Lake Havasu State Park: Everything You Need to Know

Imagine an Arizona oasis with a gorgeous lake in the middle of the desert, that is also near amazing shopping and restaurants.  Because this is exactly what Lake Havasu State Park is!

This beautiful park sits right on the edge of Lake Havasu, which connects with the Colorado River.  And it is also minutes away from great shopping, adorable restaurants and the famous London Bridge.  AND in January, the campground is a short walk from the Lake Havasu Balloon Fest, but we’ll get to that!

Lake Havasu State Park has a great campground, boat ramps, lakefront cabins and, of course, a great swimming beach.  So let’s dive into everything you need to know so you can have an amazing trip to Lake Havasu State Park

Important Links

• Lake Havasu State Park website
• Camping in Lake Havasu State Park – Make Reservations Here
• Park Brochure (PDF Download)

Location

Lake Havasu State Park is located right on the California-Arizona state line, in Lake Havasu City.  The park is right along the water and less than 2 miles from the London Bridge.

If you are planning a visit here, you’ll be looking at a drive time of 3.5 hours from Phoenix, AZ, 2.5 hours from Las Vegas, NV, or 4.5 hours from Los Angeles, CA.  It’s a great stop when visiting some of the national parks in this part of the country.  

Now let’s take a look at the fees.

Fees

All of Arizona State Parks charge a fee.  And unfortunately, Lake Havasu State Park is one of the more expensive parks.  The fees are as follows.

• Per vehicle Monday-Thursday: $20
• Per vehicle Friday-Sunday, holidays: $25
• Individual/bicycle: $5.00

Obviously, this daily fee adds up very quickly.  So if you are planning on visiting this park, or other Arizona State Park more than 10 times in a year (10 days at $20/day), you would benefit from buying their annual pass. This pass is $200, good for 12 months, and gets you into any Arizona state park with 3 other people.  

One thing I will say in favor of these fees is that if you are camping or renting a cabin here, you do not have to pay the daily fee.  Some states require that you pay the camping fee and the daily fee each day you are there, but not in Arizona.    

Hours

But when is the park open?  Lake Havasu State Park is open 24 hours a day, year-round.  If you are going boating, you’ll want to arrive early to get a start on your day on the water.  So you can self-pay when you arrive.

The Visitor Center/Park Store is open from 6am – 6pm (Mar. – Oct.) and 6am – 5pm (Nov. – Feb.).  Here you can buy passes, ask the rangers questions, and buy a few souvenirs at the store.  

What to Expect

Lake Havasu State Park has so much to offer you!  Here you’ll find a well-thought out campground, lakeside cabins, 4 different boat ramps and a lovely beach.  You’re also less than 2 miles from shopping and restaurants right by the London Bridge.

Despite the beautiful lake in this area, it’s still a desert climate.  Make sure you are prepared with plenty of sun protection and lots of drinking water.  The temperatures will reach well above 100 degrees in the summer months.  

Now that you know a little about the weather and climate, let’s check out what there is to do in Lake Havasu State Park.  

Things to Do Here

Lake Havasu State Park has something for everyone.  There’s a lakeshore beach for relaxing as well as 4 different boat ramps for motorized and non-motorized boats.  There is a hiking trail along the shores of the lake for those who want to stretch their legs.

If you are looking to go camping or visit the area for a while, there is a great campground.  The campground has 54 campsites with electric and water, and 13 lakefront cabins that can be rented.  

Lakeshore Beach

Lake Havasu State Park has a great beach area right on the banks of Lake Havasu.  Just across the water are the desert mountains on the California side.  

There are 2 designated beach areas.  Both of these are no wake zones and there shouldn’t be any boats in the area.  There are picnic tables along the beach and easily accessible restrooms at each swimming area.

Boating

Now if you want to go boating, there are 4 different boat ramps and parking lots in Lake Havasu State Park.  Non-motorized boats can launch from any of the ramps, however, be aware there are requirements for motorized boats.

In Lot 1, you’ll find the Personal Watercraft and Jet Ramp, which does not allow watercrafts with propellers.  

Lot 2 has both the North Ramp and the South Ramp, which all boats are allowed to use.  The North Ramp is right near the swimming area, so be careful around this beach.

And Lot 3 has the Windsor Ramp, which is at the south end of the park, past the campgrounds.  

You can find the map on the 2nd page of this park brochure.  This will give you a better idea of where to put in your boat and where to park your trailer (if necessary). 

Hiking

There is only 1 hiking trail in Lake Havasu State Park. The Mohave Sunset Trail is 1.5 miles long (one way).  This trail leads you along the water and through the natural areas of the park.  

The trail is rated easy, but you’ll have a couple hills to climb. While you might a little out of breath, you’ll be greeted with a great view of the lake.  Other than that, the trail is very flat and easy.  

But what if you want to stay here for a while to enjoy the area?  Let’s check out the 2 ways to stay.  

Camping 

Lake Havasu State Park has 54 campsites that allow both tents and campers to stay and enjoy the beautiful area.  Each site costs $50 per night, but this is definitely cheaper than other ways to stay in this area.  

Sites have water and 30/50 amp electric and come in varying sizes, so be sure to read the description of each site.  For example, we were camping on site 27, which has a 54 foot paved pad.  We fit easily with our 25 foot camper and 20 foot truck.

There were bigger and smaller sites throughout the park.  The lakefront sites are the most desirable, but require booking as soon as possible.

Both campsites and cabins can be booked 12 months in advance and you can book for up to 14 days per stay.  

Cabins

Now if camping is not something you prefer, there are 13 lakefront cabins that you can rent.  These cabins are all ADA and can sleep up to 6 people between a bed and the bunk beds.

The cabins at Lake Havasu State Park cost $139 per night.  They have AC and Electric, but no kitchen or bathrooms.  There are nearby community bathrooms with toilets and showers for you to use.  But you will essentially be camping without the tent as you’ll have to bring all of your own cooking utensils (grill, pots, pans, utensils, etc.).

These cabins offer the perfect view of the sunset.  And while they are a little expensive, they offer a great way to stay and enjoy the area without tenting or owning an RV.  

Havasu Balloon Fest

One of the best things about Lake Havasu City are all of the events.  When we camped in Lake Havasu State Park, there were 3 different events going on across the 2 weeks we were there.  There was a rodeo, large craft show and the famous Havasu Balloon Festival.

The Havasu Balloon Festival put on an incredible display of hot air balloons over the entire area.  They also had a carnival, food vendors, special events during the day, and an evening Balloon Glow to observe.

The Havasu Balloon Festival usually takes place on the 3rd weekend of January.  The dates for 2027 are January 21 – 24, 2027.  You’ll want to book sooner than later around these dates as the park was packed during that weekend.    

Conclusion

Whether you come to enjoy the lake, the beach or just want to get away, Lake Havasu State Park is an excellent park to visit or camp in.  The surrounding Lake Havasu City has everything you could ever need from shops to restaurants to hardware stores. 

But ultimately, this beautiful lakefront park gives you a unique oasis experience in the middle of the Arizona desert.  

As always, feel free to email me at averagewildexperience@gmail.com if you have any questions about our stay.

-Happy Camping!