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!
7 Best Hoover Dam Tours from Las Vegas, Nevada
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.
1. Hoover Dam tour from Las Vegas by helicopter
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.
2. Hoover Dam bus tour, a cheap Las Vegas day tour to the Hoover Dam
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.
3. Hoover Dam 3-hour bus tour, the best small-group Hoover Dam tour
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.
4. Bus tour to Hoover Dam & West Rim, a fun Hoover Dam tour
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).
5. Route 66 tour to Hoover Dam & South Rim, a complete Hoover Dam tour
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
- Number of participants: 14
- 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.
6. Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, & 7 Magic Mountains, the best Hoover Dam tour from Las Vegas
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
- Number of participants: 14
- 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.
7. Hoover Dam & Colorado River kayak tour, the best full-day Hoover Day tour
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
- Duration: 3 hours
- 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.
Price | Duration | Transport | Highlights |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
$69+ | 6 minutes | 🚁 | • Hoover Dam |
|
$60+ | 4.5 hours | 🚐 | • Hoover Dam |
|
$70+ | 3 hours | 🚐 | • Hoover Dam |
|
$89+ | 12-15 hours | 🚐 | • Hoover Dam |
|
$200+ | 14 hours | 🚐 | • Hoover Dam |
|
$199+ | 12 hours | 🚐 | • 7 Magic Mountains |
|
$139+ | 3 hours | 🚐🛶 | • Black Canyon |
|
| BEST HOOVER DAM TOURS FROM LAS VEGAS | ||||
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
- Lake Mead
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!
