Lake Mead National Recreation Area Parks and Outdoors Travel Guide

Lake Mead National Recreation Area Parks and Outdoors Travel Guide

Other Guides for Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Parks and Outdoors Destinations Near Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Travel Guides Near Lake Mead National Recreation Area

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Panoramic of mountains in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada
Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada (Bruce Heinemann/Photodisc/Getty)
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Lake Mead National Recreation Area Parks and Outdoors Travel Tips

  • Lake Mead, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world, was created in the 1930s when the Hoover Dam was constructed on the Colorado River. The recreation area isn't only about the lakes, though. In addition to swimming, fishing, and boating, you can also do some hiking or just plain laze about and admire the spectacular views.
  • Katherine Landing is at the southern tip of the National Recreation Area, just across the Colorado River in Arizona. The National Park Service campground there has 173 sites for tents and RVs. It's a good place to lounge on some of the only grass within miles.
  • Sport fishers flock to the lakes for a top-notch fishing experience—and the fact that it's open season year-round on all species doesn't hurt either. Striped bass are the prize catch on Lake Mead, while Lake Mojave's greatest temptation is rainbow trout.
  • A popular driving tour follows the Lakeshore and Northshore Scenic Drives along the edge of Lake Mead. From these roads there are panoramic views of the blue lake set against a backdrop of the browns, blacks, reds, and grays of the desert mountains. Northshore Scenic Drive also leads through areas of brilliant red boulders and rock formations.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area Overview

A study in opposites, the Lake Mead National Recreation Area combines the burnished bleakness of the southwestern desert's steep canyons with the cooling depths of freshwater lakes. The area encompasses 110-mile Lake Mead, 67-mile Lake Mohave, hard-to-reach Shivwits Plateau (accessible only from the north via unpaved roads), and the surrounding desert. Read More

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Hotels

from: $75

Boulder Dam Hotel

1305 Arizona Street
Boulder City, NV 89005 Map

Distance: 44.3 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: Not Yet Rated

expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0
from: $40

Casablanca Resort

950 West Mesquite Blvd.
Mesquite, NV 89027 Map

Distance: 26.0 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 4 class stars

expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0
from: $70

Best Western Mesquite Inn

390 N Sandhill Boulevard
Mesquite, NV 89027-4728 Map

Distance: 27.5 mi.
(from destination center)

Hotel Class: 2 class stars

expert favorite hotel
Expert Rated & Recommended
4.0
All Lake Mead National Recreation Area Hotels »
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Attractions

AirStar Helicopter Tours

(3 miles from the south entrance on Highway 64)
1185 Airport Road
Grand Canyon, Arizona 86023

Distance: 5.7 mi. (from destination center)
Expert Rated & Recommended
5_0

Lake Mead Cruises

(Lake Mead Lodge)
Lakeshore Road, Highway 166
Boulder City, Nevada 89006

Distance: 38.9 mi. (from destination center)
Expert Rated & Recommended
4_0
4_0

White Domes Road

Valley of Fire State Park
Overton, Nevada 89040

Distance: 14.3 mi. (from destination center)

Description: Along six-mile White Domes Road are short trails, canyons, and bright-colored rocks. A rainbow of slickrock in orange, white, pink, and yellow marks the end of the road. ... Read More
Expert Rated & Recommended
4_0
All Lake Mead National Recreation Area Attractions »

Airports

Major Airports near Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Distance (mi.)
Las Vegas Mccarran International Airport 52.7 map
Ontario International Airport 249.4 map
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 250.8 map

Other Smaller Airports near Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Distance (mi.)
Saint George Municipal Airport 58.9 map
Grand Canyon National Park Airport 129.9 map
Lake Havasu City Municipal Airport 133.7 map

Flight Deals to Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Originating From
Long Beach (LGB) to Las Vegas (LAS) $124
San Diego (SAN) to Las Vegas (LAS) $124
San Francisco (SFO) to Las Vegas (LAS) $126
Salt Lake City (SLC) to Las Vegas (LAS) $142
San Jose (SJC) to Las Vegas (LAS) $146

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Lake Mead National Recreation Area Parks and Outdoors Travel Guides

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