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Lake Mead

Grand Canyon West, Arizona — Mohave County.

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135,702Surface acres (whole lake)
4Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 122648503, 3 mapped parts); shared with Nevada, acreage is the whole lake.

Location & fast facts

Where Lake Mead is in Arizona

The red circle marks Lake Mead.

Fast facts

About Lake Mead

  • County: Mohave
  • Nearest city: Grand Canyon West
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Shared with: Nevada. The surface acreage shown is the whole lake; about 34% of the mapped water is in Arizona.
  • Distance: about 123 mi from Lake Havasu City and 171 mi from Flagstaff, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Arizona: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in Arizona

Official AZGFD pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 4 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Camping. 2 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Lake map

Lake Mead shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Temple Bar Campground (campground)Boat ramp (Boat launch)1Boat ramp (Boat launch)2Hemenway Harbor Launch Ramp (Boat launch)3Pearce Ferry Take-Out (Boat launch)41 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch Campground
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  2. 2Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  3. 3Hemenway Harbor Launch Ramp
    Boat launch
  4. 4Pearce Ferry Take-Out
    Boat launch

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 122648503, plus 2 more mapped parts), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Lake Mead

We found 2 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lake Mead, 1 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

All campgrounds & RV parks in Arizona

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Lake Mead, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Compare car rentals near this lake

Car rental links go to our partner Discover Cars; LakeRipple may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (36.2661, -114.4078). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake Mead. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Lake Mead

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in MST (America/Phoenix), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    4 public access sites listed, 4 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating36.0363, -114.7088
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating36.0902, -114.1037
    Hemenway Harbor Launch Ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating36.0314, -114.7729
    Pearce Ferry Take-Out——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating36.1259, -113.9822

    OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Lake Mead

    How big is Lake Mead?

    Lake Mead covers about 135,702 acres in Grand Canyon West, Arizona (Mohave County).

    Is there a public boat launch on Lake Mead?

    Yes. 4 public trailer launches are listed: Pearce Ferry Take-Out, Hemenway Harbor Launch Ramp and Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Lake Mead?

    Yes. We list 2 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 1 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Lake Mead?

    Lake Mead touches Grand Canyon West in Mohave County, Arizona.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Lake Mead? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Arizona lakes & ponds · All waters in Grand Canyon West