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Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam is one of the engineering wonders of the modern world. Constructed between 1931 and 1936 the Hoover Dam also known as Boulder Dam which is 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Las Vegas is located in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River at the Nevada-Arizona border.

The Hoover Dam stands 1,244 feet (379 metres) long, rises 72 stories high and cost $163 million to build. When completed in 1935, the Hoover Dam was both the world's largest electric power producing facility and the world's largest concrete structure.

There is a 55-minute tour and exhibit gallery. Hoover Dam is visited by 2,000 to 3,000 people daily, and more than 32 million visitors have toured it since it opened. Tours inside and outside of the dam as well as raft tours below the dam are available. A trip to the Hoover Dam is one of the most popular excursions from Las Vegas.

The National Park Service offers tours of the dam. The Dam Tour tickets CANNOT be purchased on-line but are available on a first come-first served basis and must be purchased in person at Hoover Dam.

Other interesting things to do while you are out there, go on past Hoover dam to Boulder City. A city that was created by the workers who built the dam and then to Lake Meade. Also, there are tour companies that will take you on a cruise of the river below Hoover Dam.

Discount Tickets

Hoover Dam

Did you know...
Hoover Dam is named for Herbert Hoover, the nation's 31st president. After he left office, the names "Boulder Canyon Dam" and "Boulder Dam" were frequently used, allegedly because the new Secretary of the Interior did not like the former president.

Hoover Dam Official website

Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam

Getting to the Hoover Dam

Distance from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam is located approximately 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas on the Nevada-Arizona border. (about 45 minutes) The Hoover Dam does not have a street address

Driving from Las Vegas strip to Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam is about a 45 minute drive from the Las Vegas strip. To get there from the Vegas strip, drive east on Flamingo Road or Tropicana Avenue to U.S. 515 South, which automatically turns into US Highway I-93 South. Continue on US Highway 93 South for about 20 miles to Boulder City.
In Boulder City, take a left at the second stoplight in town (there are only 2 of them)
Continue on US 93 for about 5 miles (just past the Hacienda Hotel) to the turn-off to Nevada State Route 172 - the Hoover Dam Access Road
Take NV SR 172 for about 2 miles to the Dam on the Nevada/Arizona border
(Note: Visitors who wish to continue travel into Arizona must re-enter Nevada and access Highway 93 to cross the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge; the roadway across Hoover Dam is no longer open to through-traffic.)

GPS Coordinates Hoover Dam GPS coordinates
The Hoover Dam does not have a street address. If your car is equipped with a GPS navigator, use the coordinates: N 36.016222, W -114.737245 to locate the Hoover Dam.

Parking at the Hoover Dam
There is a 459-space parking garage located on the Nevada side of the dam tucked into a canyon across the road from the Visitor Center. The parking garage charges a cash-only $10.00 fee.

From the parking garage, walk toward the dam and take an escalator or elevator that will take you down to a reception lobby of the Visitors Center where you can purchase your tickets. All visitors are required to go through security screening when entering the Visitor Center.

Call Hoover Dam (866-291-8687), for more information.

Hoover Dam ByPass
Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam bypass bridge officially opened on October 19, 2010. Construction on the Hoover Dam bypass began in late January 2005.

The signature bypass bridge is located approximately 1,500 feet south of the Hoover Dam, and is 1,900 feet long. The arch span stretches 1,060 feet, and the deck stands 900 feet above the Colorado River.

Visitors can park their cars and walk the deck of the bridge. The bridge's pedestrian walkway gives visitors expansive views of Hoover Dam, Black Canyon, Colorado River, Lake Mead and is a great place to snap photos. Just make sure to arrive while there is still daylight, since visitors are not allowed on the top of the dam once it's dark.

Connecting the Arizona and Nevada Approach highways, the Hoover Dam bypass significantly cuts down on drive times to Las Vegas.

Driving distances from Las Vegas

From Las Vegas ToDrive TimeMilesKM
Grand Canyon South Rim 4.5 hours 275 443
Grand Canyon West Rim 3 hours 120 193
Death Valley National Park 2.25 hours 141 227
Hoover Dam 45 mins. 34 54.4
Great Basin National Park 4.75 hours 297 478
Zion National Park 2.5 hours 155 249
Reno, NV 7.25 hours 448 721
Laughlin 1.5 hours 97 156
Los Angeles, CA 4 hours 270 435
San Diego, CA 5 hours 332 534
Phoenix, AZ 5 hours 295 475
San Francisco 9 hours 570 917
Hoover Dam Facts

Built between 1931 - 1936 on the Colorado River at the Nevada - Arizona border. Hoover Dam stands 726.4 ft (221 m) high, 1244 ft (379 m) long and 660 feet (201m) thick at the base.

Do you know that Boulder City is one of only two Nevada communities where gaming is outlawed. Can you name the other community?

Hoover Dam was once the world's largest electric-power station and the world's largest concrete structure.

In July 1994, the 30-millionth visitor toured the Hoover dam since it opened.

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