What are the Most Popular Beaches in Arizona?
Oceanfront property in Arizona may be a myth — but that doesn’t mean this desert stunner doesn’t have some incredible beaches! From its oasis-like lakes to its mighty rivers (yes, including the Colorado), here are some of the best places to head to for an unforgettable beach day in Arizona.
Top Beaches in Arizona
1. Wahweap Beach
2. Boat Beach
3. London Bridge Beach
4. Windsor Beach
5. Rotary Beach
6. Cattail Cove State Park
7. Buckskin Mountain State Park
8. Centennial Beach
9. Tempe Beach Park
10. Patagonia Lake State Park
Arizona Beaches
Here are some Arizona desert waterfronts you don’t want to miss!
1. Wahweap Beach
Page, Arizona is widely considered to be one of Arizona’s premier adventure destinations, thanks to its proximity to extremely photographable attractions like Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. While you’re grabbing your Insta shots, be sure to save some time for a leisurely day at Wahweap Beach, which takes advantage of a small stretch of massive Lake Powell’s 2,000-mile shoreline. While there are many, many places along the lake to take a dip or sit in the sun, this spot is known for its relatively quiet, private nature. (Fun fact: you’ll very likely walk or swim over the border into Utah while you’re here! There’s no dividing line along this placid desert lakeshore.)
Things to do near Wahweap Beach: We really can’t recommend a thorough exploration of Page enough — and particularly the many incredible hiking trails and other outdoor to-dos that surround it. Just be sure you make your reservations early, because this is a perpetually popular place to be, especially amongst RVers! Speaking of which, here are some local RVshare rentals to consider for your journey.
2. Boat Beach
Most people don’t go to Grand Canyon National Park for a beach day — but make no mistake, a beach day indeed you can have at this, one of the most popular NPS-managed sites in the country! Located in the heart of the canyon right near famed Phantom Ranch, Boat Beach offers the perfect place to dip your feet after the long, long hike to the bottom, or — as its name suggests — serves as an excellent boat ramp spot for those looking to paddle along the mighty Colorado. Either way, you’re going to want to be well prepared to get to this extreme destination, whether that means training for the hike to the bottom (and then back out of!) the canyon, or hiring a pack animal and a guide to take you down.
Things to do near Boat Beach: The Grand Canyon gateway town of Flagstaff waits just 90 minutes south of this beach (not counting the time it’ll take you to get into and out of the canyon, of course), and offers an incredible diversity of things to see and do. Think college town set in the Old West, surrounded by wilderness adventure areas like Slide Rock State Park and Walnut Canyon National Monument. Here are some area RVshare rentals and campgrounds to check out.
3. London Bridge Beach
Okay, get ready for this set of Lake Havasu beaches — because at more than 30 square miles and 45 miles of length, this incredible body of water does offer many of the noteworthy beach sites in Arizona. To kick us off, let’s check out London Bridge Beach, which offers the unique combination of an ocean-like beach area complete with palm trees and seagulls as well as the novelty of swimming in the shadow of the actual London Bridge — a bridge which was indeed located in London and moved to Lake Havasu in the 1960s. Due to its popularity, this beach is surrounded by campgrounds, resorts, and things to do — and if you head out to the end of the island the bridge connects to the mainland, you can glance across the Colorado River at the state of California.
Things to do near London Bridge Beach: One of the main attractions of Lake Havasu City and located just outside of Lake Havasu State Park, London Bridge Beach is centrally located to so many other Arizona adventures worth having. Here are some local RVshare rentals and campgrounds to consider for the trip!
4. Windsor Beach
Another Lake Havasu City-area beach that’s not quite as iconic — and thus not quite as crowded — as London Bridge Beach, Windsor Beach is an excellent option for a quieter beach day inside the boundaries of Lake Havasu State Park. Restrooms are available close to the waterfront, and the park also offers campgrounds, sports courts, playgrounds and more. Wave at California while you’re there!
Things to do near Windsor Beach: Another Lake Havasu City beach destination, Windsor Beach specifically is close to the shops and restaurants along Industrial Boulevard and Arizona State Route 95, so you’ve got plenty of options for grabbing a bite after you take a swim. Here are some local RVshare rentals and campgrounds to add to your list of maybes.
5. Rotary Beach
Yet another Lake Havasu beach located in the heart of Lake Havasu City proper, Rotary Beach is tucked into the Rotary Community Park and Playgrounds, a lovely community park which also features a skate park area and a golf course. Along with the sandy short along the riverside, the park also offers hiking trails and, as its name suggests, playgrounds for the kiddos, and with more than 40 acres of well-manicured landscape, there’s certainly ample are to have a picnic under that clear blue Arizona sky.
Things to do near Rotary Beach: Located on the southern side of Lake Havasu City, Rotary Beach is close to many excellent restaurants, bars, shops, and other urban attractions, not to mention the Lake Havasu City Aquatic Center, which offers indoor pools, water slides, and plenty more ways to get wet and wild. Here are some local RVshare rentals and RV campgrounds to take them to!
6. Cattail Cove State Park
A bit further south along the lakeshore, about 25 minutes outside of Lake Havasu City proper, Cattail Cove State Park offers another worthy beachfront, with opportunities for swimming, fishing, boating, and simply soaking up the plentiful Arizona sun alongside this gorgeous body of water. Cattail Cove State Park does offer onsite camping, including RV sites with water and electric hookups, and also has restroom and shower facilities, but make no mistake about it: this place gets crowded during the weekends and those beautiful sunny days everyone wants to take advantage of, so get your reservations ahead of time, arrive early, or have a plan B!
Things to do near Cattail Cove State Park: Although in a fairly remote area, this state park is only a half hour from Lake Havasu City and its many resources, and the small town of Parker lies just a little bit further south. While you’re in the area, check out the Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to 355 species of birds, 34 documented species of reptiles, 40 species of butterflies, 57 species of mammals, and 7 amphibians. Here are some nearby RVshare rentals and RV parks to take them to!
7. Buckskin Mountain State Park
Even further south along the Colorado River, Buckskin Mountain State Park offers a serene swimming spot tucked between two dams, boasting crystalline blue waters, rocky desert landscapes on the horizon, and palm trees. In other words, it’s an Arizona beach that firmly feels like an Arizona beach. This state park is one of the most popular places for those eager to flat ong the Colorado River during the dog days of summer — though even the coldest times of the year don’t get much below 60 degrees here, so you pretty much can’t go wrong. (Which is precisely why the campground tends to fill up, so be sure to make your reservation ahead of time!)
Things to do near Buckskin Mountain State Park: Tucked between riverside resorts and small cities, Buckskin Mountain State Park is quite remote while still being less than an hour from Lake Havasu City. Here are some local RVshare rentals to consider!
8. Centennial Beach
If you keep on following the Colorado River southward, you’ll eventually end up in the Gulf of California — but not before you reach Centennial Beach, a beautiful stretch of sand located in the southwestern Arizona city of Yuma. The sandy shores of this lakeside beach are surrounded by grassy banks, giving it a tropical feel (though without the surf that characterizes most ocean beaches). Meanwhile, the surrounding city is made unique and interesting by the fact that this is the place where Arizona meets California meets Mexico, all at once.
Things to do near Centennial Beach: Yuma has plenty of interest to offer, including multiple community parks such as West Wetlands Park, Colorado River State Historic Park and the Yuma Territorial Prison Park, which is really a museum. Here are some area RVshare vehicles to consider.
9. Tempe Beach Park
The greater Phoenix area is characterized by the confluence of a variety of rivers, including the Gila, Salt, and Agua Fria. Tempe Beach Park has been a long-established beachfront oasis along the Salt River, in the part of this body of water that’s been set aside as a reservoir and which is known as Tempe Town Lake. Along with sandy shores and palm trees, the park this beach is part of offers hiking, walking, biking and jogging trails, as well as picnic areas, a baseball field, boat rentals and more. It’s all just steps from Arizona State University and so much of the rest of what the town of Tempe has to offer.
Things to do near Tempe Beach Park: The greater Phoenix area is far and away the most populous part of Arizona, with Phoenix itself boasting more than 1,600,000 people — for comparison, its runner up, Tucson, is home to just over 540,000. Be sure to check out all of the communities that make up this metropole, such as Tempe, Scottsdale, Mesa, Glendale, Gilbert, Peoria and Queen Creek. Here are some local RVshare rentals and RV campgrounds to call home base for yoru exploration.
10. Patagonia Lake State Park
About as far south as you can get in Arizona without venturing into Mexico, Patagonia Lake State Park offers an oasis from the scorching heat — including some beautiful waterfront situated amidst rugged landscapes of rolling hills dotted with low-lying desert shrubbery. The namesake lake is a 300-acre reservoir that’s particularly popular for kayakers, canoers, and other people pursuing paddle sports, but there’s certainly room for sunbathers, swimmers, and those who simply want to while away an afternoon waterside.
Things to do near Patagonia Lake State Park: This beautiful natural oasis is a little more than an hour outside of Tucson, and is immediately adjacent to the Sonoita Creek State Natural Area. All of which is to say: there’s a plethora of outdoor recreation options here, not to mention camping opportunities. Here are the local RVshare vehicles that can help you do it all in style!
Planning an RV Trip to Arizona
There’s a reason Arizona is one of the most popular places to take an RV trip — many reasons, in fact, these beaches being just ten of them!
We’ve gathered all the resources you need to make your next Arizona RV trip one not to forget, starting with the RV rental itself and just getting better from there. We’ve also covered the best state parks in Arizona to camp in and explore, along with the state’s best campgrounds and the following national parks that call Arizona home:
Finally, we’ve created guides to all the best cities in the state, because you can’t be out in the desert wilderness all the time!
Enjoy that Arizona sunshine!
