Location: Lake Havasu City
Top Things to do in Lake Havasu City
The 10 Best Things to do in Lake Havasu City, Arizona (AZ)
Shimmering Lake Havasu, the centerpoint of Lake Havasu City, was formed in 1938 after the Parker Dam was built. It is perhaps most famous for the London Bridge that looms above it. Yes, the actual London Bridge, bought by the area's founding father, Robert McCullough, for $2,460,000, after the city of London put it up for auction in 1968. Today, Lake Havasu City is one of the most popular vacation destinations in Arizona and offers a range of recreational activities for families, couples and single travelers. Golf on championship courses, soak up the sun on the shores of Lake Havasu's beaches or explore nearby parks by foot and bicycle. Houseboats dot the lake and are available for rent along with paddle boats, kayaks, jet skis and other types of water sports equipment. Like most resort towns Lake Havasu is chock-full of hotels, restaurants, shops and non-stop action.
Restaurants in Lake Havasu City
1. London Bridge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,766 reviews
The original bridge from England was purchased by the founder of Lake Havasu City and reconstructed at Lake Havasu in 1971.
Reviewed By NiniBakes - Sudbury, Canada
Those granite blocks have an amazing story to tell! The tour boat operators provide great information as to why, how and when the bridge came to Lake Havasu, and the museum's display rounds out the story. The visitor's center also has great information too. The excellent walking paths along the channel offer great views from both sides, and of course you can walk and drive over it too. To say Mr. McCullough and his team had a great idea would be an understatement. The only downside in the area is that the shops in the English Village are suffering economic woes and need some sprucing up.
2. Lake Havasu
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 750 reviews
Created when the Parker Dam was built in 1938, this lake is actually a Colorado River reservoir popular for water-skiing, boating and other recreational water sports.
Reviewed By BecRecks - Grand Junction, United States
The London bridge is so beautiful, there are excellent boat trips here with narration and there are a ton of lighthouses around the Lake that are actual smaller replicas of real lighthouses. THe Lake had tons of swimming areas and lots of rental options for water craft. November was in the MID 80s -perfect time to go, not crowded AT ALL(don't go there in the summer!) Bring some water toys if you go. Lots of great breweries around - friendly people. Just a really neat place to go. But drink extra water as it is super dry there....
3. Lake Havasu State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 273 reviews
The scenic shoreline of Lake Havasu State Park is an ideal place to enjoy beautiful beaches, nature trails, boat ramps, and convenient campsites. This spot is truly a watersport haven located near the famous London Bridge of Lake Havasu City. The park offers three boat ramps, 47 campsites, a special events area (not available on holiday weekends), picnic area, and beach area. The Mohave Sunset Trail (1.75 miles) winds its way through the lowland desert and along the shoreline. The Arroyo-Camino Interpretive Garden showcases the diverse life that exists within the park and this area of the desert. Birds, lizards, and desert cottontails are common sights.
Reviewed By JohnZ578 - Calgary, Canada
This is a great park at the end of the boardwalk on the lake - picnic tables, lighthouses, park land, great views,....)
4. Sara Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 191 reviews
Reviewed By aprilmA6330ZX - East Bethel, United States
At SARA park you can hike and mountain bike miles of trails. Many are not marked well, but you can easily find your way and skip along to another trail if you lose your way. That is what happened to us. We ended up on several trails and had a wonderful time taking in the sun and views. Bring water and be prepared for some scrambles depending on the trail hiked. I recommend using a trail app and downloading the map layers as there is no service on the entire trail. There is a water filling station at the main trail head with restrooms.
5. Lake Havasu City Visitor Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 261 reviews
Reviewed By LyssFor
This is a worthwhile stop. Especially if you do not know much regarding the history behind how the London Bridge came to call Lake Havasu City it’s second home. There is a great 10 minute video you can watch to learn more about the London Bridge’s journey to the city. The video plays on a loop. The Visitor Center is decked out with London flare and provides some fun, interactive ways for you to celebrate your visit to the city such as a push-pin map and telephone booth you can write a message on. Lots of photo ops! There are also some fun, kitsch souvenirs available for purchase. The checkout process is touchless; there is even a little cart with bags for you to package your purchased goods. The staff was helpful and friendly. They were seated behind a small area in the center of the room protected by tall, plexiglass sheets. Masks are required. The London Bridge is the focal point of the visitor center so be sure to ask questions about other sights and things to do if you are interested.
6. Mohave County Library
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By on_the_go_98765
When we travel, libraries are always high on our list of places to visit, not because we need more books, but because libraries say so much about the community itself. Look at the bulletin boards, see what kinds of activities there are for young people, elderly seniors, and for community-based services they render. In this case, the listings included an adult colored pencils hour and we imagined that would be a big draw in this community of retirees. The library is quite large, the staff were helpful (but not intrusive), and the childrens' section was bright, colorful, and very inviting. Inside, a father had 2 of his children on his lap and he was reading a book to them. This is the kind of community LHC is, family-oriented. Their "Friends of the Library" resale section had some great buys and excellent selection. There was a book on Ellis Island and, paging through it to see the photos, I felt like I could have been staring into the eyes of my distant relatives. Slavs, Lithuanians, Russian Jews, Irish, Germans ... the whole "kit 'n kaboodle" (as we would have heard spoken in the late 1800's). The library is clean, has ample places to sit and read in a comfortable chair, and does not turn anyone away; however, we did see a Security Guard inside so it is safe to assume there is a reason for his presence. Locate this library on the beginnings of the McCulloch/Main Street part of town, just before Wheeler's Park.
7. Rotary Community Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 214 reviews
Reviewed By chrisettes - Littleton, United States
Whether you want to swim, let the kids play on the playground, have a picnic, play bocce ball, watch the sunset, watch the beautiful birds in flight, take a walk by the water, or just sit on one of the benches and watch it all, this is the perfect spot.
8. Cattail Cove State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 77 reviews
The beach, boat ramp, and 61 campsites at Cattail Cove State Park offer a broad spectrum of activities for all to enjoy. There are also 32 boat-in campsites along the lake shoreline within the park. Whether you're interested in swimming, fishing or just lounging and relaxing, Cattail Cove State Park offers you and your family a chance to get away and enjoy tranquility along Lake Havasu. The 2,000-acre park has been operated by the Arizona State Parks Board since 1970. Lake Havasu was formed when the Colorado River was dammed near Parker. The 45-mile long lake creates a haven for all kinds of water sports. Fish for largemouth and striped bass, channel and flathead catfish, bluegill and crappie. Boat on the blue waters, sail into quiet coves, or water ski or jet ski out on the open lake.
Reviewed By C497RDkevins
I wasn't sure about camping in 110-115 degree heat. My family is so glad we went. What an amazing park! Like the reviews say, it's very clean and well maintained. We camped in a motor home and heat shielded all of the windows. The motor home was able to stay at 67-75 the whole time with the AC running. We were lucky to get site 4 which had a water view. Our family was having so much fun we ended up grabbing a couple other sites for a few more days. We spent most of our time in our small ski boat. The water was great! Skiing, tubing, and kind people made the trip even better. There are little coves to explore and we could see the fish in clear water. Big carp, boiling stripers, and catfish. Couldn't catch one to save our life though. Don't let the heat scare you off. I can only imagine what the park is like in the Spring, must be amazing. We camped with 3 kids under 12 and two dogs.
9. Lake Havasu Lighthouses
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 68 reviews
Reviewed By SandraW1920 - Strathmore, Canada
Light houses along the shores of the "Island". Each replica has a unique story of where the original is.
10. Havasu Landing Casino
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 345 reviews
Reviewed By 634sonyam
Easy excess by boat $2.50 0ne way or check in the newspaper and get a free ride. 15-minute boat ride.
