LAST UPDATED: 5/3/23 – Hoover Dam Visitor’s Guide
It is a marvel of the achievement of modern man. It is the taming of one of America’s mightiest rivers. A river that has sculpted such beautiful landscapes as the Grand Canyon. Constructed starting in 1931, the Hoover Dam sits on the border between the states of Arizona and Nevada and harnesses the massive power of the Colorado River to provide electricity to much of the West Coast of the United States.
In addition to being an absolute marvel of an achievement, it is also quite a beautiful dam. I guess much of that is due to the stunningly beautiful landscape it sits in, but the dam itself is an amazing sight to behold. It is definitely something worth seeing if you are ever in the Las Vegas area.
How to Get There
The Hoover Dam is quite close to Las Vegas, which makes it a very easy and interesting side excursion for any Las Vegas trip. It is a quick 45 minute drive Southeast from downtown Las Vegas. Just take highway 515 South to US-95 South for roughly 25 miles, and then take highway 93 South for an additional 8 miles. You will want to get off at the Hoover Dam Access Rd exit.
There is some parking off the access road, but you can also drive your car over the dam by following the access road to the other side. If you would like to get out and hike, the Historic Railroad Hiking Trail is a neat side adventure. You can get some absolutely amazing pictures in a short time just by pulling over to park and walking up the access road to the dam.
Best Way to See the Dam
It probably goes without saying that the best way to view the dam is to take one of the guided tours. You get to see much more of the dam than you ever would be able to on your own. If you are interested, here are some excellent tour options available from Viator.com.
- Grand Canyon West Rim and Hoover Dam Tour from Las Vegas with Optional Skywalk – ($89.99\person)
- Hoover Dam Tour With Lake Mead Cruise – ($99.99\person)
- Deluxe Small-Group Half-Day Hoover Dam Tour from Las Vegas – ($74.99\person)
- Hoover Dam Hummer Tour – ($99.99\person)
If you are planning a trip to see the Hoover Dam and the Lake Meade National Recreation Area, below are some valuable resources to assist you in your planning.
- Lake Meade National Recreation Area – Map
- Lake Meade National Recreation Area – Plan Your Visit
- Lake Meade National Recreation Area – Outdoor Activities
- Lake Meade National Recreation Area – Wildlife
Nearby Attractions
In case you are interested in some additional adventure after checking out the Hoover Dam, here are some other amazing places in the general area. There is so much to do and see in this area of the United States.
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| Bryce Canyon National Park Visitor Guide |
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| Zion National Park Visitor Guide |
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| The Ultimate Horseshoe Bend Guide |
Photo Gallery
The Hoover Dam is really fun to photograph because it is such an impressive structure that was built in such a beautiful area. Below are some of the pictures I have take of the Hoover Dam in my many visits over the years.
If you would like to view some more of my top photos from this trip, as well as photos from some of my many other travel adventures, make sure you are following me on Instagram as well!
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Nice photos.
Thank you so much!
This is one of the places on my bucket list. I used to live in Vegas and still visit it but I have yet to visit the Hoover Dam. Wicked beautiful pictures and great information.
Thank you so much for the kind words!