Most Lake Havasu weeks follow the same pattern: water, sun, pool, repeat. That is the correct itinerary. What follows is for the afternoon the wind shuts the lake down, the day someone wants land, or the person planning the trip who wants to know what else exists. Written from the north end of town, where Pool House by the Bay is.
On the water
Lake Havasu is a 19,300-acre reservoir on the Colorado River. The water is clear, the season is long (March through September for boating, year-round for fishing), and there is more shoreline than you can cover in a week.
Bring your own boat
The house has about 22 feet of side-yard trailer parking plus the top of the driveway. Windsor Beach is about 6 minutes away. Site Six is about 8.
Launch ramps from the houseFishing
Largemouth and smallmouth bass, striped bass, redear sunfish. Year-round fishing weather. Cast from public docks or hire a guide.
Topock Gorge
Head north on the lake to the "miniature Grand Canyon": 3,500-year-old petroglyphs, rock formations, and the Devil's Elbow.
The Sandbar
A social gathering point in the middle of the river where boaters anchor, swim, and float. You will know it when you see it.
Boat rentals
No boat? No problem. Several companies in Lake Havasu rent pontoons, deck boats, ski boats, jet skis, and kayaks. You do not need to tow anything. Reserve, show up, and get on the water.
Arizona Watersports
Pontoons, deck boats, ski boats, jet skis, kayaks, and paddleboards. One of the larger fleets in town.
WebsiteHavasu Watercraft
Jet skis, pontoons, and deck boats. Pickup and drop-off at the launch ramp.
WebsiteResort Watersports
Kayaks, paddleboards, jet skis, and pontoons at London Bridge Resort. Walk-up rentals near the channel.
WebsiteSouthwest Kayaks
Kayak and paddleboard rentals near the bridge. The Bridgewater Channel is calm enough for beginners. The open lake is for experienced paddlers with wind awareness.
Boat tours
If you want to see the lake without driving a boat, these outfitters run guided tours, from the channel and London Bridge to the canyons north of town.
Bluewater Jet Boat Tours
High-speed jet boat tours through Topock Gorge: 3,500-year-old petroglyphs, canyon walls, and the Devil's Elbow. The best way to see the gorge if you do not have your own boat.
WebsiteRubba Duck Safari
Amphibious vehicle tours that launch from English Village and cruise the Bridgewater Channel. A family-friendly way to see London Bridge and the channel from the water.
London Bridge Jet Boat Tours
Narrated jet boat tours along the lake, covering the bridge, the channel, and waterfront landmarks.
Beaches
Lake Havasu is called Arizona's West Coast. The beaches are real sand, the water is the Colorado River, and the sun is guaranteed.
Lake Havasu State Park / Windsor Beach
White-sand beach, ramadas, grills, trails, and five boat launch ramps. The classic Havasu beach day. State park fee applies. About 6 minutes from the house.
Rotary Community Park
The city's largest waterfront park: playgrounds, beach volleyball, bocce, a skate park, ball fields, and a walking path. About 10 minutes from the house. Accessible by car or boat.
London Bridge Beach
Along Bridgewater Channel with playgrounds, ramadas, sand volleyball, basketball, and a dog park. 1340 McCulloch Blvd N.
Hidden beaches by boat
The best beaches on the lake are only reachable by water. Coves, inlets, and stretches of sand that a vehicle cannot reach. Bring a cooler and anchor.
The bridge and the channel
London Bridge is Arizona's second-largest tourist attraction. The Bridgewater Channel beneath it is the social center of town: boat-in dining, paddle-boarding, and slow cruises under a 19th-century English bridge. Read the full London Bridge history and guide, or see where to eat for channel-side restaurants and the rest of Havasu's dining scene.
Desert and trails
When someone in the group wants a land day.
The Bunker Bar
An off-road desert bar north of town. Drive or ride out, grab a drink, and enjoy the middle-of-nowhere desert setting. A Havasu local favorite.
SARA Park
1,100 acres of desert trails along the lake. Hiking and mountain biking for beginners through advanced. The go-to when you want dirt underfoot without a long drive.
Off-roading
Desert washes, slick rock, and dunes directly from town. Jump on dirt at the end of Challenger Drive (south side) or London Bridge Drive for lake-view trails. Rentals and guided tours available.
Hiking tips
Start early. Bring more water than you think. The desert is beautiful from October through April. In summer, trails bake above 110. Go at dawn or skip it for the pool.
Golf
Three courses in town, mountain-and-lake scenery, and the backyard putting green for the person who is done for the day.
Bridgewater Links
Executive 9-hole course at London Bridge Resort. Right on the water, short enough for an afternoon round.
Lake Havasu Golf Club
East and West courses on Clubhouse Dr. Narrow fairways, fast greens, and the mountain backdrop.
Iron Wolf Golf & Country Club
18-hole championship course with elevated fairways and panoramic lake views. The best scenery of the three.
Day trips worth the drive
Drive times are from Lake Havasu City. Only listing the ones that are actually worth pulling someone off the lake for.
OatmanAbout 1 hr 4 min
Route 66, burros in the street, gift shops.
The Desert Bar (Nellie E Saloon)About 41 min
Needs 4-wheel drive. Open weekends only. Confirm before you go.
Route 66 Museum, KingmanAbout 52 min
A half-day if the group wants history more than water.
Grand Canyon CavernsAbout 1 hr 52 min
Dry caverns in Peach Springs, including the underground suite if someone is collecting odd nights.
Grand CanyonAbout 3 hr 26 min
A long day. Better as an overnight if that is the point of the trip.
When to visit
October through April, prime season
Highs in the 60s to 90s. The pool is heated, the spa is open, and the desert is comfortable. This is when the Balloon Festival (January), Winter Blast and Winterfest (February), Desert Storm (April), and IJSBA World Finals (October) happen. See the events calendar.
May through September, lake season
Summer is hot. Routinely 110+, sometimes 120. The lake is the point. You get on the water early, come back to the pool in the afternoon, and stay outside after dark when it cools into the 80s. The house has air conditioning and a game room for the peak-heat hours. Do not hike in summer unless you start at dawn.
Arizona does not observe daylight saving time
Lake Havasu stays on MST year-round. In winter it matches Mountain Time. In summer it matches Pacific Time. Plan accordingly if you are driving from California or Nevada.