Federal engineering landmark and visitor center

Hoover Dam Visitor Center

About 7.3 miles straight-line from the railroad museum

Follow the railroad's Boulder Branch and construction exhibits to Hoover Dam itself with a current federal plan for tours, security, parking, heat and accessibility.

The place

About Hoover Dam Visitor Center

The Bureau of Reclamation's Hoover Dam Visitor Center combines narrated exhibits, the Original Exhibit Building and an observation deck overlooking the dam, Colorado River, Lake Mead and bypass bridge. Guided Powerplant and Dam Tour products add construction tunnels, penstocks, generators or interior inspection passages depending on the ticket.

Current federal hours separate the larger outdoor site from the visitor center: the dam is open daily 5 a.m.-9 p.m. Pacific, while the visitor center and tours are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Doors close at 4:15 p.m. and the last tour departs at 4:10 p.m.; tours may cancel without advance notice.

At review, the self-guided visitor center costs $15, the guided Power Plant Tour $25 adults and $15 ages 4-16, and the extended Dam Tour $40; children three and under are free. Dam Tour tickets are on-site only, require the entire group at purchase and routinely sell out. Interagency passes are not accepted.

Access varies by product. The Power Plant Tour and self-guided center are identified for wheelchairs, scooters and strollers, while the Dam Tour prohibits motorized wheelchairs and strollers and its ventilation shaft is not accessible to manual wheelchairs. Sign-language interpretation needs at least 14 days' notice. Security screening, vehicle restrictions and hot outdoor walking also shape the visit.

What stands out

See the whole system

The observation deck connects dam, river, lake, powerhouse and bypass bridge in one view.

Choose the right depth

Match the self-guided exhibits, Power Plant Tour or extended Dam Tour to time, mobility and ticket availability.

Complete the railroad story

The dam site explains the destination of the construction material staged beside today's museum.

Plan for a federal site

Security, parking, prohibited items, heat and product-specific access matter as much as the admission ticket.

Pair it with the train

Why it belongs in a Nevada Southern Railway trip

The visitor center is about 7.3 straight-line miles from the railroad museum and completes the construction story at Black Canyon. It ranks second because security, parking, ticketing and outdoor exposure make it a separate half-day rather than an easy between-departure stop.

Before you go

Plan your visit

  • Dam roadwayOpen daily 5:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Pacific; no vehicle stopping on top of the dam
  • Visitor center and toursDaily 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. except Thanksgiving and Christmas; doors close 4:15 and last tour departs 4:10
  • Current prices$15 self-guided center; Power Plant $25 adult/$15 ages 4-16; Dam Tour $40; age 3 and under free; federal recreation passes not accepted
  • Dam TourOn-site purchase only, first come first served, entire group present, routinely sells out; no motorized wheelchair or stroller and manual chairs cannot access the ventilation shaft
  • Power Plant accessCurrent federal page identifies this tour for wheelchairs, motorized scooters and strollers
  • Parking$10 Nevada-side garage near the visitor center; oversized vehicles and trailers use designated Arizona-side lots with different fees
  • SecurityVehicle inspection and building screening apply; weapons and knives are prohibited in buildings, and firearms, explosives, fireworks, drones and marijuana are prohibited on property
  • InterpretationRequest sign-language interpretation at least 14 days ahead; tour scripts are available on request

Return to the workers' town

Add Boulder City/Hoover Dam Museum

Add a free oral-history and community museum in the construction-era Boulder Dam Hotel.

View the guide →

Useful answers

Frequently asked questions

When is the Hoover Dam Visitor Center open?

The current federal page lists daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. except Thanksgiving and Christmas, with doors closing at 4:15 and the last tour at 4:10.

How much do the visitor center and tours cost?

At review: $15 self-guided center, $25 adult/$15 ages 4-16 Power Plant Tour, and $40 Dam Tour; age three and under free.

Can I buy a Dam Tour online?

No. Dam Tour tickets are sold only on-site, first come first served, with the entire group present, and routinely sell out.

Which experiences are wheelchair-accessible?

The current page identifies the Power Plant Tour and self-guided visitor center for wheelchairs. The Dam Tour does not allow motorized wheelchairs, and its ventilation shaft is not accessible to manual chairs.

How much is parking?

The Nevada-side garage near the visitor center is $10 per vehicle. Oversized vehicles and trailers must use designated Arizona-side lots with separate fee rules.

What should I leave behind?

Weapons and knives cannot enter buildings. Federal rules also prohibit firearms, explosives, fireworks, drones and marijuana on Hoover Dam property; security screening applies.

Can I request sign-language interpretation?

Yes, with at least 14 days' advance notice excluding holidays. The federal page also says tour scripts are available on request.

Trust and accuracy

Sources

Source checked 2026-08-15. This free guide has not yet been confirmed by the venue. Current hours, prices, services, and accessibility can change; confirm time-sensitive details directly.