Boulder City

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.

Not to be confused with Boulder, the city in Colorado.

Understand

Get in

By car

US Route 93, also signed as Interstate 11 between Henderson and the Arizona state line, connects Las 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

Get around

  • RTC Transit, +1 702-228-7433. Route HDX serves the downtown area including the hotels that are in downtown Boulder City. It also provides service between Las Vegas and Boulder City.

See

  • 🌍 Hoover Dam, Nevada Route 172 (east of Boulder City), +1 702-494-2517, toll-free: +1-866-730-9097, . 5AM-9PM (dam accessible), 9AM-5PM daily (visitor center); 8AM-5:15PM (parking garage). 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. $10 visitor center, with powerplant tour $15, in-depth tour $30, parking garage $10 at the visitor center & free parking on the Arizona side.
  • 🌍 Boulder City and Hoover Dam Museum, 1305 Arizona St. (Located in the Boulder Dam Hotel), +1 702-294-1988, fax: +1 702 294-4380, . M-Sa 10AM-5PM; closed Jan 1, Thanksgiving, Dec 25. Tells the story of the construction of the Hoover Dam and origins of Boulder City. $2, children and students - $1.

Do

Gambling

If you win...

Chances are that, if you win it big near Boulder City and you are not a U.S. citizen your winnings will be subject to a 30% withholding tax from the Internal Revenue Service. That $10,000 slot winning can dwindle quite quickly if that is taken off the top. Not to worry though you can reclaim your gambling winnings tax through a 1042-S form. You should get this from the casino so don't lose it: it is your starting ticket to getting your gambling winnings back.

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.

  • 🌍 Railroad Pass, 2800 S Boulder Hwy, Henderson (to the east (on a parcel of private land within the boundary of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area)), +1 702-294-5000, . 24 hours. 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. Free.
  • 🌍 Hoover Dam Lodge (formerly Hacienda), 18000 US-93 (to the west in Henderson), +1 702-293-5000.

Excursions

  • 🌍 Skydive Las Vegas (at the Boulder City airport), +1 702 759-3483. Offers the chance to jump out of a perfectly good airplane and get a great view of Lake Mead at the same time.
  • 🌍 Kayak Las Vegas, 1647A Nevada Highway, +1 702 293-5026. Paddle the Colorado River from the base of Hoover Dam to Willow Beach Arizona, hike to hot springs from the river. Paddle to island beaches for a swim at Lake Mead.
  • 🌍 Nevada Southern Railroad Museum, 600 Yucca St (Nevada State Railroad Museum), +1 702 486-5933. 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.

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

Go next

Routes through Boulder City
Las Vegas via Henderson  N  S  Kingman via Phoenix
Las Vegas Henderson  N  S  Searchlight Needles


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