Know Before You Go: Visiting the Hoover Dam

The massive concrete dam spans the Black Canyon of the Colorado River and the borders of Nevada and Arizona. After years of surveying and exploratory drilling, Black Canyon was chosen in 1924 as the best site for a major dam, thanks to its accessibility and the firm bedrock of the canyon walls. The closest town is Boulder City, 8 miles (13 kilometers) away. Founded by the engineers and workers who built the dam, the city offers lodging, restaurants, golf courses, and other recreation.

The Hoover Dam is just under 40 miles (64 kilometers) from Las Vegas. During peak tourist seasons, there can be some congestion, but the drive typically takes around 45 minutes.

If you don’t have your own vehicle, you still have plenty of options for reaching the dam from Las Vegas. A rideshare service like Lyft or Uber will likely cost around US$60 each way. Many tour companies offer shuttle services between Vegas and the Hoover Dam, too, and several Grand Canyon tours also feature the dam as a bonus stop.

Insider tip: There’s an even more exciting way to see the Hoover Dam—from above! Helicopter tours departing from Las Vegas offer helicopter tours that give you a unique, bird's-eye view vantage of the dam and other nearby sights.

The Hoover Dam is open to the public and free to visit. You can explore the visitor center and drive or walk across the dam without paying a fee. However, the best way to experience the dam is by taking one of the tours offered by the US Bureau of Reclamation.

There are three different Hoover Dam tours, beginning with an affordable self-guided visitor center tour. This version is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, and it includes narrated exhibits and views of the river, dam, and lake from the observation deck.

For a little more money, you can take the Power Plant Tour, which includes a walk through some of the dam’s original construction tunnels and views of the generators inside the Nevada Powerhouse.

The most involved tour is around double the price of the others and includes a guided dam tour. In addition to tours of the power plant and the visitor center, a guide will lead you through historic tour tunnels and inspection tunnels, and you’ll ride the original elevator to the top of the dam. This tour is not open to children younger than 8.

You can book these independently or take an organized tour (often departing from Las Vegas) that includes Hoover Dam access, as well as transportation for ease.

Insider tip: Tickets for the self-guided and power plant tours are available online, but the extended package tour is only available for on-site purchase. While tours routinely sell out, getting there early can make sure you get a spot. The least busy tour times are 9–11am and 2:30–3:45pm.

The Hoover Dam is made of concrete and is located in the desert. In other words, it can get hot. That’s particularly true in the summer months (which is also when crowds are the biggest). To stay cool and avoid long lines, visit in the late fall or winter months. In spring, the weather is arguably the best for a visit to the Hoover Dam, as well as taking part in other outdoor activities available in the area.

The dam itself is open every day from 5am–9pm, but the visitor center is only open from 9am–5pm; doors close at 4:15pm, and the last tour begins at 3:45pm, so plan accordingly.

Whatever time of year you visit, dress for the season. That usually means layers! Most of the Hoover Dam experience is outside, with little shade, so ensure you’re dressed to protect yourself from the sun. And while "desert" may leave you thinking "hot" (true), remember that temps can drop abruptly and drastically once the sun goes down, especially outside of those peak summer months.

Comfortable shoes are a must. Whether you’re taking a tour through the tunnels inside the dam or just walking along the top, you can expect to rack up at least a mile or two. Either way, make sure to bring plenty of water, especially if you're traveling with little ones.

The dam’s garage, walkway, and visitor center are wheelchair accessible and have accessible elevators and bathrooms. The self-guided tour and power plant tour are both accessible for wheelchair users, motorized scooters, and strollers.

The guided dam tour is inaccessible for motorized scooters, wheelchairs, or strollers. It can be navigated with a manually operated wheelchair, but the ventilation shaft portion of the tour is not accessible.

• When and why was the Hoover Dam built? Construction of the Hoover Dam began in 1930 and was completed in 1937. Residents of the western US states along the Colorado River struggled for many years with flooding, irrigation struggles, and water level instability, so Herbert Hoover, then Secretary of Commerce, proposed a dam that would solve those problems and create a dependable source of water for Los Angeles and the rest of southern California.

• How tall is the Hoover Dam? The Hoover Dam is 726 feet (221 meters) tall.

• What river is the Hoover Dam on? The Hoover Dam is on the Colorado River.

• What if the Hoover Dam broke? If the Hoover Dam were to fail, it would send trillions of gallons of water rushing down the Colorado River, all at once, destroying or flooding the many buildings and towns downriver. Luckily, this scenario is incredibly unlikely.