Hoover Dam is the 1930s engineering marvel on the Nevada-Arizona border, about 45 minutes from the Strip. You can walk across free, or pay $15 for the visitor center and $25-40 for guided tours. Grounds open 5am-9pm; tours 9am-5pm. Parking is $10. Genuinely worth the drive.
Key facts
| Hours | Dam & grounds: daily 5:00-21:00 Visitor Center & tours: daily 9:00-17:00 (last tour ~16:10) Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas |
|---|---|
| Price | $$ |
| Phone | (702) 494-2517 |
| Website | usbr.gov |
| Nearest transit | No public transit; drive (~45 min from Strip) or take a guided bus tour. Parking $10 in the garage. |
| Time needed | Half day (2-4 hours on site plus drive) |
| Best time to go | Early morning to beat heat and crowds; weekdays are quieter |
| Last verified | July 15, 2026 |
Friend Score
8.5/10- Value8.0
- iconic8.5
- Freshness9.3
- excellence8.5
- Crowd level6.0
- Authenticity8.5
- Accessibility5.0
Frequently asked questions
- Can I walk across the dam and the bridge?
- Yes to both. You can walk across the top of the dam itself for free, and the nearby Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Bridge has a pedestrian walkway with a dramatic aerial view down onto the dam.
- What are Hoover Dam's hours?
- The dam and grounds are open daily 5am to 9pm. The visitor center and tours run 9am to 5pm, with the last tour leaving around 4:10pm. It's closed only on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
- How far is Hoover Dam from Las Vegas?
- About 45 minutes by car, roughly 35 miles southeast via US-93 through Boulder City. There's no public transit, so you drive yourself or book a guided bus tour from the Strip.
- Is there a security check to enter?
- Yes. Vehicles may be subject to inspection on the approach, and there are security screenings for the tours. Leave large bags in the car and allow a little extra time, especially in busy periods.
- When's the best time to go to Hoover Dam?
- Early morning, especially in summer. It gets brutally hot on the exposed concrete by midday, and the tour lines and parking fill up. A weekday morning is the quietest, coolest window.
- Do I need a tour to see Hoover Dam?
- No. You can park, walk the crest, and take in the views for just the parking fee. But the Power Plant and Dam tours take you inside to the generators and tunnels, which is where the real awe is.
- Is Hoover Dam worth visiting?
- Yes. It's a genuine feat of engineering and history, not a manufactured attraction, and the scale is hard to grasp until you're there. The half-day trip pairs well with Lake Mead or Boulder City.
- How much does it cost to visit Hoover Dam?
- Walking across the top of the dam is free. Parking in the garage is $10, the self-guided visitor center is $15, the Power Plant Tour is about $25, and the guided Dam Tour runs around $40 and includes visitor center access.
Nearby in Ask Las Vegas
- Boulder CityNeighborhood9.44 km · 118 min walk
- Clark County MuseumMuseum18.84 km · 236 min walk
- Lake Las VegasNeighborhood20.51 km · 256 min walk
- Water Street District, HendersonNeighborhood22.02 km · 275 min walk
- Wetlands ParkPark27.34 km · 342 min walk
Where to stay near Hoover Dam
Compare hotels & stays on Booking.com · doesn’t affect the Friend Score