A weekend at Lake Havasu is a popular short vacation break for people in active adult communities in Northern Arizona, Eastern California, or Southern Nevada. If you’re keen on watersports, you enjoy relaxing by the water, or you want to go hiking in the surrounding desert and mountains, Lake Havasu and Lake Havasu City have a lot to offer.
The border between Arizona and California goes through the lake, and its best-known attraction is London Bridge. This was dismantled from the River Thames in London and reassembled in Arizona. It makes for a pleasant if slightly incongruous stroll, providing views of the lake and the boats going by.
Lake Havasu City is a resort town of about 50,000 people, and it has plenty of hotels for all budgets as well as restaurants, bars, shopping, nightlife, beaches, museums, fishing, golfing, and just about anything else you might want for the perfect weekend break. When thinking about what to do at Lake Havasu, your first thought is naturally of water-based activities. However, it’s also a good base for hiking as there are numerous trails that lead out of the city and into the surrounding desert and mountains, some offering lovely views over the lake.
So, if the thought of visiting Lake Havasu for regular weekends appeals to you, these are the best communities within easy reach of the lake for active adults.
1. Canyon Trails at Fox Creek – Bullhead City, AZ
Mid $100s – Mid $200s
Being just a 75-minute drive south, Canyon Trails at Fox Creek in Bullhead City is the closest community to Lake Havasu. If you head north, you can be in Las Vegas or at Lake Mead in about 90 minutes. It’s a 55+ active adult community of 460 single-family homes, and it’s five miles south of downtown Bullhead City.
Amenities here include an outdoor pool, hiking and biking trails, and a clubhouse under construction. At the edge of the city, the community is surrounded by a desert landscape. The smallest models are 1,052 square feet with two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a one-car garage. There are several other models available, with the largest having 1,890 square feet, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and either a two- or three-car garage. Prices range from the mid $100s to the mid $200s.
Learn more information about Canyon Trails at Fox Creek here.
2. Hillcrest Park – Bullhead City, AZ
Low $100s – Mid $100s
Hillcrest Park is also in Bullhead City, about four miles north of downtown and about 100 miles south of Las Vegas. Lake Havasu is just under a 90-minute drive away. Hillcrest Park is a smaller community than Canyon Trails with 212 single-family homes for the 55+ active adult.
Amenities here include a 3,600-square-foot clubhouse with an exercise room and a catering kitchen. There’s also a library, billiards, table tennis, an outdoor pool and spa, and a BBQ area. There are three models available; the smallest is 1,134 square feet with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a one-car garage. The largest models at 1,350 square feet have an extra den and a two-car garage. Prices range from the low to the mid $100s.
Learn more information about Hillcrest Park here.
3. Trilogy at Wickenburg Ranch – Wickenburg, AZ
Mid $300s – Low $800s
Trilogy at Wickenburg Ranch is another community that’s ideal for those weekends at Lake Havasu. It’s in Wickenburg, and although it’s almost a three-hour drive from the lake, it has much more in the way of facilities than the two smaller Bullhead City communities. It’s a gated, active adult community of 2,000 single-family homes with no age restriction and a 10-minute drive to the center of Wickenburg.
Amenities in this community include its own golf club with an 18-hole course and a pro shop. There’s also a separate 9-hole golf course. Other amenities include a fitness center, a day spa, a restaurant, a bar, an outdoor pool, a sports complex and courts for tennis, bocce, and pickleball. The community also supports a number of clubs, groups, activities, and classes, such as art classes, cooking classes, guided hikes, holiday parties, and various sports groups.
There are several models to choose from; the smallest is 1,210 square feet with one bedroom, a den, two bathrooms, and a two-car garage. The largest models are 3,124 square feet with three bedrooms, a den, three-and-a-half bathrooms, and a three-car garage. Prices range from the mid $300s to the low $800s.
Learn more information about Trilogy at Wickenburg Ranch here.
The only other place which has active adult communities within striking distance of Lake Havasu is Prescott. If you don’t mind the four-hour drive to the lake, then check out the Prescott area to increase your options with five more communities to choose from.
