Plan the Houseboat Adventure of a Lifetime

Deciding which marina to depart from is typically location driven.

• Wahweap Marina in Page, AZ is the most convenient location if you're coming from California, Arizona, Nevada or Southern Utah.
• Bullfrog Marina in Bullfrog, UT is the most convenient location if you're coming from Colorado, New Mexico, or Northern Utah.

Not all houseboats are available at both marinas, so the marina decision could also be made based on the type of houseboat you want to rent.

At Lake Powell, we have many different types and sizes of houseboats for you to choose from to accommodate groups and budgets of all sizes.

Be sure to check out our Houseboat Comparison tool, which will make selecting the right houseboat easy and fun.

We encourage you to book your houseboat well in advance of your desired vacation dates to ensure you get the boat with the space and amenities you want - especially if you are choosing to visit in the summer months when the weather is ideal for houseboating. However, short-notice reservations can often be accommodated. Also, houseboats rent by the day - much like car rentals. Most houseboats have a minimum rental period of four days. A few houseboats require longer rentals for the best deal.

Because houseboats are slow moving, most guests use their houseboat as "home base" and choose the thrill of exploring the lake and its coves on a powerboat or personal watercraft. Don't have one? No problem. We have all kinds of powerboats and water toys to rent - and you can tow them right behind your houseboat.

All of our houseboats have carbon monoxide monitoring devices to monitor the exhaust from the engines and generators. We work hard to make sure our houseboats are safe, with superb maintenance and regular safety inspections. Here are additional safety items for you to know:

• All houseboats are equipped with Coast Guard approved life jackets.
• Each houseboat includes a VHF radio for communication with the marinas.
• Fire extinguishers can be found aboard all houseboats.
  Houseboating Safety

With normal precautions and reasonable care, it's easy to make your Lake Powell houseboating vacation safe and memorable. Remember, you're on the water so life jackets are important - especially for little ones. Children under 12 years of age must wear a life jacket at all times when on a powerboat, towable water toy or the exterior of a houseboat. Cliff jumping and cliff diving are prohibited within the boundaries of Lake Powell and its tributaries. Of course, we always ask that our guests protect and preserve this remarkable place for future generations to enjoy.

The best way to make sure you enjoy every moment of your visit to Lake Powell is to plan ahead. We've put together some fantastic sample itineraries to make your houseboat experience diverse and rewarding, so you can pack it in and do it all.

We are pleased to offer the below suggestions to help you with meal planning:

• "Do-It-Yourself" Meals When you plan all your meals in advance and create one complete grocery-shopping list, it'll ensure you have everything you need once aboard your houseboat. If anything's forgotten, it'll mean returning to the marina for supplies.
• Grocery Delivery Program - Wahweap Marina Only Captains & Crews Lake Powell Houseboat Delivery provides our houseboat customers with a large selection of products and produce conveniently delivered to your houseboat on the day of departure.

Imagine driving a golf cart around the world's biggest parking lot - that's how easy it is to operate a houseboat! In fact, you don't need any boating experience or a captain's license. Houseboats generally move at seven to ten miles per hour, letting you cruise along at a relaxing pace that's perfect for soaking up the sun and taking in the gorgeous scenery and perfect weather. Our experienced staff will teach you everything you need to know and answer all of your questions, so you'll feel like a pro before you even leave the dock.

One of the most enjoyable parts of houseboating on Lake Powell is the unbeatable feeling of getting away from it all. But getting away from it all also means getting away from the convenience of having a store right down the street. That's why it's important to pack carefully—so you'll have everything you need and can focus on having fun!

The following items are suggestions provided by our houseboat planning experts. We're sure you'll think of many more things you'll want to bring on your houseboating trip—but this is a good starting point:

Reservations confirmation paperwork and photo ID-Contract holder only

Sleeping Bags, Beach Towels

Personal Items:

• Sunscreen
• Chap stick
• Hats, sun visor and/or sunglasses
• Seasonal clothing

Food Preparation Items:

• Paper plates, paper cups, and plastic utensils for clean up
• Plastic containers or self-closing bags to store any leftovers
• Foil and plastic wrap
• Paper towels and kitchen towels
• Meals, drinks, snacks, seasons for meats, condiments

Firewood for evening fires on the beach & s'mores (available for purchase at marina store)

Ice (available for purchase at houseboat dock)

5-gallon water jugs (available for purchase at houseboat dock)

Favorite playlists downloaded to your phone or iPod

Fishing license, tackle & poles - to help catch your dinner:

• You can purchase a fishing license online at Utah Division of Wildlife Resources or Arizona Game and Fishing Department.

Small ice chest - to store all the fish you catch

Disposable aluminum pie plates (we'll teach you how to use them on your anchor line when anchored to the shore to prevent land critters from boarding your houseboat)

Musical instruments, playing cards and games for evening entertainment

Lounge chairs - two are provided, and we also provide deck chairs

Water skis, tube & kneeboards (available for rent at boat rentals)

Tent or canopy with poles (set up shade on beach area)

Battery-powered lamp, flashlight and headlamp (for extra light on the beach)

Binoculars (to help find the perfect beach)

Extra camera storage so you can take pictures back home to brag about your ultimate vacation

A book, e-reader or tablet to catch up on some reading