Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Experience outdoor thrills, striking landscapes, and brilliant blue waters.
Photo: NPS Photo/Andrew Cattoir / NPS
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.
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Driving times from Lake Mead National Recreation Area, one way, via road — a realistic day is 8–10 hours behind the wheel.
Entrance fees
Entrance - Private Vehicle
$25.00Admits a private non-commercial vehicle for 1-7 days.
Entrance - Motorcycle
$20.00Valid for 7 days. Admits up to 2 private, non-commercial motorcycles with up to 4 total passengers.
Entrance - Per Person
$15.00Admits a single individual walking/bicycling for 1-7 days.
Entrance - Non-commercial Groups
$15.00Admits 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.
Entrance - Education/Academic Groups
FreeAdmits education/academic groups as long as a fee waiver form is filled out and approved.
Commercial Entrance - Sedan
$25.00Admits a sedan of 1-6 people.
Commercial Entrance - Van
$50.00Admits a van of 7-16 persons.
Commercial Entrance - Mini-bus
$60.00Admits a mini-bus of 16-25 persons.
Commercial Entrance - Motor Coach
$150.00Admits a motor coach of 26+ persons.
Hours
All Park Hours
- Mon
- All Day
- Tue
- All Day
- Wed
- All Day
- Thu
- All Day
- Fri
- All Day
- Sat
- All Day
- Sun
- All Day
Activities
Getting there
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.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to enter Lake Mead National Recreation Area?
- Entrance to Lake Mead National Recreation Area starts at $15. See the fees section above for each pass and vehicle type.
- What is there to do at Lake Mead National Recreation Area?
- Popular activities include Auto and ATV, Backcountry Camping, Backcountry Hiking, Biking, Boat Tour, Boat Tour.
- Which national parks are within a day's drive of Lake Mead National Recreation Area?
- Within about a day's drive you can reach Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument (2 h 42 min), Castle Mountains National Monument (3 h 52 min), Mojave National Preserve (4 h 30 min), Grand Canyon National Park (4 h 56 min), Pipe Spring National Monument (5 h 4 min), Tuzigoot National Monument (5 h 7 min).