hoover dam tour information

Visiting the Hoover Dam: The Complete Guide

TripSavvy / Deanna Mazzola

History of the Hoover Dam

How to visit the hoover dam, how to drive across the hoover dam, the best views of the hoover dam, tours of the hoover dam, how to get there, where to stay nearby, tips for your visit.

The  Hoover Dam (originally known as the Boulder Dam), which holds back the mighty Colorado River forming Lake Mead , is located on the Arizona-Nevada border on Highway 93. It's 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas . 

It's a popular tourist destination whose Bureau of Reclamation tour alone draws nearly 1 million visitors every year. The bureau has been leading visitors through the dam and power plant since the '30s, and it is no less impressive today. If you're planning a trip to see the Hoover Dam in person, here's what to know.

The construction of the Hoover Dam originally named the Boulder Dam, backed up the Colorado River, resulting in the formation of Lake Mead. The dam was completed in five years. The contractors were allowed seven years from April 20, 1931, but concrete placement in the dam was completed May 29, 1935, and all features were completed by March 1, 1936.

Nearby Boulder City was built in 1931 to house the dam workers. It is the only city in Nevada where gambling is illegal. Visitors can enjoy antique shopping and restaurants.

If you want to visit the Hoover Dam, the first place to start is at the visitor center . Here, you can make your reservations, get the opening hours, learn about special events, and more.  Yes, you can enjoy the Dam for free. Park in one of the free parking areas and walk across the dam, where you will find plenty of great photo opportunities and interesting information posted along the way. Look up as you walk and see another marvel of engineering: the construction of an immense bridge across the river just downstream from Hoover Dam, on the Hoover Dam Bypass.

There are restrooms in the visitors center, parking garage, adjacent to the Old Exhibit Building and in the downstream face towers on top of the dam. Shopping for a souvenir? You'll find some interesting things at the gift shop on the lower floor of the parking garage. There is also a food concession at the dam.

Look for the warning signs before you cross the Hoover Dam. Not all types of vehicles are allowed to cross the dam. Even better, do a little research on the important  information  before you leave. You might be surprised to know that RVs and rental trucks can cross the dam (but they may be inspected). 

It's tempting to want to stop and take photos of the Hoover Dam or just pause and take it all in. Look for the many pullouts to safely do this. Don't stop on the street. 

The visitors center is on the Nevada side of the dam and it can be a bit more crowded but is another place to park. If you want covered parking or primo parking spots, be prepared to pay. Oversized vehicles, those with trailers and recreational vehicles can't park in the garage closest to the visitors center, though. They have to park in a lot on the Arizona side of the dam. If you're on a budget, you can find lots on the Arizona side a bit further up the canyon that offers free parking, if you don't mind the walk across. There is a closer lot on the Arizona side that costs a fee.

TripSavvy / Taylor McIntyre

Tours of the Hoover Dam are available at the visitors center a first come, first served basis for those over 8 years of age. (Younger children cannot go on the tour.) For those wanting to see the Power Plant, too, you can reserve a ticket online or at the visitors center. All ages are allowed on the Power Plant tour. Neither tour is accessible for those in wheelchairs or with limited mobility.

The Hoover Dam is about a 45 minute drive from the Las Vegas Strip . Exact times may vary due to traffic. Rideshare services can cost around $60 one way depending on the time of day. If you are taking your own car, a parking garage can be found on the Nevada side of the dam. This garage costs $10 and only accepts cash.

There are no public transportation options that go directly to the dam. Take note that the Hoover Dam does not have an exact address, so make sure to set your GPS to the Hoover Dam Visitors Center.

The closest nearby cities to the Hoover Dam are Boulder City, Nevada, Henderson, Nevada, and Winchester, Nevada. A few affordable options are the Hoover Dam Lodge & Casino , the Boulder Dam Hotel , and the Best Western Hoover Dam .

You can find more mid-range options in nearby Lake Las Vegas , including The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa and the Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa .

If you're planning on staying in Las Vegas and road tripping, make sure to check out our list of the best hotels to book in Las Vegas .

• The Hoover Dam is a major attraction. It is worth visiting, but you may want to avoid the crowds. The slowest months for visitation are January and February. The least crowded time of day for tours is 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
• Remember that you are in the desert. It can get hot at Hoover Dam (lots of concrete, remember?). Dress accordingly and bring water.
• When you are at the Hoover Dam, be sure and take the time to look at the Hoover Dam Bypass. The bridge over the Colorado River is viewable from the dam and as you drive across. The immense bridge is both amazing and scary. It is 900 feet above the river, making it the world's highest concrete arch bridge and the second-highest bridge in the United States, behind the Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado.
• The main part of the bypass, which rerouted the highway to have fewer sharp turns, is named the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. The bypass opened in 2010.

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The 5 best hoover dam tours from las vegas (2024).

Learn more about this architectural marvel on a guided tour.

Best Hoover Dam Tours from Las Vegas

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If you're planning what to see and do in Las Vegas , you may be considering a day trip to the Hoover Dam – the National Historic Landmark that diverts water from the Colorado River to various corners of the southwestern United States. Authorized by President Calvin Coolidge in 1928, the dam took around five years to build. At the time of its completion in 1935, dam workers used 6.6 million tons of concrete, more than 5 million barrels of cement and 45 million pounds of steel.

Tours of the facility are available on-site and include access to the power plant and the dam's tunnels. However, independent tour companies – many of which depart from Las Vegas – also make stops at the dam. Many of the Hoover Dam tours from Las Vegas include additional experiences, such as a stop at the Las Vegas welcome sign or the Seven Magic Mountains public art installation.

Considering both traveler sentiment and expert input, U.S. News selected the best Hoover Dam tours from Las Vegas.

Comedy on Deck Tours – Hoover Dam Ultimate VIP Tour

Price: Adults from $90; kids from $80 Duration: 7 hours

Guides double as stand-up comedians on this Hoover Dam bus tour. In addition to round-trip transportation from your Las Vegas Strip hotel and a dedicated driver, this full-day tour includes a 45-minute walk across the top of the dam, the chance to see interior generators and learn how they work, and a sit-down lunch at a local restaurant. Plus, you'll stop at the iconic Las Vegas welcome sign for a photo-op and drive through historic Boulder City, Nevada. Tourists call it a great way to spend a day thanks to the entertaining and talented guides and the manageable pace of the tour.

This tour departs daily between 7:25 and 8:20 a.m., depending on your hotel's location along the Strip. The company also offers a Grand Canyon West tour that departs from Las Vegas.

Check prices & availability on:

Gray Line Las Vegas – Half Day Hoover Dam from Las Vegas Tour

Price: From $72 Duration: 4.5 hours

An ideal option if you're short on time, this half-day Hoover Dam tour operated by Gray Line Las Vegas promises round-trip transportation from the Strip to the dam, plenty of photo opportunities and two hours to explore at the dam. During the excursion, you'll also enjoy access to the dam museum and visitor center, as well as a guided tour of the power plant. Plus, the tour includes time for a photo-op at the famous Las Vegas welcome sign. Reviewers rave about the views seen along the tour and the entertaining, informative guides. Travelers also say this is a convenient, affordable tour for visitors based in Las Vegas.

Two departures are available daily at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Gray Line also offers tours to see the Grand Canyon .

Pink Adventure Tours – Hoover Dam Tour

Price: Adults from $119; kids from $109 Duration: 4 hours

Take in views of Lake Mead, the Hoover Dam and the Colorado River on this small-group tour that's capped at 10 participants. You'll get picked up from your Las Vegas hotel in one of the company's air-conditioned "Tour Trekker" vehicles, which features oversized windows, leather captain's chairs and an onboard audio system so you can easily hear the commentary from your driver, who doubles as your guide. Along your drive to the dam, you'll learn about the Mojave Desert, as well as early mining in the area and housing for dam workers. Upon reaching the dam, you'll enjoy 360-degree views from the observation deck before descending to the Power Plant. Guides from the Bureau of Reclamation will take you through the inspection tunnels and the generator room. Most reviewers give this tour high marks, praising the knowledgeable, entertaining tour guides, the comfortable vehicles and the small group size. Travelers also said this is a good option for visitors who do not want to devote an entire day to seeing the Hoover Dam.

Take your pick between an 8 a.m. or 1 p.m. departure. Pink Adventure Tours also offers tours of Red Rock Canyon and the Strip.

MaxTour – Hoover Dam Walk On Top Tour with Seven Magic Mountains

Price: From $80 Duration: 5 hours

You'll see more than just the Hoover Dam on this jam-packed outing. After being picked up from your Las Vegas hotel, you'll stop at the Las Vegas welcome sign to snap some photos before heading to Seven Magic Mountains, a public art installation by Ugo Rondinone that features a collection of colorful stacked boulders. Next up is a walking tour across the Hoover Dam and the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. Along the way, your guide will make bonus stops at some of their favorite "hidden gem" spots. Participants laud the knowledgeable guides, who reviewers say make the experience fun and memorable. Others appreciated the guides' willingness to take photos for them, and their many restaurant recommendations.

Tours, which are capped at 14 people, are offered Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 8 a.m. The company also operates tours that combine a visit to the Hoover Dam with a stop at the Grand Canyon.

Mr. Las Vegas – Hoover Dam Mini Tour

Price: Adults from $70; kids from $65 Duration: 3 hours

If you don't want to devote an entire day to seeing the Hoover Dam, consider this "mini" small-group tour operated by Mr. Las Vegas. It includes round-trip transportation from the Strip in a 14-person vehicle, a drive through Boulder City, and stops at Lake Mead and Hemenway Park (known for its herds of wild big horn sheep). You'll also enjoy plenty of panoramic views and photo-ops at the Hoover Dam, including at the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Bridge. Reviewers praise the length of the tour and applaud the guides for their informative, engaging delivery. They also admired the views to and from the dam.

Hoover Dam tours are available twice-daily at 8 a.m. and noon. Note that tour lengths may stretch to four hours based on where you are picked up or dropped off on the Strip. Mr. Las Vegas also operates tours that combine a visit to the Hoover Dam with a stop at Seven Magic Mountains.

Frequently Asked Questions

The length of a Hoover Dam tour depends on which one you select; the Bureau of Reclamation offers two. If you opt for the Guided Power Plant Tour, it takes about 30 minutes. The Guided Dam Tour lasts about one hour. A tour with an independent company – which provides round-trip transportation from Las Vegas and may stop at other locales – will likely last several hours.

Yes, you can see the Hoover Dam without a tour. The exterior of the dam is open to visitors daily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. You can take a self-guided tour of the visitor center for $10, which includes access to the center's exhibits and access to the observation deck and Original Exhibit Building. You can also view parts of the Hoover Dam for free from the pedestrian plaza, which features panoramic views of the Colorado River, Lake Mead and the dam. However, if you'd like to see the historic construction tunnels, walk through the inspection tunnels or take a tour of the power plant, you'll need to purchase tickets for one of the guided tours.

To avoid crowds, plan your visit to the Hoover Dam on a weekday. According to the Bureau of Reclamation, the least busy times for tours are 9 to 11 a.m. and 2:30 to 3:45 p.m.

You may also be interested in:

• The Best Las Vegas Tours
• The Best Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours
• The Best Grand Canyon Bus Tours From Las Vegas
• The Best Things To Do With Kids in Las Vegas

Tags: Tours , Travel , Vacations , Nevada Vacations , US Vacations , U.S. West Vacations

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The Dam Crew

Boulder city/hoover dam museum, environmental/cultural exhibits .

Location: The dam is located 7 miles northeast of Boulder City, NV. Take US Highway 93 to Nevada State Route 172. The dam is on the Nevada-Arizona border.  Get Directions.

Hours and Fees:

Parking Deck: 8 AM - 5:15 PM

Parking Fee: $10:00

Visitor Center: 9 AM - 4:15 PM

Tickets: $10:00; children 3 and under are free

Power Plant Tour: 9 AM - 3:45 PM

Adults: $15.00

Seniors (62+): $12.00

Juniors (16 & Under): $12:00

U.S. Military:  $12.00

How to spend a day at Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and Boulder City for FREE

- 7 stops in 7 miles -.

1. Park in one of the free parking lots on the Arizona side of the dam, then enjoy the amazing architecture as you walk across the top of the dam to the stunning Art Deco sculptures on the Nevada side.

2. Relish the spectacular views of Hoover Dam and Black Canyon from 890 feet above the Colorado River on the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge walkway.  The bridge is the world's tallest concrete arch span.

3.  Stop by the Alan Bible Visitor Center to see a full size relief map of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and explore the plants and animals that make Lake Mead home.

4. Drop in on the desert big horn sheep as they graze at Hemenway Park in Boulder City. You'll find them there most afternoons. They're wild, so keep a safe distance!

5. Step back in time with a visit to the historic Boulder Dam Hotel in downtown Boulder City. Built in 1933, the hotel operates today with 21 guest rooms, a Hoover Dam museum, a popular restaurant and an art gallery.

6. Inside the Boulder Dam Hotel, you'll discover the Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum. Their interactive exhibits tell the story of the Hoover Dam, as well as the men and women who built it and settled Boulder City.

7. WALK BC is a self-guided audio walking tour of Boulder City, the town formed to house the workers who built Hoover Dam. The tour takes you through the historic district, which is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.

Map to all 7 Stops

Lake Mead Activities

The Town That Built Hoover Dam

Historic Downtown

Colorado River Activities

Hiking & Biking Trails

Grand Canyon Tours

Desert Adventures

Excellent Restaurants

"What's in a name?" and other dam facts:

What's in a name, you ask?  Politics!  The dam was originally planned for Boulder Canyon and the early 1920's blueprints were labeled Boulder Dam. Although the site for the dam was moved to Black Canyon, the dam continued to be called Boulder Dam until 1931 when Secretary of the Interior, Ray Wilbur pronounced the dam would be called Hoover Dam.  In 1933, the new Secretary of the Interior under the Roosevelt administration, Harold L. Ickes, ordered the name "Boulder" be used as the official designation.  Finally, in 1947, under President Harry Truman, the dam was officially named "Hoover."

The Hoover Dam has appeared in dozens of movies, including The Silver Streak (1934), Heldorado (1946), The Amazing Colossal Man ( 1957), Ocean's Eleven (1960), Viva Las Vegas (1964), Diamonds Are Forever (1971), Superman (1978), Lost In America (1985), Universal Soldier (1992), Fools Rush In (1996), Vegas Vacation (1996), Head of State (2003), and Transformers (2007).

Hoover Dam is 724.6 feet high and weighs 6,600,000 tons.

The water pressure at the base of the dam is 45,000 pounds per square foot.

The sculptures at the dam were created by Oskar J. W. Hansen who saw his work as "a monument to collective genius asserting itself in community efforts around a common need or ideal."

There is enough concrete in Hoover Dam to build a two lane highway from Seattle, Washington to Miami, Florida or a four foot wide sidewalk around the Earth at the equator.

Because of the dam's remote location and difficult terrain, a town had to be built to house the construction companies and their workers. That town became Boulder City, NV and currently thrives as a safe, clean community of approx. 16,000 with beautiful parks, excellent restaurants and accommodations, educational museums and sites, and an array of outdoor adventure activities. Learn more about the Hoover Dam/Boulder City area at explorebouldercity.com .

Boulder Dam Hotel

Rated #1 in Boulder City in:

Cleanliness

Wireless Internet

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Albom Adventures

Capturing the essence of travel through photography

Inspiring travel through photography

12 Fascinating Things to Do at Hoover Dam and Nearby

Possibly the world’s most famous dam, the Hoover Dam sits along the Colorado River at the border of Arizona and Nevada. We can tour this engineering wonder, spend some time taking in the views, and see some of the nearby sites. In fact, we found plenty of interesting things to do at Hoover Dam and nearby.

Massive, powerful, and instantly impressive. I stood staring at Hoover Dam with wonderment before taking the first photo. I had done my homework, so I knew this was once the world’s tallest dam, yet this monumental engineering feat still seemed a bit overwhelming to take in.

Once here, we had options. Observing the dam from one of the observation vantage points, taking a tour, or kayaking on the river are among the many cool things to do at Hoover Dam. Colorful man-made and natural options fill the surrounding area.

Fascinating facts about building Hoover Dam

• Hoover Dam is a concrete arch-gravity dam on the Colorado River at the border between Arizona and Nevada in the USA.
• Construction began in 1931, and then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated it on September 30, 1935. Therefore, it was built during the great depression, which gave 1,000s of people work.
• The Hoover Dam weighs more than 6.6 million tons.
• More than five million barrels of concrete were used in making the dam. In fact, it was poured continuously for nearly two years, from June 6, 1933, until May 29, 1935. It used enough concrete to pave a three-inch thick, 18-foot wide highway from San Francisco, California, to New York City, New York.
• The Arizona-Nevada state line is at the center of the crest.

Things to do at Hoover Dam

Cross the Memorial Bridge

Officially called the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, it is the USA’s first concrete-steel arch composite bridge. More common names are either Memorial Bridge or Freedom Bridge. Bypassing traffic around Hoover Dam is its primary purpose.

The bridge opened in 2010, the year that celebrated 75 years of the Hoover Dam. Since then, it has done a lot to alleviate some of the traffic congestion. Additional accolades include the widest twin-ribbed arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere and the highest concrete-arch bridge anywhere.

It also offers great views of the dam, like the one at the top of this page.

Take a tour (tops most people’s list of things to do at Hoover Dam)

There are three tour options at Hoover Dam .

• Self-guided tour Walk through narrated exhibits and discover the history of the dam.
• Powerplant tour (30 minutes) Start by walking through the original construction tunnels, then view a 30-foot diameter penstock as you feel the vibration of the water rushing through the pipe, and see 8 of the commercial generators. (Also included is the self-guided tour)
• Hoover Dam tour (1 hour) This is the full guided tour, and it includes some of the lesser-known parts of the dam. You will do everything in the two tours above, plus visit historic tunnels, ride the elevator to the top of the dam, walk the inspection tunnels, and view the river through the ventilation shaft.

Pro tip: If you are a pacemaker wearer or if you are claustrophobic, these tours may not be for you. The generators emit electromagnetic frequencies, and the tour passes through enclosed places.

Stop in at the Visitor Center Hoover Dam

The visitor center Hoover Dam is open nearly every day (closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas). Before you enter, look at the Bronze sculpture entitled “Winged Figure of the Republic.”

Be sure to head up to the observation deck, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the dam from 600 feet above the Colorado River. Expansive views include both the river and Lake Mead. Weather isn’t an issue here, as there are both indoor and open viewing areas.

Kayak on the Colorado River

If you want to kayak on your own, you will need to contact the Bureau of Reclamation to deliver your craft, as they are the only people offering road access. Therefore, a tour may be both easier as well as informative.

The one that popped out for us is this 8-hour tour that starts in Las Vegas and brings you to the Hoover Dam. From here, paddle on a 12-mile (19km) adventure along the Colorado River. Highlights include wildlife spotting, relaxing in hot springs, a hidden channel, the green waters of Black Canyon, and of course, Hoover Dam. Snacks are included. Reserve your spot kayaking on the Colorado River tour here .

Things to do near Hoover Dam (within an hour’s drive)

Boulder City

Only 15 minutes away, there are plenty of things to do in Boulder City, Nevada. Whether you are looking for historical sites, the Nevada State Railroad Museum, somewhere to eat, or ‘alien artifacts’ – Boulder City has it all. And if it’s the latter, you might want to check out some of these other weird and bizarre things to see in Nevada.

Seven Magic Mountains

Colorful and seemingly random, Seven Magic Mountains is a desert art installation by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone. It consists of seven boldly painted boulder totems reaching as high as 35 ft.

Lake Mead is the first national recreation area and the largest reservoir in the United States. Formed by the Hoover Dam, its inflow source is the Colorado River. Camping, swimming, boating, hiking, cycling, and fishing are popular activities at the Lake Mead Recreation area .

Red Rock Canyon

Located within the Mojave Desert (Nevada), Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is best known for its red sandstone peaks and other geological features. You can also find Native American petroglyphs here.

Shop at outlet malls

Las Vegas may not be best known for shopping, but in reality, it is a discount shopper’s paradise. In fact, it is home to three main outlet malls: the North and South Premium Outlets and the outlet center annex.

What can I say about Las Vegas in a few sentences? Bold and energic, Las Vegas is as much an experience as it is a destination. If you are staying in Vegas and planning a day trip to Hoover Dam, be sure to check out the Las Vegas: Go City All-Inclusive Pass . A half-day Hoover Dam highlights tour is one of the 30 things included on your pass.

Getting to Hoover Dam from Las Vegas

An easy day trip, Hoover Dam is only 33 miles from Las Vegas and it takes 45 minutes to get there with a vehicle, making it an easy day trip from Vegas . If you don’t have your own car, if you prefer narration, or if you have limited time, check out these options:

• Hoover Dam highlights tour This top-rated four-hour tour from the Las Vegas strip drives across the Hoover Dam with photo stops at the Memorial Bridge and the highest scenic lookout on the Arizona side. Plus, it visits historic Boulder City and the Lake Mead Visitor’s Center. Reserve your Hoover Dam highlights tour here .
• Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam, and 7 Magic Mountains tour This 12-hour tour hits the highlights in a big way, with an added photo stop at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign. It’s a lot to see in one day, and while it may sound like too much for a day, read the reviews. Participants love it. The tour includes four hours at the Grand Canyon, climbs up to the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge walkway for views, and a walk through Seven Magic Mountains. Reserve your Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam tour here.

Read next: USA Adventure: Places to Visit on a USA Road Trip

Save on your trip with these resources

These are our go-to companies when we travel. We believe this list to be the best in each category. You can’t go wrong using them on your trip too.

• Flights : we use Expedia for the best and cheapest flight options.
• Accommodations: we use Booking.com (hotels), VRBO (self-contained), or Hostelworld (budget).
• Cars (gas or electric): we use RentalCars to search for deals and dealer ratings.
• Motorcycles : we have heard good things about BikesBooking .
• Campervans or Motorhomes : we use Campstar where Albom Adventures readers get a 3% discount.
• Private guides : we often find the best option is to work with a private guide .
• Travel Insurance: while not required, we always opt for travel insurance and start at InsureMyTrip to compare coverage plans.

Check out our travel resources page for more companies that we use when you travel.

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Did you discover any new things to do at Hoover Dam?

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About rhonda albom.

Capturing the essence of travel through photography, Rhonda Albom is the primary author and photographer at Albom Adventures. She is an American expat based in New Zealand. She travels the world with her husband.

Reader Interactions

February 9, 2022 at 1:20 pm

Kayaking down the Colorado River sounds like a blast!

February 9, 2022 at 12:37 pm

Wow! That’s so impressive. My husband’s grandfather worked on the dam during its construction. I don’t think I realized how mammoth a project that must have been.

February 8, 2022 at 8:23 am

I’ve never been to the Hover Dam but this blog is giving me inspiration for sure!!

Vanessa Shields

February 8, 2022 at 7:55 am

The Hoover Dam is an incredible sight to see! When I visited I wasn’t expecting it to be so impressive prior to going but wow! It is neat to see for the views up top and to take the full tour and really see the behind the scenes of how it operates!

anatureescape

February 7, 2022 at 12:56 pm

Kayaking on the Colorado river looks amazing!

Linda (LD Holland)

February 7, 2022 at 4:14 am

I remember driving right past Hoover Dam and thinking we should stop and check it out. Now I am sorry we did not. The Civil Engineer in me would have been fascinated by this construction achievement. The full one hour tour sounds like a great road trip break. I won’t pass by next time.

February 7, 2022 at 4:07 am

I’ve always wanted to visit the Hoover Dam, I just didn’t have as much time last time I was in Nevada. When I return I’ll go and try out some of your recommendations too!

February 7, 2022 at 2:17 am

We totally enjoyed our visit to the Hoover Dam. Can’t wait to take the kids. It was much more grand than I expected!

February 6, 2022 at 3:13 pm

The Hoover Dam is so impressive to me. I visited it years ago and would love to go back. The kayak tour sounds like something I would really enjoy!

February 6, 2022 at 11:15 am

I didn’t know that you can take a tour here! It’s great that there are so many other unique places to visit nearby as well.

Carrie-Anne Foster

April 11, 2014 at 2:35 am

The Hoover Dam is incredible. Fitting how this impressive man-made structure is a short jaunt away from the Grand Canyon, a breathtaking natural beauty.

April 10, 2014 at 11:29 pm

The dam is gigantic.

April 10, 2014 at 3:28 pm

I wish i could visit some engineering marvels like these 🙂 beautiful.

February 6, 2022 at 9:20 pm

I am kicking myself for not having visited Hoover Dam when I’ve visited Last Vegas. I knew of it but had no clue there was so much to do and see around there. It’s now on my bucket list!

T. A. Miles

April 10, 2014 at 6:58 am

The Arizona desert is quite a place. My family has been across and across that region traveling between California and Iowa. I have not been to the Hoover damn yet, but my love of water and architecture in relation to it will have me there one day, I’m sure!

April 10, 2014 at 4:54 am

Great pictures, and I do love that freaky angel sculpture thing. I have been to the Desert Southwest one time. I kinda live there.

Julie K Pick

April 9, 2014 at 8:11 pm

When we went to Las Vegas years ago, my hubby didn’t want to leave Hoover Dam. The rest of us were anxious to go after an hour. You took some great shots there, Rhonda!

April 9, 2014 at 5:43 pm

Rhonda, It’s an interesting place. I’ve never taken the tour either, maybe next time?

Lynda Dietz

April 9, 2014 at 1:23 pm

I’ve always been fascinated by the Hoover Dam and any documentary about it I’ve seen. It just looks so immense in pictures, I can’t imagine how overwhelming it would be to see it in person.

Liz Brownlee

April 9, 2014 at 11:58 am

Wow, never seen anything like that here in the UK! Fab pictures, really enjoyed that.

April 9, 2014 at 11:36 am

I visited here when I was in Vegas!!! Such a great time.

April 9, 2014 at 10:57 am

You often hear about Hoover Dam but I don’t think I’ve ever seen photos of it. Thanks for the introduction.

April 9, 2014 at 10:04 am

I’ve seen the Hoover Dam. I’ve been all over this part of the country. I want to see all of America though. All of it or at least most of it. Working on that now.

Have a fabulous day. 🙂

Alex J. Cavanaugh

April 9, 2014 at 9:55 am

Been there a couple times. It’s really, really big. And when I visited as a kid, my brother and I threw super balls over the side. (They really frown on that now.)

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7 Best Hoover Dam Tours from Las Vegas, Nevada

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While the Vegas Strip is lots of fun, taking a  Hoover Dam tour  is a breath of fresh air and one of the  best day trips from Las Vegas . The hydroelectric dam is almost 90 years old, and it’s still among the most impressive sights in the country. Plus, the dam is less than an hour from Sin City, so it’s one of the coolest  things to do outside Las Vegas .

If you’re looking for something different to do in Vegas, consider visiting the Hoover Dam as a family or with friends. The incredible man-made structure and the beautiful scenery around Lake Mead and the Colorado River will make the trip well worth it!

The area is close enough to drive to, and a  shuttle to Hoover Dam from Las Vegas  is included in the  Las Vegas City Pass  (the best  CityPass in Las Vegas ). If you don’t want to drive and organize an itinerary, you can take one of the awesome  Hoover Dam day trips from Las Vegas .

There are bus and   helicopter tours from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam  for all budgets and schedules. Lots of tours include stops at other points of interest, like Boulder City, Route 66, and even the Grand Canyon. Whether you want a full-day package or you just have a couple of hours, I’ll help you find the  best tour of Hoover Dam from Las Vegas .

7 Best Las Vegas day trips to Hoover Dam

After reviewing the top-rated tours and analyzing the prices, durations, and highlights, I can recommend some great  Las Vegas day trips to Hoover Dam .

To sum up, these are the 7  best Hoover Dam tours from Las Vegas :

• Hoover Dam tour from Las Vegas by helicopter
• Hoover Dam bus tour
• Hoover Dam small-group tour
• Bus tour to Hoover Dam & Grand Canyon West
• Small-group tour to Hoover Dam & Grand Canyon South
• Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon, & 7 Magic Mountains
• Hoover Dam & Colorado River kayak tour

1. Hoover Dam tour from Las Vegas by helicopter

This tour is just one of the  Las Vegas helicopter flights  available to the surrounding areas.  This tour  may be short, but you’ll get fantastic views of the dam, Lake Mead, and the Colorado River from 2,500 feet above sea level.

Your  helicopter ride includes in-flight narration so you can learn about the history of the dam. Both sides of the helicopter provide excellent viewing and photo opportunities of the massive structure, the river, and the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. If you want something different, check our guide on Hoover Dam helicopter tours for more options.

• Highlights : Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Colorado River
• Duration : 6 minutes
• Number of participants : 6
• Price : $69+
• Description : Take a short  helicopter tour to Hoover Dam from Las Vegas , soaring over the Lake Mead area and catching views of the Colorado River .

2. Hoover Dam bus tour , a cheap Las Vegas day tour to the Hoover Dam

If you have a few hours, you might enjoy a  bus tour to Hoover Dam from Las Vegas .  This half-day tour   includes hotel pick-up and drop-off and a ride on an air-conditioned coach bus.

Your  Las Vegas shuttle to Hoover Dam  will take you to Boulder City, where the dam construction workers lived. An expert guide will share interesting facts about the city and the dam as you pass the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge.

When you arrive at the Spillway House, you can walk across the dam to get excellent photo opportunities of the hydroelectric engineering and Lake Mead. On the way back to Vegas, take in the scenery of the Nevada desert.

• Highlights : Boulder City, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead
• Duration : 4.5 hours
• Number of participants : 50
• Price : $60+
• Description : Take a  Hoover Dam day tour from Las Vegas by bus, stopping at historic Boulder City before walking around the dam’s Spillway and enjoying views of the intake towers and Lake Mead .

3. Hoover Dam 3-hour bus tour , the best small-group Hoover Dam tour

If you’re short on time, a small-group  Hoover Dam day trip from Las Vegas  is perfect.   This 3-hour tour  includes  transportation to Hoover Dam from Las Vegas  hotels on the Strip.

You’ll ride through the famous Boulder City, then make your way to the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. From here, you’ll continue on foot across the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge Walkway, which overlooks the dam and the Colorado River.

The group will then head to Lake Mead lookout, where you’ll be able to see the dam from different viewpoints. Your tour ends with a stop at Hemenway Park, where bighorn sheep like to graze.

• Highlights : Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Colorado River, Boulder City, Hemenway Park
• Duration : 3 hours
• Number of participants : 14
• Price : $70+
• Description : Get picked up from your Vegas hotel and make your way through Boulder City to the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge Walkway. Then, enjoy the viewpoints from Lake Mead lookout and visit Hemenway Park before heading back to the Strip .

4. Bus tour to Hoover Dam & West Rim , a fun Hoover Dam tour

This  bus tour from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam  and the Grand Canyon is an exciting adventure.   The full-day tour  includes pick-up from a few Vegas hotels, as well as breakfast and lunch.

You’ll board a comfortable bus and ride to Grand Canyon West. Along the way, your driver will stop at two iconic sites: Route 66 and the Hoover Dam. This is your chance to get incredible photos of the dam and the Colorado River while an expert guide shares facts about the area.

Once you get to the Grand Canyon, you’ll board a shuttle to Eagle Point, a stunning viewpoint on the edge of the West Rim. Then, head to Guano Point for a different perspective before heading back to Vegas.

• Highlights : Grand Canyon West, Route 66, Hoover Dam, Eagle & Guano Points
• Duration : 12-15 hours
• Number of participants : 25
• Price : $89+
• Description : Enjoy a tour from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam , Route 66, and Grand Canyon West, where you’ll enjoy beautiful views from Eagle and Guano Points .

5. Route 66 tour to Hoover Dam & South Rim , a complete Hoover Dam tour

There are many  Grand Canyon tours from Las Vegas , but  this full-day tour  is one of the best. It starts with an early morning pick-up from your Vegas Strip hotel. You’ll board a bus and ride from  Las Vegas to Hoover Dam , where you’ll get time to take photos and enjoy the view. Then, continue along the famous Route 66, where you’ll stop for lunch in Seligman, Arizona (lunch and snacks are included).

By the afternoon, you’ll arrive at Grand Canyon National Park’s South Rim, where you’ll have about 3.5 hours to explore. There, you can take the park shuttle to Hermit Road and the walking paths or check out attractions like the Yavapai Museum of Geology, the Hopi House, and the visitor’s center.

• Highlights : Hoover Dam, Route 66, Grand Canyon National Park, South Rim
• Duration : 14 hours
• Price : $200+
• Description : Take a full- day trip from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon National Park. On the way, you’ll stop at Hoover Dam and have lunch at Route 66, then have 3.5 hours to explore the Grand Canyon South Rim .

6. Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, & 7 Magic Mountains , the best Hoover Dam tour from Las Vegas

Here is another fun  Hoover Dam tour from the Las Vegas Strip .  This day tour  starts with a quick stop at the Fabulous Las Vegas sign before driving into the Mojave Desert. There, you’ll see the Seven Magic Mountains art installation, an interesting sculpture in the middle of the Nevada desert.

On the  shuttle from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam , you’ll pass through Boulder City, then stop at the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge Walkway. Here, you can walk along the bridge and get a beautiful front view of the hydroelectric dam.

The final stop is the Grand Canyon West Rim, where you’ll have 4 hours to explore. You can take a hike to the stunning lookouts at Eagle and Guano Points or pay a bit extra to go on the Skywalk.

• Highlights : Fabulous Las Vegas sign, Seven Magic Mountains, Hoover Dam, Grand Canyon West Rim
• Duration : 12 hours
• Price : $199+
• Description : This  Las Vegas day trip to Hoover Dam , Seven Magic Mountains, and Grand Canyon West Rim includes transportation and snacks. You’ll take a shuttle bus through the Mojave Desert to the art installation, the hydroelectric dam, and the West Rim, where you’ll have 4 hours to explore .

7. Hoover Dam & Colorado River kayak tour , the best full-day Hoover Day tour

If you want an adventure off the beaten track but still want to learn about the Hoover Dam, the best tour from Las Vegas  is  this 3-hour kayak trip . The package includes pick-up from several Vegas Strip hotels, transportation, and entry to Black Canyon. There, you’ll embark on a 4-hour kayaking adventure, starting at Willow Beach.

An expert guide will lead your group and share interesting facts about Hoover Dam and the surrounding area along the way. They’ll also point out wildlife viewing opportunities, so keep your eyes peeled for bighorn sheep and bald eagles! About halfway through the tour, you’ll end up at a gorgeous viewpoint overlooking the Colorado River. Then you’ll kayak to Emerald Cave, a narrow channel with sparkling green water.

• Highlights : Black Canyon, Emerald Cave, wildlife spotting
• Number of participants : 12
• Price : $139+
• Description : Enjoy a unique day trip from Las Vegas to Black Canyon, where you’ll embark on a 4-hour kayak tour. See the Colorado River and paddle through Emerald Cave while learning about the surrounding area.

How much does a Hoover Dam tour cost?

The price of a  day trip to Hoover Dam from Las Vegas  depends on things like duration, the number of stops, and mode of transportation. Fortunately, there are different kinds of tours, and I’ve compared each of the top 7 below. Check out this chart to find the  best Hoover Dam tour from Las Vegas  for your budget and schedule.

FAQs – Hoover Dam from Las Vegas

If you’re still unsure about visiting  Hoover Dam from Las Vegas , these answers to commonly asked questions may help!

How far is Hoover Dam from Las Vegas?

The driving  distance between Hoover Dam and Las Vegas  is about 40 miles.

How long does it take to get to Hoover Dam from Las Vegas by car?

It takes 45-50 minutes to arrive at Hoover Dam from Las Vegas by car .

How to get to the Hoover Dam from Las Vegas?

If you’re  driving to Hoover Dam from Las Vegas , take Tropicana Avenue to US 515 South, which becomes I-93. Follow the highway for about 20 miles until you get to Boulder City and see signs for Hoover Dam.

If you don’t have a car or don’t want to drive, you can take a day  tour to Hoover Dam from Las Vegas .

What other things can you see during a Las Vegas road trip to Hoover Dam?

As you can see from these  Hoover Dam tours from Las Vegas , there are some cool pitstops you can make along the way. Here are a few ideas:

• Springs Preserve
• Clark County Wetlands Park
• Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area
• Hemenway Park
• Arizona Hot Spring
• Seven Magic Mountains
• Colorado River
• Boulder City
• Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge

How much does a Hoover Dam day trip from Las Vegas cost?

The price of a  Las Vegas day trip to Hoover Dam  varies depending on the duration, the number of participants, and where you go. In general, these tours can range from around $60 to over $200.

What is the cheapest Hoover Dam tour from Las Vegas?

The price depends on the duration and any extra stops along the way, but you can do a half-day  Hoover Dam tour from Vegas  for as low as $60.

I hope you liked reading about the  best Hoover Dam tours from Las Vegas ! There are so many options for  visiting the Hoover Dam from Las Vegas , so I hope you found a day trip that meets your needs. If you have any questions, feel free to leave me a comment below. Safe travels!

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Hoover Dam Express Bus Tour from Las Vegas

Home > Tours > Hoover Dam Express Bus Tour from Las Vegas

Book our half-day express tour to the Hoover Dam from Las Vegas. Experience breathtaking views of the Lake Mead, Hoover Dam and the amazing Pat Tillman and Mike O’Callaghan by pass bridge. Walk through the original construction tunnels and visit the viewing platform overlooking a 30 foot diameter penstock – feel the vibration created by water rushing through the pipes, while you experience 8 of the commercial generators in the Nevada Powerhouse. Enjoy a self-guided tour of the Visitor's center providing you with a plethora of historical information about Hoover Dam

• Photo stop at the historic 'Welcome to Las Vegas' sign
• 2 Hours of exploration time at the Hoover Dam
• Get amazing photo opportunities from the Nevada and Arizona look-out points
• Guided Power Plant Tour included.
• Experience the breathtaking spillway
• Experience the majesty of the Hoover Dam from the newly built bypass bridge
• Experience Lake Mead, one of the worlds largest man-made lakes from multiple viewing areas
• Parking and admission is included
• Pick-up from most major hotels on the Las Vegas Strip and Downtown Area
• Children 0 - 23 Months Ride Free
• Don't be duped by other tour companies who add fees at check-out book with confidence knowing you're getting the best deal.
• Book with a brand you can trust Gray Line, the world-famous Blue Diamond.
• By choosing Gray Line you ensure that you have the best of the best at your service.
• Please note that if the interior portion of the attraction is not available during your visit, additional stops may be added to the tour to ensure that you have a complete and enjoyable experience. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.

Please Note

• If a motor coach with a lift is required we must have a 72-hour prior notification to the date of travel, all motor coaches with lift equipment are subject to availability
• Service dogs are allowed to travel with the correct and current paperwork, small oxygen tanks are allowed
• 24-Hour prior cancellation policy in effect for all tours
• Passengers who have a pacemaker will not be able to go inside the Hoover Dam due to the electromagnets in use inside.
• The following items are prohibited on our motorcoach tours due to security restrictions luggage, large backpacks, drugs or alcohol. If an item has not been listed, please contact us for further information

When would you like to go?

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Pickup Info

[email protected] 702-739-7777 1-877-333-6556 A rescheduling fee will apply for any date changes made within 24-hours of the original service date based upon availability

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Hoover Dam Highlights Tour from Las Vegas

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Starting at

Departure Time

Boulder City, Nevada

• Approx. 5 Hours

Enjoy views of Hoover Dam, Lake Mead and visit Historic Boulder City during your half-day tour from Las Vegas. You will marvel at the amazing view of Hoover Dam and the Colorado River from the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, which gives a great view from 900 feet above the Colorado River and Black Canyon. You will have time to walk across and around the dam and enjoy the beautiful Art Deco designs from the 1930’s. Experience Boulder City Historic District, where you will be given time to explore "The Town that Built Hoover Dam." Visit the Hoover Dam Museum, located inside the Boulder Dam Hotel, and maybe stop into an antique shop or grab a snack as you walk along the famous bronze sculptures throughout the town.

Important Details:

• Please arrive at your pickup location at least 10 minutes prior to your departure time, as the tour cannot wait for late guests
• Find your specific pickup location the day prior to be sure you know where to meet
• Be sure to check weather in the destinations to make sure you have appropriate clothing
• Wear comfortable walking shoes
• Consider bringing a hat and sunscreen
• Feel free to bring snacks and drinks (non-alcoholic) to enjoy during your tour

Drop-off Locations:

Please be aware that drop-off locations at the end of the tour are limited to Excalibur, Bally's and Treasure Island.

Luggage Prohibited:

Please be aware that no luggage is allowed, due to Bureau of Reclamation restrictions. Smaller personal bags or backpacks are allowed with you on the bus, but suitcases or larger luggage are not allowed.

1. You will depart in the morning from Las Vegas, heading toward Boulder City.

2. arrive at hoover dam where you will have approximately 90 minutes to walk across the dam and around the area for memorable photos., 3. drive to the pedestrian walkway along the mike o’callaghan-pat tillman memorial bridge allowing you great photo opportunities of hoover dam and the colorado river, as well as the dividing line between nevada and arizona., 4. drive further down to the hoover dam, enjoying the famous art deco designs and incredible engineering from the 1930's., 5. visit boulder city historic district to enjoying seeing the federal town that was created for the workers who built the dam. stop into the hoover dam museum, and wander through the famous bronze sculptures that line the streets., 6. after boulder city, relax and enjoy the 45-min ride back to las vegas, what's included:, round-trip transportation from las vegas, admission into bureau of reclamation, hoover dam area, complimentary bottled water.

The price of your tour ticket does not include a gratuity for your driver/guide. It is customary to provide them with a gratuity of  approximately 10-20% . 

Cancellation Policy: We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of the tour.  Any cancellations received less than 24 hours will not be refunded.

Disclaimer: Every effort will be made to adhere to the published itineraries. National Park Express reserves the right to alter any itinerary at any time based on local conditions, and will not be responsible for losses incurred due to unforeseen circumstances. Tour prices are subject to change. NPE reserves the right to adjust the listed price at any time for any reason, however, we will not adjust prices once the booking has been confirmed and full payment has been received. Once a tour departs, there will be no refunds extended.

Should weather issues or other unforeseen circumstances cause a delay in our tour or transportation before the departure, National Park Express reserves the right to postpone or cancel, and any loss or additional expenses incurred shall be borne by the participants.

The listed tours are designed by National Park Express; we do our best to make sure all the tour arrangements and inclusions will be the same as planned. Should any unforeseen situation(s), such as traffic, road conditions, accidents, mechanical problems, public enemies, strikes, riots, political upheavals, the authority of law, bad weather, or any other natural circumstances beyond our control arise, local agents conducting the tour or our office staff reserve the right to alter the itinerary as necessary for the comfort and safety of the participants. Any additional expenses incurred shall be charged to the participants. Participants should strictly abide by the laws and regulations of the local governments. National Park Express will not be responsible for individuals, for any and all penalties due to any regulations of the governments of the cities, counties, countries, and other jurisdictions visited.

To ensure comfort, quality, and safety, NPE reserves the right to accept, reject, or expel any individual who is deemed disruptive or incompatible with the interests, comfort, and safety of the group. All expenses to do so will be borne by the passenger. NPE will not be responsible for the behavior of any tour participant. NPE reserves the right to make changes in the itinerary, or to cancel, whenever the Company deems it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of the tour participants.

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What we know — and don’t know — about the new Hoover Dam toll plaza

F or decades, travelers have visited Hoover Dam, one of the nation’s premiere engineering feats and a Southern Nevada tourism staple, for free.

Today, it’s unclear how long it will remain a free attraction as the Bureau of Reclamation has built a toll plaza just beyond a security checkpoint near the dam.

So far, the plaza gateway is inactive and vehicles can pass through it once they’ve cleared security.

Michelle Helms, regional chief of the office of communications for the Bureau of Reclamation’s Lower Colorado Basin, said in an email that Hoover Dam charges a use fee for commercial road-based tour operators in compliance with federal regulations.

“We don’t have congressional authorization to charge an entry fee for non-commercial vehicles,” she said.

Helms said she has not been briefed on any plans involving charging non-commercial vehicles.

The new turnstile also means visitors may eventually have to pay to access the walkway for the Pat Tillman-Mike O’Callaghan Memorial Bridge over the Colorado River from which pedestrians can get a breathtaking view of the massive, 726-foot concrete arch-gravity dam, which was completed in 1936 during the Great Depression after five years of construction.

Also beyond the turnstile is a parking area where hikers can access the 3.7-mile historic railroad tunnel trail that offers views of Lake Mead.

The Bureau of Reclamation office that handles commercial use permits for Hoover Dam did not respond to telephone and email inquiries about why the plaza was built, how much it cost or when it would be activated.

Hoover Dam bypass

The road to Hoover Dam, formerly U.S. 93, was identified in the 1960s as dangerous and inadequate to handle projected traffic volumes.

In the late 1990s, work began to develop a bypass of the route to what is now Interstate 11. The need for a bypass was accelerated by the 9-11 tragedy when checkpoints were established to monitor U.S. 93 traffic driving across the dam.

The bypass project began in 2003 with bridge approaches and bridge construction began in 2005. It was completed and opened to vehicle traffic on Oct. 19, 2010, at a cost of $240 million, with the bridge itself costing $114 million.

Today, tourists can still drive across Hoover Dam to parking lots on the Arizona side of the Colorado River. But the old highway is blocked and motorists must return over the dam to the Nevada side to exit.

Commercial use authorizations are required of vehicles that transport tourists and goods to the dam area. Tour buses are among the vehicles required to pay a daily fee at a rate of $5 per passenger.

The Bureau of Reclamation first began collecting fees from commercial operators in 2020.

Non-commercial educational groups are not required to pay a fee. Commercial authorizations generally cost $100 per application and must be renewed annually and daily uses have been paid in advance online.

About 32,000 commercial vehicles visit Hoover Dam each year, bringing an estimated 800,000 visitors to the dam.

Fees collected are used for upkeep of Hoover Dam visitor facilities.

Contact Richard N. Velotta at [email protected] or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on X.

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More than Hoover Dam: Boulder City’s historic district

Boulder City’s history is deep, not only because of Hoover Dam but because of the people who maintain its spirit today, over 90 years after its first settlers broke ground.

Inside Sherman’s House of Antiques, past the book shelf and some jewelry display cases, sits Hunter Hodson eager to help any customer who might wander in.

On a sunny and hot Wednesday afternoon in Boulder City, Jackie, a visitor from the United Kingdom, walked up to the counter as Hodson, 63, started to crack jokes. He turned down the radio, which was emitting some older jazz-blues tunes, to take a payment.

Jackie’s travel partner, also from the U.K., bought some Vegas-related memorabilia — a few poker chips and a red die. Hodson jokes she can’t use these chips to gamble. The woman promises she won’t try.

The women continued on their way to Hoover Dam, but Hodson sat back down. He lives in Boulder City. He works at Sherman Wright’s antique store.

“He gave me the opportunity to work with him. He said, ‘You don’t work for me, Hunter. You work with me.’ And that was a keeper for me,” Hodson said. “Sherman is not only a swell guy, he knows everything about old stuff, including me.”

Boulder City is home to Hoover Dam, but who calls Boulder City home? At one point in time, the town was made up almost entirely of dam workers. Now, it’s commercial owners and workers who claim residence there.

Its rich history is splattered across its historic district, recreational areas and its national landmark. More so, Boulder City’s story is embedded in the pink and white stripes of Grandma Daisy’s ice cream parlor. It’s painted on the Coffee Cup Cafe’s turquoise walls, and chronicled in the photo trunk at Wright’s antique store.

It’s inside the memories of Boulder City’s longtime residents.

Junk-turned-antiques

“Everybody know everybody. It’s really a small town,” said Sherman Wright of Sherman’s House of Antiques. “When you walk down the street people are like, ‘Hi Sherm, how you doing?’ and I can speak to them, ‘Hey Jeff, how you doing?’ because we know each other.”

Wright, 67, owns the antique store alongside his wife, Brenda, whom he brought to Boulder City after they started dating in 2009. In 2010, they got married, and around the same time, opened the antique house.

The two make a good team. Wright tackles the item collection, Brenda organizes it into an appetizing display, he said.

“I find junk. She turns it into antiques,” Wright said. “She’s the wind beneath my sail.”

Boulder City was an epicenter for work at one point. Hoover Dam, built by Six Companies Inc. in the 1930s, drew thousands of men and their families to Southern Nevada desperate for a penny.

By 1936, the dam was complete, but many of the workers decided to stay. Over two decades later, Congress approved the Boulder City Act and allowed residents to create a local government and produce a municipality.

The town has changed and grown exponentially since the dam completion, but parts of it never change, Wright said. He’s originally from Baltimore, but he’s lived in Boulder City for 25 years, and it’s nothing like the East Coast, he said.

To him, Boulder City is nice. It’s peaceful and quiet. It’s home.

“It’s still a nice knit community … but we get a lot more visitors from out of state,” he said. “They’re going to bury me out here in Boulder City.”

A Boulder City treat

Jessie Morelli, 31, who co-owns Grandma Daisy’s Candy Store and Ice Cream Parlor with her mom, attributes the town’s tourism to Hoover Dam. Visitors love the “old timey and historic” feeling, she said.

“It’s grown into such a destination,” Morelli said. “There’s tons of tourists coming to see the Hoover Dam, and then they see this cute, quaint little town, and they just have to come check it out.”

Her grandma, who is not the namesake of the parlor, bought the store in 2006, and the two worked together for a year before her grandmother died. Morelli loves the small town feel, she said.

“It’s such a good small community,” she said. “Everyone’s there for everybody.”

While her family took over the store nearly two decades ago, Grandma Daisy’s has actually been around since 2001, she said. Multiple times a day, customers tell her they used to drink root beer floats with their grandpa at the store.

Many share stories of their childhood in the bright parlor. Outside is a blast from the past: A Zoltar Machine, at the ready to provide a fortune, and two mechanical horse rides for children contribute to the historical feel of the place. Inside, a cow head is mounted to the wall.

All of which came from a local vendor called Characters Unlimited, a company that designs and builds animatronic people, birds, animals and fortune teller machines.

A special town

A few doors down from the pink and white parlor is the Coffee Cup Cafe , which celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. Its anniversary party, despite being a well-known diner, was a low-key celebration.

“I think we might have had a drink,” co-owner Terry Stevens said.

The diner has been around longer than 1994. Before then, it was in a different spot and under different leadership, but now, Stevens, 40, owns the famous spot alongside his sister. The walls of the cafe are lined with memories of years of service.

Stevens, who grew up in Boulder City, recalls eating at the original cafe as a kid. The city, while there’s been outside push to change, has stayed the same, he said.

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Nevada voters will get the chance in November to weigh in on whether to require photo ID for in-person voting.

The labor department said the franchisee must pay over $270,000 in civil penalties after violating federal rules at 10 pizza joints in Las Vegas and Henderson.

Silver State roads have seen 200 deaths through June 30, 12 percent higher than the 178 fatalities seen through June last year, according to data from the Nevada Department of Public Safety.

The convicted man’s offenses came to the attention of law enforcement when the mother of one of his victims saw threats on the victim’s phone, according to the DOJ.