The Lake Mead National Recreation Area currently receives 7 to 8 million visitors every year. This is one of the most popular of the National Recreation Areas in the United States. Visitors come come to Lake Mead enjoy a variety of activities such as boating, camping, hiking, swimming, water skiing, year-round fishing and other outdoor activities. While the current drought has effected some areas drastically, Lake Mead really has not changed much. It has become even more interesting.

Lake Mead, is named for Dr. Elwood Mead, the U.S. Reclamation Commissioner between 1924 and 1936. Lake Mead is the reservoir impounded by the Hoover Dam. Over 1.5 million acres are dedicated to the Lake Mead NRA. When the lake is full, it has over 550 miles of shoreline and it covers around 247 square miles. The 'water part' of Lake Mead consists of five basins, each with its own unique features. Within these basins Lake Mead can store almost 2 years average flow from the Colorado River. However, the lake itself only occupies less than 13% of the total area of the park. So for visitors there is a lot more to Lake Mead than just water.

The Lake Mead National Recreation Area was established on October 8, 1964. Physically  Lake Mead is located approximately 30 miles east of Las Vegas.

Lake Mead is open year round for visitors to enjoy its many recreational opportunities , wildlife and many scenic wonders. There are now eight marinas located in the park which offer services such as boat slips, boat and house boat rentals. Within the park there are now 8 campgrounds, a couple of motels and 5 RV campgrounds with hookups.

Lake Mead NRA is home to to desert animals such as the Bighorn sheep, Mule deer, Coyotes, the Kit Fox, Bobcats, Ringtail cats, the Desert Tortoise, a large variety of birds and various reptiles such as Chuckwalla lizards, an occasional Gila Monster and several kinds of rattle snakes.

The most impressive scenic drive is along the North Shore Road. Approximately 40 miles from Lake Mead Blvd to Overton Beach, this scenic tour takes you through unforgettable desert vistas and numerous photo opportunities. There are favorites like Rogers Springs which an artesian spring and Redstone which is a huge outcrop of the same red sandstone found in the Valley of Fire. Further along the way, there is Valley of Fire State Park, Echo Bay Marina and Callville Bay Marina.

A few miles past Overton Beach is the Lost City Museum with its exhibits of Virgin Anasazi remains. It has displays of a large number of Anasazi artifacts, ceramics and a reconstruction of a Virgin Anasazi pueblo.