The best way to see Hoover Dam from the water is on a Lake Mead cruise from the Lake Mead Marina in Boulder City, Nevada.
How to see Hoover Dam – on land
Hoover Dam, blocking the Black Canyon on the Colorado River, is one of the world’s great engineering marvels. It’s easy to see from the top of the Dam – there are lookouts on either side of the Nevada/ Arizona border.
You can also go inside the dam – the Hoover Dam tours offered by the Bureau of Reclamation are excellent. If booking a Hoover Dam tour from Las Vegas, check the small print carefully as many of them don’t go inside the dam.
But the coolest views of Hoover Dam are arguably from the water. And you’re not going to see it from the water if you just rock up at the Dam.
Lake Mead Cruises to Hoover Dam
To see Hoover Dam from the water, you’re going to need a boat. And, unless you’re splashing out for a private rental, the best way of getting on such a boat is taking a cruise on Lake Mead.
Lake Mead Cruises runs paddlewheeler cruises from the Lake Mead Marina in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, just outside Boulder City, Nevada. The Lake Mead Marina is a 35 to 40 minute drive from Las Vegas.
The Hoover Dam Sightseeing Cruise is good fun, and shows off the remarkable desert landscapes around Lake Mead’s shores on the way.
How much do Hoover Dam cruises cost?
These Lake Mead cruises to the Hoover Dam cost $42, and last around an hour-and-a-half. They depart most days of the week at midday, although not on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Bear in mind that you’ll also have to pay $25 per vehicle for entrance to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
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- What is the cheapest Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil show?
- Which hotels are on the Las Vegas Monorail?
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