Widely known for Painted Dessert & Grand Canyon, this constituent state situated on the West Coast of the U.S is not all Desserts & a harsh climate! Yes, you got it right; we are talking about the City Of Oaks – Arizona!
Not many people are aware of the fact that Arizona has more shoreline when compared to the entire West Coast though there is no oceanfront property. I know what you might be wondering right now!
Are there beaches in Arizona?
And the answer is YES! Arizona Beaches are really beautiful & unique in their own ways. Although there are no oceans, waterfront of numerous lakes and rivers have been utilized to give visitors all the beach feels!
You will even find beautiful beaches in Phoenix & beaches near Phoenix if you are going to hit the capital city of Arizona next time!
The icing on the cake is, these beaches are much more than normal ones! Other than relaxing, they are very famous for recreational activities like boating, swimming, fishing, camping & many other water sports!
This post will take you to the 10 best Arizona Beaches that should be in your bucket list!
Let’s get started!
1. Centennial Beach
This is one of the best Arizona Beaches when it comes to relaxing with your family away from all the hubbub of cities. It is situated on the waterfront of the Colorado River in Yuma.
Quick fact: Yuma was actually put on the map because of the river Colorado!
Well, coming back to this beach, it is recently refurbished as part of the Colorado river’s waterfront. This beach is perfect for spending those warm days sunbathing & enjoying the beautiful river view.
Also, you can go on a picnic with your family since ramadas have been installed on the beachside making it convenient for you to eat all you have brought along with you. Also, it facilitates the visitors with on-site parking & restrooms, making your visit a relieving one!
Also, Read Top 20 Best Restaurants With Outdoor Seating In New York
2. Windsor Beach
This beach is nestled on Lake Havasu and is one of the most beautiful Arizona Beaches, all surrounded by mountains. Talking about Lake Havasu, this beauty contributes the most to the western Arizona shoreline & Windsor Beach is the longest stretch situated on this lake.
Now what makes this beach unique out of all the other Arizona Beaches, this large stretch has 47 campgrounds that make an amazing place for camping & what’s more enticing is many of them are beachfront!
Many aspects of this beach make it a perfect place to visit with your family. Since the shore is wide, kids can play a number of games or other sports. Also, you can enjoy swimming, boating, building castles out of white sands or a picnic with your family.
Also, there are a number of concerts organized at this beach, making it a great party place as well. Imagine dancing on white sand, next to pristine water under the beautiful sky with a backdrop of mountains and river vistas. Exciting, isn’t it?
3. London Bridge Beach
This beach is again situated on the waterfront of Lake Havasu along the Bridgewater Channel. This is another beautiful beach in Phoenix, Arizona, giving you a perfect view of the London Bridge.
This beach gives the best ocean-like feel compared to all the other Arizona Beaches as it is surrounded with Palm & Coconut trees and small waves keep hitting the waterfront that won’t let you miss the seaside of an actual oceanfront beach.
When it comes to attraction, this beach has many features for the same. It has 2 playgrounds making it an enjoyable place for your kids. If enjoying watersports is in your list as well, kayak, watercraft, paddleboards are also seasonally available. Also, your dogs can enjoy the visit as there is a fenced dog park with hydrant sprays & benches for other guests.
Also, there are many restaurants located nearby, giving you many options to eat while enjoying the river vistas. If restaurants are not in your plan, there are many covered areas with barbecues and tables.
4. Buckskin Mountain State Park Beach
You can find commercialized beached very anywhere but how about a beach which gives you a feeling that you are secluded from the rest of the world, yes this beach does the same thing & gives you the same feeling!
Situated between Parker & Headgate Dams, this charming place is all surrounded with stony mountains and sparkling water. With these picturesque surroundings, you can enjoy inside various cabanas situated on this beach.
Also, imagine swimming amid those beautiful mountains, yes it is allowed to do the same on this beach. Along with that, you can go hiking on those mountain trails, play volleyball & basketball in the courts available, and enjoy bonfire and camping in those campgrounds where you can stay more than a day if you want.
5. Rotary Beach Park
This wide beach, known for its clean water & numerous fun activities, is again situated on Lake Havasu. This 40-acre stretch is one of those Arizona beaches which is a major attraction for both tourists as well as locals.
Also, it makes a perfect destination even for your toddlers as they love playing in three playgrounds present on this beach. The sand is very soft here and very less pebbles or rocks, making it a very safe beach. Even for teenagers, there are multiple options to enjoy like volleyball courts, bocce ball courts and skate parks.
It also has an area designated for swimming, cycling routes, and campgrounds, making your vacation much more entertaining and relaxing.
6. Wahweap Beach
So far, we have talked about the Arizona beaches with white sand, but this beach stretched over a large area, is known for its rich golden sand. It is situated on Lake Powell which has water deep blue in color. Also, the picturesque backdrop is fascinating and attracts many tourists.
The main features of this beach are knee boarding, kayaking, skiing, sky tubing, boating, wakeboarding & paddle boarding. Most of these activities are not found in other Arizona beaches, making it suitable for an adventurous vacation with your friends or loved ones.
There is a marina nearby this beach where boat tours are available. Also on the opposite side of the bay, you can go & enjoy a hike in the canyons.
7. River Island State Park Beach
This beach is not vast like other Arizona Beaches we have seen so far, but still it is a must-visit because of its scenic beauty and the stark mountains which surround this beach. It is situated in Parker, Arizona, at the foot of the mountains.
This beach seems more of vintage style but is very attractive in its own way. Also, it is less populated & hence giving you a more private place to spend a vacation with your loved ones & family. It even makes a perfect fit to visit in these times of pandemic when social distancing is essential.
This beach too has many fun activities like kayaking, jet-skiing, boating, camping in designated tents, swimming, picnic areas. Also, there is Wedge Hill nearby, where you can go hiking enjoying the fascinating view of River Colorado.
8. Cattail Cove State Park Beach
There are many beaches near Phoenix, Arizona, on the shoreline of Lake Havasu. The southern part of this lake has Cattail Cove State Park, which is divided into several small stretches of beaches that you can reach by indulging in small hikes.
There are endless options to have fun on this Park Beach. With some 61 campsites, it comes out to be an apt site for camping beside the river & secluded by mountains. Also, there are 32 boats in campsites & boat ramp present, south of which, there is a dog beach as well.
This is one of the cleanest Arizona beaches and maintained well by the authorities. Swimming is also allowed, which you can enjoy beside soft white sand.
9. Patagonia Lake State Park Beach
Looking for Arizona beaches with refreshing water and open spaces? Well this one is perfect for you. This 265 Acre stretch of sand is present between rolling hills & hence seems like an oasis found in the desert.
Also, there is a bridge present nearby from where you can get a beautiful view of the river vistas. Although swimming is prohibited, there are many other water sports in which you can indulge for fun activities like fishing, skiing, kayaking, and so on. For camping also many sites are available along with the picnic tables and grills where you can sit, relax & enjoy your food.
10. Tempe Beach Park
This beach is nestled on the Tempe Town Lake near Greater Phoenix, which is created artificially by making two dams on the Salt River. The beach is very scenic & a fascinating beauty surrounded by mesmerizing vistas.
When it comes to recreational & fun activities, this beach park has an 8Km path for cycling, skating, running, jogging around the beautiful lake. There is a Splash Playground in this beach where kids can enjoy fun water activities and at the same time used it for some educational purpose to let them know about the water cycle. You can also enjoy boating with options of electric or wind boats.
Numerous charity walks and events take place in this beach, making it a meaningful & entertaining place to visit. Other options like baseball, softball, and carnival games are also there to spend a great vacation.
Conclusion
Since Arizona is all landlocked, many people have this doubt whether there are beaches in Arizona or not. This might be one of the reasons you landed to read this post & I am sure you got a beautiful answer, or many beautiful Arizona Beaches, I should say!
Also, the next thing that people ask a lot is, Are Arizona Beaches crowded since this is the time people are most particular & strict when it comes to social distancing and as we discussed, there are very few crowded beaches Arizona has because most of them are secluded by mountains and more private.
These beaches in Arizona have a multitude of options, unlike normal sea-side beaches, making them the best place for your next vacation. So, next time you are making your bucket list, do not forget to include these beautiful Arizona Beaches!