Hoover Dam
726-ft concrete arch-gravity dam, the Mike O'Callaghan – Pat Tillman bridge view, and a working hydroelectric tour.
Distance
35 mi
Drive time
~45 min
Route
I-11 / US-93 S from the Strip to the Hoover Dam exit (Nevada side)
Best window
October through April for the best weather
About Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam is a 726-ft concrete arch-gravity dam straddling the Nevada–Arizona border on the Colorado River — about 35 miles and 45 minutes southeast of the Strip via I-11 / US-93. Completed in 1935 (then named Boulder Dam), it's a National Historic Landmark, holds back Lake Mead (the largest reservoir by capacity in the U.S.), and still generates 4+ billion kWh per year. The Mike O'Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge (opened 2010) carries US-93 across the gorge 900 ft downstream of the dam with a pedestrian walkway that offers the iconic full-face dam view. A 12–15 passenger van is the right call — group rideshare from the Strip is expensive and there's no Uber pickup on the dam itself.
Why it's worth the drive
- The dam itself — 726 ft tall, 1,244 ft long, holds back 28 million acre-feet of Colorado River water in Lake Mead.
- Mike O'Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge — pedestrian walkway 900 ft above the river, the iconic full-face dam view (free, no ticket).
- Powerplant Tour ($15 adult) and Dam Tour ($30 adult) — Bureau of Reclamation guided tours into the working facility.
- Free Visitor Center exhibit hall ($10 admission for the rotunda) — original construction films, scale models, and the original generators on display.
Things to do
What groups actually do at Hoover Dam
Walk the bridge walkway
Park on the Nevada side at the Pat Tillman Memorial Plaza, walk the pedestrian path 900 ft above the river — the postcard view of the dam, free, takes about 20 min round trip.
Powerplant Tour
Bureau of Reclamation 30-min guided tour into the working powerplant — 8 of the 17 turbines visible. Tickets at the Visitor Center, often sell out by 11 AM in peak season.
Dam Tour
60-min guided tour goes deeper into the dam itself, including the inspection tunnels and the original 1930s ventilation system. Limited tickets, in-person only.
Visitor Center & Rotunda
Original 1930s construction footage, scale models, and the famous Oskar Hansen 'Winged Figures of the Republic' bronze.
Lake Mead overlook
Drive 5 minutes to the Lake Mead Marina or Boulder Beach for the lake side — the white 'bathtub ring' shows how far water levels have dropped.
Boulder City Historic District
The town built to house the dam workers in 1931 — preserved 1930s downtown, the Boulder Dam Hotel (FDR stayed here), and a few good lunch spots.
Group + van tips
Driving a 12-15 passenger van to Hoover Dam
- Use the Nevada-side dam parking garage ($10, attended) — fits a 15-passenger Sprinter, ~5 min walk to the Visitor Center.
- Free overflow lots are on the Arizona side past the bridge — a longer walk back across to the dam, but no parking fee.
- Bureau of Reclamation officers stop and inspect oversize vehicles (RVs, large trucks) at the I-11 inspection checkpoint — a 15-passenger van usually waves through but allow extra time on weekends.
- Powerplant Tour tickets are first-come, first-served at the Visitor Center desk — arrive before 10 AM on summer weekends to avoid same-day sellout.
- Plan 3 hours total minimum (drive + bridge walk + Visitor Center). 4–5 hours if you take the Powerplant Tour.
Nevada-side dam parking garage fits a 15-passenger Sprinter. Arizona-side lots are free but a longer walk.
When to go
Best time to visit
October through April for the best weather. Summer at the dam is brutal — open desert pavement, no shade on the walkway, 105–115°F daytime June–September. Open daily 9 AM – 5 PM (last tour at 3:45 PM); closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Sunrise is the best light for photographing the bridge view.
Need a van for the trip?
Our Las Vegas fleet of 12-15 passenger Sprinters and Ford Transits delivers to Harry Reid International (LAS), every major Strip resort, and downtown / Fremont hotel doors.
See Vegas vansPlan your visit
Official Hoover Dam resources
Hoover Dam — U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
www.usbr.gov
Hoover Dam tours & tickets
www.usbr.gov
Lake Mead National Recreation Area — NPS
www.nps.gov
Boulder City, NV — historic district
www.visitbouldercity.com
More background
Hoover Dam FAQ
How long is the drive from the Strip to Hoover Dam?
About 35 miles and 45 minutes via I-11 / US-93. Add 15–20 minutes during weekend morning peak going out, more in summer when tour buses cluster mid-morning.
Is the bridge walk free?
Yes — the Mike O'Callaghan – Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge pedestrian walkway is completely free. Park at Pat Tillman Memorial Plaza on the Nevada side; about 20 minutes round trip on foot.
Which tour should I do — Powerplant or Dam?
Powerplant Tour ($15, 30 min) is the standard intro and runs continuously. Dam Tour ($30, 60 min) goes deeper into the inspection tunnels — book early in the day, limited tickets, in-person only.
Can I park a 15-passenger van at the dam?
Yes — the Nevada-side attended parking garage ($10) fits a Sprinter. Free overflow lots are on the Arizona side past the bridge, with a longer walk back across.
More day trips