More about: 7 Best Day Trips to Lake Mead from Las Vegas
Lake Mead is one of the largest reservoirs in the United States, formed by the effects of the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. It is a stunningly beautiful body of fresh water in the middle of the desert, and one of the best places to visit in Las Vegas.
You can take a trip to this oasis to enjoy fun water sports, go camping, see it from a bird's eye view from a helicopter, or take a cruise on the lake. There are many options available. Here are some recommendations for the best tours so you can enjoy an exciting day at Lake Mead.
1. Kayak tour of Lake Mead
If you don't know what to see and do in Las Vegas in 5 days, book a tour to enjoy a kayak trip on Lake Mead. This excursion is a beautiful and peaceful experience that requires no prior experience. You will be accompanied by a guide who will explain how to do it.
During this tour, there are several stops so you can swim in the calm waters of the lake, so don't forget your swimsuit. Sail to Boulder Islands for a walk and to look for seashells on the beaches or enjoy a picnic lunch to round off a great day of kayaking on Lake Mead.
A professional guide will be with you all day to offer instructions, tell you stories about the area, and give you all the information you need. All you have to do is relax and enjoy the scenery, sunbathe, or swim in the crystal-clear waters of the lake. Sounds good, doesn't it?
Important details
- Price: from £140.
- Duration: approximately 4 hours.
- Transport: Bus from the hotel and a kayak for the tour.
2. Excursion to Hoover Dam and Lake Mead
Looking for an experience different from the Grand Canyon tours from Las Vegas? Las Vegas is surrounded by many natural monuments, so you can take advantage of your stay to take a trip to Hoover Dam and Lake Mead. Explore one of the most spectacular engineering feats in the United States on a bus tour to Hoover Dam.
This is a good option for seeing Lake Mead if you don't have much time and are on a tight budget. If you prefer, you can combine this trip to Hoover Dam with a trip to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon or a leisurely cruise on the Colorado River. The dam is about a 30-minute drive from the Las Vegas Strip.
Guided bus tours cross the Hoover Dam bypass bridge and usually stop for photos. There are also many guided tour options, such as ranger-led hikes, cruises, rafting, kayaking, and hunting and fishing excursions.
Details of interest
- Price: from £45.
- Duration: 4 to 6 hours.
- Transportation: bus with pick-up at your Las Vegas hotel.
3. Quad bike tour of Lake Mead
If you're more into adventure, you'll love this quad bike tour in the Lake Mead and Colorado River recreation area from Las Vegas. Get ready for an impressive guided quad bike tour with spectacular views created by man and nature. So you don't miss a single detail, an expert guide will be at your disposal throughout the tour.
This is a unique experience to explore everything the extensive recreation area has to offer. Hike the nature trails while enjoying views of sparkling waters and majestic desert landscapes. Halfway through, you will have the opportunity to take a dip in the refreshing waters of the Colorado River.
Your tour guide will provide information and facts about Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, the Colorado River, and Lake Mead National Park. See Hoover Dam, the iconic landmark that straddles the Arizona-Nevada border and represents one of the largest and most complex architectural achievements in American history.
If this adventure has worked up your appetite, you can stop for lunch at the restaurant and try the delicious American burgers. The best way to end this tour before returning to your Las Vegas hotel.
Details of interest
- Price: from around £170.
- Duration: almost 7 hours.
- Transportation: bus for pick-up and return to the hotel, quad bike through Lake Mead National Park and the surrounding area.
4. Off-road excursion around Lake Mead
There are many excursions you can take from Las Vegas. One of the most popular is Lake Mead, an artificial lake created when the Hoover Dam was built on the Colorado River. When full, it is the largest reservoir in the United States.
Lake Mead is also the centrepiece of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, an area protected by the National Park Service. If you want to enjoy this experience in a unique way, there's nothing better than exploring this area in an off-road vehicle.
Along the way, you'll find a number of places of interest and you'll have a guide who will explain the history and importance of each one. In addition, if you feel like it, you can stop for a dip in the crystal-clear waters of the lake, or simply contemplate the breathtaking views of this memorable excursion.
Details of interest
- Price: around £200.
- Duration: almost 7 hours.
- Means of transport: 4x4 around Lake Mead and the surrounding area.
5. Helicopter tour of the West Rim and Lake Mead
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to take a helicopter tour of Las Vegas? On this tour, you can take home the experience of seeing the West Rim of the Grand Canyon from a different perspective: from the sky! You'll see Hoover Dam and Lake Mead before flying to the western edge of the Grand Canyon.
Get ready to see one of the country's most outstanding natural wonders from a bird's eye view on this scenic tour of the Grand Canyon. You will be picked up in luxury transport from your Las Vegas hotel and taken to the airport where you will board the helicopter.
You will fly to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon, passing over Lake Mead and Hoover Dam. Fly over the Colorado River and enjoy the scenery as you enter Arizona. From the helicopter, you'll get breathtaking panoramic views of the rock formations and take the best photos of your trip to Las Vegas.
Details of interest
- Price: from around £300.
- Duration: around 4 hours.
- Transport: transport from your hotel and helicopter to the West Rim.
6. Excursion and cruise on Lake Mead
Add a cruise on Lake Mead to your list of things to do in Las Vegas in 7 days; it's the best option if you want to enjoy a relaxing experience. Sailing on the clean, blue waters of Lake Mead and touring the Hoover Dam by boat offers an unparalleled experience.
You'll love taking photos of the colourful landscapes, ever-changing skies and unparalleled panoramic views. Highlights include Fortification Hill, the site of an extinct volcano; the Arizona Paint Pots, composed of stunning lava fields and wildflowers; and the engineering marvel that is the Hoover Dam.
After being picked up in the morning at your Las Vegas hotel, you will board a coach that will take you to the Hoover Dam. Upon arrival, you can explore the Exhibition Gallery to learn more about the natural history of the region and the dam.
On this cruise on Lake Mead, you will enjoy the gentle breeze and sunshine or the absolute comfort of the enclosed, air-conditioned decks, with views of the stunning landscape.
Details of interest
- Price: from £80.
- Duration: approximately 7 hours.
- Transportation: bus for pick-up and return to the hotel, boat on Lake Mead and surrounding areas.
7. 3-hour tour of Lake Mead in a small group
If you are short on time and don't know what to see and do in Las Vegas in 3 days, take advantage of the opportunity to take a 3-hour tour of Lake Mead and Hoover Dam. You can enjoy the views of the largest reservoir in the United States with the peace of mind of travelling with a small group.
This tour is ideal for those who are short on time or simply want to visit Hoover Dam without spending a whole day there. You don't have to worry about a thing; you will be picked up in Las Vegas and taken to Hoover Dam in an air-conditioned vehicle for the 40-minute journey.
You will arrive in Boulder City, a town built for Hoover Dam workers. You will also stop at Hemenway Park to see desert bighorn sheep. Don't miss this small group experience and learn more about the history of the lake and its current issues.
Details of interest
- Price: from around £60.
- Duration: approximately 3 hours.
- Transport: air-conditioned transport for small groups.
Tips for taking a trip to Lake Mead
Before booking a tour on a whim, try to plan your Las Vegas trip activities based on the weather. If you visit Lake Mead in the summer, book your excursion before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m. Bring plenty of water and drink frequently.
Lake Mead is experiencing historically low water levels. Therefore, access to water recreation activities may be affected. Check the NPS website for the most up-to-date information. Remember to always wear a life jacket for water activities. They can also be rented at the park.
Stop by the Lake Mead Visitor Centre before embarking on your adventure. Maps and brochures are available there . In addition, the staff is on hand to answer all your questions and concerns.
When is the best time to take a trip to Lake Mead?
Spring at Lake Mead is one of the best times of year to visit. Due to the warm, sunny days and the possibility of wildflowers blooming in spring, camping, hiking and fishing are some of the most popular activities.
The temperature in April, May, and June reaches daytime highs of between 27 and 37 degrees Celsius. Night-time lows reach 10 degrees Celsius. In summer, temperatures can exceed 43 degrees Celsius. Water temperatures can range from 7 degrees Celsius in winter to 29 degrees Celsius in summer.
The park covers an area of 1.5 million acres, so the weather can vary between 20 and 30 degrees from north to south. That is why it is advisable to check the weather conditions on the date of your trip.
What will I see and do on an excursion to Lake Mead?
Lake Mead National Recreation Area is one of the most unique places in the Las Vegas area. It also offers a wide variety of outdoor activities to choose from. If you want to take a break from the flashing neon lights of Las Vegas and seek some natural respite, there's nothing better than a trip to Lake Mead.
On one of the most impressive day trips from Las Vegas, you'll be picked up at your hotel, about 40 minutes from the park, to discover all the interesting things to do at Lake Mead.
See the Hoover Dam
A visit to Hoover Dam is one of the highlights of these excursions. You can take day trips from Las Vegas to enjoy this historic landmark. It is the most famous dam in the country, straddling the border between Arizona and Nevada, and was built during the Depression between 1931 and 1936.
This engineering feat gave rise to Lake Mead, which provides water to millions of people in Nevada, California, Arizona and even Mexico. Today, it controls the Colorado River and sends energy and water to the south-west. The views of the dam are breathtaking. The best place to take your photos.
Visit the lake viewpoint
Tiny boats are illuminated by the last golden light of sunset at Hemenway Harbour on Lake Mead. One of the best things to do at Lake Mead is to watch the sunrise or sunset from the Lakeview Overlook.
It is located next to the access road to Hoover Dam. From here, you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of Lake Mead and Hemenway Harbour. You can also see Rock, Boulder and Saddle Islands.
Walk along the historic railway trail
In addition to enjoying the lake, there are many hiking trails for excursions in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. A good route is the railroad trail , about 300 metres from the Lake Mead Visitor Centre.
It is a fairly easy route. The trail is 11.5 kilometres long there and back . It can be explored on foot or by bicycle. Just don't forget to bring plenty of water, as temperatures can be high in summer.