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National Recreation Area · Arizona and Nevada

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area in Arizona and Nevada. $25 per vehicle. 15 hikes listed.

By The Green Adventures · Updated · How we check

TypeNational Recreation Area
StateArizona, Nevada
Entrance fee$25 per vehicle
Campgrounds16
Nearest national parkZion (117 mi)
Closest airportBLD (29 mi)
sun rising on Black Canyon
Visit Black Canyon Water Trail for rafting or kayaking Photo: NPS Photo/Andrew Cattoir

Lake Mead National Recreation Area is a national recreation area run by the National Park Service in Arizona and Nevada.

In the park service’s words

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.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Things to do

  • Hike the Liberty Bell Arch Trail (4 to 8 Hours): While there is no river access on this trail, hikers are rewarded throughout their adventure with geological highlights, remnants of a historic magnesium mine going back to the days of WWII, and a fantastic panoramic view overlooking the Colorado River from 1000 ft. up.
  • Hike the Arizona Hot Springs Trail (4 to 8 Hours): Arizona Hot Spring trail is strenuous and can be combined to make a loop going down a 20-foot ladder to the White Rock Canyon trail. With a 750-foot elevation change and some steep scrambling, this hike is considered very strenuous.
  • Hike the Goldstrike Canyon Trail (4 to 8 Hours): This strenuous hike leads through a scenic canyon to natural hot springs and offers views of the Colorado River and Hoover Dam.
  • Hike the White Rock Canyon Trail (4 to 8 Hours): Follow this meandering canyon down as it compresses and loosens until it finally opens to reveal the mighty Colorado River.
  • Hike the Lone Palm Trail (4 to 8 Hours): This strenuous hike leads through a scenic canyon to natural hot springs and offers views of the Colorado River at the end of the trail.
  • Picnic at Katherine Landing: Katherine Landing picnic area features 10 picnic tables, 6 grills, and restrooms. This location does not have drinking water.
  • Picnic at South Arizona Telepone Cove: South Arizona Telephone Cove picnic area features 6 picnic tables. This location does not have grills, restrooms, or drinking water.
  • Picnic at Rogers Spring: Rogers Spring picnic area features 4 picnic tables, 4 grills, and restrooms. This location does not have drinking water.

Fees and hours

Entrance fee: $25 per vehicle. The America the Beautiful pass covers it.

Hours: Open 24 hours, every day. Lake Mead National Recreation Area is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please note that while the majority of the park is accessible at all hours, our Visitor Center operates on a specific schedule. Be sure to plan your visit accordingly, as the Visitor Center is open during designated hours to provide you with valuable information, maps, and assistance from our knowledgeable staff.

Camping

Campground Sites Booking From RVs Amenities
Katherine Landing Campground 173 See park n/a No none listed
Boulder Beach Campground 135 Both $20 Yes dump station, water, cell signal
Lake Mead RV Village 115 Reservable n/a No hookups
Las Vegas Bay Campground 85 First come $20 Yes dump station, water, cell signal
Cottonwood Cove RV Park 72 See park n/a No hookups
Temple Bar Campground 71 See park $20 No dump station, water, cell signal
Echo Bay RV Park 55 See park n/a No hookups
Callville Bay Campground 52 First come $20 No dump station, water, cell signal
Echo Bay Campground 52 First come $20 Yes dump station, water, cell signal
Cottonwood Cove Campground 45 Reservable n/a No none listed
Willow Beach RV Park 28 See park n/a No hookups
Katherine Landing RV Park 24 See park n/a No hookups
Temple Bar RV Park 10 See park n/a No hookups
Willow Beach Campground 9 See park n/a No none listed
Boulder Beach Group Campground 5 Reservable $80 No dump station, water, cell signal
Callville Bay RV Park 5 See park n/a Yes hookups

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.

Airport City Drive to the park Straight-line miles Type
Boulder City Municipal Airport (BLD) Boulder City, NV No road route 29 Regional
Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) Las Vegas, NV 3 h 50 min (173 mi) 46 Large hub
St George Regional Airport (SGU) St George, UT 1 h 10 min (47 mi) 87 Regional

Drive times run from the airport to Zion Canyon Visitor Center, estimated with OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap roads at normal speeds; allow extra for traffic, stops and construction.

Miles are straight-line distances.

Visitor centers

  • Lake Mead Visitor Center: Daily, 9:00AM - 4:30PM. Before you start your adventure, stop by the Lake Mead Visitor Center. Whether you have one hour or one week, rangers and volunteers will help you plan an unforgettable trip. In addition to grabbing maps and brochures, you can get your National Park passport stamp or become a junior ranger.
  • [Lake Mead Headquarters Information Kiosk](): Mon 8:00AM - 4:00PM; Tue 8:00AM - 4:00PM; Wed 8:00AM - 4:00PM; Thu 8:00AM - 4:00PM; Fri 8:00AM - 4:00PM; Sat Closed; Sun Closed. Open Monday-Friday 8 am to 4 pm. Closed Saturday, Sunday, and major holidays.

Weather

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.

From the National Park Service (public domain).

Know before you go

Drones are banned at almost every park site, and you may not take rocks, plants or artifacts. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet where they are allowed. Bring no firewood from home.

Nearby

The nearest national park is Zion, about 117 miles away in a straight line.

Sources

Last checked 1 November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee at Lake Mead National Recreation Area?

$25 per vehicle.

Where is Lake Mead National Recreation Area?

In Arizona, Nevada. The closest airport with scheduled flights is Boulder City Municipal Airport, about 29 miles away.

Can you camp at Lake Mead National Recreation Area?

Yes, at 16 campgrounds the park service lists.

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