Lake Havasu Fact Sheet

Location/Background

Lake Havasu City, home of the historic London Bridge, sits comfortably on the eastern shore of Lake Havasu along the Colorado River border of California and Arizona. The city was established in 1963 by Robert P. McCulloch, Sr. as a self-sufficient, planned community.

Often referred to as "Arizona’s West Coast," Lake Havasu City is just 3 hours west of Phoenix, 2½ hours south of Las Vegas, and 4 to 5 hours east of the Los Angeles area. Nestled between both the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, Lake Havasu City and its surroundings offer a unique blend of diverse landscapes and an incredible array of outdoor experiences.

Lake Havasu City is located in western Mohave County, AZ and encompasses 42 square miles with 428 miles of streets. Situated off Arizona Highway 95, an 18-mile-drive north leads to Interstate 40, and a 65-mile-drive south leads to Interstate 10.

The area attracts 835,000 visitors annually with its historic London Bridge, pristine lake, friendly community, abundant sunshine, annual events, ideal weather, and wide range of restaurants and lodging. More than 400 miles of stunning coastline offer exceptional watersports, including fishing, skiing, kayaking and house boating. Visitors can also explore the lake from the beautiful beaches, campsites and hiking trails.

Rated as one of the top 100 best bass fishing lakes in America, Lake Havasu is ideal for catching large and small-mouth bass; and is a renowned striped bass fishery. The Lake Havasu region is also host to extensive off-road trails and undeveloped stretches of river.

Attractions

London Bridge

The London Bridge was purchased in 1964 by Robert P. McCulloch, Sr. for $2.46 million, then dismantled and shipped by boat from England to the U.S. It was rebuilt on a peninsula on Lake Havasu in 1971 for an additional $5.1 million. A channel was excavated under the bridge, and a replica English Village was built next to it. The opening of the London Bridge in October 1971 brought the world's largest antique to the area, a world-famous attraction that continues to draw tens of thousands of sightseers to Lake Havasu City.

Download our London Bridge Fact Sheet (pdf) for a quick history of and interesting data about the world-famous London Bridge.

Lake Havasu

Lake Havasu offers some of the best cruising in the southwestern US, centrally located along 60 continuous miles of lake and river waterways that start from where the Colorado River meets Parker Dam all the way through Needles, CA to Laughlin, NV. More than 400 miles of stunning coastline offer exceptional watersports, including fishing, skiing, kayaking and house boating; or you can explore the lake from the beautiful beaches, campsites and hiking trails. The lake is ideal for large and small mouth bass and striper fishing as Lake Havasu is rated one of the top 100 best bass fishing lakes in America.

Natural Setting

Encompassing part of the northern and western limits of the Sonoran Desert, Lake Havasu City and the surrounding area feature outstanding biodiversity. For those interested in geological phenomena, specimens such as volcanic rock, geodes, jasper, obsidian, turquoise and agate can be uncovered.within a 10-ten-mile radius of Lake Havasu City,

The Bill Williams National Wildlife Refuge is a 6,150-acre habitat south of Lake Havasu. The refuge is on the Bill Williams River, a tributary of the Colorado River. Native fish and migrating birds can be found here in abundance. To the north, the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge is comprised of 37,515 acres along the lower Colorado river in Arizona and California. The refuge protects 30 river miles and encompasses 300 miles of shoreline from Needles, CA to Lake Havasu City, AZ.

Accommodations

Lake Havasu City offers a wide range of accommodations, including 17 condominium and vacation home rental companies; nine resorts and 15 hotels/motels totaling 427 suites and 995 rooms; and seven RV parks and campgrounds with 1,576 sites and 261 tent sites.

Restaurants

Lake Havasu City offers a host of dining options, 140+ locations at last count, with restaurant categories including American, Asian, bakeries, bars/lounges, coffee/juice bars, fast food/sandwiches, ice cream/yogurt, International/Specialty, Italian/pizza, and Mexican. For travelers looking for the social atmosphere of a restaurant, lounge or bar, Lake Havasu City has it all -- family dining, lakeside scenic dining, cafés, brewpubs, steakhouses, sports bars, Greek food, and more. For visitors in a rush to get it all in, Lake Havasu City offers a wide variety of fast-food franchises, sandwich shops, pizzerias, delis, drive-through, and carry-out.