America’s Other Wonders: Travel Guide for 18 and Up Casinos
There are hundreds of guides out there describing how to find all the hottest spots in the nation from bucket list places to see and experience to best festivals and places for entertainment but hardly any blogs detail the most popular US 18+ casinos to visit and even fewer provide an already-made ready-to-go casino road trip plan to see them all.
The United States has over 4,071,000 miles of roadway to explore and while our casino road trip planner won’t take you through them all – we’ve cut the guesswork out of planning your route along with tips, tricks, and fun stops along the way to keep your crew entertained and ready for more.
Keep in mind, many of these recommended casinos are tribal-run operations as some states only allow casino gambling for 18 year olds at Tribal venues which do not serve alcohol.
Northern Casinos
Our ultimate American 18+ casino road trip guide starts as far North as New Hampshire. While Maine is the U.S.’s northmost state and have casino gaming those games have restricted access for anyone younger than 21. New Hampshire’s neighbor Vermont offers no casinos and Massachusetts, and Connecticut both have casino gaming limited only to people over twenty-one.
If you and your friends live in any of these states New Hampshire will be your best bet at playing real money games at a live casino.
Getting to these casino gambling venues is going to depend on where you’re coming from, if you live up in the Northern US you may want to start your trip in New Hampshire to follow our roadmap state-by-state. However, if you want to personalize your trip you can use our plan as a guide where you can mix in your own routes and must-see sights.
New Hampshire
While the state has a variety of New Hampshire 18 plus casinos we find Ocean Gaming at Hampton Beach facing the Atlantic Ocean to be a premier spot for gamblers. This venue offers table games like Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Poker, Bingo, Keno, Novelty Games, Money Wheel, Poker Tournaments, and Lucky 7 Slot Machines.
Ocean Gaming in New Hampshire is just south of the iconic Big Fish Sculpture on Hampton Beach a must see-selfie spot. South of the casino is the Hampton Beach State Park where your friends can stretch your legs walk around along the boardwalk, ride the humongous Hampton Beach Waterslide, or enjoy a quick day-trip at this wide and deep tan beach.
Rhode Island
To get to the next eighteen-plus gaming destination take a 2-hour ride South on I-95 to the Twin River Casino in Lincoln, Rhode Island.
Fun Road Fact: I-95 is the US’s longest North to South interstate highway system (at 1,920 miles) that reaches from the tip of Maine at the Houlton-Woodstock Border Crossing in New Brunswick, Canada all the way down to Miami, Florida. I-95 crosses 15 states and also runs along the near-same route the Revolutionaries used in the 1775 war.
The Twin River Casino offers a more diverse table game set up that includes favorites like Blackjack, Roulette, Poker, and Craps, and adds Baccarat, Three Card Poker, Spanish 21, Let It Ride, and Pai Gow. This 24 hour RI gaming spot also has Virtual Table Games which mix real cards and players with a virtually-simulated dealer, Sports Gambling – this casino in RI is the only place in the entire United States which lets 18-year-olds bet on all kinds of sports, 4,100 Slot machines, and Pari-mutuel wagering on Horse Races.
The Twin River Casino is our recommended hot spot because of all of its centralized gaming offers, as well as, their numerous dining options to satisfy even the pickiest eater.
Since the Twin River Casino is so close to the Lincoln Woods State Park, Pawtucket, and Providence it would be amiss to not visit the Roger Williams Park Zoo or if staying overnight in Rhode Island, check out the WaterFire Art display which normally has live music and acts as a nightly gathering place – definitely a picture worthy place for sure.
New York
Off to the next stop.
Depending on whether you slept in a local bed & breakfast, hotel, or Airbnb’ed it for the night at surprisingly low rates you might need to fuel up before leaving town – try Brickway on Wickenden or Amy’s Place for a quick bite.
Head off 3 hours South via I-95, continuing until you reach the Hutchinson Pkwy S and I-678 South to get to Resorts World Casino New York City in Long Island. This casino is right by the JFK International Airport, several Beaches, and a Starbucks around the corner from the venue and inside the casino. Inside you guys will find a three-level casino each with games and seating.
Resort World Casino’s first floor is the Times Square Casino Level with Single and Double Zero Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat, Three Card Poker, Craps, and over 2,800 Slot machines. The second floor is the Fifth Avenue Casino Level with Baccarat, Blackjack, Craps, Sic Bo, Three Card Poker, Video Poker, Single and Double Zero Roulette, High Limit Rooms, and over 2,500 Slots. Lastly is the Central Park Casino Level with a Multi-game Arena, Big 6, Baccarat, Blackjack, Craps, Sic Bo, Video Poker, Double Zero Roulette, Three Card Poker, and over 250 Slot machines.
Tip: Hungry? This casino has a general food court along with two restaurants but if you want to explore what New York city has to offer just step outside. If your crew is feeling adventurous try out local exotic restaurants and dishes, New York is a conglomerate of ethnic cultures best represented in their dishes. Try out A Churrasqueira a Portuguese dinner nearby the casino or try Jamaican food from Little Jamaica at Port Royal, and you can always lean on New York-style pizza, or Hot Italian Pies, by going to hot spots like Beebe’s in the Boro Hotel.
Nearby sight-seeing spots include Coney Island, Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the Brooklyn Bridge. If you and your friends are ready to move along, the next stop is the Great Lake State.
Michigan
Michigan has 3 premier casinos which must be experienced, so bear with our instructions.
Our next location is 12 hours west: if you take I-76 West it is the fastest route and avoids construction found on I-80 going Westbound. By taking I-76 you’ll drive through Pennsylvania, passing Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and into Ohio passing Cleveland, the Lake Erie Islands, and Toledo to the Isabella Reservation to reach the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort.
Tip: You can save money by driving straight through to Michigan, switching drivers periodically to ensure everyone gets a chance to drive and to rest or if you’re worried about someone falling asleep at the wheel, stop along the way at roadside inns and make stretch your legs, fill your belly, and see smaller attractions along the way.
Soaring Eagle offers unique outdoor signage and indoor decoration, architecture, and modern styling from their gaming hall, lounging area, to their pool. They offer Slots, Bingo, Poker, and Table games like 5 Games One Jackpot, Single Zero Roulette, and 3-Hand Blackjack or Carnival, room accommodations, a spa, and nine dining options.
Now head East taking M-20 and I-75 Northbound for 1 Hour to get to Saganing Eagles Landing Casino on the Saganing river which feeds into the Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. The Saganing Eagles Landing Casino offers a unique outdoor experience with their 34,000 Sqft casino like an RV Park, Eagle Bay Marina, and Motor Coach.
Finally complete a 3-hour drive North on I-75 passing over the Straits of Mackinac Great Lakes State Bottomland Preserve which is the convergence point of two great lakes Lake Michigan, and Lake Huron into Upper Peninsula Michigan. Finally, your trip will take you to Bay Mills Resort & Casino on Lake Superior which shares an aquatic border with Canada. This casino offers an RV park for camping, a golf course, hotel boarding, four dining options, Slots, and Table Games.
This is a good place to rest up for the night if you or your friends are exhausted. Paying for a hotel room might be expensive so try their RV park options at $29 with picnic table, fire pit, water, electricity, cable TV, Wi-Fi, restrooms, showers, laundry facilities, and security camera surveillance – you can’t go wrong stretching out those dollars with sleeping in a tent or the car if you’re on a budget.
Nearby is the Point Iroquois Lighthouse, Round Island Point Nature Preserve, and two smaller in-land lakes – a good choice for a different kind of day activity, there’s plenty of kayaks, canoe, and paddleboard rentals.
Mid-Western Casinos
Wisconsin
Fun Road Fact: The Great Northern route of US-2 honors the transcontinental pioneer railroad that runs parallel the Oregon Trail and the Loneliest Road.
Crossing Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, take a 5 hour drive Westbound on US-2 where you’ll get great water views of Lake Michigan and Green Bay then turning in-land to reach the Menominee Casino Resort where they supply bingo, over 33,000 sq ft of gaming floor, slots, 6 Blackjack tables, Let It Ride, Progressive Three Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, Ultimate Texas Hold Em, Mini-Baccarat, and Craps.
Tip: Since you’re nearby you can even visit the Granite Peak Ski Area that has 74 runs and 6 terrain parks. Physical exercise that is fun will likely revive your trip and if you haven’t skied before this is a great place to try it out.
To reach Wisconsin’s next 18 plus casino hotspot, take WI-47 North for 2 hours where you will drive by a mosaic of lakes to finally reach the Lake of the Torches Resort Casino on the Lac Du Flambeau Reservation where Super Slots, Tables Games, Bingo, and regular Slot machines can be found. Events are typically held here so you could potentially run into a show going on when you come here or visit the
Minnesota
Depending on if your crew wants to spend the night in Wisconsin you can stay nearby or at the casino but few room and boarding options are available, so we recommend driving another 3 hours West into Minnesota via US-2 to the westmost tip of Lake Superior to the Black Bear Casino Resort. Here you can enjoy Slots, Blackjack, Bingo, a full buffet, golf, an arcade, pool, gift shop, and low-rate budget-friendly rooms.
After you’ve rested up and re-energized then you can ride 2 hours South on I-35 to Mystic Lake Casino Hotel just south of Minneapolis. We recommend visiting the Mall of America in Minneapolis, the Minnehaha Park that has a cascading waterfall, the Nickelodeon universe, and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.
South Dakota
From Mystic Lake Casino head Westbound taking US-212 for 3 and a half hours to reach the Dakota Sioux Casino & Hotel. This South Dakota eighteen and over casino venue hosts hotel accommodation and an RV park, Slots, Poker, Blackjack, dining, two nightclubs, live music, and performances. Other things to do in South Dakota include visiting the Butterfly House and Aquarium, Wild Water West Waterpark, and the Great Plains Zoo.
Wyoming
Tip: On long car rides consider playing games like the DIY Sticky Note Word Game or Playing Punch Buggy with a Pillow
Feel free to rest up or if you still have some gas in your system, drive 11 hours Westward on US-212 to get to the Wind River Reservation which holds two casino options you can choose from, either the Wind River Hotel & Casino or Little Wind Casino. These casinos are only a 30-minute ride from each other, but both offer packages, dining, and amenities like golfing, whitewater rafting, dino dig, and a wild horse sanctuary.
You can stay at either of these Wyoming 18+ casinos for a reasonably priced rate at their hotel or RV park.
Montana
Tip: On long car rides consider Collecting Free Souvenirs from Every Stop and Making a Collage, Playing A Mutually Interesting Audiobook, Exploring and Watching Netflix Movies, Playing Tic-Tac-Toe, or Playing a Game of Battleship
Head 7 hours North on US-87 to reach the Westside Casino in Malta, Montana on US-2 between the Fort Belknap Reservation and the Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge on Lake Bowdoin. You can also stop to visit the Great Plains Dinosaur Museum, Phillips County Museum, and the Carnegie Library.
Fun Fact: The Tyrannosaurus Rex and various Raptors lived in and roamed Montana, their fossils can be found there to this day and several Dinosaur themed parks exists in the state to honor them
Travel Tip: Hotels, inns, and motels are cheaper out here than private rentals through Airbnb and VRBO, so it’s worth resting up here before heading to Idaho.
Idaho
This 7-hour drive to the next casino is best taken through MT-200 and I-90 driving West through several National Forests. Now is the time to enjoy the changing landscape and countryside. You’ll know you’re near the next casino when you pass over the Harrison Slough to reach the Coeur D’alene Casino near the Idaho and Washington Stateline.
Tip: For long car rides consider taking Selfies With Every “Now Entering ___” State Sign, Write Daily Logs, or try Regional Food favorites and Record Your Reactions.
This casino offers golfing, a spa, boutique, manicures, pedicures, robust dining, culture tours, and numerous gaming options like Bingo, Video Gaming Machines, Keno, and Off-Track Betting. You and your friends can also take time to visit the Silverwood theme park, Coeur D’alene National Forest, and Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area when you have a chance as these are considered some of the top things to do in the area.
Western Casinos
Washington
Got the energy to reach Washington’s casinos? Drive one and a half hours North on US-395 to reach the Chewelah Casino and Lodge which offers an RV park, a marina, a restaurant called Two Rivers, buffet, and café, Slots and Table Games like Blackjack, 21+3 Xtreme, Heads-Up Hold Em, High Card Flush, High card Flush Progressives, and Player’s Edge 21.
When driving to the next stop on our casino road trip map, you’ll be passing through Oregon so a detour to Portland may be in order.
California
Tip: On long car rides consider Painting your Car Windows with Washable Paint or Doodling a Collaborative Comic
This next casino will be a 12-hour drive South from Chewelah Casino and Lodge using US-97 to reach the Pit River Casino which already provides a nearby attraction list from the Fall River Valley Golf and Country Club, McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, to the eerie and icy Lassen Volcanic National Park. This stopping point in California may not give you many gaming options but their consideration toward providing accommodations and a “mental break” is worth the recommendation.
Southern Casinos
Oklahoma
This next route is by far the longest trip and it is highly recommended travelers rest and break up this trip between a few days. To get to the next casino drive 27 hours on I-40 East through Nevada passing through Las Vegas.
Tip: On long rides consider playing games like Dump, Marry, Date, Two Lies and a Truth, Play Telephone, I Spy, Sing Songs, or Performs a Talent Show
Tip: While you can stop in Vegas to take pictures and see nearby attractions, there is no casino gambling allowed for individuals under 21
I-40 will take you through Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and then finally Oklahoma reaching the Osage Casino just North of Tulsa. This 24/7 casino offers Blackjack, Craps, Table Games, and over 1,600 Electronic Games.
Tulsa offers a variety of attractions such as the Philbrook Museum of Art, Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa Zoo, the Oklahoma Aquarium, Blue Whale of Catoosa, and the mysterious Center of the Universe.
Georgia
Take a 15-hour drive East on I-40 and pass through Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, through Atlanta all the way back to the east coast passing Savannah to the Bull River to reach the Tradewinds Casino Cruise.
Tip: On long car rides consider playing Map Spotting, Car Counting, Foil Sculpture, Name Game, or Animal Spotting.
This casino cruise offers multiple gaming options to eighteen year olds once the ship leaves the Georgia coast. If you’re ready to head back home and live up North, then take I-95 all the way.
Closing Notes
If you’ve decided to stick with our casino travel guide route all the way – congrats you’ve completed a massive journey around the US. If you’d decided to hop by casinos near your state instead but used our guide anyhow, we still appreciate your time. For those who don’t have the time to travel or simply can’t you can use licensed offshore online 18+ casinos right from your home so long as you’re not located in Washington or Connecticut.