Lake Mead and Hoover Dam are two stops that you may consider stopping by on the way to Grand Canyon West.
Lake Mead
Lake Mead is situated just 30 mins drive from Las Vegas. It is a man made lake, the largest reservoir in the world.
Many tourists who go to Grand Canyon West would stop by at Lake Mead because of the deep blue water. The reflection of surrounding mountains and canyons creates a wonderful landscape. It was an amazing site to have a huge lake in the middle of desert.
Lake Mead is popular for boating, fishing and nature hikes. You can rent a kayak to explore the lake or just hike along the lakeshore trails, you get to see combination of desert bush and red rocks.
How Far is Hoover Dam?
From Lake Mead to Hoover Dam take you about 15 mins. You can see Lake Mead from the car but you won’t be able to see the Hoover Dam from the car because it was blocked by the big boulder of rocks.
Purpose of Hoover Dam
Hoover Dam was built to help provide power and contain the flow of water. It also provide the water for cities and towns in Las Vegas. On top of that, also creating recreational areas.
Hoover Dam Name
The original name of Hoover Dam was Boulder Dam as it was located at Boulder city (refer to below) but changed to Hoover Dam, renamed it after the President Herbert Hoover.
Hoover Dam Plant Tour
The tour will bring you down to see the turbines and big engines. You will be walking through the dam tunnels and looking at the dam stairs and out the dam hatch and riding the dam elevators and finally to the top of the dam.
Serving Nevada, Arizona & California States
Hoover Dam Power Plant generates a lot of energy each year for use in Nevada, Arizona and California.
As Lake Mead and Hoover Dam is only 15 mins apart, you can do this together. Just make a detour in while driving to Grand Canyon West.
Hotel Lodge is also available around Hoover Dam and Lake Mead.
Housing near neighborhood of Lake Mead, outskirt of Las Vegas City
Petrol Station at Las Vegas
The gas company is called Terrible’s, one of petrol station located in Nevada area. The gas station look super big, one side for heavy trucks and the other side for the normal sedan cars.
What I Found In The Gas Station Food Mart
Poker Machines/slot Machines
Poker machines & sloth machines are easily access even at the food mart in gas station 🙂 Where are we again? Nevada, Las Vegas!
Crickets Snacks
Bugs snacks in different flavor, Salt N Vinegar & Sour Cream & Onion. Both looks delicious to me, should I get two?
Alien Fresh Jerky
Buy some and chew in the desert! Alien Fresh Jerky started recent 10 year partly due to inspiration from the secret nature – Area 51 which has connection with Aliens!!
Final thoughts :
Drop by to Lake Mead and Hoover Dam if you have few days in Las Vegas, only 30 mins from the Strip Vegas. You can do the two in a day and explore slowly around the lake with some lake activities. After that you can explore Hoover Dam plant tour to get an insight experience of how the plant generate power in this desert area. The plant guide would explain some interesting fun facts and history about the plant. Fees apply for entrance to Hoover Plant tour.
Don’t rush your tour in a day together with Grand Canyon West Rim. That would be too rush because you need to reach Grand Canyon West Rim before noon so that you have a whole day to explore the canyon!
Nearby Attractions :
- Grand Canyon West Rim – Skywalk
- Road Trip Grand Canyon West
- Las Vegas Strips
- Las Vegas China Town
- Las Vegas Mandalay Hotel Casino – Michael Jackson “One” show
- Calico Ghost Town
31 comments
This trip is on my bucket list. I would love to take this road trip with my kiddos. I’m not sure if we’ll be brave enough to try the Crickettes though! Thanks for sharing your beautiful photographs!
Dear Kristy,
Kids would love to learn about the energy plant in Hoover Dam.
Beautiful picture s of the water! This place sounds pretty cool. I however don’t think I could bring myself to eat a cricket no matter the flavor lol
Dear britbrat269,
Haha, not sure why the cricket snack are sold in the gas station, must be for tourists like me.
It looks like a really interesting and fun trip. Those crickettes though, I couldn’t bring myself to try those lol
We usually go to Vegas once a year, for a convention. I finally made it out to the Hoover Dam last year! It’s awesome!! Definitely a must see on my list!
The Mandalay Bay Casino Resort has very big convention center for business meeting. I am glad you made it to Hoover Dam last year! It is really a hidden gem, an oasis in the desert!
Nice mixup of things and presentation from all persoecpersp.
It sure seems weird to see crickets marketed to humans, since I’ve always bought them for my cats.
Wow, I didnt know cats eat crickets?? I know my neighbor birds eat a lot of cricket per week. Is about 20 cents for one cricket, aren’t cheap but full of protein for the birds.
Whoops. I meant Lizards. I have no idea why I wrote cats lol (although, they do chase them when they escape lol)
Wow, what an incredible view! I’d love to visit here myself one day. There’s something so fascinating about seeing a little water oasis in the midst of a scorching hot desert.
I went to Vegas years ago and visited Lake Mead and Hoover Dam while I was there. They were both a day trips but I wouldn’t mind going back and spending more time at both places. I didn’t stop at a has station but it would be funny to see slot machines there.
Glad to know that you have wonderful time at Lake Mead and Hoover Dam, I agree with you going for a day trip for both places is a great idea. We should have another day to Grand Canyon West, dont try to put everything into a day, that would be too much! Slot machines in everywhere, even gas station has some, it is so accessible and convenient for people to gamble!
Good to know. Grand Canyon is on my list (I would love to to do some hiking there some day) and now I know that I need to check out Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam too!
Dear Tricia,
If you go Grand Canyon West from Las Vegas, it is worth to drop by Lake Mead and Hoover Dam on your way.
I loved Lake Mead, it was a real beautiful place to visit and Hoover dam was cool to see! Great review, brought back some nice memories
I haven’t done a lot of traveling to the Western US yet, but these sites are on my list to see! They sound like fun natural things to visit after the wild city of Las Vegas.
This is truly a bucket lists material. So many great spots. Will be saving this! Next trip to Las Vegas.
This looks like an amazing place to do a self-drive! …not sure about the snacks, though!!
Oh whoa! I’ve never been out here but it looks like I might need to take a little road trip. x
I think the plant tour is really cool. The crickets, not so much.
Hoover Dam tour is great for learning tour for children and even adult could have so much fun learning about how the energy is generated and learn about the plant. The guide in the plant is humorous and crack jokes along the tour. You will enjoy it but lots of walking up and down.
That looks really nice and peaceful. I would totally take that drive through the desert.
Lake Mead sounds like a place our family would enjoy. My husband loves fishing. He’s always looking to take the girls.
I have always loved the dessert. I need to see the Hoover Dam sometime.
I grew up going to Nevada to visit my grandma. I haven’t seen this area since I was kid though. It looks like it’s time to go back!
I would need a whole weekend to fully enjoy this! Not too sure I would be brave enough to try those Bugs snacks hehehe.
This is a bucket list trip.That drive looks likesomething i would enjoy
The view of lake Meadis just priceless
I love lakes. Your trip looks like in movies!
This area is fun to visit. We live super close, but only do it when we have company that wants to see the dam.