Take in the rugged beauty of the Nevada desert as we travel west along U.S. Route 93 from the Hoover Dam to Henderson, winding through Boulder City on one of the most historically and geographically significant drives in the American Southwest. Although much of this 12-mile stretch is now replaced by Interstate 11, the corridor still retains its original character and legacy as part of U.S. 93—a route that once stretched uninterrupted from the Hoover Dam through Boulder City and into the Las Vegas Valley. This short drive is a blend of modern engineering and classic desert highway, linking history with the present in a uniquely Nevada way.
Our journey begins near the Hoover Dam, a monumental achievement of Depression-era infrastructure that harnessed the Colorado River and created Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States. The dam is more than just an energy generator; it’s a cultural icon and a testament to American resilience. As we pull away from the dam and ascend the Hoover Dam Bypass, we cross the Mike O’Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, now part of I-11. This bridge offers breathtaking views of the canyon below and serves as the modern starting point for the new interstate, which has officially superseded U.S. 93 along most of this route.
Descending into Boulder City, we leave the interstate momentarily to follow the old U.S. 93 alignment through town, now a business loop. This brief detour onto Nevada Way slows the pace and drops us into a town frozen in time. Founded in the early 1930s to house dam workers, Boulder City is one of Nevada’s rare no-gambling zones, and its downtown evokes the charm of a planned company town. The Boulder Dam Hotel, a 1933 landmark, stands proudly in the historic core—once host to dignitaries and celebrities alike. As we pass tree-lined streets and tidy homes, we’re reminded that this was once the only way into the Vegas Valley, long before bypasses and beltways redefined the regional road map.
Back on the modern alignment, the highway opens up once more into the divided, high-speed corridor of Interstate 11, built to modern standards and gradually expanding northward toward Las Vegas. Here, the desert takes center stage again. The terrain flattens and the road curves gently through the Eldorado Mountains, offering sweeping views of the Mojave Desert and distant mountain ranges. Though it now carries the blue shield of an interstate, the corridor hasn’t lost its soul—relics of the original U.S. 93 linger in nearby frontage roads and older segments just off the mainline.
As we approach Henderson, suburban sprawl emerges on the horizon. This once-remote desert outpost has grown into one of Nevada’s largest cities, and the freeway now flows seamlessly into the southern terminus of former Interstate 515, marking the end of our journey. What was once the domain of long-haul truckers and dam tourists is now part of a larger urban web, feeding daily commuters and linking rapidly expanding communities in the Las Vegas metro area.
Reflecting on this short but dynamic segment, it becomes clear that U.S. Route 93 from the Hoover Dam to Henderson is more than just a transportation corridor. It’s a symbolic passage through time: from one of America’s greatest infrastructure triumphs, through a New Deal-era town with no slot machines, to the sprawling edges of one of the fastest-growing regions in the country. Whether you’re tracing the past on the old alignment or speeding ahead on the interstate, this route invites you to consider how we build, preserve, and evolve the paths that connect us.
🎵 Music:
Piano March by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/
🗺️ Route Map
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