Go on an exotic vacation without traveling to the other side of the world. Lake Havasu, Arizona, puts you in a desert oasis, indulging you and your family in one of the best-possible lakeside getaways you can find. This area is famous for for boating, fishing, and sightseeing, and typical Lake Havasu vacation rentals include options like private homes, condos, townhouses, apartments, and cabins. As you plan your trip, here are the ten best places to stay in and around Lake Havasu.

1. Lake Havasu City

How much closer to a vacation on the lake can you get than in a vacation rental houseboat? Imagine combining your passion for boating with your main digs for the duration of your stay at Lake Havasu. Sweet condos, cozy lake cottages, and comfortable private homes make good choices for landlubbers. Experience the cool waters of the lake on a hot desert day and dive for a refreshing swim.

2. Desert Hills

Step back from the lake to enjoy the rugged beauty of the desert in a well-appointed Desert Hills home. Enjoy all the modern amenities, including laundry facilities and swimming pools with most rentals, all within mere minutes of the lake. Experience breathtaking landscapes along the Colorado River, visible along some areas of London Bridge Road going into the city.

3. Rotary Community Park and Playground

Rotary Park makes access to Thompson Bay on the lake a breeze, and finding a condo, townhouse, or private rental home in the vicinity brings your vacation a little closer to paradise. It’s far enough out of the way of the busy city traffic to feel like a vacation while being close enough to shopping and modern amenities to feel like civilization.

4. London Bridge Golf Course

When your vacations must include golf, Lake Havasu fills the bill perfectly with resort villas, apartments, and condos close to the London Bridge Golf Club. It features narrow fairways and is beautifully landscaped to incorporate lush greens and desert features. Enjoy easy access to the lake from your vacation headquarters near the golf course.

5. Lake Havasu State Park

Take your family to stay in a lavish condo, a pet-friendly townhouse, or a private home near Lake Havasu State Park to enjoy its beautiful beaches. The Mohave Sunset Trail winds almost 2 miles through the desert along the shoreline of the lake, giving you and your family a chance for a scenic hike. Enjoy the Arroyo-Camino Interpretive Garden inside the park to see birds, lizards, and desert rabbits.

6. Windsor Beach

Take your family to stay in a dreamy condo, a comfy private home, or an apartment near Windsor Beach for a chance to enjoy gorgeous Windsor Beach. Many rentals include washers and dryers as well as linens. Some feature hot tubs or jetted tubs in the master bathrooms. The beach and the lake are a bit rockier than the ocean, so remember to outfit everyone with water sandals to protect tender feet.

7. London Bridge

Move into your private oasis when you book a contemporary lake house or modern condo near the London Bridge. Enjoy modern amenities such as the internet, cable TV, private pool, and outdoor BBQ area. The London Bridge Park features Lions Dog Park. It is where pets run free and frolic in wading pools while their humans walk or rest under shade trees.

8. Northeast Lake Havasu City

Escape the doldrums of summer in an exquisite hillside vacation home or a ranch house in the northeast part of Lake Havasu City. Where else can you find so much desert and so much water in one place? Experience the beauty of the desert at night, go horseback riding at Havasu Equestrians, or drive just a few minutes to put your boat in the water at the lake. Rent power boats, pontoon boats, jet skis, paddle boards, and more from Sandbar Powersports, Nautical Water Sports, or Arizona Water Sports.

9. Parker

Find yourself a quiet boat house or riverfront home off the beaten path when you choose to stay in Parker. Take advantage of being just a few miles from the lake, and do some sightseeing along the Colorado River near Parker Dam. The area features the historic Schwanbeck’s Store Ruins, built in the 1930s for the small town of Crossroads, now a ghost town.

10. Southern End of the Lake

Head for the outback of Arizona whether you hole up in a farmhouse, stay in a quaint bed-and-breakfast inn, or take a rustic cabin at the southern end of the lake near the Bill Williams National Wildlife Refuge. Enjoy painting, rock hunting, star gazing, exploring, or looking for wildlife in the peace and quiet of this vicinity of the lake and along the Colorado River. The refuge features diverse landscapes from sand dunes to mountains, flourishing with barrel and prickly pear cactus. Look for bighorn sheep, reptiles, and coyotes, too.