Best Time to Visit Hoover Dam, Nevada
Month by month
Special event activities at the dam can be limited or restricted during a holiday period that starts the week after Christmas and runs to the first Monday of the new year. Sixteen workers and other people living along the riverbank died of heat prostration between June 25 and July 26, 1931. Lake Mead National Recreation Area is described as open all year.
| Month | Dated entry |
|---|---|
| December and January | Special event limits may apply from the week after Christmas through the first Monday of the new year |
| June and July | Heat prostration deaths were recorded from June 25 through July 26, 1931 |
| All months | Lake Mead National Recreation Area, with boating, hiking and fishing, is described as year-round |
Check dates and prices
Activities by season
| Activity | Timing |
|---|---|
| Guided dam tours | A whole-facility tour or a power plant tour, with tickets sold on-site only |
| Guided bus tours | Typically booked through tour companies in Las Vegas |
| Special event activities around Easter | Limited or restricted 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after Easter Sunday |
| Special event activities over the holidays | Limited or restricted from the week after Christmas through the first Monday of the new year |
| Lake Mead recreation, including boating, hiking and fishing | Year-round |
Lake Mead National Recreation Area is described as year-round and includes boating, hiking and fishing. The dam's special event limits are tied to Easter Sunday and to the holiday period, so the two sets of dates are separate.
Summer heat at the site
| Measure | Value | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Average daytime high at the dam site | 119.9 °F (48.8 °C) | Summer of 1931 |
| Deaths from heat prostration | 16 workers and other people living along the riverbank | June 25 to July 26, 1931 |
Summer 1931 was hot at the Hoover Dam site, where the daytime high averaged 119.9 °F (48.8 °C).
Between June 25 and July 26, 1931, sixteen workers and other people living along the riverbank died of heat prostration.
Easter and holiday special event limits
The window is counted from Easter Sunday.
A separate holiday window applies to the same activities. It starts the week after Christmas and ends with the first Monday of the new year.
- Easter: limits may apply for 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after Easter Sunday
- Holidays: limits may apply from the week after Christmas through the first Monday of the new year
Tours, tickets and authorization
Visitors can pick a guided tour of the whole facility or a guided tour of only the power plant area. Tickets can be bought only on-site.
For-profit entities need a commercial use authorization to run commercial activities and provide visitor services at Hoover Dam.
Tours at Hoover Dam
Clock time, security and contacts
Arizona does not observe daylight saving time. For more than half the year, the dam's clocks show the same time in both states.
Visitor and recreation information for Lake Mead National Recreation Area is listed at 702-293-8990. In an emergency, the number to dial is 911.
Questions about timing
Frequently asked questions
When do holiday special event limits apply?
The holiday period starts the week after Christmas and ends with the first Monday of the new year.
Are special event limits set around Easter?
Yes, they may be. The window covers 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after Easter Sunday.
What was the summer high at the dam site in 1931?
The daytime high at the dam site averaged 119.9 °F (48.8 °C) during the summer of 1931.
How many people died of heat prostration in 1931?
Sixteen workers and other people living along the riverbank died of heat prostration between June 25 and July 26, 1931.
Where are dam tour tickets sold?
Tickets for the whole-facility tour and the power plant tour are sold only on-site.
Is Lake Mead recreation available all year?
Lake Mead National Recreation Area, including boating, hiking and fishing, is described as year-round.
Which number covers visitor and recreation information for Lake Mead?
Visitor and recreation information is listed at 702-293-8990. In an emergency, dial 911.
Does Arizona observe daylight saving time?
No. The dam's clocks show the same time in both states for more than half the year.