with fast winds provides a fun opportunity to fly kites. Many families also use this area for picnics and other recreational activities. There are picnic tables to set up.

See Related: Best Southwestern US Vacation Destinations

Relax at the Spa at Primm Valley Resort

Primm Valley Resort Pool
image by Hotels.com

Whether or not you’re staying at the Primm Valley Resort, you can relax at their spa. For many, going to a spa is a must on a trip. So Primm isn’t without such possibilities to relax and take some ‘me time.’

The services are pretty affordable In fact, if you’re one of those people who don’t like to splurge on spas so much, you should try out this spa instead of those on the Vegas Strip.

It goes without saying that those spas will set you back hundreds of dollars.

Catch a Show at the Star of the Desert Arena

Buffalo Bill’s Hotel and Casino Building
image by @BigMountainTraveler/TripAdvisor

The Buffalo Bill’s Hotel and Casino is home to a 6,500-person capacity arena, the Star of the Desert Arena. It has hosted several big stars over the years, including B.B. King.

If you’re in Primm or planning to visit, make sure to check if there are any concerts happening in the Arena on the days you’ll be there. Who knows, you might just catch your favorite artist’s show!

Eat Your Heart Out at Different Restaurants

Food

The Primm Nevada restaurants offer both fine dining and fast food. Most of the restaurants are in the three hotels, but you can find other restaurants in the town as well. Then there’s the food court of the mall.

Mexican food is really popular with several restaurants offering Mexican cuisine. Other options include Panda Express, Subway, IHOP, McDonald’s, and Denny’s. On the more fine dining front, you have the Black Nine, Primm and Proper, and GP’s Steakhouse.

See Related: Fun & Best Things to Do in Henderson, Nevada

Hike the Mountains

Clark Mountain

There are hiking opportunities around Primm if you’re feeling an adrenaline rush. The desert scenery in the surrounding mountains creates a hiking experience that’s worth the challenge it poses.

One of the most popular nearby mountains to hike is Clark Mountain. It has an elevation of 7,929 feet. Surrounded by Yucca trees and Joshua trees, the hike is worth your time.

There are other less popular hikes as well that you can try. The temperature in Primm and the surrounding areas can get very high. So make sure you check the temperature before hiking.

See Related: Best Travel Backpacks

Appreciate the Nature

Primm Natural Views

If you’re driving, you can just drive around, stopping by to appreciate the beautiful nature of the desert. This is one of the things to do in Primm, Nevada as there’s plenty of wildlife too surrounding Primm, Nevada.

From white-tailed squirrels to desert tortoises, you might see some interesting animals and birds in the area.

Some of them can be dangerous too, so make sure you stay near your car and are vigilant.

But more importantly, make sure to apply lots of SPF and wear appropriate clothes, as the more you venture out of town, the hotter it gets in the desert.

You can also travel around Primm in a rental RV from RVShare, especially if you plan to stay overnight and want to do it cheaply.

Related Posts:

Lock In Your Travel Now

Find Cheap Flights
Use Skyscanner to find flight deals. As my personal favorite flight search engine, Skyscanner scours websites and airlines across the globe, leaving no stone unturned to help you find the best deal possible. And if you really want to take your savings to new heights, pair Skyscanner with Going (Formerly Scott's Cheap Flights). With access to exclusive mistake fares delivered straight to your inbox, you'll be packing your bags and jetting off on your next adventure before you know it.

Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is a low cost way to ensure your travel plans go smooth no matter what's thrown at it. Cover yourself against illness, injury and theft, and protect the arrangements you've made with our flexible travel cancellation insurance. My favorite options for travel insurance are:

Book Your Accommodation
In order to capture the widest selection of properties and the best price, use Booking.com as they have the cheapest rates for guesthouses, hotels, luxury condos, B&Bs and so much more.

Want More Destination Ideas Direct to Your Inbox?
Be sure to join the ViaTravelers Newsletter for expert tips, tricks and inspiration for your next travel journey!

Discover the Best Travel Tools
Be sure to visit our page on our favorite travel resources to learn how you too can visit over 10 countries in year.