Las Vegas-Hoover Dam tours come in all shapes and sizes. Bus, helicopter and plane. Choose your option. Each offers a great way to experience this western icon while in Las Vegas.
The dam is located just 45 minutes from Las Vegas. The gravity arch structure has been holding back the Colorado River for over 75 years. The dam personifies what it means to be huge. Look at these facts:
1. It stands at 726.4 feet tall, making it the second-tallest dam in the US behind Grand Coulee in Washington state.
2. It is 1,244 feet long. The dam crosses the formidable Black Canyon and connects Nevada with Arizona.
3. It is 660 feet thick. Before the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge opened in October 2010, the upper portion of the bridge was a two-lane highway that 13,000 to 16,000 cars crossed daily. How popular is the dam? Between eight and 10 million people visit it annually, arriving by bus, helicopter, and plane.
Bus tours are the cheapest way to see the bridge. Trips include hotel pickup and drop-off, and lunch. The coach passes through Henderson and Boulder City, NV, and then through Lake Mead National Recreation Area before descending into Black Canyon. Your Hoover Dam tour now begins, which may include:
1. Riding over the dam from Nevada to Arizona.
2. The Official VIP Discovery Tour of the US Government Inside (takes you deep inside to see the Turbine Generators at work).
3. Explore the exhibits, the movie theater and the observation deck of the Visitor Center.
It is possible to combine a helicopter flight, air travel or boat cruise in your bus tour package. The journey time for the basic bus package is 3.5 hours.
Helicopter and airplane air tours are also offered. Flights leave Las Vegas every day of the year. The flight plan includes Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam. Helicopters fly at a lower altitude than airplanes, which typically include Hoover Dam as part of a Grand Canyon West Rim air package. The duration of the tour varies from 3.5 hours to 5.5 hours. Both packages combine the hotel’s free shuttle service.
Book your Hoover Dam tour in advance. There are two reasons for this: 1) It is cheaper; and 2) you are guaranteed a seat. To get the cheapest prices, I highly recommend purchasing your tour online. Buy directly from the tour operator if you want the best price. I know it sounds contradictory, but it is the company that organizes the tour that will sell it to you at the lowest price.
Hoover Dam tours are perfect for travelers looking for a quick day trip from the Las Vegas Strip. There is an adventure for every budget. Bus trips are the cheapest. Helicopters are best for getting a true bird’s eye view of the dam. Airplane tours include the dam as part of the flight to the West Rim. The Hoover Dam has fascinated visitors for years. Watch it in the air or on foot, you won’t be disappointed.