Arizona House Boating & Houseboat Rentals

Originally written by Tony Subia

Reviewed and updated by AZ Leisure Staff Writers on August 6, 2026.

Arizona is home to some of America's most spectacular house boating destinations, where dramatic red rock canyons, miles of secluded shoreline, warm desert sunshine, and crystal-clear lakes combine to create unforgettable vacations. Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or a week-long adventure, house boating lets you explore hidden coves, enjoy world-class fishing, swim from your private floating cabin, and experience Arizona's incredible scenery from the water. From legendary Lake Powell to Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, Lake Havasu, and even several Phoenix-area lakes, this guide covers the best places to go, what to expect, and tips for planning the perfect Arizona house boating vacation.

• Why House Boat In Arizona
• Best House Boating Lakes
• Things To Do
• Planning Your Trip
• Houseboat Tips
• FAQ

Why Go House Boating in Arizona

Arizona house boating vacations combine boating, camping, fishing, sightseeing, swimming, and outdoor adventure into one unforgettable experience. Visitors enjoy exploring hidden coves, anchoring near scenic shorelines, fishing for bass and striped bass, relaxing under dark desert skies, and spending days on warm blue water surrounded by dramatic canyon scenery. House boating is especially popular for family vacations, group trips, and extended stays on lakes such as Lake Powell and Lake Mead.

Best Time To Go House Boating in Arizona

• Spring: Comfortable temperatures and smaller crowds make spring one of the best seasons for house boating.
• Summer: Peak house boating season with warm water temperatures ideal for swimming, fishing, jet skiing, and water sports.
• Fall: Cooler temperatures and calmer conditions create excellent boating and fishing opportunities.
• Winter: Mild desert weather on lower elevation lakes allows for peaceful boating and sightseeing trips.

Best Lakes For House Boating

• Lake Powell: Arizona’s most famous house boating destination with red rock canyons, sandy beaches, Antelope Canyon, and nearly 2,000 miles of shoreline.
• Lake Mead: Massive desert lake near Las Vegas offering wide-open water, marinas, fishing, and scenic coves.
• Lake Mohave: Long scenic Colorado River reservoir known for clear water, cliffs, beaches, and boating recreation.
• Lake Havasu: Popular warm-weather boating lake with marinas, beaches, fishing, and the famous London Bridge.
• Lake Pleasant: Phoenix-area lake large enough for private houseboats and extended boating weekends.

Planning Your Houseboat Vacation

A little planning can make your Arizona house boating vacation safer, more relaxing, and far more enjoyable. Reserve your houseboat early if traveling during spring, summer, holidays, or school breaks, as the most popular boats often book months in advance. Choose a houseboat that comfortably accommodates your group and compare amenities such as onboard kitchens, bathrooms, sleeping arrangements, rooftop decks, and waterslides. Before departing, review marina maps, fuel policies, and navigation guidelines, and be sure to stock plenty of drinking water, food, sunscreen, and other essentials. Check weather forecasts before heading out, and always allow extra travel time for exploring side canyons, secluded beaches, scenic coves, and excellent fishing areas. A well-planned trip lets you spend more time enjoying Arizona's spectacular lakes and less time worrying about logistics.

Things To Do While House Boating

• Swimming: Cool off in warm desert lakes surrounded by scenic canyon landscapes.
• Beach Camping: Anchor near sandy shorelines and enjoy lakeside evenings under the stars.
• Sightseeing: Explore hidden coves, dramatic cliffs, slot canyons, and colorful desert scenery.
• Water Sports: Enjoy kayaking, paddleboarding, tubing, wakeboarding, and jet skiing.
• Photography: Capture sunrise reflections, desert sunsets, wildlife, and scenic lake panoramas.

Fishing While Houseboating

• Striped Bass: Popular at Lake Powell, Lake Mead, and Lake Mohave.
• Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass: Excellent fishing opportunities around rocky shorelines and coves.
• Catfish: Common in many Arizona desert lakes and Colorado River reservoirs.
• Fishing From Shore: Houseboats provide easy access to remote shoreline fishing locations.
• Fishing By Boat: Smaller fishing boats and kayaks are often brought along for exploring side canyons and quiet coves.

Pleasure Boating While Houseboating

• Scenic Cruising: Explore miles of shoreline, hidden beaches, and colorful canyon scenery.
• Jet Skiing: Warm desert lakes are ideal for personal watercraft recreation.
• Wakeboarding & Water Skiing: Wide-open water provides excellent conditions for towing sports.
• Sunset Boating: Evening cruises are popular for photography and relaxing lake views.
• Family Recreation: House boating combines boating, swimming, sightseeing, and lakeside relaxation for all ages.

House boating adventure abounds in Arizona. Whether you own a houseboat or plan on renting one, there are several Arizona lakes that are perfect for an enjoyable and relaxing time on cool waters with lots of open space. Spend the day or an entire week vacation fishing, swimming, exploring, and experiencing stunning landscape.

What To Pack For An Arizona House Boating Trip

• Plenty of drinking water
• High SPF sunscreen
• Wide-brim hat
• Polarized sunglasses
• Lightweight clothing
• Swimsuits and towels
• Water shoes
• Fishing gear and Arizona fishing license
• Flashlights and spare batteries
• Camera or binoculars
• Dry bags for electronics
• First-aid kit

House Boating On Lake Powell

Lake Powell, located in Northern Arizona on the border with Utah near the Grand Canyon is the largest man-made lake in America and is known as the "houseboat capital" of the country. When full, Lake Powell is over 180 miles long with almost 2,000 miles of shoreline. Houseboat rentals are available at almost any size at several marinas at the lake with Wahweap Marina being one of the most popular. Of course, you can also bring your own houseboat.

The vast size of Lake Powell combined with amazing scenery is the perfect lake for an adventurous house boating vacation. During the summer, the water temperatures are an ideal 70 to 80 degrees, perfect for swimming and water recreation. You could spend an entire week at Lake Powell and never see the same spot twice.

There are a myriad of side canyons to explore. Some tourists will cruise the lake sightseeing, fishing, jet skiing, water skiing and then anchor at night to enjoy the tranquility of dark skies and bright stars. That's why Lake Powell is a house-boating wonderland.

House Boating On Lake Mead

Lake Mead is the 2nd largest man-made lake in the country right behind Lake Powell. It is 110 miles long with over 550 miles of shoreline and its total water surface is twice the size of Rhode Island. Although they are about 290 miles apart, both Lake Mead and Lake Powell are fed by the Colorado River. Lake Powell is near where the Grand Canyon begins and Mead is near where the Grand Canyon ends.

Bring your houseboat or rent just about any size houseboat at several marinas at the lake. Lake Mead sets on the Nevada border with Arizona. Most of the large marinas are on the Nevada side not far from Las Vegas. As a vast lake, it is perfect for a house boating vacation. It's not a secret. On any given day, you may see hundreds of houseboats cruising the lake.

House Boating On Lake Mohave

Lake Mohave is located on Arizona's West Coast sharing a border with Nevada. There are marinas located on both sides of Lake Mohave that rent houseboats of almost any size that will accommodate groups and large families. Of course you can bring your own houseboat.

Although not as massive as Lake Powell or Lake Mead, Lake Mohave is quite large at 67 miles long with over 230 miles of shoreline. It is a long lake with its widest point at 4 miles wide. The landscape varies with sheer cliffs to sandy beaches and secluded coves. The lake is located just north of Laughlin, Nevada and Bullhead City, Arizona.

House Boating on Lake Havasu

Lake Havasu is located at Arizona's West Coast at Lake Havasu City, AZ. The lake sits between Arizona and California and has marinas on both sides of the lake. It is home the famous "London Bridge" that was moved from London to Lake Havasu in 1963. Lake Havasu is a bit smaller than Lake Mohave, but is much wider with wide-open blue water.

Lake Havasu is about 45 miles long with 450 miles of shoreline making it an ideal lake for house boating. Known for its crystal clear waters, it is perfect for houseboating, swimming, water-skiing, and fishing. Most marinas rent houseboats and offer boat rentals of any type. The lake is one of the hottest spring break vacation destinations for college kids.

Four Phoenix Area House Boating Lakes

Lakes in the Phoenix and Scottsdale area are large enough to handle houseboats, but you will likely have to bring your own. At the time this article was written, no lake marina offered houseboat rentals that were available for cruising.

However, the marinas at these lakes do offer other types of boat rentals such as pontoon boats, ski boats and runabout boats as well as jet-ski rentals. All lakes are within 40 miles from downtown Phoenix.

Lake Pleasant
Bartlett Lake
Saguaro Lake
Canyon Lake

Forever Houseboats Safety and Overview

Forever House Boats are available at these lakes:
Antelope Point On Lake Powell
Temple Bar Marina Arizona Side at Lake Mead
Callville Bay Resort & Marina Lake Mead Nevada
Cottonwood Cove Resort & Marina Lake Mohave Nevada Side

Houseboat Rental Tips

Reserve your houseboat well in advance if traveling during spring, summer, holidays, or school breaks. Rental companies offer vessels ranging from small family models to luxury multi-bedroom houseboats with waterslides and rooftop patios. Compare occupancy limits, fuel policies, marina locations, and included equipment before booking. If it's your first house boating vacation, request an orientation from the marina staff and review navigation maps before leaving the dock.

Topics covered in this article

Arizona House Boat Rentals
House Boat Vacations
Used House Boats For Sale
Best Arizona Lakes For Houseboats

FAQ

What is the best lake for house boating in Arizona?
Lake Powell is widely considered the best house boating lake in Arizona because of its size, canyon scenery, beaches, and marinas.

Can you rent houseboats in Arizona?
Yes, houseboat rentals are available at major lakes including Lake Powell, Lake Mead, Lake Mohave, and Lake Havasu.

What activities can you do while house boating?
Popular activities include fishing, swimming, kayaking, sightseeing, jet skiing, wakeboarding, beach camping, and photography.

When is the best time for house boating in Arizona?
Spring, summer, and fall are the most popular seasons for Arizona house boating vacations.

Can you fish while house boating?
Yes, many Arizona lakes offer excellent fishing for striped bass, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and catfish.

Do Phoenix-area lakes allow houseboats?
Some Phoenix-area lakes can accommodate privately owned houseboats, although rental houseboats are generally not available.

Do I need a boating license to operate a houseboat in Arizona?
Arizona does not require a boating license for most recreational boat operators, but rental companies provide operating instructions before departure.

Can pets go on rental houseboats?
Many rental companies allow pets, although restrictions and additional cleaning fees may apply.

How much does it cost to rent a houseboat in Arizona?
Rental costs vary by season, boat size, marina, and amenities, ranging from modest family houseboats to luxury vessels with premium features.

Can I tow another boat behind a houseboat?
Most houseboats can tow a fishing boat, pontoon, or personal watercraft, subject to marina policies and the towing capacity of the vessel.

Arizona Lakes