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Lake Mead National Recreation Area

National Park · Nevada, 🇺🇸 United States
Area 4,459 km²
Time zone America/Los_Angeles, America/Phoenix
Official website www.nps.gov/lake/index.htm
Lake Mead National Recreation Area

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Doc Searls / CC BY 2.0

Lake Mead National Recreation Area: The Absolute Essentials

Lake Mead National Recreation Area encompasses 1.5 million acres across Nevada and Arizona, centered on the reservoirs of Lake Mead and Lake Mohave. The area features engineering landmarks like the Hoover Dam and the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, alongside the historical Lost City Museum. Geological highlights include Elephant Rock and the Black Canyon, while multiple overlooks provide perspectives on the Colorado River and the rugged Mojave Desert landscape.

14 places

Scenic Views and Rock Formations

This collection highlights prominent geological features and vantage points within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and the surrounding Mojave Desert. It includes natural sandstone sculptures like Elephant Rock, massive limestone cliffs such as the Stewart Cliffs and Hemenway Wall, and elevated overlooks providing views of the Colorado River, Black Canyon, and the Grand Canyon. These sites showcase the region’s arid landscape, volcanic history, and the dramatic intersection of desert terrain with the reservoir's shoreline.

13 places
Kumar Appaiah / CC BY-SA 2.0

Lakes and Water Activities

This collection features the aquatic highlights of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, centered around the massive reservoirs created by the Hoover and Davis Dams. Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States by capacity, offers an extensive shoreline for boating and fishing. Downstream, Lake Mohave provides access to the narrow walls of Black Canyon. The list includes Belsmeir Beach on the northern Overton Arm and the Roaring Rapids section of the Colorado River, showcasing diverse water environments from still reservoirs to moving river currents.

5 places

Lake Mead National Recreation Area — Map

Lake Mead National Recreation Area — Map

Climate & when to visit

Best time to visit: March, April, November

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Good
  • 16° (feels like 13°) · extremes 1°–21°
  • 7° at night
  • 3 rainy days
  • 21 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in February

Great
  • 18° (feels like 15°) · extremes 3°–25°
  • 8° at night
  • 4 rainy days
  • 19 sunny days
  • 8 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 4 · moderate

Typical weather in March

Great
  • 23° (feels like 19°) · extremes 6°–31°
  • 11° at night
  • 3 rainy days
  • 23 sunny days
  • 10 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in April

Great
  • 28° (feels like 24°) · extremes 9°–35°
  • 15° at night
  • 2 rainy days
  • 25 sunny days
  • 11 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 8 · very high

Typical weather in May

Fair
  • 33° (feels like 29°) · extremes 14°–40°
  • 20° at night
  • 1 rainy day
  • 27 sunny days
  • 12 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 9 · very high
Up to 12 days above 35°

Typical weather in June

Poor
  • 39° (feels like 36°) · extremes 20°–44°
  • 26° at night
  • 0 rainy days
  • 28 sunny days
  • 13 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 10 · very high
Up to 25 days above 35°

Typical weather in July

Poor
  • 42° (feels like 40°) · extremes 26°–46°
  • 30° at night
  • 3 rainy days
  • 23 sunny days
  • 12 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 10 · very high
Up to 30 days above 35°

Typical weather in August

Poor
  • 40° (feels like 39°) · extremes 25°–44°
  • 29° at night
  • 3 rainy days
  • 26 sunny days
  • 11 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 9 · very high
Up to 30 days above 35°

Typical weather in September

Poor
  • 36° (feels like 35°) · extremes 19°–42°
  • 25° at night
  • 2 rainy days
  • 26 sunny days
  • 11 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 8 · very high
Up to 20 days above 35°

Typical weather in October

Great
  • 29° (feels like 27°) · extremes 11°–36°
  • 18° at night
  • 2 rainy days
  • 26 sunny days
  • 10 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in November

Great
  • 21° (feels like 18°) · extremes 5°–28°
  • 12° at night
  • 2 rainy days
  • 23 sunny days
  • 8 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in December

Good
  • 15° (feels like 12°) · extremes 2°–21°
  • 7° at night
  • 3 rainy days
  • 20 sunny days
  • 7 hours of sunshine per day
  • Dry air
  • Calm winds
  • UV index 2 · low

Climate data: NASA POWER + Copernicus ERA5-Land; NASA POWER (MERRA-2) · 1996–2025

Practical information

Currency
US Dollar USD $ · Card payments · Widely accepted
Emergency numbers
911 Police · Ambulance · Fire brigade
Electricity
Type A / Type B
120 V · 60 Hz
Languages
English
Tap water
Safe to drink
Driving side
Right
Calling code
+1
Learn more

Tours & Activities

Riverside Hotel
Taxi · 8 min
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
2h
Walk · 6 min
Corner Café
45 min
Walk · 18 min
Riverside Hotel

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