Getting to Hoover Dam
Distances and drive times
Las Vegas is the reference point, and the dam sits about 30 miles (48 km) to its southeast. The dam is located near Boulder City, Nevada, and Boulder City, the nearest town to the dam, is approximately 26 miles (42 km) from Las Vegas.
| Route | Distance or time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas to Hoover Dam | About 30 miles (48 km) | Southeast of Las Vegas, near Boulder City |
| Las Vegas to Boulder City | Approximately 26 miles (42 km) | Boulder City is the nearest town to the dam |
| Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon by way of Hoover Dam | About 4 hours by car | The route passes through Hoover Dam |
| Kingman, Arizona to Boulder City | 78 miles | Gas and services are limited along the drive |
Crossing the dam and the old road
Not every vehicle may use the crossing, so the Traveler's Guide is the reference to check before driving across the dam.
Since the bypass opened, drivers begin on the Nevada side. Lots and facilities on the Arizona side are reached by crossing the dam from Nevada.
After a security inspection, vehicles may continue to the Arizona side. They must then return to the Nevada side to rejoin US 93.
Tourist traffic bound for Lake Mead and the dam keeps using the old road that passes through Boulder City. The new bridge carries through traffic.
The Kingman approach
Reaching Boulder City from Kingman, Arizona means covering 78 miles on the road. Fuel and other services are limited along that route, and the one station named along it is in Dolan Springs. The route ends at Boulder City, which lies approximately 26 miles (42 km) southeast of Las Vegas.
- Distance from Kingman, Arizona to Boulder City: 78 miles
- Gas and services: limited along the drive, apart from a station in Dolan Springs
Flights and Lake Mead
Harry Reid International Airport, code LAS, is the airport for Las Vegas. Carriers from most major domestic networks and many international airlines use it.
From Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon is about 4 hours by car when the trip goes through Hoover Dam.
Between 2007 and 2015, Lake Mead logged 317 deaths. Drownings accounted for most of them, and no other national park recorded more.
Common questions
Is Boulder City the town nearest the dam?
Yes, Boulder City is the town nearest the dam. It is approximately 26 miles (42 km) southeast of Las Vegas.
Are any vehicles excluded from the crossing?
Yes. Not all vehicles may cross the dam, so the Traveler's Guide should be checked before driving.
What happens to vehicles that go over to Arizona?
They may cross to the Arizona side after a security inspection, but they must return to the Nevada side to rejoin US 93.
Which side of the dam is the approach from?
Since the bypass opened, the approach is from the Nevada side, and the lots and facilities on the Arizona side are reached by crossing the dam.
Where can fuel be bought on the road from Kingman?
The station in Dolan Springs is the one exception to limited gas and services on the 78-mile drive from Kingman, Arizona to Boulder City.
Which airport serves Las Vegas?
The airport code is LAS, and Harry Reid International Airport is the airport serving Las Vegas.
How do Lake Mead's deaths compare with other parks?
Over 2007 to 2015, no other national park logged more deaths than Lake Mead's 317, most of them drownings.