Overview
Boulder City is a city of 15,000 people (2021) in Southern Nevada, which was built for construction workers of the nearby Hoover Dam. It is one of only two cities in Nevada where gambling is prohibited.
2 sights · 5 things to do · 2 places to eat · 1 bars & cafés · 8 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Boulder City
Hoover Dam
Straddling the Colorado River between Nevada and Arizona, this was the world's largest dam when completed in 1935, and instrumental in generating power and providing irrigation via Lake Mead, which was created behind the…
Railroad Pass
Railroad Pass (opened 1931) is the oldest casino in Clark County, and offers a self-guided historical exhibit of the casino and the local area.
Hoover Dam Lodge
Nevada Southern Railroad Museum
Scenic railroad that operates between Boulder City and Railroad Pass using restored 1911 era passenger cars. Air conditioned in summer, heated in winter. Operates Sa Su year round. Engineer for an hour allows you to be y…
Boulder City and Hoover Dam Museum
Tells the story of the construction of the Hoover Dam and origins of Boulder City.
Skydive Las Vegas
Offers the chance to jump out of a perfectly good airplane and get a great view of Lake Mead at the same time.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Feb–May, Oct–Nov. Summer highs reach about 104°F; winter lows dip to about 40°F. Very hot (Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) — plan outdoor time for mornings. Wettest: Feb and Jan. (climate data from nearby Las Vegas)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- BLD Boulder City Municipal Airport, Boulder City — 3 mi away. Directions
- LAS Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas — 19 mi away (major hub). Directions
US Route 93, also signed as Interstate 11 between northwest Las Vegas and the Arizona state line, connects Vegas to Kingman (Arizona), bypassing Boulder City. The former route of US 93 through the city is now signed as US Route 93 Business.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Boulder City and Hoover Dam Museum, Nevada Southern Railroad Museum, Kayak Las Vegas
- Lunch Fox Smokehouse BBQ
- Afternoon Skydive Las Vegas, Railroad Pass
- Dinner Southwest Diner
- Evening Boulder Dam Brewing Co.
Day 2
- Morning Hoover Dam
- Afternoon Hoover Dam Lodge
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
The Historic Downtown district offers a number of places to eat, ranging from pizza to restaurants with sidewalk tables.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Get in
By car
US Route 93, also signed as Interstate 11 between northwest Las Vegas and the Arizona state line, connects Vegas to Kingman (Arizona), bypassing Boulder City. The former route of US 93 through the city is now signed as US Route 93 Business.
By plane
Go Boulder City Municipal Airport (BLD)
Flights to/from Grand Canyon National Park Airport (GCN) in Tusayan on Grand Canyon Airlines. Other airlines only provide sightseeing tours over the Grand Canyon from Boulder City and back.
Get around
Go RTC Transit
Route 221 serves the downtown area including the hotels that are in downtown Boulder City through Arizona St, Nevada Way, & Boulder City Pkwy on the westbound trip towards Las Vegas. In the inbound trip it goes south on Buchanan Blvd from Boulder City Pkwy and then east on Adams towards Utah St. It provides service between Las Vegas and Boulder City. In Boulder City the route begins/ends at Del Prado Park @ Utah St & Northgate/6th in the east side of town. Guided bus tours to Hoover Dam are typically booked through different tour companies in Las Vegas. No RTC service to Hoover Dam.
See
See Hoover Dam
Straddling the Colorado River between Nevada and Arizona, this was the world's largest dam when completed in 1935, and instrumental in generating power and providing irrigation via Lake Mead, which was created behind the dam. Even though through traffic no longer crosses the dam, instead crossing a bridge just downstream that opened in 2010, tourist traffic (and occasional employee traffic) to the dam can still be quite bad so plan your trip with extra travel time.
Do
Gambling
The popular Nevadan pastime of gambling is not allowed in Boulder City (alongside Panaca), but two casinos are located at the edges of town just outside the city limits.
Excursions
Do Nevada Southern Railroad Museum
Scenic railroad that operates between Boulder City and Railroad Pass using restored 1911 era passenger cars. Air conditioned in summer, heated in winter. Operates Sa Su year round. Engineer for an hour allows you to be your own engineer or rent the entire train for a birthday or wedding.
Buy
The Historic Downtown district has a number of antique shops.
Shop Goatfeathers Emporium
Shop Boulder City Antique Market
Eat
The Historic Downtown district offers a number of places to eat, ranging from pizza to restaurants with sidewalk tables.
Drink
While gambling is not legal in Boulder City, alcoholic beverages are. The Historic Downtown district offers a number of establishments.
Sleep
Stay Boulder Dam Hotel
Historic hotel, built in 1933 to accommodate visitors during the construction of Hoover Dam. Wireless internet access, cable/satellite TV, complimentary breakfast, coffee & tea in the lobby, free local calls, complimentary toiletries, clock radio and wake-up calls, cribs on request
Stay Lake Mead RV Village
Stay Nevada Inn
Stay El Rancho Boulder Motel
Stay Western Inn
Go next
- Las Vegas — 20 mi away
Nearby
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Park · 3 listings · 3 mi away
Henderson and East
City / town · 63 listings · 9 mi away
Las Vegas
City / town · 36 listings · 22 mi away
Blue Diamond
City / town · 3 listings · 32 mi away
Searchlight
City / town · 23 listings · 36 mi away
Primm
City / town · 26 listings · 40 mi away
Moapa Valley
City / town · 9 listings · 46 mi away
Chloride
City / town · 3 listings · 53 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.