Moving to Las Vegas for School: A Student Relocation Guide
Moving to Las Vegas for school can be an exciting, and yet overwhelming life event. Whether you’re headed to UNLV, CSN, or another local program, moving to a new city for school comes with its own set of questions such as: what’s affordable, what’s walkable, and how do you get around if you don’t have a car yet.
Las Vegas is a large, spread out city, and the experience of living here as a student can vary considerably depending on where your school is located, and where you choose to live. Understanding the layout of the valley before you arrive can make it much easier to narrow down the areas that make the most sense for your particular situation.
Whether you’re planning to attend UNLV, CSN or another scholastic program, this student relocation guide will help you discover the most convenient housing and transportation options when getting prepared for your move to the Las Vegas Valley.
Housing Near UNLV
Paradise and the areas immediately around UNLV are the obvious first choice for students. It has a mix of student housing, apartments, and shared rentals within a short drive or bus ride of campus. Maryland Parkway, which runs along the east side of campus, is the main strip of everyday student life, with cheap eats, coffee shops, and off campus housing packed in close together.
Students can also look beyond the blocks that are immediately surrounding campus, especially if having a little more distance from the university environment is appealing.
Because UNLV sits in a central part of the Las Vegas Valley, several nearby areas can still provide relatively convenient access to campus, while also offering different surroundings and housing choices. When comparing options, consider not only the distance from UNLV, but how easily the location connects to the places you expect to use regularly.
Housing Near CSN And The Three Main Campuses
CSN has three main campuses spread across the valley, so your best neighborhood really depends on which one you’re attending.
The Charleston campus, the largest of the three, sits on the west side between the Strip and Red Rock Canyon, close to Spring Valley and the Summerlin area.
The North Las Vegas campus is the oldest of the three and sits just northeast of the Fremont Street Experience downtown, making Downtown or North Las Vegas neighborhoods the more practical choice.
The Henderson campus is the smallest of the three and sits at 700 College Drive, putting Henderson neighborhoods within easy reach.
Because the campuses are located in very different parts of the Las Vegas Valley, choosing housing without considering your specific campus can leave you with a much longer daily commute than expected.
A student relocating for school should look at the surrounding area, as well as the distance on a map, particularly when comparing access to shopping, restaurants, employment, and other everyday necessities.
If your classes will be split between campuses, a more centrally located neighborhood may also be worth considering, rather than simply choosing the area closest to one location.
Moving To Las Vegas For School & Getting Around Without a Car
The RTC bus system connects most of the valley, though service is more frequent near the Strip and UNLV than in outer neighborhoods. The Deuce runs along the Strip and connects the resort corridor with Downtown Las Vegas, making it useful if your routine keeps you near those areas. Coverage thins out the further you get from those main corridors, so budgeting for occasional rideshare use is realistic for most students without a car.
Las Vegas is spread across a large valley, so where you live can make a significant difference in how practical it is to rely on public transportation. Before choosing housing, it is worth checking the routes and stops near both your home and campus, along with how often service runs during the hours you expect to travel.
Walking and biking may also work well for shorter trips in some areas, but the summer heat can make either option considerably less practical during the hottest months. Planning transportation along with housing can make everyday student life much easier once you arrive.
In Conclusion:
There is a lot more planning than people anticipate when moving to a new city. However, the more you plan ahead, the less stress you will have when you arrive.
For students, taking the time to understand where your campus is located, which neighborhoods make sense for your daily routine, and how you will get around can make the transition considerably easier. Las Vegas has a lot to offer students, and getting familiar with the valley before you move can help you feel more prepared to make it your new home.