Free & Cheap Things to Do in Lake Havasu City

Quirky Landmarks

The original London Bridge — the one that spanned the Thames from 1831 — was dismantled, shipped stone by stone to Arizona, and rebuilt over the Bridgewater Channel in 1971. Today it's the free centerpiece of the city, lit at night and walkable anytime.

Address: London Bridge Rd, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403

Tip: Park free in the English Village lot and walk across; come at dusk to see it lit. Free guided walking tours run in the cooler months.

Shops & Downtown

An English-themed pedestrian village of shops, eateries, and patios wraps the foot of London Bridge along the Bridgewater Channel. It's free to stroll, with waterfront benches, a walk-through Tudor courtyard, and the city's main visitor center.

Address: Below London Bridge, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403

Tip: Grab a map at the visitor center here, then walk the channel path to the lighthouses. Shaded patios make it bearable in the heat.

Quirky Landmarks

Volunteers with the Lake Havasu Lighthouse Club have built more than two dozen one-third-scale replicas of famous American lighthouses — Cape Hatteras, Split Rock, Portland Head and more — that line the shoreline and channel as working navigation aids. Spot them on foot, by bike, or from the water.

Address: Bridgewater Channel & island shoreline, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403

Tip: The club's site maps every lighthouse with GPS coordinates; the cluster around the island and channel is the easiest to reach on foot.

History & Culture

Run by the local historical society, this compact museum tells the Lake Havasu story — the Chemehuevi people, steamboats on the Colorado, the McCulloch era, and how London Bridge got here — plus a new aviation exhibit. Admission is by donation.

Address: 320 London Bridge Rd, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403

Tip: Open Tuesday–Saturday 11am–3pm. Docent-led education tours for school and homeschool groups run just $2 per student.

Arts & Culture

A cooperative gallery of local member artists fills this uptown storefront with paintings, ceramics, glass, jewelry, and photography, all made in the Havasu area and for sale. Browsing is free, and the artists themselves often staff the room.

Address: 2093 McCulloch Blvd N, Ste 101, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403

Tip: Hours shift seasonally (longer in winter); call ahead in summer. A relaxed, air-conditioned stop between outdoor outings.

Shops & Downtown

Uptown Main Street is the walkable heart of the city — more than 100 locally owned shops, cafes, and restaurants along McCulloch Boulevard, plus seasonal festivals, live music, and a farmers market. Free to wander and away from the tourist crush at the bridge.

Address: Main St / McCulloch Blvd, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403

Tip: Check the district calendar for weekend events. Morning is coolest for strolling in summer.

Parks & Nature

Right inside the city, this state park puts a sandy swimming beach, the Mohave Sunset hiking trail, an interpretive desert garden, and boat ramps on the turquoise lake. Walk or bike in for $5 and spend the day on the water's edge.

Address: 699 London Bridge Rd, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403

Tip: The $5 individual/bicycle rate beats the $20-25 per-vehicle fee if you can walk or ride in. Vehicle fee is higher on weekends and holidays.

Parks & Nature

About 15 miles south of town, Cattail Cove trades crowds for a quiet sandy beach, boat-in campsites, and desert trails on a cove of Lake Havasu. A good swimming and paddling spot when the in-town beaches fill up.

Address: AZ-95 (Mile 168), Lake Havasu City, AZ 86406

Tip: Per-vehicle entry is $10 for a single occupant, $20 for two to four people; walk-in is $5. Bring your own shade — it's sparse.

Parks & Nature

A free 40-acre beach park on Thompson Bay with a buoyed swim area, sandy beach, three playgrounds, beach volleyball, and one of Arizona's largest skate and BMX parks. Picnic ramadas and fire pits make it an easy free day by the lake.

Address: 1400 S Smoketree Ave, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403

Tip: No glass on the beach and no alcohol without a permit. The skate park (Tinnell Memorial) is a destination in its own right.

Parks & Nature

The city's 1,100-acre regional park south of town holds ballfields, a dog park, and its star hike: the roughly 5-mile round-trip Crack in the Mountain (SARA's Crack) trail, which threads a narrow slot canyon down to Balanced Rock cove on the lake.

Address: 7260 S SARA Park Way, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86406

Tip: Hike the slot canyon only in cool months and carry plenty of water — there's no shade and no services. Not advisable in summer heat.

Parks & Nature

On the island beneath the airport, Site Six is the only free public boat launch in town, with an accessible fishing pier, a small beach, restrooms, and a shaded picnic ramada. A low-key free spot to fish, wade, or watch the boat traffic.

Address: 591 Beachcomber Blvd, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403

Tip: No overnight parking or camping. The fishing pier is wheelchair accessible.

Parks & Nature

Grand Island's open grass fields hold a free disc-golf course, and the paved 3.6-mile Island Jogging Path loops the interior with unobstructed mountain views. Bring a frisbee, running shoes, or a bike and a leashed dog for a free, flat outing.

Address: 750 Malibu Dr, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403

Tip: Easiest access is where McCulloch Blvd meets Beachcomber Blvd. Early morning beats the heat on the shadeless loop.

Parks & Nature

Stretching along the Colorado River north of the city toward Topock, this 37,500-acre refuge protects the spectacular 20-mile Topock Gorge and Topock Marsh — a birding hotspot with more than 300 species, plus bighorn sheep, and prime water for paddling.

Address: Topock Gorge / Hwy 95, Lake Havasu City area, AZ

Tip: Free ranger-guided dike walks run the second Tuesday, November–April (reservations 928-259-9632). Paddling Topock Gorge is the classic way to see it.