The Hoover Dam is open for cars to drive half way over, then turn around. Through traffic is not permitted on the dam.
How Much Does It Cost to Drive Over the Hoover Dam?
Driving over the dam is completely free. However, extras like parking and tours will cost money. The most convenient parking lots or garages costs $10. Tours range from $10 for self-guided tours up to $30 for guided tours. You can find more information about purchasing tickets here at The Bureau of Reclamation.
When Is the Best Time of Day/Week/Year to Visit the Hoover Dam?
According to the information from The Bureau of Reclamation, power plant tours are least busy early in the morning and late afternoon.
Best Day of the Week
Most people on tripadvisor answering this question reported that weekdays were excellent days to visit and preferable to weekends when foot traffic tends to be higher.
Holidays and school holidays are busier than normal weekdays.
Best Time of the Year
According to multiple sources, January and February are the slowest months for foot traffic, meaning you’ll have fewer people to deal with on your trip. Nevada’s climate keeps it generally mild in the winter months.
Pack for cold evening temperatures, but you may be surprised how comfortable you can be in the winter months in Nevada.
Can You Visit the Hoover Dam At Night?
You have significantly fewer options for visiting the Hoover Dam at night. The visitor center and tours stop at 5 p.m. Furthermore, pedestrian access to the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge Pedestrian Walkway is limited to daytime hours. Some spots along US-93 have pullovers from which you can see the dam from the distance, but these are remote and will involve some long-distance driving for not much of a stay.
Can You Go To Hoover Dam Without A Tour?
You can go to Hoover Dam for free and without a tour, but you will be limited to seeing the dam from a distance and/or driving over it. You will need to pay if you want to park and enjoy any kind of tour on or inside the dam.
Where Are the Best Views of Hoover Dam?
The best views of Hoover Dam generally fall in two categories:
- From a distance and free
- Up close and with a cost
From a distance and free
The Hoover Dam Bypass Trail leads to the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge Pedestrian Walkway. These areas are very popular locations for pedestrians to see from a distance the Hoover Dam sitting in its gorgeous landscape.
Up close and with a cost
To get a closer look at the Hoover Dam, you will likely end up spending money. It costs $10 to park close to the Hoover Dam, and the closest parking lots provide excellent view points already. The Hoover Dam’s observation deck also provides an excellent close-up view of the dam and is a part of the a self-guided tour package, which also costs money. Guided tours (again, costing money) will let you go inside the dam to see some of its inner “secrets” (Megatron not included).
Other methods of seeing The Hoover Dam
Various tour companies offer bus, SUV or even helicopter tours that may involve Hoover Dam as one of several destinations. These methods all have a higher cost per adult than any tour provided directly by the Hoover Dam but may involve extra amenities or destinations that could make the experience worth the cost. At least one option on tripadvisor puts the tour experience in the hands of a bus full of comedians.
Packing List for Hoover Dam
This packing list assumes you will be paying for parking and enjoying a tour rather than just getting out of the car on the bypass trail to snap some pictures and then take off.
Most sources say to expect to spend half a day at the Hoover Dam. With that in mind and with many parts of various tours taking place outside, here are some things to bring:
- Sunscreen
- Water bottle
- Snacks in sealed containers
- Comfortable walking shoes (shirts and shoes are required for entering any buildings)
- Weather-appropriate clothing
A note on the snacks. Food is available for purchase, but anyone who has done travelling knows how tourist food prices can skyrocket. Having some previously prepared food will help alleviate expensive impulse food purchases later. Although you cannot eat during a tour, you can bring sealed containers along with you and enjoy the food later in the appropriate areas.
Things you cannot bring or do, especially inside the Hoover Dam for tours:
- Firearms or knives
- Flying drones on Hoover Dam property
- Marijuana
- Eating inside the dam
Final Verdict: Should I spend money to visit the Hoover Dam?
If you are content with a less convenient parking location and only seeing the dam from the outside from a distance, don’t spend any money to visit the Hoover Dam.
If you want a closer look or want any kind of tour inside the dam, invest the money for parking and the tour packages. These are worth it. I visited the Hoover Dam in high school with my family, and we had a great time. Plus, the experience made the several hours of driving afterward more delightful as my brother and I got away with cracking dam jokes using language we would otherwise be scolded for using. If you buy anything from their gift store and look at the receipt, you’ll know exactly what I mean.
Hoover Dam Quick Facts
Here are a few quick facts for some commonly asked questions about the Hoover Dam.
How deep is the Hoover Dam?
The Hoover Dam is a little over 726 feet tall.
Is the concrete still drying?
According to multiple sources, the dam’s concrete is still drying and will continue to do so over many more decades. Instead of being unstable, the continuously drying (or curing) concrete actually suggests the dam will get stronger over time until it is completely dried.
How long is the Hoover Dam expected to last?
Most recent estimates from The National Park Service put the potential lifespan of Hoover Dam at over 1,000 years. Initial estimates were much smaller, less than 200 years, but these estimates were updated over time as new data came in and other projects along the Colorado River were completed.
What is at the bottom of Lake Mead?
When the water level in Lake Mead is low enough, the ghost town of St. Thomas emerges. Settled by mormons in 1865, the town was eventually covered by the formation of Lake Mead after the Hoover Dam’s completion.
