The questions travelers actually Google before they arrive — and the answers you'd get from a friend who lives on Lake Havasu.
Getting there & around
Logistics
How was Lake Havasu created?
Parker Dam, built on the Colorado River between 1934 and 1938 and dedicated that November, formed Lake Havasu. About two-thirds of the dam's structural height sits below the riverbed. The reservoir straddles the Arizona-California border and covers roughly 19,300 acres.
What's the closest airport to Lake Havasu?
Lake Havasu City Airport (HII) has regional service. Harry Reid International in Las Vegas (LAS), about two hours away, has the most commercial flight options.
Groceries, gas, urgent care
Essentials
Where's the closest grocery store to Lake Havasu?
Safeway on McCulloch Boulevard North in Lake Havasu City, with curbside pickup and delivery — one of several full grocery options in this town, unlike most lakes in this guide.
Where's the closest emergency room to Lake Havasu?
Havasu Regional Medical Center's emergency room, right in Lake Havasu City — a full-service hospital in town, rather than a drive to a neighboring city like several other lakes in this guide.
Where to eat
Food & drink
Where can I eat at Lake Havasu?
Shugrue's overlooks the Bridgewater Channel and London Bridge for refined dining, with Barley Brothers Brewery next door for beer and casual food. English Village, right under the bridge, has The Chair and Burgers By The Bridge for walk-up options.
What's worth doing
Things to do
Is Lake Havasu City an actual town, or just a lake?
It's a real, planned city — founded in 1963 by McCulloch Motors owner Robert McCulloch, who bought 3,500 acres of desert on the lake's shore. Unlike most lakes in this guide, it has its own hospital, supermarkets, and airport rather than relying on a town a drive away.
The City of London sold its sinking 1830s bridge in 1968. Lake Havasu City founder Robert McCulloch bought the exterior granite for $2.46 million, shipped it to Arizona, and had it rebuilt over a newly dug channel. It reopened in 1971 and is now Arizona's second-most-visited attraction after the Grand Canyon.
Seasons & weather
When to come
When's the best time to visit Lake Havasu?
Spring and fall bring the mildest weather; summer highs in this stretch of the Colorado River desert regularly top 100 degrees, though that's also peak boating season. Winter draws visitors escaping colder climates, since the lake rarely freezes.