This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase. Read Disclosure.
Do you find the flashing neon lights of Las Vegas a little overwhelming and are seeking a natural respite? Then you may want to pack up your car and drive 30 minutes away to Lake Mead, Nevada’s cleanest lake and the nation’s largest reservoir.
Lake Mead makes for the perfect day trip from Las Vegas because it’s so close and offers so many things to do.
Whether you enjoy boating, hiking, sitting in hot springs or going on scenic drives, there are bountiful things to do at Lake Mead to occupy you for a whole day, or even longer.
The striking desert scenery and brilliant blue waters of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area are a true oasis in the desert.
In this guide, we share what to do at Lake Mead and how can make the most of your visit…
A brief history of Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Lake Mead in Nevada was built to be a National Recreation Area for those looking for relaxation and fun in the desert. It was created at the time when the Hoover Dam was created in 1936 and in 1951, though back then it was known as the Boulder Dam.
Lake Mohave joined the recreation area when the Davis Dam was completed in 1951.
Both lakes became part of the first and largest National Recreation Area in the National Parks Service in 1964.
Lake Mead is one of the largest and cleanest reservoirs in North America, with the water levels supplying over 25 million people with their drinking water.
And in the desert too! Don’t forget to be mind-boggled over that and fall in love with the Colorado River.
Across this gorgeous area sits the Mojave Desert, which makes up 87% of the park and gives you an abundance of activities to experience and enjoy.
The park is most well known for its picturesque lake, but it also has 1.5 million acres of mountains, canyons, and gorges, as well as nine wilderness areas to explore.
Things to do at Lake Mead
1. Go camping near Lake Mead
We spent a week camping right on the shores of Lake Mead. We couldn’t have asked for a more serene and naturally beautiful setting.
Look at these views from the girl’s bedroom. Not bad to wake up to each morning right?
The glow on the rocks as the sun rose each morning was stunning.
We spent several days not doing much other than waking up early morning to do some exercising, playing, cooking s’mores over the fire, catching up on work, and enjoying these views, and delighting in the wild calls of the coyotes each night.
It sounded like there were packs of them and we saw a jackrabbit bolting off across the desert floor. But we couldn’t spy on the coyotes.
We had one day of heavy rain all day – a desert rarity – which didn’t dampen our time there at all.
With 759 miles of shoreline, you don’t have to worry about other people getting too close to you – there are over 900 campgrounds and RV camping located at 15 different spots around the lake.
2. Take a Lake Mead Cruise
Don’t miss the opportunity to get out on the water and do one of the Lake Mead cruises. If you have your own boat that works well too!
If you don’t, find a friend, rent one, or join a 90-minute Desert Princess Cruise, a paddle wheeler boat.
We joined one in combination with our Hoover Dam tour that was included in the Las Vegas Sightseeing Pass.
The cruise took us past Boulder Rocks into the beginning of Black Canyon to the edge of Hoover Dam.
It was interesting to see it from this perspective. I was more enamored with the orange and black rocks – stunning.
There was an informative commentary on the dam and Lake Mead during the cruise and a sandwich lunch was provided.
3. Marvel at The Hoover Dam
Visiting the Hoover Dam was a highlight for us on our visit to Las Vegas.
You can easily drive from Las Vegas to Hoover Dam as a day trip, join a tour, or, if you are staying on Lake Mead, it’s right in your neck of the woods.
Hoover Dam was just around the corner from our campground.
However, we joined a Hoover Dam tours from Vegas (picked up at the Hoover Lodge) as it was included in our Las Vegas Sightseeing Pass.
The elevators weren’t working when we visited so we could not go down into the dam to explore the power plant.
Apparently, this happens frequently. It reopened while we were there, but the line was too long.
There is a free museum at the top of the dam which was interesting enough and its great to walk over the mighty Colorado River from Arizona to Nevada and back.
4. Drive the scenic Northshore Drive
One of the best land-based things to do at Lake Mead is the scenic drive along Northshore Road!
We went for an afternoon drive and discovered the stunning beauty of the Northshore Drive – one of our favorite scenic drives in the United States.
This is on the way to the Valley of Fire State Park along the northwestern part of Lake Mead, so you can easily combine a visit to this state park if you’re planning on visiting Valley of Fire from Vegas.
The drive is almost 50-miles, but you can go as far as you like. We went as far as the Redstone Hiking Trail.
Be sure to stop off at the Northshore Summit Trail for a short hike up to a spectacular viewpoint from the mountain, offering panoramic views of Lake Mead.
I loved looking out for miles over the Muddy Mountains, the Bowl of Fire, and the road we just drove along.
5. Explore the Redstone Hiking Trail
Over 200 million years ago, these red rock formations were sand dunes and the area looked very much like the Sahara Desert.
The iron particles holding the sand together oxidized over time to turn the rocks red. Now we have this beautiful desert walk where we can appreciate it.
The walk is less than a mile loop. There is no real trail, you kinda just walk around and explore at your leisure.
6. Bike the River Mountains Loop Bike Trail
For the adventurous folk, you may like to take on the entire 34 mile river mountains loop bike trail.
16.70 miles of the trail are in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and surrounds the River Mountains connecting the park, Hoover Dam, Henderson, Boulder City, and the rest of the Las Vegas Valley,
With a gain in elevation in one section of about 500 feet in less than a mile, it’s not going to be an easy bike ride, but I’m sure you’ll have fun.
We met a couple doing it who raved about it, even the one steep hill they had to get off and push their bikes up.
We cycled a short 2.5 miles one way from our campground to the start of the Historic Railroad Trail.
It was slightly uphill on the way but nothing too difficult and the girls managed it super well. We especially loved the return journey – we didn’t have to turn the pedals too much just let gravity push us all the way down.
You’ve got beautiful views the entire way.
7. Walk the Historic Railroad Trail
Trekkers and hiking enthusiasts will enjoy this easy hike along the Historic Railroad trail – it’s superb for views of Lake Mead and for a bit of history.
It is the old railroad tracks that once transported workers and goods from Boulder City to Hoover Dam.
There are five tunnels on the trail you can walk through and the trail will take you to Hoover Dam.
The Historic Railroad Trail is 3 miles return. However, only the first two tunnels were open when we went due to the third tunnel being unsafe.
It was a great hike that took us just over 30 minutes in total. It’s a very easy walk and great for families.
8. Take a Pontoon Boat Ride
You can’t visit this impressive lake without actually venturing out onto it, right? If the cruise sounds too gentle for you, another popular way to get out on the lake is on a pontoon boat.
Within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, you will find boat rentals along the piers and marinas, as well as several launch ramps where you can launch your own personal watercraft.
However, if you don’t have a boating license, you cannot launch your boat from the Nevada side.
You can also get fishing boats, paddle boats, canoes, or go kayaking.
9. Go fishing at Katherine Landing
If you enjoy fishing, Lake Mead offers some of the country’s best sport fishing opportunities. You can try your hand at catching some fresh water fish, such as channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, sunfish, striped bass, smallmouth bass, and rainbow trout.
The best place to go fishing at Katherine Landing where you can fish from the shore. You can also cast a line from Willow Beach, Cottonwood Cove, and Hemenway Fishing Pier. 9.
10. Visit the Alan Bible Visitor Center
The Alan Bible Visitor Center is the Lake Mead Visitor Center and opened in 1966. This is a great place to learn about the creation of the lake and the park, as they have a 20-minute movie about its history.
You can also pick up maps and information about the things to do at Lake Mead and walk through its desert botanical garden.
11. Hike the Gold Strike Hot Springs Trail
For more adventurous hikers, consider the 2.5-mile, 600-foot descent into Gold Strike Canyon and dip into hot springs along the way.
This challenging trail requires you to navigate around house-sized boulders, climb up ropes, scramble over boulders and wade through rivers.
There are three separate hot springs on the way, ranging from 100-109 degrees Farenheit, though you should check weather conditions before hiking.
For a combination of adventure and a picturesque setting to admire, this is a wonderful trail to tackle.
12. Play with watersports from Callville Bay
Watersport enthusiasts will find plenty of ways to explore the 247 square mile lake. From wakesurfing to skimboarding, to waterskiing to tubing, there is plenty of ways to get your thrills on the water.
Head over to Callville Bay to pick a way to play on this water playground. You can join tours or rent your own boat and try for yourself (though if it’s your first time I highly recommend you take a tour).
How to get to Lake Mead from Las Vegas
The Lake Mead National Recreation Area is only a short 32km (20 miles) drive southeast of the Las Vegas strip along the I-515 S and takes 25 minutes. It’s 290 miles northeast of Los Angeles.
There are six entrance stations to the Lake Mead NRA: Lake Mead Parkway, Northshore, Boulder, Lake Mead Boulevard, Meadview and Temple Bar.
If you want to explore beyond Vegas and tick off this list of things to do at Lake Mead, you’re going to need a car.
Many of the most stunning places to visit near Las Vegas are only reachable by car so if you don’t have your own then you will want to rent a car.
Unless you join a tour from Las Vegas.
Where to stay at Lake Mead Recreational Area
If you’re thinking you’d like to make the most of this beautiful area and want to stay a while, here are some accommodation options I recommend…
Camping at Lake Mead
We loved our Lake Mead camping spot at the Lake Mead RV Village on Boulder Beach.
Get a lakeside spot if you can, it’s the ultimate. We stayed two nights at another spot and it was nowhere near as good.
The sites are spacious and very clean, and there are picnic areas with grills for visitors to use.
They also have sites at Echo Beach which is the north end of Lake Mead.
Next door to the RV Park is an NPS Boulder Beach campsite. They have tent camping and full RV hookups. You can reserve in advance or turn up for their first come first served but I loved their campsites under the shade of some gum trees!!
There are various other NPS campsites in the Lake Mead Recreational Area. Another popular one is Las Vegas Bay Campground because it’s closer to Vegas. It also has restrooms and RV hookups.
Lodges and Hotels
- Hoover Dam Lodge is just behind the Historic Railroad Trail and around the corner from Hoover Dam.
- For a more luxurious stay, you can’t go past the Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort on the northwestern edge of Lake Mead Recreation Area. You also have two outdoor pools and a private beach and loads of space.
- Likewise, the boutique Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort and Spa is also on Lake Las Vegas at the northwest edge of Lake Mead Recreation Area. Its Mediterranean-inspired architecture, outdoor pool, and restaurants will give you a relaxing Vegas vacation. It’s only 17 miles from The Strip.
When is the best time to visit Lake Mead?
The best time to visit Lake Mead is in either the Spring or Fall months, as the summer can be extremely hot, crowded, and bring occasional thunderstorms.
In spring (March-May), you can experience pleasant weather conditions that’s not too hot but warm enough that you can go for a swim in the lake or do some of the watersport activities.
Fall (September-November), also has mild temperatures that are ideal for water sports.
Winter (December-February) offers a unique perspective of the landscape. It can sometimes snow here, and if you’ve ever seen snow in a desert before, you will know how enchanting this can look. However, it’s not ideal for hiking or water sports as it will be too cold and icy.
Opening Hours and Entrance Fees
Visiting Lake Mead requires an entrance pass. You can either purchase a Standard Pass for $15-$25, or you can enter using the Annual Pass ($45) or America the Beautiful Annual National Park Pass ($80).
When purchasing your pass, you can either book one online or from one of the entry stations. It’s a cashless site, so you will need to pay using your credit or debit card.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area is open 24/7, 365 days a year, but you will find some beaches are open from dawn to dusk.
The Visitor Center is open from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM daily.
Things to do near Lake Mead
If you have more time and you can afford to venture a bit further, here are some top things to do near Lake Mead…
- Black Canyon is named for the dark volcanic rock that flowed and cooled here 13 million ears ago. This steep-walled canyon begins below Hoover Dam and you can explore several sites around Lake Mohave in it by water. The water heats up below the surface of the earth and percolates up through the rocks to form hot springs.
- Willow Beach is a popular place to explore in Black Canyon and the Liberty Bell Arch can be hiked to on the rim of the canyon. The Black Canyon retains a feel of the old Colorado River and provides a different perspective of the area.
- Valley of Fire State Park is one of the best Las Vegas day trips and is just outside the northern borders of Lake at the end of the Northshore Drive. Stay tuned for a post on that.
- Muddy Mountains Wilderness Area is also just beyond the park, which is another popular thing to do around Las Vegas.
- Go hiking in Red Rock Canyon, which has a 13-mile scenic drive, and a unique landscape with interesting plants and geology.
- You might like these ideas on things to do in Las Vegas for teens.
Final Thoughts
Lake Mead is a beautiful and peaceful place and the perfect place to cool off and escape the heat of the Nevada sun.
We loved seeing the Colorado River again after leaving it a month earlier in the Grand Canyon and on the shores at The Needles California.
It flows pretty much straight out of the Grand Canyon into Lake Mead.
I hope this guide helped you plan your trip to Lake Mead and gave you some inspiration for what to do there.
Lake Mead National Recreation Area Video
For more inspiration on Lake Mead, you can watch our video of our experience here.
Pin To Save On Pinterest
