Day trip from Las Vegas
The best Hoover Dam tours
The 3-hour small-group trip, the power plant tour with lunch, an inside tour with Boulder City and a Lake Mead paddlewheeler cruise. Here is which Hoover Dam tour to book. We also give honest advice on what the official tickets cost, what you can't bring and the desert heat.
See our 4 picks
Yes, you can tour Hoover Dam: the official Dam Tour is $40, sold on site. From Las Vegas, the 3-hour small-group tour starts from €62 with hotel pickup and a Hoover Dam entry ticket.
The official Dam Tour often sells out, and you can only buy it in person. The four tours on our list all have free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Our 4 picks for Hoover Dam tours
Three trips from Las Vegas with pickup, and one boat cruise on Lake Mead. All four have free cancellation.
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from €62 per person Our top pick 3 hours 4.7 (931) reviews on GetYourGuide
3-hour small-group Hoover Dam tour
A short trip in an air-conditioned van with a guide and a Hoover Dam entry ticket. You get picked up at a Strip hotel, and the details come the night before.
Best for A half day, or your only free morning
Check availability: 3-hour small-group Hoover Dam tour on GetYourGuide -
from €53 per person 5 h 30 min 4.8 (289) reviews on GetYourGuide
Power plant tour with lunch
A bus trip with a guided tour of the power plant and its generator rooms, plus a walk on top of the dam. Lunch is a hot restaurant meal. A comedy club ticket comes free.
Best for Seeing inside the dam, with lunch
Check availability: Power plant tour with lunch on GetYourGuide -
from €76 per person 5 h 30 min 4.5 (312) reviews on GetYourGuide
Inside tour with Boulder City
A 5.5-hour bus trip with entry to the Visitor Center and the Generator Room. You also stop at the bridge overlook and in Boulder City's historic district.
Best for A slow half day with a town stop
Check availability: Inside tour with Boulder City on GetYourGuide -
from €49 per person 1 h 30 min 4.5 (216) reviews on GetYourGuide
Lake Mead paddlewheeler cruise
A 90-minute cruise on a paddlewheel boat with indoor and outdoor decks. It leaves from Lake Mead Cruises in Boulder City, and there is no transport from the Strip.
Best for Drivers who want time on the water
Check availability: Lake Mead paddlewheeler cruise on GetYourGuide
Hoover Dam tours from Las Vegas compared
| Tour | From | Duration | Pickup | Who it suits | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-hour small-group Hoover Dam tour | €62 per person | 3 hours | Pickup included | A half day, or your only free morning | The shortest trip on our list, with up to 14 people and the entry ticket included. |
| Power plant tour with lunch | €53 per person | 5 h 30 min | Pickup included | Seeing inside the dam, with lunch | The cheapest trip from Las Vegas on our list, and the only one with the guided power plant tour and lunch. |
| Inside tour with Boulder City | €76 per person | 5 h 30 min | Pickup included | A slow half day with a town stop | The one trip that adds Boulder City and the bridge view to the inside visit. |
| Lake Mead paddlewheeler cruise | €49 per person | 1 h 30 min | Meeting point | Drivers who want time on the water | The only boat trip on our list; parking is included, but the Lake Mead park fee is not. |
3-hour small-group Hoover Dam tour
€62 per person3 hours 4.7 (931)
Details
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Who it suits
- A half day, or your only free morning
- Why we picked it
- The shortest trip on our list, with up to 14 people and the entry ticket included.
€53 per person5 h 30 min 4.8 (289)
Details
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Who it suits
- Seeing inside the dam, with lunch
- Why we picked it
- The cheapest trip from Las Vegas on our list, and the only one with the guided power plant tour and lunch.
€76 per person5 h 30 min 4.5 (312)
Details
- Pickup
- Pickup included
- Who it suits
- A slow half day with a town stop
- Why we picked it
- The one trip that adds Boulder City and the bridge view to the inside visit.
Lake Mead paddlewheeler cruise
€49 per person1 h 30 min 4.5 (216)
Details
- Pickup
- Meeting point
- Who it suits
- Drivers who want time on the water
- Why we picked it
- The only boat trip on our list; parking is included, but the Lake Mead park fee is not.
- Small group: 3-hour small-group Hoover Dam tour takes up to 14 people.
- All 4 offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
- Prices and ratings as shown on GetYourGuide on 24 October 2026. Prices are "from" prices in euros and can change; the booking page shows the live price.
Which Hoover Dam tour fits your day
Pick the 3-hour tour if you have a short window. Pick the power plant tour if you want to see the generators and eat lunch.
The inside tour with Boulder City takes 5.5 hours and adds a town stop. The Lake Mead cruise is for people with a car, because it has no transport.
Hoover Dam also sits in many day tours from Las Vegas, and our day-trip guide compares them.
To add the Grand Canyon to Hoover Dam, see our Grand Canyon tours page.
The official Hoover Dam tours
The Bureau of Reclamation runs three tours at the dam. The guided Dam Tour costs $40 and is sold on site only. It is first come, first served, and it often sells out.
The Dam Tour takes you into the tunnels and inspection tunnels, with a look down a ventilation shaft. It also includes the Power Plant Tour. Strollers are not allowed.
The whole group must be there to buy Dam Tour tickets. You must be over 16 to tour alone. America the Beautiful passes are not accepted for tours.
| Tour | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|
| Guided Dam Tour | $40; free for ages 3 and under | On site only, in person |
| Guided Power Plant Tour | $25 adults; $15 ages 4–16; free for 3 and under | Online or on site |
| Self-guided Visitor Center | $15; free for ages 3 and under | Online or on site |
The Power Plant Tour
The Power Plant Tour costs $25 for adults and $15 for ages 4 to 16. You can buy it online. It is wheelchair and stroller accessible.
From Las Vegas, the power plant tour with lunch on our list includes a guided power plant visit with the generator rooms.
Hoover Dam tour times
The Visitor Center and tours run daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The last tour leaves at 4:10 p.m., and the doors close at 4:15 p.m.
The dam itself is open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. The Visitor Center is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The tours from Las Vegas set their own start times. The 3-hour tour sends your pickup time the night before, between 6 and 8 p.m.
A Lake Mead boat tour
Yes, you can see the lake behind the dam by boat. The 90-minute midday cruise uses a paddlewheel boat with indoor and outdoor decks and recorded narration.
It leaves from Lake Mead Cruises at 490 Horsepower Cove, Boulder City. Arrive 30 minutes early, the listing says.
You need a Lake Mead National Recreation Area pass to drive in. The park service charges $25 per vehicle, valid for 1 to 7 days.
Driving to Hoover Dam yourself
Yes, you can drive there on your own. Hoover Dam is about 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas, via I-11 and US-93 through Boulder City.
Every vehicle may be checked at the Nevada checkpoint. RVs and trailers must park on the Arizona side.
Our Hoover Dam to Las Vegas guide covers the drive, parking and tickets on your own.
Driving yourself? Parking is $10, or free in two Arizona-side lots:
Before you book a Hoover Dam tour
Buy the Dam Tour in person
The $40 Dam Tour is sold on site only and often sells out. Get there early if you want it.
Leave bags behind
Tour vans take no luggage or coolers, the listings say. No knives are allowed in the dam's buildings, not even pocketknives.
Know what is banned
Firearms, drones, fireworks and marijuana are banned at the dam. Visitors are screened by wand or pat-down.
Watch for the pickup message
The 3-hour tour sends your pickup time the evening before. Your pickup may be at a hotel near yours.
Plan for the heat
Normal July highs in Las Vegas are 105°F (41°C). Bring water and a hat in summer.
Hoover Dam tour questions and answers
How much does a Hoover Dam tour cost?
Which Hoover Dam tour is best?
Can you still tour Hoover Dam?
Is a Hoover Dam tour worth it?
How do I get to Hoover Dam from Las Vegas?
More Hoover Dam tours, live
More options with live prices and availability, straight from GetYourGuide.
See every tour with today's prices and open dates on GetYourGuide.
Browse all on GetYourGuideMore day trips near Las Vegas
Sources (4), facts checked on 24 October 2026
Written by the Things to Do in Las Vegas editorial team.