Welcome to the Hoover Dam Tour from Las Vegas
Visit the mighty Hoover Dam not as a tourist, but as an expert! This self-guided driving tour leads you from either Las Vegas or Arizona to the Hoover Dam and reveals the dramatic story behind its construction along the way. Discover a tale of desperation, high-flying acrobatics, and sheer human ambition as you drive. Then, walk along the dam itself and admire this amazing feat of engineering up close!
About the Tour
Your Hoover Dam Tour from Las Vegas begins right on the Vegas Strip. As you cruise through the Las Vegas Valley, you’ll get a glimpse into the city’s appropriately Wild West beginnings, from its start as a humble rail town to its early days as a rowdy gambling den. You’ll also find out how the Great Depression and the Hoover Dam changed the city forever.
Once you leave Vegas behind, you’ll get acquainted with the mighty Colorado River—which played the dual role of life-giver and destructive force of nature before the Hoover Dam’s construction. Ever wonder what it took to tame such a powerful force? You’ll find out here!
Then, get to know the big names behind the Hoover Dam project, like Frank “Hurry Up” Crowe and the Six Companies. Plus, learn how the water from the dam was intended to be distributed… and how that’s changing today.
Next, you’ll arrive in Boulder City, one of the state’s newest cities, and one created exclusively for the construction of the Hoover Dam. As you cruise through this unusual town, you’ll hear about a dramatic standoff between the dam’s builders and the Six Companies, as well as the truth behind the brutal working conditions the laborers suffered under.
After that, you’ll reach Lake Mead Viewpoint, offering stellar views of the artificial lake created by the Hoover Dam. Then you’ll hear how workers actually built the dam, from the daring feats of the high scalers to the genius engineering that went into pouring the concrete.
If you’d like to hike the route of old railroad tracks, you can do that next at the Historic Railroad Hiking Trail. Then, continue on to Lakeview Overlook, another fabulous spot to take in the scenery and snap some pictures of Lake Mead.
As you approach the dam itself, you’ll have the option to stop at Boulder Dam Bridge Overlook for the best view of the Hoover Dam you’ll find anywhere. Then, you can choose whether to drive across the dam or park and walk along the rim yourself!
Finally, you’ll arrive at the Hoover Dam Lookout on the dam’s far side, and hear what this dam means for the present and future of the southwest. Your tour concludes here.
Starting Addresses
From Las Vegas: Bellagio Fountain, 3600 South Las Vegas Blvd
Alternate Start Address from Las Vegas: 5100 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89119
From Arizona: 20606 US-93, White Hills
Preview the Tour
Stop 22 - Historic Railroad Hiking Trail
Stop 34 - Hoover Dam Lookout
Additional Information
What do we do?
Well simply put, Action Tour Guide is an audio guide, map, and tour book – all in one app! We are a GPS-enabled app-based tour that narrates information based on your location right on your phone. You can experience our driving and walking tours at your own pace and literally at any time of the day!
Lifetime Validity
Changing travel date? No worries! All individual tours come with lifetime validity.
No Network Needed
The tour works offline which means you do not need your phone network to enjoy the tour. However, we do suggest you download the tour at your home, hotel, visitor center, etc before you head out for a completely immersive experience.
Entry Ticket
This is not an entry ticket. Please visit https://www.recreation.gov/ for more info on entry/admission tickets.
Per Tour 3 - 4 Hours
500+ Reviews
