Las Vegas Hoover Dam

What are the highlights of Hoover Dam?

There are several ways to explore Hoover Dam, so it’s easy to plan a visit that suits your budget and time. Take a tour of the dam for an in-depth look into the engineering feats and history of this huge structure. You could just stop your automobile and take it all in from a distance from the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge or other vantage points in the area.

Visitors to Hoover Dam can choose to do a self-guided tour through narrated exhibits at the visitors center and enjoy panoramic views from the observation deck. You could also book a 30-minute guided tour of the power plant, which takes you through the original construction tunnels. Those with more time could take the full 1-hour guided dam tour –  this includes a tour of the power plant, inspection tunnels and ventilation shaft. Note that children under 8 years old aren't allowed on the dam tour, and it’s not accessible for those with limited mobility.

A brief history of Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam was first conceived in the early 20th century as a way to control the Colorado River’s notorious flooding and help boost farming with irrigation. The dam also produces 4 billion kilowatt-hours of hydroelectric power per year, enough to supply 1.3 million people across Nevada, Arizona and SoCal.

The dam’s construction was a massive undertaking, involving 6 years of negotiations between 6 states and Congress before the project was even approved in 1928. The work in a remote desert location was dangerous and difficult, but with the Great Depression well underway, it attracted thousands of workers who flocked to the fast-growing towns of Boulder City and Las Vegas. Despite all these challenges, the dam was finished 2 years ahead of schedule in 1935.

Even before the dam was built, its engineers had the foresight to think that it could become a visitor attraction and an architect was brought in to give the dam a more aesthetically pleasing look. The resulting design is a fine example of Art Deco style, with fascinating features such as bronze angel sculptures called Winged Figures of the Republic. 

Good to know about Hoover Dam

It’s an easy 40-minute drive from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam. There's a paid parking garage available at the visitors center. More parking spots, both paid and free, are on the Arizona side of the dam. The free parking neighborhoods are at least half a mile away, but you can walk across the dam to reach the Visitor Center. No shuttle services are available. To avoid the crowds and daytime heat, try to visit early in the morning. The dam is accessible from 5 am to 9 pm.

Power plant tours start at 9 am while Hoover Dam tours run every half hour from 9.30 am to 4 pm. Tickets for the dam tour are only available onsite, on a first-come, first-served basis.

For an activity-packed day out, you could visit Hoover Dam in the morning then go to nearby Lake Mead for some beach and boating fun. Just a 15-minute drive from Hoover Dam is Boulder City, with a lively downtown area and the Boulder City-Hoover Dam Museum to explore.