Lake Havasu City's Only Beachfront Resort Has Kept Families Coming Back for Generations (and I Get It)

Known as Arizona’s Playground, Lake Havasu City was co-founded by entrepreneur Robert P. McCulloch in 1963. He saw the potential in this sunny waterside desert oasis and transformed it into a planned recreational community. The Nautical Beachfront Resort opened the next year to house prospective residents and has accommodated generations of fun-loving sun-seekers and water-worshippers since; everyone from families to fraternities checks into this Lake Havasu institution. I would soon find out that there’s a good reason why The Nautical is a vacation spot that guests return to year after year (several reasons, in fact).

The Nautical is the only resort with beach access to Lake Havasu

“We call this color havasu. Havasu is a [Mojave and Havasupai] term meaning blue-green water. It’s not blue. It’s not green. It’s havasu.” On a boat tour, Captain Kenny explained the meaning behind the name of this beautifully bold-colored lake along the Colorado River, around which everything in the city revolves. It was created in the 1930s with the construction of the Parker Dam and has about 400 miles of coastline, with a water level that remains consistent year-round. And The Nautical is the only beachfront resort not just in Lake Havasu but in the region.

The Nautical is located on “The Island” section of Lake Havasu City, and I felt the tropical atmosphere as soon as I crossed over the London Bridge — yes, the original, built in the UK in 1831 and bought by McCulloch at auction in 1968. Not two seconds after arriving at the resort, I saw college students with dripping hair walking around in swimsuits and young families carting coolers and armfuls of beach toys. I would soon learn this was business as usual for The Nautical, largely because two private beaches were never more than a few steps away.

Main Beach was directly outside my hotel room door, and boat owners or renters could park their vessels in one of The Nautical’s courtesy docks on Cove Beach via the private launch ramp. If there weren’t red rocks stretching across the California side of the lake and cacti growing in between the imported palm trees in the Arizona side’s city skyline, I could have easily forgotten I was in the Southwestern desert.

Every room is a room with a view

After checking in at the registration desk, I headed down the stairs to my ground-floor, beachside suite. All 139 rooms and suites at The Nautical have a view of Lake Havasu outside their window, and the upper two floors have balconies. After years of staying in chain hotels overlooking the parking lot or facing a brick wall, this view felt like a luxury that should come with a premium. Here, it’s part of the affordable price tag.

Now, if a guest finds themselves spending a lot of time in their room at The Nautical, something has gone desperately wrong, but the rooms are the perfect landing pad as you hop from the beach to the pool. The beds are comfortable, the showers are hot, and there is ample space to pile beach gear and throw swimsuits and floaties around the living space. I always had a few drinks or leftovers chilled in the generously sized fridge. Most rooms offer two pillow-top queen-size beds, but some speciality suites have separate bedrooms and a kitchenette, and many are pet-friendly and ADA-compliant.

If you’re worried about college students on spring break making too much noise, don’t be. “Fraternities love us,” Director of Operations Scott Barret says, “but we try to keep them on one side of the property.” Even when one group booked outside of the regular channels, I slept soundly every night. Either the rooms had great soundproofing, or the boys had lights out by 10 PM, and I wouldn’t bet on the latter.

“We’ve got people who have been staying here since the ‘70s and ‘80s, and now they’re bringing their kids, and they’re bringing their grandkids with them,” Scott says. “They want to stay in the same rooms, have the same memories, and have the same experiences. So, it’s a lot of fun for us.”

The hotel has kept its vintage mid-century architectural roots with a splash of coastal and Tiki aesthetics across its several buildings. As an independent boutique hotel, The Nautical continually makes improvements and adds new features that cater to the desires of its specific clientele, rather than adhering to a standardized model.

Water, water everywhere

One of the obvious perks of staying at this particular resort was its super convenient access to so many fun water activities. Because I visited Lake Havasu City in the summer, the only place I wanted to be during the midday heat was on (or in) the water. The Nautical utterly spoiled me with how many ways it could fulfill this wish.

For starters, the WET infinity-edge heated pool, with its sunloungers and private cabanas, is somewhere I could have easily spent an entire day. The heated feature might seem unnecessary, but The Nautical’s rooms start filling up as early as Valentine’s Day. I had so much fun spending the afternoon, cocktail from the WET pool bar in hand, gazing out over the infinity ledge, which perfectly frames a stunning view of the city.

While chilling in the pool, I realized that The Nautical isn’t just for families and friend groups. It’s ideal for young couples, too. My husband and I often opt for busy city breaks and hiking-heavy camping trips, but a short stay at The Nautical would force us to have a genuinely relaxing vacation.

The Nautical Watersports Center is a huge bonus of staying at this resort. Guests can rent pontoon boats and ski boats, but my group opted to try paddleboarding and jet skiing instead. Lake Havasu City is known as the “Jet Ski Capital of the World” and has hosted countless world championships. The staff at the Nautical Watersports Center had everything ready: equipment, safety gear, and instruction, even for a first-timer like me. They upgrade the jet skis every two years, so they are always state-of-the-art.

We skied for two hours in and out of the coves and down to Copper Canyon on the California side of the lake, and we even spotted a turtle swimming. Another day, we paddleboarded underneath the London Bridge, and the water in the channel was calm enough for my jelly legs to try standing up. I had also never paddleboarded, and Lake Havasu seemed like the perfect place to try both for the first time. After returning my gear, it only took one minute to walk back to my hotel room to change, which is no small thing after two hours on a jet ski.

New this year, The Nautical welcomed Splish Splash Water Park to its Main Beach. It’s an elaborate inflatable course with slides, obstacles, and bounce platforms for kids or the young at heart. No reservations are necessary, and there is always a lifeguard on duty. The Nautical guests get 15 percent off tickets, so it’s well worth trying if you’re visiting during the on season. Havasu Tiki Tours is also a great option for large groups who want to set sail on a 75-minute lake cruise directly from The Nautical’s docks.

From happy hours to laidback dining

Regardless of whether it’s a weekend or I’m on vacation, my body clock insists on waking me up as if it’s a workday. Luckily, Coffee Cove at The Nautical opens at 7 AM. Trained baristas are on hand to serve your go-to coffee order, whether you prefer flavored lattes made with beans from the Phoenix-based Cartel Roasting Co. or premium iced teas like me.

The Turtle Grille — named for the red-eared sliders and spiny softshells that live in the lake — is The Nautical’s full-service restaurant that has served guests and the community for over 25 years. It’s spacious, with leafy tropical greenery and wide, cruise-ship-like windows showcasing the lake. The hearty breakfast menu and the crowd-pleasing all-day menu are perfect for the diverse crowd that stays at The Nautical. Families and fraternities will love the selection of burgers and sandwiches, while I appreciated the elevated blackened hot honey salmon dish. The Turtle Grille uses fresh, local ingredients whenever possible.

I was glad that island time is observed at The Nautical, and happy hour stretched from 3 PM to 5 PM. The recently renovated Naked Turtle Beach Bar sits lakeside and beachside with ample seating and shade. Since happy hour often coincides with the hottest part of the day in summer, there was no better time to indulge in a sharing plate and a refreshing cocktail (I loved the boozy take on an Arnold Palmer). During special events, you might see The Nautical’s vintage sunshine-yellow Volkswagen Microbus-turned-beach bar in action, too.

What to do near The Nautical

It would not only have been possible but very easy to spend my entire trip in Lake Havasu City at the resort. However, the London Bridge is the second-most popular tourist attraction in Arizona, surpassed only by the Grand Canyon. As a Brit, I wanted to take photos of the English Village’s red telephone boxes and buy postcards from the Go Lake Havasu Visitor Center to send to my family across the pond. Thankfully, The Nautical Resort has complimentary cruiser bicycles available from the registration area, and the English Village is only a 10-minute bike ride — or super short rideshare drive — along the paved coastal trail or road.

I enjoyed a filling eggs Benedict with avocado and fresh fruit on the side at Makai Cafe one day, and a breakfast with an unbeatable view of the London Bridge from Roxy’s Beach Bar and Cafe’s shaded patio the next. I’m still dreaming about the spicy pie fired from Barley Brothers Restaurant and Brewery’s pizza oven. The Martini Bay restaurant at the London Bridge resort was the perfect place for an upscale dining experience, thanks to Le Cordon Bleu Executive Chef Sarah Freick’s simple gourmet menu served alongside craft martinis.

All of these eateries are a stone’s throw from the English Village, but resort guests looking for a tasty lunch nearer the resort should head to Boat House Grill. My California poke bowl was served with the freshest crab and tuna poke with tasty, tropical accompaniments.

As a special treat, we climbed aboard Captain Kenny’s luxurious Sunset Charter & Tour Co. outside the London Bridge resort one evening to explore Lake Havasu at dusk, with a postcard-perfect view of The Nautical against the setting sun. Captain Kenny knew the origin of all 28 lighthouse replicas that safely illuminate the coastline and the geological quirks of every cove and crevice, from the South American Cliff Swallow mud nests to the Sleeping Indian rock formation. While we relaxed in swiveled armchairs, Captain Kenny kept our intimate group of six entertained with stories, music, and jokes: “Don’t worry about waking the Indian. He’s sleeping like a rock.”

Getting to The Nautical

Many of The Nautical’s guests are just a few hours’ drive away in California or elsewhere in Arizona. Visitors from further afield can fly into Las Vegas (2.5-hour drive), Palm Springs (3.25-hour drive), or Phoenix (3.25-hour drive), offering a variety of airlines and flight times to suit your schedule. Havasu Shuttle is a great private transfer option for those who don’t want to rent a car, and it will soon expand services to include multiple daily shared transfers from Las Vegas Airport for budget-conscious travelers.

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