The only way to truly experience Lake Powell is on the water, and renting a houseboat on Lake Powell makes for one epic adventure. It’s the perfect summertime trip with family or friends, large or small groups.
The desert oasis provides nearly 2,000 miles of shoreline to park your houseboat, surround yourself with slot canyons and sandstone cliffs, and camp under a blanket of stars. The days on the water provide endless activities – hike, swim, fish, jet ski, wakeboard, kayak, paddleboard, or simply float with a drink in hand under the summer sun.
To get this vacation started, here’s your ultimate Lake Powell Houseboat guide, including where to rent a houseboat, sights to see on and off the water, what to pack, and tips to consider based on our experiences.
Where is Lake Powell?
Lake Powell is in northern Arizona and stretches into southern Utah. The manmade expansive water reservoir is nestled within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
There are a few options to get to Lake Powell. First, you can road trip from wherever you reside. If it’s too far of a drive, you can fly into Phoenix, AZ, and take a hopper flight to Page, AZ, the closest town to the houseboat marinas.
Reserving a Houseboat
There are a few places to rent houseboats, and based on our experiences, here are the top places: Antelope Point Marina and Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas.
The peak season for houseboat rentals is June – August. Reservations can be made up to a year in advance, and to secure the best price and option for your group, book at least 6 months in advance. For the trip duration, I recommend booking a week on the houseboat, giving you a full 5 days on Lake Powell.
If you haven’t rented a houseboat before, imagine taking an RV on the water. It’s important to note that you will be the driver of the boat, and I highly recommend having boat driving experience. These houseboats range from 45′ – 77′, so be prepared to manage it on the water.
To add to the adventure, I highly recommend renting a jet ski or powerboat. This allows you to easily navigate and scout out campsites and coves, weave through slot canyons, and see sights that aren’t accessible by houseboat, such as Rainbow Bridge. And, having one allows you and your group to do more water sports, such as tubing, wakeboarding, and skiing. The marinas will have rental packages available. However, if you have a car with a hitch, consider renting from H2O Zone PWC Rentals & Repair. The customer service and pricing options are fantastic for jet skis.
Where to Camp with a Houseboat on Lake Powell
After you launch your houseboat, aim for Padre Bay or Last Chance Bay to dock for the evening. It took us a few hours to get to Padre Bay from the Wahwheap Marina launch ramp and find a campsite.
When scouting for a campsite, try to find a cove where you’ll be protected from the wind and sheltered from summer storms.
Water levels vary year-to-year and even month-to-month, so while we can’t pinpoint campsites, we can recommend areas to stay. For our route, we wanted to go the furthest as possible and then slowly work our way back down toward the marina.
We stayed in the area of Buoy 51 for the majority of our trip, but there were some great coves and beaches between Buoy 50-55. Camping in this area put us in close proximity to Rainbow Bridge and Hole in the Rock.
For the last night on the lake, aim to camp near Buoy 22 – Padre Bay or Last Chance Bay. Staying here makes it easier to return your boat to Wahwheap Marina in the morning (if that’s where you choose to rent from).
Sights to See
Horseshoe Bend
You don’t need a houseboat to check out this incredible desert wonder. Horseshoe Bend is a famous landmark in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and sits a few minutes from Page. It costs $20 for the entrance fee, and from the parking lot, it’s about a 1.5 miles hike to the overlook. Standing at the edge watching the Colorado River weave its way through during sunrise or sunset.
Slot Canyons
Lake Powell’s water levels are constantly changing, which means there are constantly new places to explore. If you have a jet ski, this will allow you to explore the deepest part of the canyons. Depending on where you park your houseboat, you can take a kayak or paddleboard to explore ones nearby.
Rainbow Bridge
This is one of the world’s largest natural bridges. To see the bridge, you dock your boat and hike in about a mile. The natural bridge is stunning, and you can even see dinosaur prints on some of the rocks. You won’t be able to bring your houseboat in the cove – smaller boats and jet skis only. We went on a weekday and earlier in the day to avoid the crowds. For updated information on Rainbow Bridge and accessing the area, check out the National Park page.
Hole N’ Rock
Honestly, the story behind Hold N’ Rock is more impressive than the hike itself. Most people drive in and start at the top and work their way to the bottom. Since we were on the lake, we started from the bottom and it’s a steep, bouldering hike. The trail is in the canyon, and in the summer, the hike is hot and strenuous. Our group split midway, and there are mixed reviews about the effort versus reward at the end.
Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is another natural wonder to see off of Lake Powell but it requires a reservation and a bit of planning. We were unable to get a reservation, but if you can, don’t miss this sight. This slot-canyon is stunning and on my list to see. If you plan on going, see Upper Antelope Canyon and book your tour around when the world-famous shafts of light occur, usually around 11:30 a.m. Antelope Canyon is protected by the Navajo Parks and Recreation and only authorized tour companies can take visitors to the canyon.
Glen Canyon Dam
This dam is the second-highest concrete-arch dam in the United States. It’s located in Page, and an easy sight to see in town. Park your car and take a moment to stop and walk the path along the bridge.
Packing & Prepping Tips
Stock Up on Groceries & Ice
Out on the water, there are no grocery stores on the lake so stock up on food and ice before you board the boat. If you can, get dry ice in addition to regular ice (we found some at the Safeway in Page). It can get over 100 degrees in the summer, and with the fridge running on propane, it’s challenging to keep things consistently cold. The dry ice at the base of your cooler will allow your items to stay colder longer. If you want a beach bonfire, don’t forget to pick up some firewood too.
If you don’t want to shop for your own meals, you can opt to have your groceries delivered or if you’re renting through Lake Powell Resorts and Marina, you can choose their Meals on Board program.
Launch Early
One key thing to remember when getting out on the water – the earlier, the better. Getting onto your houseboat is on a first-come, first-serve basis when you rent through Aramark at Wahweap Marina. The marina opens at 7 a.m. and it takes a couple of hours to load the boat, get the jet skis and/or boat attached, and go through the walk-through with one of the staff members. We couldn’t get access to our boat until 10 a.m. and we didn’t leave the dock until noon
Pack Entertainment
Lake Powell isn’t known for wifi or cell service. Download plenty of music, bring books, and pack games and decks of cards.
Bring Your National Park Pass
Lake Powell lies within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. If you have a National Park pass, you can use it to avoid entrance fees.
Enjoy your trip! If you have any questions, comment below and I’ll help you plan your adventure.
Stay Wild,
B
