Hoover Dam

State: Nevada/Arizona border. Type: concrete arch-gravity dam on the Colorado River in Black Canyon, spanning Clark County, Nevada and Mohave County, Arizona, about 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas. Built 1931-1936 (completed ahead of schedule); dedicated September 30, 1935 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Height: 726.4 feet; length: 1,244 feet. Operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Nearly one million visitors take dam tours annually.

Hoover Dam is a massive concrete arch-gravity dam holding back the Colorado River in Black Canyon, straddling the Nevada-Arizona border about 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas. Built between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression and completed well ahead of schedule, the dam was dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 30, 1935, and remains one of the era's defining feats of American civil engineering, standing 726.4 feet high and 1,244 feet long. Managed today by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, it draws nearly a million visitors a year who come for guided tours of the dam itself and its power plant, self-guided visits to the modern Visitor Center (opened 1995), and photo stops along the structure. Since the 2010 opening of the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge just downstream, through-traffic no longer crosses the dam itself, but visitors can still drive across the original roadway to reach parking and facilities on both the Nevada and Arizona sides.

Hoover Dam sits on the Colorado River in Black Canyon, on the border between Clark County, Nevada and Mohave County, Arizona, roughly 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas. Visitor facilities and parking exist on both the Nevada and Arizona sides of the dam.

The area shares the hot desert climate of the surrounding Mojave Desert region, with extremely hot summers and mild winters; because much of the visit involves walking outdoors on the dam itself, summer heat is a significant factor to plan around.

The main visitor center operates year-round during standard hours, but the Bureau of Reclamation notes access restrictions around specific holiday periods (two weeks before/after Easter, early August, three days after Thanksgiving, and December 26 through the first Monday of January), so travelers should check current restrictions before planning a trip around those windows. Cooler months (fall through spring) are more comfortable for the outdoor portions of a visit given the desert heat in summer.

Hoover Dam was built between 1931 and 1936 as part of a Depression-era public works effort to control the Colorado River, generate hydroelectric power, and supply water to the growing Southwest. Construction finished more than two years ahead of schedule, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt formally dedicated the dam on September 30, 1935. The dam's power plant and reservoir, Lake Mead, went on to shape water and power supply across Nevada, Arizona and California for decades. A modern Visitor Center opened in 1995 to handle growing tourist traffic, and in 2010 the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge opened just downstream, after which through-traffic was rerouted off the dam itself, leaving the original roadway across the dam for visitors only.

Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the Visitor Center's exhibits, join a guided Power Plant Tour (which includes a short film and a 30-minute guided walk to a viewing platform overlooking the penstock pipe and the Nevada wing of the powerplant), or take the on-site Guided Dam Tour, sold only in person, for a more extensive look at the structure. Many visitors also simply walk across the dam's original roadway for photos and views of Lake Mead on one side and the Colorado River canyon on the other.

Key features include the dam structure itself, the 1995 Visitor Center with its exhibits and 360-degree dam viewing area, the powerplant's Nevada wing (seen on the Power Plant Tour), and the nearby Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge, which offers photogenic views of the dam from downstream.

Hoover Dam is about 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas by road, making it a roughly 40-minute to hour-long drive depending on traffic; most visitors arrive by rental car, tour bus, or organized day-tour from Las Vegas. There is no public transit line running directly to the dam, so a car, tour shuttle, or rideshare is the practical option.

The dam is open to the public daily from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Pacific time). The Visitor Center and tours operate daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with doors closing to new entries at 4:15 p.m.; the Visitor Center is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

As of research (per the Bureau of Reclamation's own site): the Guided Dam Tour costs $40 per person (children 3 and under free) and is sold on-site only, not bookable in advance; the Guided Power Plant Tour costs $25 for adults and $15 for ages 4-16 (3 and under free); the Self-Guided Visitor Center tour costs $15 per person (3 and under free). Parking is $10 per vehicle in the Nevada-side garage, while Arizona-side lots range from free to $10. Confirm current prices on usbr.gov before visiting.

Plan at least two to three hours for the Visitor Center and a Power Plant Tour; the full Guided Dam Tour and additional time walking the dam roadway can extend a visit to half a day.

Boulder City, Nevada, a small town a few miles from the dam, offers the closest lodging options, including small hotels and motels. Most overnight visitors, however, base themselves in Las Vegas, about 30 miles away, given its much larger range of accommodation.

Boulder City has a range of casual local restaurants and cafes near the dam, while the wider selection of dining, from casual to upscale, is concentrated back in Las Vegas, about 30 miles away.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area, the reservoir created by the dam, is immediately adjacent and offers boating, swimming and additional sightseeing. Boulder City, a short drive away, offers a historic small-town alternative to the Las Vegas Strip. The Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge, just downstream, offers dramatic photo views of the dam.

There is no dedicated airport or rail station at the dam itself; Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, about 30 miles away, is the nearest major airport, with rental cars, tour buses and rideshare the main ways to reach the dam from there.

The Hoover Dam Police Department manages security and law enforcement at the site; not all vehicles are permitted to cross the dam, so review the "Crossing Hoover Dam" traveler's guide in advance to avoid delays. Outdoor areas of the dam offer little shade, so sun protection and water are important, especially in summer heat. For any emergency, dial 911.

Sunscreen, a hat and water are important given the exposed, sunny walk across the dam, especially in summer. Comfortable walking shoes help for the Power Plant or Dam Tour's walking sections, and a valid photo ID may be needed for security checks at the site.

Book the Power Plant Tour or Visitor Center ticket online in advance where possible, since the Guided Dam Tour can only be purchased on-site and may sell out on busy days. Arrive early to allow time for the Nevada security checkpoint and parking before your scheduled tour time. Check the Bureau of Reclamation's site for holiday-period access restrictions before planning a visit around Easter, early August, Thanksgiving weekend, or the year-end holidays.

Dial 911 for any emergency. For tour and visitor questions, contact the Bureau of Reclamation at (702) 494-2517 or (702) 494-2901, or by email at HDtours@lazparking.com, per the official Hoover Dam site.

Hoover Dam (U.S. Bureau of Reclamation) - https://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.