Lake Mead Driving Advice

Driving from So. California it's best to get off I-15 at Hwy 146.  This offramp is about 27 miles north of the California border.  On 146 head east to Henderson. When you get off I-15 there's an Arco about a mile down on your right if you need gas.  About 5mi past the Arco take Hwy 215 East to Henderson.  About 4.5mi down 215 you can either Exit onto Lake Mead Dr into downtown Henderson, or take 515 south to Boulder City.  I usually take Lake Mead Dr so I can pickup some food or other last minute things at the Walmart in Henderson, ideally situated right on Lake Mead Dr.  From there you can take Lake Mead Dr East to Callville Bay or Boulder basin.  It's a nice scenic drive along the lake.  Going this way to Hemenway launch is only 2mi farther than taking 515 South and bypassing Henderson.  Also, there has been some road construction in Boulder City lately that can slow things down, so I like taking the scenic route via Lake Mead Dr (Hwy 564)

If you stay in Vegas it's best to use the 215 freeway that goes East, directly to Henderson.  Just take Las Vegas strip or Paradise Blvd south to 215, then go East toward Henderson.  Make sure to avoid the I-15 through the Vegas area around 5pm when everyone is going home, it can be really jammed up.

There are several tours Las Vegas has to offer in the area if you're staying in Vegas.  Sometimes that's the easiest way to see the local attractions if you're not familiar with the area.  But if you decide to do the drive, the lake is just a short 35 minute drive from the famous Las Vegas strip.  Just use I-215 and go East, using the map below.

This aerial Image of Boulder Beach area shown below give you the "lay of the land" for this popular area. Lake Mead Marina and Las Vegas Boat Harbor are next to each other.  Hemenway launch ramp is right near these marinas, but be aware the ramp angle is less than ideal.  Since the water level is so low the ramp angle requires you to back into the water quite far, and some lower sitting vehicles will have a problem.  Trucks that are raised are generally OK, but cars and some of the smaller crossover vehicles can flood their car, especially if you open the door to help your crew.  Be forewarned, take a close look at how and where people are launching on the ramp, some areas are better than other.  It's wise to wait for a better area if you're in a vehicle that's not raised from stock ride level.

Click for more info on Las Vegas Boat Harbor.

Click for more info on Lake Mead Marina.

Click for more info on Lakeshore RV Park

Click for more info on Boulder Beach NPS Campground