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We drove our camper van to Hoover Dam and spent a day exploring. It’s one of Nevada’s most iconic and historic landmarks.
It’s a very important part of the ecosystem out West because it impacts neighboring states. You’ll find the Colorado River flowing through it, and we saw beautiful views too.
I’ll tell you about our experience, what to know and expect, and share photos from our trip. You might want to visit it for yourself!
Getting There
Since I’ve been here a couple of times, I’ve taken different routes. The traffic hasn’t been bad either way.
Coming from Las Vegas
Once we came from Las Vegas, which is a short road trip to the Hoover Dam. It’s about 35 miles from the strip, so it’s not far.
The dam is southeast of Las Vegas, and you can take Highway 93 South to get there.
Although we always encounter traffic on the strip, once leaving it, the highway isn’t bad.
Going Through Lake Mead
My favorite way is through Lake Mead National Recreation Area. This was a more scenic route, but we were coming from California this time.
You’ll have to pay an entrance fee to enter the area, or use your national parks pass like I do. Then it’s about 30 miles from the Lake Mead area to the dam.
We stopped at scenic viewpoints and encountered fierce wind gusts that almost swept me away!
This made the pollen fly everywhere. So, my allergies fired up like crazy. Ugh!
On this route, we passed a rest area and a couple of restaurants. There were hardly any cars on the road.
Visiting The Hoover Dam
The national landmark is open daily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., except for holidays. We visited on a weekday afternoon, and it wasn’t crowded at all.
We did not pay an entrance fee. It is free to walk around and explore the Hoover Dam. However, we had to pay $10 for parking.
If you want to drive through, you don’t have to pay. But you cannot stop your car on the side of the road and take pictures.
Security Checkpoint
The first thing we reached was the security checkpoint. An officer greeted us and asked if we had any guns or explosives in our camper van.
He reminded us that we were entering federal land and to keep any guns lockedin cases. Then, some officers inspected our vehicle, but they were friendly.
After that, we drove down the road and were told to go to oversized parking. At this time, our van conversion was nearly complete.
We made do and relaxed a bit, and made lunch. If you’re hungry, there’s a cafe by the visitor center.
Walking Around the Dam
Besides stopping at the visitor center to learn more about the dam, we mostly walked around.
Once when I visited, I walked across the top and crossed the bridge. We found many displays with fun facts and information about the dam.
From up above, I had a wide view of the Colorado River. There’s a nice view from the lower part too.
We took pictures of the bridge, towers, power plants, and spillways on the lower part of the dam. Nevada, California, and Arizona get a lot of hydroelectric power from here.
If you explore both the upper and lower parts, expect to walk up and down ramps and stairs.
Lots of Ground to Cover
It’s a long stretch from the parking lot to the visitor center. And I was wearing my comfy walking shoes.
The width of the dam’s base is two football fields from end to end. That might give you an idea of how massive it is.
I saw a woman trekking across the dam in four-inch heels and a mini-skirt. She looked like she was in pain, but maybe she was trying to snap some cool photos.
Now, I love wearing a snazzy pair of stilettos on occasion, but this wasn’t the place. Ha ha!
Hold Onto Your Hat
Remember when I said it was windy traveling to the dam? Well, the wind blew stuff around like a tornado when we slid the van’s door open.
Yikes! I could barely hold onto my hat and take pictures.
At times, it nearly ripped the phone out of my hand. When I looked at the bottom of the dam, I saw that many hats had escaped from their owners.
When we were walking around, I heard one lady tell her friends, “I’m sure glad I didn’t wear my wig today!”
I imagined the wind sweeping up a wig and whirling it across the dam. Ha-ha!
Hopefully, it won’t be so bad when you visit! But it has been gusty every time I’ve been.
Guided Tours
They have a guided tour for the dam and power plant. We did not buy tickets for any of them.
I’d like to go on one the next time we visit. You can walk through the tunnels and feel the water’s vibrations. Whoa!
Travel Notes
You’ll want to give yourself a lot of time when visiting—at least a couple of hours. This is especially if you make stops along the way like we did at Lake Mead.
If you’re just there to snap a photo and leave, there are many viewpoints, but no parking. You’re not supposed to pull over on the road for selfies, but I saw people doing this.
Visiting during the summer can be hot, so bring a water bottle and a hat. And if it’s windy, maybe not the hat!
Final Thoughts
When I visit the Hoover Dam, I always marvel at how grand it is. Sometimes one day just isn’t enough to see all the views, and that’s why I’ve returned.
But I’ve found another reason to come back and try the guided tour. And if you go before I do, tell me how it went!
More Travel Adventures
I have many other related posts on my blog. You may want to check them out.
- Read about things to see on a road trip from LA to Las Vegas on the I-15.
- Oh, and if you pass the Zzyzx Road exit, you might want to explore where it goes, like we did.
- You can also explore Calico Ghost Town on the way, and I’ll tell you all about it.
And I’d love to hear all about your travel adventures!
Originally published: May 15, 2024
