Home » Attractions » Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam

Hoover Dam

Buy Your Hoover Dam Entry Tickets Online & Save

The Hoover Dam is one of the most famous attractions located just outside Las Vegas in Boulder City & roughly a 40-minute drive from the Strip.

The massive dam was named one of America’s Seven Modern Civil Engineering Wonders, and it explains why more than a million visitors take the dam tour every year.

Hoover Dam, History, Facts, Tours Inside, Times & Schedule, Cost, Map

A tour of the Hoover Dam gives visitors a new appreciation for this remarkable feat of engineering. Named after President Hoover, who was one of the project’s overseers, the dam remains one of the largest water sources for generating hydroelectric power in the country.

Hoover Dam spans the Black Canyon along the majestic Colorado River right between Arizona and Nevada, with the latter explaining why the dam is a popular attraction for visitors to Las Vegas. What makes a tour of Hoover Dam truly unforgettable is that you can get an up-close view of the giant structure and learn the history behind it.

Some impressive facts of the Hoover dam include that it is 726.4 ft high (221.4 m), 1,244 ft long (379 m), has an elevation of 1,232 ft (376 m) at the crest and has a width 45 ft (14 m) at the crest and 660 ft (200 m) at the base. Additionally, Lake Mead has a total capacity of 28,537,000 acre-ft (35.200 km3) (15,853,000 acre-ft (19.554 km3 is active, while 10,024,000 acre-ft (12.364 km3) is inactive), a catchment area of 167,800 sq. mi (435,000 km2), surface area of 247 sq. mi (640 km2), maximum length of 112 mi (180 km) and maximum water depth of 590 ft (180 m).

As for the powerplant, it has an annual power generation of 4.2 TWh (15 PJ), hydraulic head of 590 ft (180 m), turbines that consist of 13 x 130 MW, 2 x 127 MW, 1 x 68.5 MW, 1 x 61.5 MW Francis-type, 2 x 2.4 MW Pelton-type – all adding up to an installed capacity of 2,080 MW.

The dam tour costs $30 per person, after which, you can drive along the winding road and drive over the top of the dam. This scenic drive provides a wonderful experience – on one side lies the azure Lake Mead, and on the other side is a contrasting, but breathtakingly beautiful canyon.

Look out for The Colorado River Bridge (the Hoover Dam Bypass), officially referred to as the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. This bridge is ideal for taking photos of the Hoover Dam as it is directly opposite the face of the dam and is the second-highest bridge in the United States and the world’s highest concrete arch bridge.

Don’t miss out on seeing the ‘Winged Figures of the Republic’ statues either. These unique sculptures celebrate the triumph of scientific advancement, coupled with the charm of intellectual resolution. Fun fact – more than four tons of bronze were used in the design.

Do not pass up the opportunity to enjoy a tour of the Power plant. During this tour, you will have a chance to enjoy exhibits, audio, and video presentations that tell the story of the dam and how it came to be. After that, visitors are guided to the specific part of the plant converts the flowing water into electricity. The elevator here takes you 160 meters inside the plant.

These unforgettable tours are a great way to explore Hoover Dam with the whole family.

About the author

Michael Jones

Michael created and runs the Las Vegas Travel Hub website, as well as the Holiday Point travel brand that incorporates a network of 16 location based travel information and attraction websites around Australia, Asia, and around the world.

With 25+ years of online experience and a passion for travel (having visited Las Vegas many times and had the times of his life), Michael not only researches and writes content for the website, he also tinkers behind the scenes with the website functionality & design.

Please reach out if you have any questions or suggestions.

Do You Have a Question to Ask?

Click Here to Ask a Question

What is the Hoover Dam address?
What are the Hoover Dam opening hours?
Hoover Dam
Mon - Sun: 5am - 9pm

Hoover Dam Tours
Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm

Hoover Dam Tours are closed two days per year in observance of Thanksgiving and Christmas Day

Please visit our website for more information on the Hoover Dam.
What are the Hoover Dam entry prices?
Dam Tour: $30

Powerplant Tour Tickets
Adults (17 - 61yrs) $15.00
Seniors (62yrs+) $12.00
Juniors (4 - 16yrs): $12.00
U.S. Military (with ID): $12.00
U.S. Military in Uniform: Free
Children (0 - 3yrs): Free

Visitor Center Tickets
Adults, Seniors, Juniors & U.S. Military: $10.00
Children (3yrs and under): Free

Parking Garage: $10
Parking Lot 9 (Arizona side): $10
Upper Lots (Arizona side): Free

Please visit our website for more information on the Hoover Dam.
What is the Hoover Dam phone number?

Weather Forecast

LAS VEGAS WEATHER