Day Trip: Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Location
Lake Havasu City, Arizona, on Lake Havasu's eastern shore
Visitor center
Go Lake Havasu, 422 English Village; (928) 453-3444
London Bridge
930 ft across the Bridgewater Channel; rededicated Oct 10, 1971
State park fee
$20 per vehicle Mon-Thu; $25 Fri-Sun and holidays
State park hours
Open 24 hours, year-round (Christmas Eve 6 a.m.-2 p.m.)
Population
Over 57,000 residents (Go Lake Havasu)

About

Lake Havasu City was founded by Robert P. McCulloch Sr., who made boat motors and chainsaws and needed water to test his engines. He bought a 26-square-mile parcel of desert on the lake's eastern shore, and his friend C.V. Wood planned the new town. The city's tourism office says it now has over 57,000 residents.

In 1968 McCulloch bought London Bridge from the City of London for $2.4 million. This was the bridge dedicated in 1831 and designed by John Rennie, not Tower Bridge. Its 10,276 exterior granite blocks were numbered, shipped through the Panama Canal and trucked from Long Beach. The rebuilt bridge has a steel frame faced with the original granite, which cut its weight from 130,000 to 30,000 tons. It was rededicated on October 10, 1971.

The bridge spans 930 feet across the man-made Bridgewater Channel. It links the mainland to an island with shops, restaurants, hotels and housing.

What to expect

Most visits start at the bridge. The Go Lake Havasu Visitor Center is inside the English Village, an open-air mall McCulloch built just north of the bridge. It has free parking, maps, an events calendar and souvenirs. Walkers, drivers and cyclists can all cross the bridge, and the tourism office says its lampposts were made from cannons captured from Napoleon's army.

For time on the water, Lake Havasu State Park has three boat ramps, a beach area, a picnic area, 54 campsites and 13 beachside cabins. The 1.75-mile Mohave Sunset Trail runs through lowland desert and along the shore. The Arroyo-Camino Interpretive Garden shows the park's desert plants and wildlife. Park concessionaires rent canoes and kayaks with safety gear.

Plan the trip

Good to know

  • Lake Havasu State Park charges $20 per vehicle Monday to Thursday and $25 Friday to Sunday and on holidays. It is open 24 hours, year-round, with shorter hours on Christmas Eve.
  • The state park's special events area is not available on holiday weekends.
  • Lake Havasu City holds Arizona's all-time high temperature record, 128°F on June 29, 1994, according to the tourism office.
  • The city runs public transit, with fixed-route, microtransit and paratransit service. Its office is open weekdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • The tourism office lists year-round events, including boat races and a hot-air balloon festival.
  • The tourism office says the lake and river form 60 continuous miles of connected waterways.

Questions about Lake Havasu City, Arizona

Is it the real London Bridge?

Yes. It is the London Bridge designed by Scottish engineer John Rennie and dedicated in London in 1831. It replaced a medieval stone bridge that had stood for more than 600 years. The tourism office notes that McCulloch knew he was not buying Tower Bridge. The granite facing is original, and the inside is a steel frame.

How much did London Bridge cost?

McCulloch's winning bid, placed on April 18, 1968, was $2.4 million. He got that figure by doubling the $1.2 million estimated cost of taking the bridge apart, then adding $60,000, or $1,000 for each year of his age. Shipping and rebuilding the bridge, and dredging the channel under it, cost another $7 million.

What does Lake Havasu State Park cost?

Day use costs $20 per vehicle Monday through Thursday, and $25 Friday through Sunday and on holidays. The park is open 24 hours a day, year-round, except Christmas Eve, when hours are 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hours may be extended for special events. It has three boat ramps, 54 campsites and 13 beachside cabins.

Where is the Lake Havasu visitor center?

The Go Lake Havasu Visitor Center is at 422 English Village, steps from the London Bridge. It offers free parking, maps, a calendar of local events and souvenirs, including British-themed gifts. You can call it at (928) 453-3444 or (800) 242-8278. The tourism office also lists a second address at 314 London Bridge Road.

How hot does Lake Havasu City get?

Very hot in summer. The tourism office says the city holds Arizona's all-time record high of 128°F, set on June 29, 1994. Winters are milder, and the city even saw snow on December 31, 2014. The tourism office publishes average monthly air and water temperatures on its website for planning.