Las Vegas Hoover Dam tours come in all shapes and sizes. Bus, helicopter, and airplane. Take your pick. Each offers a great way to experience this western icon while in Vegas.

Hoover Dam is located a mere 45 minutes from Las Vegas. The arch-gravity structure has been holding back the Colorado River for more than 75 years. The dam epitomizes what it means to be huge. Check out these facts:

1. It's 726.4-feet tall, making it the second tallest dam in the U.S. behind the Grand Coulee in Washington state.

2. It's 1,244-feet long. The dam crosses formidable Black Canyon and connects Nevada with Arizona.

3. It's 660-feet thick. Before the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge opened in Oct. 2010, the top of the bridge was a two-lane road on which 13,000 to 16,000 cars crossed daily. How popular is Hoover Dam? Between eight to 10 million people visit it annually, coming by bus, helicopter, and airplane.

Bus tours are the most economical way to see the bridge. Trips include hotel pick up and drop off and lunch. The motor coach goes through Henderson and Boulder City, NV, and then along Lake Mead National Recreation Area before descending into Black Canyon. Now starts your Hoover Dam tour, which may include:

1. Strolling atop the dam from Nevada to Arizona.

2. The official U.S. Government's V.I.P. Discovery Tour of the Interior (takes you to the bottom to see the turbine generators at work).

3. Exploring the Visitor's Center's exhibits, movie room, and observation deck.

It's possible to bundle a helicopter flight, plane ride, or boat cruise into your bus tour package. Trip duration for the basic bus package is 3.5 hours.

Helicopter and airplane air tours are also available. Flights leave from Las Vegas every day of the year. The flight plan includes Lake Mead and Hoover Dam. Helicopters fly at a lower altitude than airplanes, which usually include Hoover Dam as part of a Grand Canyon West Rim air package. Tour duration ranges from 3.5 hours to 5.5 hours. Both packages bundle free hotel shuttle service.

Reserve your tour to Hoover Dam in advance. There are two reasons for this: 1) It's cheaper; and 2) you're guaranteed to get a seat. For the cheapest prices, I strongly recommend you purchase your tour online. Buy direct from the tour operator if you want the best price. I know it sound counter-intuitive, but it's the company that's running the tour that will sell it to you at the lowest price.

Las Vegas Hoover Dam tours are perfect for travelers looking for a quick day trip from the Las Vegas Strip. There's an adventure for every budget. Bus tours are the most economical. Helicopters are best for getting a true bird's eye view of the dam. Airplane tours include the dam as part of the flight to the West Rim. Hoover Dam's been fascinating visitors for years. View it airborne or by foot - you will not be disappointed.

Travel journalist Keith Kravitz reports on the Hoover Dam tours and suggests bookmarking this site for great deals: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/hoover-dam-tours