Quick answer: Arizona is landlocked, so its “beaches” are sandy shores on rivers and lakes: the Colorado River at Yuma and Parker, Lake Havasu, Lake Powell, Patagonia Lake, Roper Lake and the Salt River near Mesa. The best for a beach day include Lake Havasu’s London Bridge Beach and Rotary Park, Cattail Cove, River Island and Buckskin Mountain state parks, and Patagonia Lake. Rules vary a lot: swimming is banned at Tempe Town Lake, Diamond Creek needs a tribal permit, and river currents can be strong, so check each site before you go.
Before you go: Arizona beach basics
- Heat: summer temperatures in the Colorado River towns and the Phoenix area are extreme. Carry more water than you think you need, use shade, and avoid the hottest hours.
- River safety: the Colorado and Salt rivers can have strong, hidden currents and sudden depth changes, and dam releases change water levels. Wear a life jacket, especially with children.
- Fees and passes: state parks charge entrance fees, the Tonto National Forest requires a day pass at Salt River sites, Lake Powell is inside a national recreation area with its own fees, and tribal land needs a tribal permit. Check the current fee on the managing agency’s site.
15 best beaches in Arizona
1. Centennial Beach, Yuma
Centennial Beach is in Yuma’s West Wetlands Park on the Colorado River. It was opened in 2014 to mark Yuma’s 100th anniversary, and the park has a boat ramp, grills and picnic tables. It is a small, quiet stretch of sand that is good for picnics and a cool dip on hot days, and crowds are usually light, especially on weekdays.
An earlier version of this article said the beach was made with “more than 1,800 tons” of river sand. We could not confirm that figure.
2. Gateway Park, Yuma
Gateway Park in downtown Yuma extends under the Interstate 8 bridge to the historic Ocean-to-Ocean Bridge. According to the City of Yuma, the shade from the freeway bridge makes its river beach a popular summer swimming spot. The park also has a sandy area, picnic ramadas with grills, a playground, restrooms, fishing docks and an outdoor shower for rinsing off.
3. Windsor Beach, Lake Havasu
Windsor Beach is the main area of Lake Havasu State Park in Lake Havasu City. The park is open 24 hours a day all year, and it has beaches, three boat ramps and campsites with sandy shores, which makes it a hub for swimming, boating and jet-skiing. An entrance fee applies.
4. Rotary Beach (Rotary Community Park), Lake Havasu City
Rotary Community Park is a 40-acre beach and park on the shore of Thompson Bay in Lake Havasu City. Besides the sandy beach and lake views, it has picnic areas, barbecue spots and sports facilities, so it works well for a family day out.
5. Body Beach, Lake Havasu
Body Beach is a stretch of undeveloped shoreline about half a mile long on the Arizona (east) side of Lake Havasu, reached by boat or a rough off-road track. The city describes it as free and open 24 hours. It is known as a place where top personal-watercraft riders practise, so you may see impressive jet-ski riding. Facilities are minimal; bring everything you need.
An earlier version of this article placed Body Beach “near the ocean”. It is on Lake Havasu, a reservoir on the Colorado River.
6. Cattail Cove State Park
Cattail Cove State Park is about 15 miles south of Lake Havasu City on Highway 95. It has two white sand beaches for sunbathing and swimming, and boat-in campsites along the lake shore. It is quieter than the beaches in town.
7. London Bridge Beach, Lake Havasu City
London Bridge Beach runs along the Bridgewater Channel, just over the London Bridge. According to the city, it has picnic ramadas, playgrounds, a buoyed swimming area, a sand volleyball court and an enclosed dog park. Palm trees and the channel’s boat traffic give it a resort feel.
The bridge itself is the attraction: it once crossed the River Thames in London. The developer Robert P. McCulloch bought it from the City of London in 1968, and it was rebuilt stone by stone over a newly dredged channel and rededicated on 10 October 1971.
8. River Island State Park, Parker
River Island State Park, on Highway 95 north of Parker, has a sandy beach and a cove on the Colorado River, with mountains rising behind. Swimming, boating and fishing are popular in summer, there is a hiking trail, and the calm cove suits paddleboards and kayaks.
9. Buckskin Mountain State Park, Parker
Buckskin Mountain State Park is on the “Parker Strip” of the Colorado River, with mountains on both the Arizona and California banks. It has a beach, and visitors come for boating and swimming in summer and for hiking trails into the hills.
10. Tempe Beach Park, Tempe
Tempe Beach Park, on the shore of Tempe Town Lake in the Phoenix area, dates from 1931 and was renovated in 1999 when the lake was created. It connects to miles of paths for walking, running and cycling, and its amphitheatre hosts big events such as concerts, festivals and the city’s Independence Day celebrations.
Important: recreational swimming is not allowed in Tempe Town Lake. The city allows swimming only during permitted events such as triathlons, and unsanctioned swimming can be fined. Kayaking, paddleboarding and boating (with a city permit for your own boat) are allowed. An earlier version of this article suggested water activities without mentioning this rule.
11. Wahweap, Lake Powell
Wahweap, near Page in northern Arizona, is the main Arizona base on Lake Powell, inside Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Its sandy coves and red-rock scenery make it a striking place for a beach day, and nearby trails range from easy to strenuous. Pets are allowed in most of the recreation area on a leash of up to six feet, but not in some areas, including most marinas and docks. A recreation-area entrance fee applies.
For more beaches on the Utah side of the lake, see our guide to the best beaches in Utah.
12. Patagonia Lake State Park
Patagonia Lake State Park, in southern Arizona near Nogales, is a lake set among rolling desert hills. It has a beach, boat ramps, a marina and boat-in campsites, and the on-site concessionaire rents motorboats, kayaks and canoes. Anglers fish for crappie, bass, bluegill, catfish and trout; note the state’s advice to limit eating flathead catfish from the lake.
An earlier version of this article recommended a specific hotel in Nogales. We have removed it because we could not confirm current details.
13. Roper Lake State Park, near Safford
Roper Lake State Park is about six miles south of Safford in Graham County, at the base of Mount Graham. It has a swimming area, seasonal fishing and a large variety of birds, and the neighbouring Dankworth Pond adds more trails and water access.
14. Pebble Beach, Salt River
The Pebble Beach Recreation Area is a day-use site on the Salt River in the Tonto National Forest, roughly 20 miles north-east of Mesa. Motorised vehicles and boats are not allowed, so the water is free of boat wake, which makes it popular for swimming and as a start or finish point for tubing. It has picnic tables and shade ramadas, and a Tonto day pass is required. The river’s flow depends on dam releases and can have hidden currents, and summer weekends get very busy.
An earlier version of this article described the water here as uniformly shallow. Depths vary, so check conditions before you go in.
15. Diamond Creek Beach
Diamond Creek is one of the few places where you can drive down to the Colorado River inside the Grand Canyon. The Diamond Creek Road starts at Peach Springs on Historic Route 66 and crosses Hualapai tribal land, so you need a permit from the Hualapai Tribe before you go. Permits are sold in Peach Springs, and the road can close after heavy rain or snow. Call the Hualapai Tribe’s permit office before you travel to confirm prices, hours and road conditions.
Tips for a beach day in Arizona
- Go early in the day in summer, and leave before the afternoon heat peaks.
- Wear water shoes; river and lake beds can be rocky and hot sand can burn.
- Bring a life jacket for every child, and for adults on rivers.
- Pack out all rubbish, and never leave pets in a vehicle.
- Check fire, alcohol and glass-bottle rules for each site.
More US beach guides: the best beaches in the USA and the best beaches in Texas.
Frequently asked questions
Does Arizona have real beaches?
Arizona has no coastline, but it has many sandy beaches on lakes and rivers, especially along the Colorado River and Lake Havasu.
Can you swim in Tempe Town Lake?
No. Recreational swimming is not allowed in Tempe Town Lake; swimming is permitted only during sanctioned events such as triathlons. Kayaking, paddleboarding and boating are allowed.
Which Arizona beach is best for families?
London Bridge Beach and Rotary Community Park in Lake Havasu City are good choices, with playgrounds, picnic areas and, at London Bridge Beach, a buoyed swimming area.
Do I need a permit to visit Diamond Creek?
Yes. The road crosses Hualapai tribal land, and the tribe requires a permit. Buy it in Peach Springs and check road conditions before you go.
When is the best time for a beach trip in Arizona?
Late spring and early autumn are usually the most comfortable. Summer is the main swimming season but brings extreme heat, especially at Yuma, Parker and Lake Havasu.
This guide was checked in October 2026 against Arizona State Parks pages, the Cities of Yuma, Lake Havasu City and Tempe, the US National Park Service and Forest Service, and published information on Hualapai permits.
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