visit hoover dam

Hoover Dam Tours: A Guide to Visiting the Most Famous Dam in America

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If you are in Las Vegas and you are looking for an alternative to gambling or swimming in the pool, in addition to visiting the Valley of Fire, you might also consider taking a tour of Hoover Dam, the imposing dam located in the Black Canyon on the Colorado River, that was built between 1931 and 1935. Coming here gives you a chance to take a break from the hypnotic lights and gambling parlors of Las Vegas, and there is nothing better than a visit to an engineering marvel like this, right on the border between Nevada and Arizona.

You will have 2 possibilities: visit Hoover Dam on your own or choose an organized tour.

Visit Hoover Dam on Your Own: Is It possible?

The answer is yes, but with some limitations. Here are directions to the Hoover Dam and some helpful tips for visiting the Hoover Dam on your own and for places to stay overnight near the dam.

How to get to Hoover Dam from Las Vegas

Take US 93 South and continue on this road for about 20 miles to Boulder City. When you arrive in Boulder City, turn left at the second light and continue on US 93 for approximately 5 miles until you reach the junction with Nevada State Route 172, which leads to the Hoover Dam. After two miles, you will arrive at the dam, right on the border between Nevada and Arizona.

Visit Hoover Dam: Useful Information

The dam is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. There are some restrictions for using a car when visiting the dam, which you can read in this guide. If you are driving, you will probably find lines, due to the rigorous police checks, since this is a high-risk area for terrorist attacks. Due to the torrid climate, it is advisable to leave your car in the parking garage before you start your visit. There are free parking lots, but they are very far from the visitor center. The entrance ticket (Self-Guided Visitor Center Tour) and the Guided Dam Tour (the most complete) can only be purchased on-site, and you can only buy the Powerplant Tour online at a cost of $15 (you can purchase a ticket for the Power Plant Tour here).

Where to Stay

If you want to find accommodations close to Hoover Dam, you search nearby in Boulder City (find a list of hotels on this page). Otherwise, if you decide to return to Las Vegas, don’t forget to check out our article on where to stay in Las Vegas.

Hoover Dam Tours From Las Vegas

Although it is possible to visit the dam on your own, the best way to visit it is to take a tour of Hoover Dam. In this way, you can be guided on an in-depth tour of the dam and the powerplant and learn about how the Hoover Dam operated and the secrets of the impressive structure.

Here is our selection of the best tours in Hoover Dam by bus, Jeep, or helicopter.

Hoover Dam Tour by Bus and Jeep

Hoover Dam tour by bus

hoover dam tickets

  • Duration: 4.5 hours (1.5-2 at the dam)
  • Price: Starting at $54

This tour of the Hoover Dam by bus begins with pick-up from your hotel in Las Vegas. After a quick registration process, a short trip through the Nevada desert to Lake Mead awaits you. When you arrive at the dam you will be greeted by a tour guide from the Bureau of Reclamation, who will take you along the top of the structure to finally see the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, a major engineering feat.

The visit will continue inside the dam, where you will be shown how the huge power generators work, and the details of the Hoover Dam concrete structure. Afterwards, you will reach the visitor center and watch a documentary on the construction of the dam. Of course, you will also have time to walk along the dam and take pictures of the incredible panorama before returning to the hotel.

Book the tour

Platinum Tour of the Hoover Dam by Jeep

hoover dam tour from las vegas

  • Duration: 4 hours (2.5 at the dam)
  • Price: Starting at $110 per person

This tour could be more interesting, which includes a visit to the Hoover Dam in a Jeep with a capacity for 10 people, so your tour will be as personalized as possible. Unlike the bus tour, before the visit of the dam, you will ride in the Jeep to some exclusive viewpoints, for example, in Boulder City where you can enjoy the view of the Colorado River and Lake Mead, not to mention you will cross the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, the highest observation point of the dam (helicopter excluded!).

The rest of the visit includes a guided tour of the power plant and a live presentation of the techniques of dam construction, in addition to the usual visit of the upper part, which is an excellent opportunity to take photos of the lake and the entire canyon. Of course, there is transportation to and from the hotel in Las Vegas, but, for safety reasons, children under 2 years of age are excluded from the tour.

Book the tour

Hoover Dam Helicopter Tour

Helicopter tour of the Hoover Dam

best way to visit hoover dam

  • Duration: About 3 hours (15 minutes in flight)
  • Price: Starting from $69

This helicopter tour of the Hoover Dam is the best for those who want to enjoy a breathtaking aerial view of the dam and Lake Mead, but this tour does not give you the possibility to visit the structure inside. A shuttle bus will pick you up at your hotel in Las Vegas and take you to the Boulder City heliport, where you will board a deluxe helicopter that will fly low over the dam. You will have a magnificent view from above of this engineering masterpiece that crosses the border between Nevada and Arizona. After a flight that lasts about 15 minutes, you will return to the terminal to take the shuttle back to the hotel.

Book the tour

Combined tour of the Hoover Dam by bus and helicopter

hoover dam hours

  • Duration: 6 hours (approx. 3 at the dam, 18 minutes in flight)
  • Price: Starting from $139

If you want to go on the guided tour inside the dam, but also want to get an aerial view, this is the tour for you. First, a shuttle will pick you up from your hotel in downtown Las Vegas or along the Las Vegas Strip. From here, the short bus ride to the Boulder City and Hoover Dam area will begin. You will walk to the top of the dam (one foot in Nevada and one in Arizona), visit the power plant, learn about the mechanisms and techniques of dam construction thanks to the guide’s explanations and informational videos.

You can also go to the visitor center. After that, you will be taken to the Boulder City heliport and enjoy the second part of the tour, this time from above. You will go on a 15-18 minute helicopter flight over the majestic dam and Lake Mead, before returning to Las Vegas by bus.

Book the tour

As you may have noticed, there are many choices, and your stay in Las Vegas can be enriched with a truly unusual visit. So are you ready for your unforgettable tour of the Hoover Dam?


Our Tip:
Looking for accommodations for your trip from California to other parts of the Southwest? Read our guide that contains reviews of hotels and strategic tips for finding accommodations near major attractions: Where to Stay: Our Tips for the SouthWest Area

Warning: Operating hours can change and closures for extraordinary events can occur, so we strongly suggest to check the venues official websites.

bernardo pacini
Bernardo Pacini

I am an enthusiastic traveler. I have also published some poetry. Besides traveling, my interests include literature, prog music and good food,.

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