Keeping watch over the Colorado River, Hoover Dam draws more than seven million annual visitors and remains one of the West’s most visited attractions. This modern marvel lies at the intersection of the southeast corner of Nevada and the northwest corner of Arizona and forms Lake Mead, the largest reservoir by volume in the U. S. when full. Impressive in size, scope, and scale, Hoover Dam can be reached by traveling from Las Vegas to Boulder City via Highway 93 South.
Hoover Dam is the second-tallest dam in the U.S., standing 726 feet high and 1,244 feet across. The dam’s intake towers regulate southern Nevada’s water supply, providing hydroelectric power and flood control/irrigation to 1.3 million residents of Nevada, Arizona, and southern California.
Hoover Dam construction began amidst the Great Depression in 1931 and wrapped up with the dam’s opening in 1936. Originally called Boulder Dam and renamed for President Herbert Hoover, the history of Hoover Dam—including why the Secretary of the Interior and Bureau of Reclamation decided to build the dam—is an anything-but-ordinary story.
Things to Do at Hoover Dam
Visitors can walk or drive across the 45-foot-wide top of Hoover Dam. Vehicle thru-traffic is no longer permitted, so you’ll start and end on the Nevada side of the dam. More than 20,000 cars a day take this one-way trip, so give yourself enough time for security checkpoint inspections and periodic traffic delays.
Don’t miss the large, bronze angel statues titled, “Winged Figures of the Republic.” Many visitors like to rub the base of these sculptures for good luck.
Travel Nevada Pro Tip
Make sure you have a confirmed transportation plan for getting to and from Hoover Dam. Rideshare and taxi companies may be willing to drop you off at the landmark, but it’s much harder to secure a ride back to Las Vegas or Boulder City without prior arrangement.
Hoover Dam Tours
The best way to get the full Hoover Dam experience: a guided tour. Visitors can explore lesser-known areas and walk in the footsteps of engineering history.
Tickets for Hoover Dam tours are sold in the visitor center, which features exhibits, 1940s-era artifacts, and a rooftop observation deck. If you just want to visit the Hoover Dam Visitor Center without taking a dam tour, admission is $10.
Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge
Don’t forget to marvel at the massive Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge during your visit. Opened in 2010, this was the first concrete and steel composite arch bridge built in the U.S. The bridge—named in honor of soldiers from Nevada and Arizona—towers nearly 900 feet above the Colorado River and spans 1,060 feet. If you’re not afraid of heights, try walking across the bridge for some great photo opportunities of Hoover Dam and the Black Canyon of the Colorado River below.
Outdoor Adventures at Hoover Dam
At Hoover Dam, it’s not just sights worth seeing. There’s plenty worth doing, too: kayaking, canoeing, rafting, and paddleboarding along the Colorado River with outfitters like Hoover Dam Rafting Adventures and Desert Adventures.
For a bird’s-eye view of Hoover Dam, take to the skies aboard one of several daily helicopter tours with Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters. Keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife, including desert bighorn sheep, the official state animal of Nevada.
Popular hikes abound near Hoover Dam and Boulder City. The Historic Railroad Trail at Lake Mead National Recreation Area features miles of well-maintained, level paths through gigantic tunnels carved from the surrounding mountainside. Trains carrying Hoover Dam construction supplies originally passed through these tunnels.
More advanced hikers won’t want to miss Gold Strike Hot Springs. After descending 600 feet over 2.5 miles—and using fixed ropes to navigate house-sized boulders—you’ll end up at a section of the Colorado River packed with grottos, hot spring pools, and small waterfalls.
Visiting Hoover Dam
So, where is Hoover Dam? It’s located on the Nevada and Arizona border, with Las Vegas to the northwest and Lake Mead and the Colorado River directly northeast of the dam. The nearest town is Boulder City, Nevada.
Hoover Dam to Las Vegas Day Trip
Impressive in size, scope, and scale, Hoover Dam can be reached by traveling from Las Vegas to Boulder City via Highway 93 South.
Las Vegas is just 36 miles away from Hoover Dam, or roughly 40 minutes by car. Head out to the dam in the early morning or afternoon and return to Las Vegas at nightfall as the lights of the city cast an electric glow against the brilliant shades of the sunset. Get the details in our Las Vegas to Hoover Dam day trip itinerary.
Hoover Dam Lodging
With Boulder City a stone’s throw from Hoover Dam, great lodging options abound. Boulder Dam Hotel, Hoover Dam Lodge & Casino, Milo’s Cellar & Inn, and El Rancho Boulder Motel are just some of our favorites.
Other Attractions Near Hoover Dam
Visit Lake Mead
Cap off your trip with a visit to Lake Mead National Recreation Area. This body of water was formed when the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation built Hoover Dam on the Black Canyon portion of the Colorado River. Today, Lake Mead is the largest manmade reservoir (when full) in the nation, covering 110 miles across Nevada and Arizona. Fish, boat, or swim on Lake Mead’s placid waters, or choose from plenty of camping spots on the beach.
Visit Boulder City
Swap the glitz and neon of Las Vegas for the small town, Art Deco charm of Boulder City. Shop cute boutiques, dine at Food Network-featured restaurants, and dive into history and culture at the Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum and the Nevada State Railroad Museum. Boulder City offers a low-key getaway with plenty to see and do.
Hours:
Hoover Dam is open to the public daily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Hoover Dam Visitor Center is open daily (except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and doors close at 4:15 p.m.
The last Hoover Dam tour of the day departs at 3:45 p.m.
Garage parking at Hoover Dam is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Admission:
Guided Dam Tour tickets are $30 and can only be purchased on site at Hoover Dam.
Guided Power Plant Tour tickets are $15 for adults (ages 11+) and $10 for juniors (ages 4-10) and can be purchased online.
Visit Hoover Dam’s website for complete tour details. Garage parking is $10 per vehicle.
This Location:
City
Boulder CityRegion
Southern Nevada