When desert dwelling Las Vegans find themselves craving water, the natural instinct is to hop on the highway and make the four-hour drive — well four hours on a good day — to the Pacific Ocean. So many locals and visitors forget that Las Vegas is just moments from the sprawling Lake Mead National Recreation Area where opportunities for swimming, boating, fishing, and even scuba diving abound.

The 1.5 million-acre Lake Mead National Recreation Area is situated on the border of Nevada and Arizona and is comprised of both Lake Mead and Lake Mohave (a reservoir along the Colorado River). The bright blue body of water can make for the perfect day trip from the Strip or a weeklong voyage on a houseboat.

Here’s where to eat while exploring this oft-overlooked desert oasis.

• Where To Eat and Drink on a Road Trip from Las Vegas [ELV]