The Lakes Las Vegas: Complete Neighborhood Guide (2026)

by Ryan Rose

The Lakes is a master-planned community in Spring Valley offering Summerlin-adjacent character at lower prices—with lakes, parks, and established suburban living in a central Las Vegas location. Home prices range from $400,000 to $700,000, providing quality community character with 12-20 minute Strip access. For buyers who want master-planned amenities without Summerlin's premium pricing or peripheral location, The Lakes delivers genuine value. This guide covers what makes The Lakes distinct within Spring Valley.

What Is The Lakes

The Lakes is a master-planned community in Spring Valley, located west of the Strip near Sahara and Buffalo.

Development spans the 1980s through 2000s creating an established community with proven character.

Key characteristics include master-planned community design with lakes and parks, established landscaping with mature trees, community amenities including pools and recreation, central location bordering Summerlin, and diverse housing from smaller homes to larger properties.

The Lakes provides what many buyers seek from Summerlin—master-planned character—at prices $100,000-$200,000 lower.

The Lakes Home Prices (2026)

The Lakes offers accessible master-planned pricing.

Entry-level homes from $400,000 to $475,000 include smaller floor plans.

Mid-range from $475,000 to $575,000 represents bulk of inventory.

Premium from $575,000 to $700,000 includes larger properties and lake-adjacent homes.

Pricing runs below adjacent Summerlin while providing similar community character.

The Lakes Amenities

The Lakes provides master-planned amenities.

Lakes and water features create attractive setting throughout.

Parks offer recreation and gathering spaces.

Community pools serve residents.

Trail systems connect neighborhoods.

Established landscaping provides mature trees and greenery.

The amenity package resembles Summerlin at lower price point.

The Lakes Location

The Lakes benefits from excellent positioning.

Strip commute runs 12-20 minutes—shorter than Summerlin.

Downtown Las Vegas runs 15-22 minutes.

Summerlin access is immediate—The Lakes borders Summerlin.

Airport runs 18-25 minutes.

Red Rock access runs 15-25 minutes—comparable to some Summerlin locations.

The location provides Summerlin proximity without Summerlin pricing.

The Lakes vs Summerlin

The comparison to neighboring premium community helps buyers decide.

Price comparison shows The Lakes running $100,000-$200,000 below comparable Summerlin properties.

Amenities comparison shows Summerlin with Downtown Summerlin, TPC Golf, and more extensive development. The Lakes offers solid amenities without the premium extras.

Schools comparison shows Summerlin with slight edge in school ratings.

Construction age shows similar ranges with The Lakes trending slightly older.

Location comparison shows The Lakes with slightly better Strip access.

The trade-off positions Summerlin as more prestigious with premium amenities. The Lakes offers similar community character at significant savings.

The Lakes Schools

Schools serving The Lakes fall within Clark County School District.

Elementary and middle schools rate variably—research specific zones.

The Lakes' Summerlin adjacency sometimes provides access to Summerlin-zoned schools.

Verify school assignments for specific addresses.

The Lakes Safety

The Lakes provides solid master-planned safety.

Community design and demographics support low crime.

Safety is comparable to other master-planned communities.

Not guard-gated but benefits from community character.

Who Should Buy in The Lakes

The Lakes suits buyers wanting master-planned community at accessible prices, those who value Summerlin proximity without premium cost, families seeking community amenities with central location, and buyers comfortable with established construction versus new.

The Lakes may not suit buyers requiring newest construction, those for whom Downtown Summerlin access justifies premium, and families requiring absolute top-tier schools.

The Bottom Line

The Lakes delivers master-planned community living at prices below Summerlin. The Summerlin-adjacent location provides proximity benefits while saving $100,000-$200,000. Lakes, parks, and established landscaping create genuine community character. For value-focused buyers who want master-planned lifestyle without premium pricing, The Lakes represents excellent opportunity.

I help buyers compare The Lakes to Summerlin and evaluate the value trade-off. Reach out for tours and honest assessment.

Looking for master-planned living at value pricing? Call or text Ryan Rose at 702-747-5921 for personalized guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Lakes Las Vegas

Q1: What is The Lakes Las Vegas and where is it located?

The Lakes is a master-planned community in Spring Valley, located west of the Las Vegas Strip near Sahara and Buffalo. Developed from the 1980s through 2000s, it features lakes, parks, mature landscaping, and community amenities. The Lakes borders Summerlin and offers similar master-planned character at prices $100,000-$200,000 lower than its premium neighbor.

Q2: How much do homes cost in The Lakes in 2026?

Home prices in The Lakes range from $400,000 to $700,000. Entry-level homes cost $400,000-$475,000, mid-range properties run $475,000-$575,000, and premium homes including lake-adjacent properties range from $575,000-$700,000. This pricing is significantly below adjacent Summerlin while providing similar community character.

Q3: How does The Lakes compare to Summerlin?

The Lakes offers similar master-planned community character at $100,000-$200,000 less than Summerlin. While Summerlin has Downtown Summerlin, TPC Golf, and more extensive amenities, The Lakes provides solid amenities including lakes, parks, pools, and trails. The Lakes also has slightly better Strip access (12-20 minutes vs. Summerlin's farther distance), though Summerlin has a slight edge in school ratings.

Q4: What amenities does The Lakes community offer?

The Lakes features multiple lakes and water features, community parks for recreation, resident pools, connecting trail systems, and established landscaping with mature trees throughout. The amenity package resembles Summerlin's offerings at a lower price point, creating an attractive master-planned environment without premium pricing.

Q5: How long is the commute from The Lakes to the Las Vegas Strip?

The Lakes offers a 12-20 minute commute to the Strip, which is shorter than Summerlin. Downtown Las Vegas is 15-22 minutes away, the airport is 18-25 minutes, and Red Rock access is 15-25 minutes. The Lakes benefits from excellent central positioning with immediate access to Summerlin amenities.

Q6: Is The Lakes a gated community?

The Lakes is not a guard-gated community, but it benefits from master-planned community design and demographics that support low crime rates. Safety is comparable to other master-planned communities in the area, with the community character providing security benefits similar to gated neighborhoods.

Q7: What are the schools like in The Lakes?

The Lakes is served by Clark County School District, with elementary and middle school ratings varying by specific zones. Due to The Lakes' adjacency to Summerlin, some properties may have access to Summerlin-zoned schools. It's important to verify school assignments for specific addresses, as Summerlin generally has a slight edge in overall school ratings.

Q8: Who should consider buying a home in The Lakes?

The Lakes is ideal for buyers wanting master-planned community living at accessible prices, those who value Summerlin proximity without premium costs, families seeking community amenities with central location, and buyers comfortable with established construction. It may not suit those requiring newest construction, buyers for whom Downtown Summerlin access justifies the premium, or families requiring absolute top-tier schools.

Q9: Are homes in The Lakes newer or older construction?

The Lakes features established construction spanning the 1980s through 2000s, making it a mature community with proven character. While this means homes trend slightly older than some Summerlin properties, it also means well-established landscaping with mature trees and a developed community atmosphere. Buyers should be comfortable with established construction rather than brand-new builds.

Q10: What makes The Lakes a good value compared to other Las Vegas neighborhoods?

The Lakes delivers master-planned community living with lakes, parks, pools, and mature landscaping at prices $100,000-$200,000 below neighboring Summerlin. It offers genuine community character, better Strip access than Summerlin (12-20 minutes), and immediate proximity to Summerlin amenities. For value-focused buyers who want master-planned lifestyle without premium pricing, The Lakes represents excellent opportunity.