About Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Experience outdoor thrills, striking landscapes, and brilliant blue waters. This year-round recreation area spreads across 1.5 million acres of mountains, canyons, valleys and two vast reservoirs. Visitors come here for scenic drives, biking, hiking, boating, fishing, camping, and much more.
Plan a Visit
Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.
Weather & Conditions
Spring (April, May and June): Daytime highs 80 °F to 98 °F. Nighttime lows 50 °F to 66 °F Summer* (July, August and September): Daytime highs 89 °F to 103 °F (It can get up to 117 °F.) Fall (October, November and December): Daytime highs 59 °F to 83 °F.…
NPS Reference Location
Park state / territory membership: Arizona, Nevada. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.
Entrance Fees
Admits a private non-commercial vehicle for 1-7 days.
Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
Admits a single individual walking/bicycling for 1-7 days.
Admits vehicles at the per person rate for groups using vehicles for 12 or more people. The $15 cost is per person ages 16+, not to exceed the flat rate paid commercial tours for same type of vehicle.
Admits education/academic groups as long as a fee waiver form is filled out and approved.
Admits a sedan of 1-6 people.
Admits a van of 7-16 persons.
Admits a mini-bus of 16-25 persons.
Admits a motor coach of 26+ persons.
Operating Hours
Lake Mead National Recreation Area is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please note that while the majority of the park is accessible at all hours, our Visitor Center operates on a specific schedule. Be sure to plan your visit accordingly, as the Visitor Center is open during designated hours to provide you with valuable information, maps, and assistance from our knowledgeable staff.
Activities
Current Alerts
The Government Wash campground and 8.0 Mile Road will close on May 15th to vehicle access and overnight camping to assess and manage area improvements and protect visitors and staff from extreme heat risks. The campground is anticipated to reopen for overnight stays on October 1st. It will remain open this summer to non-motorized vehicle access for daytime, non-camping related activities.
A Harmful Algae Bloom has been confirmed in recent water samples taken from the Nelson's Landing and the Cottonwood Cove areas on Lake Mohave. To reduce health risks, the National Park Service recommends recreators limit body contact with these waters when algae is present. Please click here for pictures of this dangerous cyanobacteria and contact the Park at 702-293-8990 for updates on this advisory.
Fecal bacteria in water samples taken from Arizona Hot Springs frequently reach high levels, which can transmit human diseases. To reduce health risks, the National Park Service recommends recreators limit body contact in these waters, clean after use, and to never put your head under water at hot springs. Please contact the Park at 702-293-8990 for updates on this advisory.
Goldstrike Canyon, Arizona Hot Springs, Liberty Bell Arch, White Rock Canyon, and Lone Palm trails will be closed for visitor and first responder safety. Please check the park website, social media, and weather for updates before visiting. Arizona, Goldstrike, and Lone Palm hot springs remain open and accessible by water.
Getting There
By car you can drive to one of the park's many entrances. The six main entrances to Lake Mead are as follows: Northshore, Lake Mead Boulevard, Lake Mead Parkway, and Boulder, Temple Bar, and Meadview. For the southern sections of the park, near Lake Mohave, there are entrance stations at Willow Beach, Katherine Landing and Cottonwood Cove.
View Official DirectionsContact & Address
The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.
Entrance Passes
This pass admits the passholder only into Lake Mead National Recreation Area AND NOT other federal lands. The interagency passes allow access to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites. Admits passholder and occupants of a single, private non-commercial vehicle. In cases where per person fees are charged, pass is valid for the passholder + 3 adults.1 year from month of purchase. Good through 1 year from month of purchase.
Topics & Themes
Things To Do
Picnic at Katherine Landing
Katherine Landing picnic area features 10 picnic tables, 6 grills, and restrooms. This location does not have drinking water.
Picnic at South Arizona Telepone Cove
South Arizona Telephone Cove picnic area features 6 picnic tables. This location does not have grills, restrooms, or drinking water.
Picnic at Rogers Spring
Rogers Spring picnic area features 4 picnic tables, 4 grills, and restrooms. This location does not have drinking water.
Bike the River Mountains Loop Trail
Bicyclists are welcome to ride at Lake Mead National Recreation Area on park roads and on routes designated for bicycle…
Hike the Lone Palm Trail
This strenuous hike leads through a scenic canyon to natural hot springs and offers views of the Colorado River at…
Hike the White Rock Canyon Trail
Follow this meandering canyon down as it compresses and loosens until it finally opens to reveal the mighty Colorado River.
More Things to Do
Additional activities and experiences from the National Park Service.
Hike the Goldstrike Canyon Trail
This strenuous hike leads through a scenic canyon to natural hot springs and offers views of the Colorado River and Hoover Dam.
Hike the Arizona Hot Springs Trail
Arizona Hot Spring trail is strenuous and can be combined to make a loop going down a 20-foot ladder to the White…
Hike the Liberty Bell Arch Trail
While there is no river access on this trail, hikers are rewarded throughout their adventure with geological highlights, remnants of a historic…
Hike the Lake View Trail
Lakeview hiking trail allows visitors to explore the beautiful mountainous landscape and the desert flora and fauna including creosote, brittle bush.
Hike the Callville Summit Trail
From the summit, take in stunning views looking over Callville Bay and beautiful blue Lake Mead.
Drive along Northshore Road
If Lakeshore Road is Lake Mead’s “Main Street”, Northshore Road is its scenic route. Stretching for almost fifty miles, Northshore Road winds…
Hike the River Mountains Loop Trail
The River Mountains Loop Trail is a non-motorized, paved trail provides visitors with an extensive trail loop offering scenic views, plentiful wildlife,…
Hike the Historic Railroad Trail
The Historic Railroad Trail features incredible vistas of Lake Mead and Boulder Basin and five tunnels – each approximately 25 feet wide.
Hike the St. Thomas Trail
Today, remnants of the town are now visible thanks to the lowering water levels of Lake Mead.
Hike the Bluffs Trail
Bluffs Trail overlooks the Las Vegas Bay and Las Vegas Wash, where visitors can see a stark contrast in vegetation between wet…
Hike the Wetlands Trail
The Wetlands Trail follows a dry dirt trail down to the flowing Las Vegas Wash, where water from the Las Vegas Valley…
Hike the Northshore Summit Trail
A perfect place to take in the desert in all its vastness and striking colors.
Showing 18 of 34 NPS Things to Do records available for Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
Visitor Centers
Lake Mead Visitor Center
Before you start your adventure, stop by the Lake Mead Visitor Center. Whether you have one hour or one week, rangers and volunteers will help…
Lake Mead Headquarters Information Kiosk
An information kiosk is located inside Lake Mead's Headquarters building.
Campgrounds
Boulder Beach Campground
The Boulder Beach Campground is located just minutes from Las Vegas along the Boulder Basin of Lake Mead. It’s open year-round and features large paved…
Boulder Beach Group Campground
When you stay at the Boulder Beach Group Campground, you’ll have access to many recreation opportunities. Boulder Beach, Special Events Beach, Canoe/Kayak Beach and PWC…
Lake Mead RV Village
Lake Mead's Boulder Beach area offers many things to see and do. Whether you’d rather go sightseeing, tour Hoover Dam, go shopping, visit historic Boulder…
Las Vegas Bay Campground
Las Vegas Bay Campground is located just minutes from Las Vegas on the western edge of the park and has lush vegetation that shades nearly…
Callville Bay Campground
When you stay at Callville Bay Campground, you can enjoy the area on land or on water. A nearby shaded picnic area has cool grass,…
Callville Bay RV Park
More than 550 miles of pristine shoreline. Soaring red rock cliffs. Countless bays and beaches. Get off the grid for the vacation of a lifetime…
Willow Beach Campground
Willow Beach Campground offers 9 tent campground sites and is located just 30 minutes from Boulder City and 45 minutes from the Las Vegas strip.…
Cottonwood Cove Campground
Cottonwood Campground is located near Searchlight, Nevada, along Lake Mohave. It’s open year-round and features paved sites that can accommodate tents or RVs, along with…
Temple Bar Campground
Enjoy the Temple Bar area by land or water. Hike through the desert along the Temple View Trail to observe the crystal blue waters of…
Echo Bay Campground
Our Echo Bay Park is a fisherman’s and boater’s paradise. Located on the north end of Lake Mead, this secluded park offers a variety of…
Echo Bay RV Park
Echo Bay Park is a fisherman’s and boater’s paradise. Located on the north end of Lake Mead, this secluded park offers a variety of outdoor…
Temple Bar RV Park
Just 75 miles away from Las Vegas, Temple Bar Marina is located in the Temple Basin on the Arizona side of eastern Lake Mead. It’s…
Cottonwood Cove RV Park
Cottonwood Cove Resort & Marina at Lake Mohave is a premier destination for houseboat rentals, watercraft rentals, camping and includes a spacious rv park. We…
Willow Beach RV Park
Willow Beach RV Park is your full-service RV Park and tent campground located just 30 minutes from Boulder City and 45 minutes from the Las…
Katherine Landing Campground
With views of the lake and within walking distance of the marina, swim beach, dining and retail store, campsites at Katherine Landing feature a wide…
Katherine Landing RV Park
The Katherine Landing RV campsites come complete with water, sewer and electrical hook-ups. All spaces have the option of household current, 30 amp, or 50…
Nearby National Park Service Sites
These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.
Nearby Cities for Trip Planning
These cities are ordered by straight-line distance from the NPS reference coordinate. They are comparison starting points, not official park gateways or road-distance estimates. Trails and other distributed units may extend far beyond this reference point.
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