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Beyond Vegas – Visiting Hoover Dam from Las Vegas

The Hoover Dam sits wedged into Black Canyon, holding back the force of the mighty Colorado River on the Nevada-Arizona border. It’s an incredible feat of engineering built in just five years during the Great Depression.

Aerial view of Hoover Dam and Colorado River

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How to visit Hoover Dam from Las Vegas

Originally called the Boulder Dam it was constructed to prevent flooding in the area, to help with irrigation in the desert and to generate hydro-electricity. If you’re in Las Vegas, which is less than 35 miles away, visiting Hoover Dam is a must-do day trip.

I’ll admit I wasn’t that bothered about visiting the Hoover Dam during our road trip. I’d seen it from a helicopter ride to the Grand Canyon about 9 years ago. It looked impressive from the air but I didn’t feel the need to see it up close.

That’s the great thing about travelling with friends; you find yourself doing things you might not otherwise consider. Our friend works in construction and was keen to see it so we visted Hoover Dam from Las Vegas en route to the Grand Canyon in our hire car.

I’m so glad we did because it was fascinating and, of course, around one million visitors a year can’t be wrong can they…

Hoover Dam Memorial

After parking up we passed the bronze Winged Figures of the Republic, one either side of the US flag. There’s also a memorial to the 96 construction workers who lost their lives building the dam. Both features had a distinct Art Deco feel to them.

It’s incredible to think that the dam was built by hand in just five years and was finished two years ahead of schedule, under budget. That just wouldn’t happen nowadays.

Lake Mead Water Levels

We were instantly drawn to the sparkling blue waters of Lake Mead which was created when the dam was built. The lake was last full in 1998 but due to lengthy droughts the volume has fallen by over sixty percent and water levels have dropped over a hundred feet. That’s one big tide mark.

The man-made lake is a popular recreational area used for fishing, boating and water activities.

Lake Mead, Arizona and Nevada
Lake Mead seen from Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam Intake Towers

Four 338ft high Intake Towers stand in the waters of Lake Mead and siphon water into the power plant. There are two towers on the Nevada side and two in Arizona.

Hoover Dam Intake Towers
Hoover Dam Intake Towers

The two towers nearest the dam each display a clock – one shows ‘Arizona time’ and the other ‘Nevada Time’. There was no time difference when we there as it was still summer time. In autumn Nevada switches back to Pacific Daylight Time and will then be an hour behind Arizona.

Where Nevada and Arizona meet

If you’ve ever felt the need to be in two places at once you can stand by the plaque below with a foot in each state. It marks the border where Nevada and Arizona meet.

Nevada Arizona Border
Hoover Dam an engineering wonder of the United States

We walked the length of the top of the dam to the Arizona side passing Art Deco styled lifts and features. We then crossed over the road to take a closer look at the dam itself. Until I was standing on top of it looking down I had no idea how huge Hoover Dam is.

The Dam is immense and the vast expanse of curving concrete just goes on and on. It’s an incredible feat of engineering and also rather elegant.

Hoover Dam Curve
Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam is an arch-gravity dam; thickest at the bottom at 660ft and just 45ft at the top and it’s 726ft high. It’s filled with around 6.6 million tons of concrete (3.25 million cubic yards); that’s enough to pave a 16ft wide and 8-inch thick path from New York to San Francisco. Below the dam is the power plant and the canyon wall outlet works.

The Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge
The Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge seen from Hoover Dam

The Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge

The two-lane road over the dam was in use for passing traffic right up until 2010. But 14,000 vehicles crossing daily became unmanageable and more recently they were also considered a security risk.

The Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, the second-highest in the US, opened in 2010. The arching bridge now carries traffic between Nevada and Arizona states on its four-lane highway. You can take a short walk up to the 840 ft bridge and walk across to take in the views of the dam with Lake Mead behind. It’s a great spot for photographs.

The Hoover Dam
View of Hoover Dam from The Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge

Hoover Dam Tours

Once you arrive at the Hoover Dam, you can take a self-guided tour or join a guided tour.

We didn’t have time to take a tour whilst at Hoover Dam as we needed to get to the Grand Canyon but there are various tours available. Some include entry to the visitor centre. Some Hoover Dam tours are bookable online or at the visitor centre.

Hoover Dam Tours: Self-Guided

Self-guided tours are free and it’s advisable to book in advance. You will need to pay for parking.

A one-hour tour which takes you deep into the interior tunnels of the dam can only be booked at the visitor centre on the day and only 20 persons are allowed per tour. More information on available tours and how to book can be found here.

Hoover Dam Tours: Guided

If you choose to take a guided tour, there are many options available. Guided tours typically cost money, but they offer more in-depth information and access to areas that are off-limits to the general public.

Some tours include transportation to and from Las Vegas, while others require you to meet the tour guide at a designated location.

There are also many coach tours taking full and half-day tours from Vegas which can be booked along the Strip or through your hotel concierge.

How to drive from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam

If you choose to drive, you can rent a car, take a taxi, or use a ride-sharing service. The Hoover Dam is located about 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas, near the border of Arizona and Nevada.

It’s just a 30-45 minute drive from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam depending on time of day. From The Strip drive east on Flamingo Road or Tropicana Avenue to U.S. 515 South, which automatically turns into US Highway I-93 South.

Continue on US Highway 93 South for about 20 miles to Boulder City. Once in Boulder City, turn left at the second set of lights (there are only 2).

Continue on US 93 to the Dam on the Nevada/Arizona (about 7 miles from Boulder City). Turn off onto state Route 172, a two-mile access road to the dam and parking areas. If you don’t turn off onto Route 172 you’ll stay on US 93 and continue over the bypass bridge into Arizona.

The Hoover Dam does not have a street address. Use the coordinates: N 36.016222, W -114.737245 to locate it using GPS or Sat Nav.

Parking at Hoover Dam

There is parking for 450+ vehicles in the garage on the Nevada side of the dam (open daily from 8 a.m. to 5:15 p.m) at a charge of $10.00 fee per car.

But you don’t need to pay for parking – drive across the dam itself, which is a must-do, and you’ll find parking in various areas on the Arizona side. Lot #9 (fee $10 per vehicle), #13 and #14 (no charge)

Visiting the Hoover Dam from Las Vegas is a must-see experience that offers a glimpse into one of the most impressive engineering marvels in the world. I’m so glad I visited and highly recommend that you do too.

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Johanna Bradley

Thursday 31st of March 2016

It's one of those places I'd be ambivalent about seeing too, Suze, and it would depend on how much time you had in the area, but the views are immense. I don't think I've seen most of this detail before so thanks for sharing. :)

Suzanne Jones

Thursday 31st of March 2016

I was so pleased we went and we did spend longer than we expected there as it was so interesting. :)

Jim

Friday 11th of March 2016

Very neat! Hoover Dam is pretty incredible. My girlfriend and I were down there a couple years ago, the lake was pretty low then too. Maybe will all the snow that the Sierra's have been getting the lake will finally get a little rejuvenation.

Suzanne Jones

Saturday 12th of March 2016

Let's hope the levels improve soon...

Ayla

Friday 11th of March 2016

We'll definitely be visiting this on the way to the Grand Canyon. Looks like a brilliant stop off point to break up the drive! On the drive from Vegas, do you mean route 172 rather than 176? I'm trying to work out the route now and am not sure if we go across the bridge on Highway 93 or if we have to get off before that? Any tips appreciated! :)

Suzanne Jones

Saturday 12th of March 2016

Yes, route 172 - you need to turn off Highway 93 or you'll carry on over the bypass and miss the dam.

Hung Thai

Thursday 10th of March 2016

Hoover dam is incredible - we actually had the opportunity to go down for the tour - those GIANT generators are NUTS! I think you should definite revisit and take that tour.

Mitch

Sunday 5th of February 2023

@Hung Thai, My Grandfather worked on the inside of the Dam settings up the generators and overseeing the connection and such. He had 5 HUGE photo albums full of pictures us kids would look at many times !! It's well worth the money to do the tour down into the Dam !!!

Suzanne Jones

Friday 11th of March 2016

I'd love to go into the depths of the dam and see those generators!

Suze - Luxury Columnist

Wednesday 9th of March 2016

I just can't believe the colour of the water, it's amazing! Interesting to read about the bridge too, the photos from there must be fantastic

Suzanne Jones

Wednesday 9th of March 2016

I'd really like to go back and take the tour into the depths of Hoover Dam.

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