10 Awesome Things To Do At Lake Mead, Nevada

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Do you find the flashing neon lights of Las Vegas a little overwhelming and are seeking a natural respite? Then you may want to pack up your car and drive only a short distance to Lake Mead, Nevada’s cleanest lake.

Visiting Lake Mead is one of the most awesome day trips from Las Vegas, because it’s so close and yet there are so many things to do at Lake Mead.

The striking desert scenery and brilliant blue waters of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area are a true oasis in the desert.

Well, it is a man-made lake, so maybe not an oasis provided by Mother Nature. But she did provide the mighty Colorado River which runs into this man-made lake to create a place for your enjoyment.

But what is there to do at Lake Mead and how can you enjoy it? In this guide, I’ll be sharing all the top Lake Mead attractions so you can make the most of your visit…

How to Get To Lake Mead from Las Vegas

The Lake Mead National Recreation Area is only a short 32km (20 miles) drive southeast of the Las Vegas strip along the I-515 S and takes 25 minutes. It’s 290 miles northeast of Los Angeles.

There are six entrance stations to the Lake Mead NRA: Lake Mead Parkway, Northshore, Boulder, Lake Mead Boulevard, Meadview and Temple Bar.

If you want to explore beyond Vegas and tick off this list of things to do at Lake Mead, you’re going to need a car.

Many of the most stunning places to visit near Las Vegas are only reachable by car so if you don’t have your own then you will want to rent a car.

Unless you join a tour from Las Vegas.

About Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Lake Mead Nevada became a National Recreation Area for those looking for relaxation and fun in the desert when the Hoover Dam was created in 1936 and in 1951, though back then it was known as the Boulder Dam.

Lake Mohave joined the recreation area when the Davis Dam was completed in 1951.

Both lakes became part of the first National Recreation Area in the National Parks Service in 1964.

Lake Mead is one of the largest and cleanest reservoirs in North America, with the water levels supplying over 25 million people with their drinking water.

And in the desert too! Don’t forget to be mind-boggled over that and fall in love with the Colorado River.

Across this gorgeous area sits the Mojave Desert, which makes up 87% of the park and gives you an…