Lake Mead is awesome, we usually do at least a 3 day trip because of the long drive...sorry about your tires, on our way back from Powell we popped 2, and then one the month before on our way back from Katherines......
We did Lake Mead on a 3 day weekend and it wasn't EVEN crowded, but I guess it can get a little windy...
Was the water up?
Do ya have any pics?