Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon Tours
Site facts, tour options and access for Hoover Dam, Nevada
Setting and access
- 30 milesDistance southeast of Las Vegas
- 360 degreesVisitor center view of the dam
- 4Diversion tunnels
- 56 ftDiameter of each diversion tunnel
Of the concrete arch–gravity type, the dam is set in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the Nevada–Arizona border.
The dam lies about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Las Vegas, and that city is the usual starting point for tours.
The site endures extremely hot weather. Visitors approach the dam from the Nevada side on the existing roadway, and they cross the dam to reach parking lots and facilities on the Arizona side.
No RTC public transit service runs to Hoover Dam.
Construction and early history
Boulder City, the nearest town to the dam, was originally built to house workers on the dam construction project.
Four diversion tunnels, each 56 ft across, were driven through the canyon walls to divert the Colorado River.
The National Register of Historic Places listed the dam in 1981, and it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1985.
The summer of 1931 at the site was especially torrid, and the daytime high averaged 119.9 °F (48.8 °C).
| Measure | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Construction period | 1931 to 1936 | During the Great Depression |
| Diversion tunnels | Four | Each 56 ft in diameter, driven through the canyon walls |
| National Register of Historic Places | 1981 | Year of listing |
| National Historic Landmark | 1985 | Year of designation |
| Summer 1931 daytime high average | 119.9 °F (48.8 °C) | At the dam site |
Tour options and tickets
- The only self-guided tour option at Hoover Dam is the visitor center itself.
- A visitor can take a self-guided route only at the visitor center.
- Purchase of tour tickets is limited to the site itself.
- The visitor center has exhibits and a 360-degree view of the dam.
- Security concerns keep visitors out of most of the dam's interior structures, and few of its interior decorations can now be seen.
- A Discovery Tour was added the year after the dam's September 2001 closure, when modified tours resumed.
Tours and activities
Available tours
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ToursCommon questions
Frequently asked questions
Where is Hoover Dam?
Its location is the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the Nevada–Arizona border, and its structure is concrete arch–gravity.
How far is the dam from Las Vegas?
It sits about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of Las Vegas.
Can tour tickets be bought online?
No. Sales happen in person at the site, so the tickets cannot be bought online.
Is the visitor center the only self-guided option?
Yes. The visitor center is the only self-guided tour option at the dam.
When was the dam constructed?
Construction ran from 1931 to 1936, a stretch that fell within the Great Depression.
Is there public transit to the dam?
No RTC public transit service runs to Hoover Dam.
Can visitors go inside the dam?
Security concerns keep visitors out of most of the dam's interior structures.
Is the dam on a historic register?
Yes. Listing on the National Register happened in 1981, and in 1985 the dam became a National Historic Landmark.