Laughlin River Palms / Ramada Guide

The Ramada Express brings a unique railroad theme to the Laughlin casino scene. With its distinctive architecture inspired by the golden age of rail travel, the resort offers comfortable rooms, a fun gaming floor, and a unique atmosphere you won't find anywhere else in Laughlin.

Features & Amenities

About Ramada Express Casino

Ramada Express stands out in Laughlin with its distinctive railroad theme. The resort's architecture and interior design pay homage to the great American railroad era, creating a unique and memorable atmosphere for guests.

The casino floor offers a good mix of slot machines, video poker, and table games at reasonable minimums. Hotel rooms are clean and comfortable, and the outdoor pool provides a welcome retreat from the desert heat. While smaller than some of Laughlin's mega-resorts, the Ramada Express offers genuine value and a fun, different experience.

💡 Insider Tips

A good choice for first-time Laughlin visitors who want something unique. Room rates are very competitive, especially midweek.

The Railroad Casino

Ramada Express (now technically called the Laughlin River Lodge, but everyone in Laughlin still calls it Ramada Express or just "Ramada") is the casino with the train. That's how locals describe it. The property has a railroad theme throughout, and there's an actual miniature train that runs around the property on tracks. Kids love it. Adults think it's a little weird. Either way, it's memorable, and in Laughlin's sea of fairly similar casino properties, being memorable matters.

The resort sits at the southern end of Casino Drive, which means it's slightly less walkable to the other casinos compared to the central properties like Golden Nugget or Edgewater. But it also means it's quieter, less crowded, and has easier parking access. If you have a car (and you should, because Laughlin doesn't have Uber or reliable public transit), the location isn't a downside.

Casino Floor

Ramada's casino covers about 53,000 square feet with around 800 slot machines and a standard table game pit. Blackjack starts at $5 during the week, craps and roulette are available most hours, and there's a small sportsbook area for watching games. The casino floor feels spacious compared to Pioneer or Belle because the ceilings are high and the layout is open.

Slot selection covers the usual range from pennies to $5 machines. The video poker selection is decent, though not quite as generous as what you'll find at Pioneer or Riverside. The Players Club is property-specific (not connected to Caesars or any larger network), so sign up for a new card when you arrive.

Hotel Rooms

Ramada has about 1,400 rooms, and the rates are among the lowest in Laughlin: $29-$45 midweek, $55-$85 on weekends. The rooms are basic but clean — standard casino hotel rooms with two queens or a king, mini fridge, and a TV. Some rooms have been updated more recently than others, so ask for a room in the newer tower when you check in. River view rooms are available but limited.

The resort also has a conference center and meeting rooms, which means it occasionally hosts business events and group bookings. This can be a good thing (the resort puts extra effort into service when groups are in-house) or a minor annoyance (the pool and restaurants get busier).

Dining

Ramada has a buffet that's popular with the price-conscious crowd — lunch runs about $11 and dinner about $15. The quality is solid for the price: salad bar, hot entrees, carving station, and a dessert table. There's also a cafe for 24-hour dining and a bar that serves food late. Nothing destination-worthy, but you won't go hungry or go broke eating here.

Pool and Amenities

The outdoor pool is a decent size with a hot tub and sun deck. Open seasonally from April through October. There's no poolside bar, so bring your own drinks from the casino (they won't stop you). The pool area gets morning sun and afternoon shade depending on your chair position — the west-facing chairs get shade by 2 PM, which is clutch when it's 115 degrees.

Getting There

Ramada Express is at the southern end of Casino Drive in Laughlin, Nevada 89029. From Las Vegas, take US-95 south about 90 miles. From Bullhead City, Arizona, cross the bridge and turn right. Parking is free. The resort is about a 5-minute drive from the northern casinos (Riverside, Avi) or a 15-minute walk along Casino Drive.

The Conference and Events Angle

Ramada's conference center is something most tourist-focused guides skip, but it's worth knowing about. The resort hosts corporate retreats, union meetings, and group events throughout the year. If you're planning a company outing or a large family reunion, Ramada can handle groups of 50-500 with meeting rooms, group rates, and catering. The advantage over Vegas? Everything costs 60-70% less, the logistics are simpler, and your group isn't competing with 200,000 other tourists for restaurant tables and parking spots.

Group rates for rooms start as low as $35/night per room for blocks of 20+. Catering ranges from basic coffee-and-pastry setups to full sit-down dinners. The casino floor can be reserved for private events during off-peak hours. If you've ever planned a corporate event in Las Vegas and felt your budget evaporate, Laughlin is the cost-effective alternative that actually works.

Ramada vs. Other Budget Laughlin Casinos

At the budget end of the Laughlin spectrum, you're choosing between Ramada, Pioneer, and Riverside Resort. Pioneer is the smallest and has the lowest table limits but no hotel tower. Riverside is the biggest budget option with $19 rooms and tons of amenities (bowling, movies, car museum). Ramada falls in between — a proper hotel tower with modern-ish rooms, a full casino floor, and that quirky railroad theme that kids enjoy.

For families with kids, Ramada's miniature train is a genuine draw. For couples, the room quality is slightly better than Riverside at a slightly higher price. For solo gamblers, Pioneer has better table limits but Ramada has more comfortable surroundings. Bottom line: you can't really go wrong at any of the three — they all deliver the core Laughlin promise of cheap rooms, low limits, and zero pretension.

Final Take on Ramada Express

Ramada Express — or Laughlin River Lodge, or whatever they're calling it this year — is a solid mid-budget Laughlin casino that doesn't get enough credit. The train is quirky, the rooms are affordable, the casino floor has room to breathe, and the location at the south end of Casino Drive means easier parking and less foot traffic. It won't wow you with luxury or impress you with trendy restaurants, but it'll give you a comfortable base for a Laughlin weekend at a price that leaves plenty of budget for the gaming tables and the buffet line.