Things to do nearHoover Dam
Hoover Dam, straddling the Nevada-Arizona border, draws visitors with its Depression-era grandeur, staggering scale, and the vast blue expanse of Lake Mead.
Hoover Dam was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression, a period when the federal government mobilized tens of thousands of workers to tame the Colorado River and bring reliable water and electricity to the arid American Southwest. At the time of its completion it was the tallest dam in the world, and it remains one of the most celebrated feats of civil engineering in United States history. The structure is a curved gravity arch dam built from more than three million cubic yards of concrete, and its art deco detailing, including the stylized intake towers and the terrazzo floors of the visitor center, reflect the design sensibility of the era in which it was built.
Visitors today can explore the crest walkway for free, moving between Nevada and Arizona as they take in views of the canyon below and the reservoir above. Guided tours descend into the dam's interior, where the original turbines continue generating hydroelectric power distributed across Nevada, Arizona, and California. Lake Mead, the reservoir created by Hoover Dam, is the largest reservoir in the United States by volume when full and supports boating, fishing, and swimming through the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
The surrounding landscape is raw Mojave Desert, all ochre rock and open sky, which makes the presence of the dam feel all the more improbable and impressive. Hoover Dam rewards the curious traveler who wants to understand not just what it looks like but how it works and what it cost to build, making it one of the most substantive day trips available from Las Vegas.
7-day forecast
Tips for visiting Hoover Dam
Visit during early morning on weekdays to avoid the heaviest crowds and enjoy cleaner views from the crest walkway.
Take the Powerplant Tour to walk inside the dam itself and see the massive generators that still produce electricity for millions of homes across the Southwest.
Bring a light jacket even in summer, as the interior of Hoover Dam stays cool year-round regardless of desert temperatures outside.
Cross the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge on foot for the most dramatic aerial perspective of Hoover Dam and Black Canyon.
Arrive with a full tank of gas, as fuel options near the dam are limited and Las Vegas is roughly 30 miles northwest if you need to restock supplies.
Top tours & experiences near Hoover Dam
Grand Canyon West Day Tour from Las Vegas with Hoover Dam
Grand Canyon West with breakfast, BBQ lunch, and VIP canyon bus access
Guided Emerald Cave Kayaking Tour With Shuttle
Paddle Black Canyon to Emerald Cave with shuttle and park entry
Hoover Dam & Lake Mead Small Group Tour from Las Vegas
Small-group Hoover Dam tour with time to explore at your own pace
Hoover Dam & Bypass Bridge Tour from Las Vegas
See Hoover Dam and Still Have Time for Las Vegas
Hoover Dam Morning Bus Tour with Las Vegas Hotel Pickup
Get a closer look at Hoover Dam's 17 turbine-generators
Explore Hoover Dam Small-Group Guided Tour With BBQ Lunch
Visit Hoover Dam on a small-group tour with BBQ lunch
Self-Guided Hoover Dam Can-Am Ryker Tour From Las Vegas
Ride a Can-Am Ryker from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam on a self-guided GPS tour
Paddle Hoover Dam on a Guided Kayak Tour & Hike
Kayak from Hoover Dam and hike to hot springs with a pro guide
Hoover Dam 12-Mile Kayak Tour to Emerald Cove
Paddle 12 miles from Hoover Dam to Emerald Cove on an 8-hour guided kayak trip
Hoover Dam Colorado River Raft Tour with Las Vegas Pickup
Discover Hoover Dam’s construction history from the river
Hoover Dam Morning Bus Tour from Las Vegas
Discover Hoover Dam’s engineering, from its turbine-generators to the Arizona Spillway
Hoover Dam Top-of-Dam & Powerplant Tour from Las Vegas
See Hoover Dam with a walk-on-top tour and hot sit-down lunch
Hoover Dam Kayak Tour Through Lake Mead Slot Canyons
Kayak to Hoover Dam with shuttle ride and park entry included
Hoover Dam Trike or Slingshot Tour from Las Vegas
Ride an automatic trike or Slingshot to Hoover Dam with photo stops
Off-Road & Helicopter Tour Over Las Vegas & Hoover Dam
Ride Can-Am off-road trails, then fly over Hoover Dam and the Las Vegas Strip
Black Canyon Raft Tour Below Hoover Dam
Raft Black Canyon’s Colorado River below Hoover Dam
17' Fishing Boat Rental at Lake Mohave
Enjoy a full-day rental of a 60HP boat with trolling motor for fishing, exploring, or sightseeing from Willow Beach
Hoover Dam Sunset Tour With BBQ Dinner
Pair a BBQ dinner with sunset views at Hoover Dam
Grand Canyon Helicopter & Shooting Tour From Las Vegas
See the Grand Canyon by helicopter, then take part in a guided shooting experience
Grand Canyon Helicopter Tour & Hoover Dam from Las Vegas
Explore Grand Canyon West with a rim-to-canyon-floor helicopter flight
Goldstrike Canyon Hot Springs Hike with Rope Climbs
Climb through Goldstrike Canyon to geothermal waterfalls and hot springs
Hoover Dam Rafting Tour on the Colorado River
Photograph Hoover Dam from the river and see traces of its construction up close
Hoover Dam Powerplant Tour by SUV from Las Vegas
Ride in comfort and explore the engineering behind Hoover Dam