🏕️National Park Data
sun rising on Black Canyon
picnic area at Redstone
power boaters on Lake Mead
people on a tour operated craft exploring the lake.
A group of bighorn sheep overlooking Lake Mead.
National Recreation Area

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Arizona · Nevada

💰
Entrance Fee
$25
🕐
Hours
All Day
📍
Location
Boulder City, NV
📞
Visitor Center
7022938990

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.

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About Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Lake Mead National Recreation Area is a national recreation area located in Arizona and Nevada. 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. Nighttime lows 32 °F to 50 °F. Winter (January, February and March) Daytime highs 57 °F to 69 °F. Nighttime lows 30 °F to 40 °F. *Summer can be a dangerous time due to excessive heat. Some trails are closed for public safety.

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.

💰 Entrance Fees & Passes

General entry to Entrance - Education/Academic Groups is free. General admission passes are not required.

🥾 Things to Do

Lake Mead National Recreation Area offers visitors a diverse selection of outdoor experiences. You can participate in a wide array of activities, most notably Auto and ATV, Scenic Driving, Biking, Road Biking, and 44 other recreational activities, depending on the season and weather conditions. Path options exist for both casual strollers and expert backcountry adventurers.

✅ Auto and ATV
✅ Scenic Driving
✅ Biking
✅ Road Biking
✅ Boating
✅ Motorized Boating
✅ Sailing
✅ Jet Skiing
✅ Boat Tour
✅ Camping
✅ Backcountry Camping
✅ Car or Front Country Camping
✅ Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)
✅ Group Camping
✅ RV Camping
✅ Fishing
✅ Freshwater Fishing
✅ Food
✅ Dining
✅ Picnicking
✅ Flying
✅ Guided Tours
✅ Self-Guided Tours - Walking
✅ Self-Guided Tours - Auto
✅ Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour
✅ Boat Tour
✅ Hiking
✅ Backcountry Hiking
✅ Front-Country Hiking
✅ Horse Trekking
✅ Horseback Riding
✅ Hunting and Gathering
✅ Hunting
✅ Paddling
✅ Canoeing
✅ Kayaking
✅ Stand Up Paddleboarding
✅ Junior Ranger Program
✅ SCUBA Diving
✅ Snorkeling
✅ Swimming
✅ Freshwater Swimming
✅ Water Skiing
✅ Wildlife Watching
✅ Park Film
✅ Shopping
✅ Bookstore and Park Store
✅ Gift Shop and Souvenirs

📦 Recommended Gear & Packing Checklist

Custom items selected for activities at Lake Mead

0 of 13 packed

🎒 Trail Essentials

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🥾 Activity-Specific Gear

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🧥 Apparel & Layers

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💡 Affiliate Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

📋 Visitor Planning Tips for Lake Mead

  • →Beat the Crowds: Arrive at the main gates or trailheads of Lake Mead before 8:00 AM. Parking spaces at popular locations fill up extremely fast, especially during warm peak season weekends.
  • →Monitor Active Alerts: There are currently 3 active alerts for Lake Mead. Keep an eye on the alert notifications at the top of this guide for crucial information regarding closures or safety issues.
  • →Secure Campsites Early: Lodging and developed campgrounds within and surrounding Lake Mead get booked out months in advance. Make reservations on recreation.gov as early as the window opens.
  • →Altitude & Hydration: The thin air and dry heat in this region will dehydrate you quickly. Pack at least 3 to 4 liters of water per person per day and pack electrolyte replacements.
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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.

Frequently Asked Questions about Lake Mead

The entrance fee for Lake Mead National Recreation Area is $25 per vehicle. The America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) covers entrance to all 474+ NPS sites and pays for itself after just 2-3 park visits.

About the Author

🧗

James R. Mitchell

Founder & Lead Writer — National Park Data

James has visited all 63 designated US national parks and has been writing about outdoor travel for over 12 years. He spent 8 years as a wilderness guide in the Rocky Mountains before founding National Park Data to help visitors plan better, safer, and more enjoyable park trips.

🏔️ 63 Parks Visited✍️ 12 Years Writing🧭 Wilderness GuideFull Bio →
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