Lake Mead is the body of water held behind Hoover Dam. It is the largest man-made reservoir in the United States, with 822 miles of shoreline. The National Park Service oversees the 1.5 million acre Lake Mead National Recreation Area, which includes Lake Mojave and the surrounding desert from Davis Dam to the south and Grand Canyon National Park in the east, all the way north to Overton. This is the largest Department of Interior recreational acreage in the country, outside of Alaska.

• Top of conservation storage in the lake: 1,221.4 feet.
• Visitor Center: 1,640 feet.

Open year-round, 24 hours, 7 days a week. Some beaches and other areas are day-use only, from dawn until dusk. These areas are marked with signs. The Lake Mead Visitor Center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• The Visitor Center is 27 miles east of Las Vegas via U.S. Highway 93.
• Other lake access is available via I-15 north of Las Vegas, U.S. Highway 95 south of Las Vegas, and U.S. 93 in Arizona.
• Get directions from Google Maps.
• Get directions from MapQuest.
• Road Construction information.
• NPS Directions.

• Summer temperatures rise above 100 degrees F daily, causing conditions for heat stroke to occur. Avoid strenuous activities during the day.
• From October through May temperatures are less extreme. The winter highs average 50 degrees F; nighttime lows seldom drop below 32 degrees F.
• Drink water even if you are not thirsty; your body can lose fluids quickly.
• For conditions on the reservoir, monitor the marine radio channel 162.55. Call 702-736-3854.
• NPS Weather Conditions.
• See area weather chart.
• See Canyon Country Weather for more information.
• Sunrise/Sunset

• Hunting is allowed in season. Developed areas and many areas around the lakes are closed to shooting and to the possession of loaded firearms.
• Off-road driving is prohibited. Get the free Approved Backcountry Roads maps at ranger stations and at the Visitor Center, or download them from the Web site.
• Do not damage or remove plants, animals, Native American artifacts, or natural and historical features; all are protected by federal law.
• See National Park Service Restrictions and Regulations.
• See American Antiquities Act of 1906.
• See Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979.
• See Pets in the Parks and Backcountry.
• See Encountering Wild Animals.

• A microscopic amoeba common to some hot springs can cause infection and sometimes death.
• Oleander is a toxic plant common to developed areas; you or your pet should not eat plant parts or drink water from ditches. Do not use wood of the oleander for cooking.
• Avoid old mines and tunnels; shafts and rotten timbers are dangerous.
• See Backcountry Considerations.
• See Backcountry Emergencies.
• NPS News Updates.