Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Usual hours

• Mon–Sun 0:00–0:00

From 56 published days, 2026-10-20 to 2026-12-14; community-mapped.

About

Entrance / day-use fee applies.

This park's official page lists: Picnic areas.

This park's official page lists: Store / concessions.

At the park

• Biking activity
• Camping activity
• Picnicking activity
• Hiking trails trail
• Boating water
• Fishing water
• Paddling (kayak/canoe) water
• Whitewater rafting water

Events

• Dragonfly Mercury Project
• National Public Lands Day
• Pearce Ferry Road Litter Cleanup 09:00 AM–12:30 PM · Location will be announced via confirmation email to all registered participants prior to the event.
• Visitor Center Planting 08:30 AM–12:00 PM · Meeting location and password for free entry will be sent out to all registered volunteers. To register, please email LAKE_Volunteer_Coordinator@nps.gov.
• Six Mile Cove Litter Cleanup 09:00 AM–12:30 PM · Location will be announced via confirmation email to all registered participants prior to the event.
• Leave No Trace Spotlight: Trivia Night 06:00 PM–08:00 PM · Trivia Night will be hosted at the Boulder City Adventure Center, 102 Nevada Way, Boulder City, NV 89005.
• Leave No Trace Spotlight: Campfire Program at Boulder Beach Campground 05:00 PM–07:00 PM · Event will be held in the Boulder Beach Campground Amphitheater. Participants may park in the Water Safety Center parking area, which is less than a 5-minute walk.
• Leave No Trace Spotlight: Pop-Up Trailhead Education 08:00 AM–12:00 PM · Event will be held at the Arizona Hot Springs trailhead. This is NOT a guided hike.
• Leave No Trace Spotlight: Willow Beach Cleanup 09:00 AM–11:00 AM · Meeting location and password for free entry will be sent out to all registered volunteers. To register, please email LAKE_Volunteer_Coordinator@nps.gov.
• Leave No Trace Spotlight: Volunteer Stewardship Project at Goldstrike Canyon 08:00 AM–12:00 PM · Event will be held at the Goldstrike Canyon trail.
• Lake Mead Lodge Planting 08:30 AM–12:00 PM · Meeting location and password for free entry will be sent out to all registered volunteers. To register, please email LAKE_Volunteer_Coordinator@nps.gov.
• Bighorn Sheep Guzzler Cleanup 08:30 AM–12:00 PM · Meeting location and password for free entry will be sent out to all registered volunteers. To register, please email LAKE_Volunteer_Coordinator@nps.gov.
• International Volunteer Day Cleanup 08:30 AM–12:00 PM · Location will be announced via confirmation email to all registered participants prior to the event.
• Christmas Bird Count 08:30 AM–02:00 PM · Location will be announced via confirmation email to all registered participants prior to the event.

Before you go

First aid

3 first-aid locations mapped in-park — First aid station marked on the park map. Confirm the current location with any team member on arrival.

Limits

Yes, service dogs are legally permitted anywhere in a park that visitors can go

⚠ Park closure: Government Wash and 8.0 Mile Road Anticipated Reopening

The Government Wash campground and 8.0 Mile Road are anticipated to reopen in late November to vehicle access and overnight camping. This alert will be updated once the reopening date has been set.

⚠ Caution: Bacteria Levels at Arizona Hot Springs

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.

⚠ Caution: Harmful Algae Bloom

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.

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.

Weather & when to go

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.

Visitor center

Lake Mead Headquarters Information Kiosk

Visitor center

Lake Mead Headquarters Information Kiosk

Visitor center

Lake Mead Headquarters Information Kiosk

Visitor center

Lake Mead Headquarters Information Kiosk

Visitor center

Lake Mead Headquarters Information Kiosk

Visitor center

Lake Mead Headquarters Information Kiosk — Open Monday-Friday 8 am to 4 pm. Closed Saturday, Sunday, and major holidays.

Visitor center

Lake Mead Marina

Visitor center

Lake Mead Marina

Visitor center

Lake Mead Marina

Visitor center

Lake Mead Visitor Center

Visitor center

Lake Mead Visitor Center

Visitor center

Lake Mead Visitor Center

Facilities on the park map

6 bench, 1 defibrillator, 3 first aid kit, 3 first aid station, 12 picnic area, 36 restroom, 27 visitor information, 9 water fountain.

Where to stay

• 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 Lake Mead and the natural temple that changes colors throughout the day. Launch your own boat or rent one from the marina. You can also dine at the seasonal cafe, or grab a variety of snacks, drinks and charcoal from the store. · 71 campsites
• 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 the closest marina for Arizonans who want to get away from the more populated Boulder Basin area of Lake Mead. The RV Park at Temple Bar Marina is a perfect location for enjoying the lake and all its recreational activities. · 10 campsites
• 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 Vegas strip. With its unique location, the park offers scenic views of the Colorado River, Black Canyon, as well as the mountain and desert landscapes in the distance. Enjoy a variety of water activities on Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, hike on the many trails in · 28 campsites
• 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. With its unique location, the park offers scenic views of the Colorado River, Black Canyon, as well as the mountain and desert landscapes in the distance. Enjoy a variety of water activities on Lake Mead and Lake Mohave, hike on the many trails in the rec · 9 campsites
• 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 outdoor activities. Close to the “must-see” wonder of the Valley of Fire State Park and the ruins of the historic town of St. Thomas, visitors have an array of hiking and sightseeing opportunities. The large RV sites provide room for your boat, and the free on-sit · 52 campsites · Accessibility: Paved roadways and surfaces, restrooms, accessible picnic tables. Accessible sites: 8, 9 & 32
• 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 activities. Close to the “must-see” wonder of the Valley of Fire State Park and the ruins of the historic town of St. Thomas, visitors have an array of hiking and sightseeing opportunities. The large RV sites provide room for your boat, and the free on-site la · 55 campsites
• 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, grills, restrooms and panels explaining the history of the area. Across the street, you’ll find the trailhead to the Callville Summit Trail. This 2.7-mile moderate hike requires a short climb, but yields a spectacular view of Lake Mead, Fortification Hill, the Hemenway · 52 campsites
• 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 at Callville Bay Resort & Marina on Lake Mead. Conveniently located within an hour of Las Vegas, Nevada, Callville Bay offers an ideal getaway perfectly complemented by infinite opportunities for adventure and entertainment. Personal watercraft and ski boa · 5 campsites · Accessibility: Contact concessionaire directly for accessibility information.
• 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 City or try your luck in Las Vegas, Lake Mead RV Village at Boulder Beach is conveniently located to a variety of attractions. There’s a lot going on around Lake Mead RV Village, so set up camp and discover this diverse and historically signific · 115 campsites
• 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 sites that can accommodate tents or large RVs, along with tables, fire pits and/or grills. These sites are like an oasis, because of the lush vegetation that shades nearly every campsite. There is a mix of palm trees, oleanders, mature cottonwood t · 135 campsites · Accessibility: Paved roadways and surfaces, restrooms, accessible picnic tables and accessible fire rings. Accessible sites are: 15, 34, 37, 47, 50, 67, 70, 71, 106, 109…
• 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 Beach are 1-2 miles away. At these locations you can swim, kayak and jet ski. If you prefer to explore the park on land, the River Mountains Loop Trail passes right by the campground. This paved trail is more than 30 miles long and · 5 campsites · Accessibility: Group sites are not paved and would prove difficult for handicap access. Restrooms are located closest to site 5 and are accessible. Picnic tables are handicap…
• 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 every campsite. There is a mix of palm trees, oleanders, mature cottonwood trees and native vegetation that also helps provide privacy between sites. Wildlife in the area includes many species of birds and lizards along with antelope squirrels and the occasiona · 85 campsites · Accessibility: Paved roadways and surfaces, restrooms, accessible picnic tables. There are no accessible sites at this campground.

History

Opened

1936

• Park opened