• Arizona
  • Metro Phoenix
    • Phoenix
    • Apache Junction
    • Mesa
    • Chandler
    • Fountain Hills
    • Scottsdale
  • Northern Arizona
    • Flagstaff
    • The Grand Canyon
    • Four Corners
    • Sedona
    • Glen Canyon
    • Payson
    • Tuba City
  • Museums
  • Parks & Monuments
  • Restaurants
  • Tucson
Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Google Plus Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Youtube Follow us on Pinterest
Top Places to See in Arizona
Arizona 0

Hoover Dam

By Mark Keller @placesarizona · On September 26, 2014

Some of Arizona’s most famous landmarks are found along its borders, and the Hoover Dam numbers prominently among them. Straddling the divide between AZ and Nevada, the dam is only 30 miles away from Las Vegas and sports Art Deco clock faces in different time zones—but because Nevada does daylight savings time and Arizona doesn’t, half the year the hands are aligned.

Whether history or visual grandeur ranks as the more important criteria in your sightseeing plans, the dam is an indispensable visit. Bigger than any concrete structure built before its time and attracting thousands of unemployed laborers from across the country during its construction, the Hoover Dam is of considerable historical significance—if for nothing else than for the controversy that surrounded every aspect of it, from its impact on the ecosystem to the treatment of workers all the way down to naming it after an unpopular (and still-living) president. But even forget all that—it’s 726 feet tall, contains enough concrete to build a highway from coast to coast, can process 118,000 cubic feet of water per second and generates roughly a quarter of the electricity used in Arizona, Nevada and Southern California.

There are two main ways to encounter Hoover Dam—you can simply cross over the top and observe the dam’s immensity from the scenic overlooks along the road, or spend the time (and money) to take one of the tours and see the works up close. Note that since the opening of the Hoover Dam Bypass in 2010, you can’t reach the dam from the Arizona side of the Colorado River. Instead, you’ll have to take Highway 93, cross into Nevada over the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, and then turn onto Nevada State Route 172 (a.k.a. the Hoover Dam Access Road) to access the Hoover Dam.

And it’s worth knowing ahead of time that security here is pretty tight. Ever since the September 11 attacks, the risk of terrorist activity at the dam has been a constant worry, so be prepared to go through security screening as you enter the Visitor Center and stop at the inspection checkpoint if you decide to cross over the top of the dam. If you’ve got a trailer or RV you’ll have to cross, since the parking garage on the Nevada side is prohibited to oversize vehicles, but crossing is worth it for the view no matter what you’re driving. The road on the Arizona side is a dead end, but there’s multiple parking lots and dramatic views of the dam to be had, as well as the picturesque walk back across the top to the Visitor Center.

At the Visitor Center you can see exhibits on the history and operation of the dam, look at the sculptures that adorn the industrial architecture, take in the panorama of Lake Meade and the river from the observation deck, or examine the spillways and intake towers with the aid of an audio presentation. Two guided tours are also available for an extra fee. The half-hour powerplant tour takes you deep underground to the dam’s inner workings, while the hour-long Hoover Dam tour adds on a mile-long exploration of the tunnels that wind through the structure.

ArizonaMuseumsNorthern Arizona
Share Tweet

Mark Keller

Mark Keller is a writer and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. His articles on subjects as diverse as Linux software and hammock construction are published widely online.

You Might Also Like

  • Phon D Sutton Arizona

    Wild Horses at Phon D Sutton

  • Arizona

    Pump It Up

  • Arizona

    The i.d.e.a Museum

No Comments

Leave a reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Things to do in Arizona

  • Phon D Sutton

    Wild Horses at Phon D Sutton

    April 22, 2019
  • Makutu’s Island

    March 18, 2017
  • Sedona Day Trip Itinerary and Drive from Phoenix to Flagstaff

    April 25, 2016
  • Red Rock Crossing

    April 14, 2016
  • Take an Ultralight Flight in Tucson!

    March 1, 2016
  • Pump It Up

    December 3, 2015
  • Arizona Snowbowl in Fall

    November 9, 2015
  • West Fork of Oak Creek in Sedona

    August 4, 2015
  • Cactus Park

    July 17, 2015
  • Fountain Park in Fountain Hills

    July 17, 2015
  • Rawhide Western Town

    July 16, 2015
  • Golfland Sunsplash

    July 13, 2015
  • The i.d.e.a Museum

    July 9, 2015
  • Tonto Natural Bridge State Park

    July 9, 2015
  • National Comedy Theatre

    July 8, 2015
  • Encanto Park

    July 7, 2015
  • Tempe Paintball

    July 3, 2015
  • USA’s Skateland

    July 2, 2015
  • Stratum Laser Tag

    June 30, 2015
  • Phoenix Rock Gym

    June 29, 2015
  • Things to do at Lake Pleasant

    June 12, 2015
  • Goldfield Ghost Town

    April 29, 2015
  • All the fun you can have at Phoenix Zoo

    February 4, 2015
  • Driving from Phoenix to Moab

    December 7, 2014
  • Best Coffee in Arizona

    October 26, 2014
  • Phoenix Points of Pride

    September 27, 2014
  • Phoenix Points of Pride: Museums & Education

    September 26, 2014
  • Phoenix Points of Pride: Culture & Entertainment

    September 26, 2014
  • Phoenix Points of Pride: Parks & Gardens

    September 26, 2014
  • Heard Museum

    September 26, 2014
  • Hoover Dam

    September 26, 2014
  • Monument Valley

    September 26, 2014
  • Lowell Observatory

    September 3, 2014
  • Arizona Renaissance Festival

    August 28, 2014
  • Tonto National Monument

    August 8, 2014

Find us on Facebook

@PlacesArizona

Tweets by @PlacesArizona

Other Sites

  • Kids in Phoenix
  • Arizona Coffee
  • Restaurant Reviews
  • Instagram

Tags

Arizona Chandler Desert Dinner Hiking Mesa Museums Northern Arizona Outdoors Phoenix Restaurants Scottsdale Sedona The Grand Canyon
  • About Us
  • Arizona Facts
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Top Places to See in Arizona

Hello!

Hi, I'm Chris, and I'm bringing the best things to do in Arizona to you! My family lives in Arizona, and we're always traveling around the state!

Check out the awesome list on our home page which highlights our favorite Arizona destinations. Enjoy!

Pages

  • About Us
  • Arizona Facts
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Top Places to See in Arizona

Categories

  • Apache Junction
  • Arizona
  • Chandler
  • Flagstaff
  • Fountain Hills
  • Four Corners
  • Glen Canyon
  • Mesa
  • Museums
  • Parks & Monuments
  • Payson
  • Peoria
  • Phoenix
  • Restaurants
  • Scottsdale
  • Sedona
  • Tempe
  • The Grand Canyon
  • Tuba City
  • Tucson

Phoenix with Kids

We also run a web site that specifically suggests things to do with your kids in Phoenix. Check it out and let us know what you think!

© 2016 Places to See in Arizona. All rights reserved.