Hoover Dam Tours: Formats, Seasons and Access
What the dam's tours cover, and the dates and limits that apply to them.
Tour formats at the dam
Visitors who want to move through the site without a guide can do so only at the visitor center.
Scenic aerial tours and skydiving trips that cover Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon are run from Boulder City Municipal Airport.
Entry to most of the dam's inner structures is closed to visitors, a restriction tied to security.
RTC public transit does not reach Hoover Dam.
| Format | What the facts state |
|---|---|
| Visitor center | The only self-guided option at the dam |
| Skydiving and scenic aerial tours | Run from Boulder City Municipal Airport and cover Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon |
| Interior structures | Most closed to visitors, with security concerns named |
| Public transit | No RTC service reaches the dam |
Check dates and prices
Seasons and special event dates
Weather at the site is described as extremely hot. The 1931 window from June 25 to July 26 is recorded with 16 deaths from heat prostration among workers and other people living by the riverbank.
Limits on special events at the dam typically cover the first 2 weeks of August.
A window of 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after Easter applies to special event activities, which may be limited during it.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area spans 1.5 million acres and is listed as year-round.
The dam's clocks match across the state line for more than half the year, and Arizona is the state that skips daylight saving time.
| Period | What the facts state |
|---|---|
| Easter | Special event activities may be limited for 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after |
| First 2 weeks of August | Special event limits typically apply |
| Lake Mead National Recreation Area | Year-round, spanning 1.5 million acres |
| Clocks at the dam | Same time in Nevada and Arizona for more than half the year |
Choosing a tour option
- Fuel and other services are limited along the 78 miles between Kingman, Arizona and Boulder City, with a station in Dolan Springs as the exception.
- Special event limits can apply for 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after Easter, and typically during the first 2 weeks of August.
- No RTC public transit service runs to the dam.
- Most of the interior structures are off limits to visitors.
- The site is described as extremely hot, and Lake Mead National Recreation Area is listed as year-round.
- 78 milesKingman, Arizona to Boulder City
Tours and activities
Questions about tours
Which tour format is self-guided?
Only the visitor center offers a route through the site without a guide.
Where are the aerial tours hosted?
Boulder City Municipal Airport hosts skydiving trips and scenic aerial tours that cover Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon.
Can special events change tour availability?
Special event limits may apply around Easter, for 2 weeks before and after, and typically across the first 2 weeks of August.
Are most of the dam's interior structures open to visitors?
No. Access to most interior structures is closed, a limit linked to security concerns.
How much of the Kingman road has limited services?
Fuel and services are limited along 78 miles between Kingman, Arizona and Boulder City, and the station in Dolan Springs is the exception.
What does the record say about heat deaths?
The records list 16 deaths from heat prostration among workers and other riverbank residents between June 25 and July 26, 1931, at a site described as extremely hot.