Bullhead City, Arizona
On Colorado River near the juncture of Az, Ca, and Nevada
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Hotels/Motels
There are hotels and motels in Bullhead City, with something for every taste and price range. For more information. Click Here. (Rates, availability and reservation online)
Location / Description
Bullhead City is located in Arizona's west-central Mohave County, on the east bank of the Colorado River near the juncture of Arizona, California and Nevada. It is the sister city to the popular gaming community of Laughlin, Nevada.
Bullhead City serves as the economic hub and retail-shopping center for Western Mohave County and Southeastern Clark County, Nevada. More than 5 million people travel through Bullhead City annually. The year-round sunshine makes it perfect for families, retirees and vacationers - whether they are looking to escape the winter cold or want to enjoy the area's vast summer water recreation opportunities.
Population / Elevation
- 29,998 people
- 540 feet above sea level
Weather / Climate
Bullhead City has a classic low desert climate with extremely low relative humidity and very high summer temperatures. On the average, it receives about 7 inches of precipitation a year. Stores, shops, restaurants, theaters and homes are air-conditioned much of the year.
Although most of the county is designated as desert, nearly 190 square miles is water, making water sports a favorite among residents and visitors alike. The average daily high temperature in November is 74 degrees. The average daily high temperature annually is a beautiful 88 degrees.
| Bullhead City, Arizona - Monthly Climate Normals | |||||||||||||
| Year | Jan. | Feb. | Mar | Apr. | May | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sep | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | |
| High °F | 88.5 | 65.0 | 71.1 | 78.4 | 88.0 | 97.0 | 107.3 | 111.8 | 109.8 | 102.8 | 90.6 | 74.6 | 65.1 |
| Low °F | 59.5 | 43.0 | 46.3 | 49.9 | 56.3 | 64.9 | 72.8 | 78.9 | 79.1 | 71.4 | 59.3 | 49.1 | 42.3 |
 |
|||||||||||||
| Avg °F | 74.0 | 54.0 | 58.7 | 63.7 | 72.2 | 80.1 | 90.0 | 95.6 | 94.5 | 87.1 | 75.0 | 61.9 | 53.7 |
| Rain " | 7.02 | 1.21 | 1.18 | 1.14 | 0.19 | 0.11 | 0.01 | 0.38 | 0.74 | 0.45 | 0.43 | 0.53 | 0.66 |
History
Originally established in the 1940s as the headquarters for the construction of Davis Dam, which impounds Lake Mohave in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Bullhead City has evolved into a year-round vacation community.
Tourism is a primary economic activity centered on the Laughlin resort/gaming industry. Visitors enjoy area water sports and golf. Also popular is trophy fishing for bass, trout, and other species in the Colorado River between Davis Dam and Parker Dam and on the 67-mile long Lake Mohave.
Things To Do
Water sports on the Colorado River and Lake Mohave, hiking, off-road vehicle sports, hunting, exploring ghost towns, rockhounding and prospecting are just a few of the recreational activities available in the neighboring desert around Bullhead City. Gambling in Laughlin, across the river, is also a major attraction of the area.
The Colorado River Recreation Area extends from Yuma, Arizona to Lake Powell, about 650 miles. It offers boating, fishing, hunting and other water sports. There is almost 95 miles of navigable water to use for your enjoyment between Blythe and Imperial Dam in Yuma.
Events Calendar
- January: Dixieland Jazz Festival (Lake Havasu, AZ)
- February: Snowbird Jamboree (Lake Havasu, AZ)
- March: Bullhead City Gem & Mineral Show
- April: Laughlin River Run
- May: Rotary Burro Barbecue (Bullhead City, AZ)
- June: Laughlin River Days
- July: 4th of July Damboree (Boulder City)
- August: Laughlin River Days
- September: Laughlin River Days
- October: Laughlin Balloon Fest
- November: Bullhead City Hardyville Days
December: Boat Parade of Lights (Lake Havasu, AZ) - February: Snowbird Jamboree (Lake Havasu, AZ)
Camping & RV Parks
Bullhead City has 9 mobile home parks and 21 RV Parks, which are all near capacity from November through May.
- Katherine Landing Mohave County Parks - Davis Camp
- Backcountry camping: Along the shores of Lake Mohave and along designated sites on unpaved roads.
For more information, contact:
- Bullhead Area Chamber of Commerce
251 State Route 95
Bullhead City, AZ 86429
Tel. 928-754-4121
Resources & Nearby Attractions
Resources
Cities & Towns
- Boulder City, Nevada: 70 miles north.
- Blyth, Ca 70 miles sourth
- Henderson, Nevada: 84 miles north.
- Las Vegas, Nevada:: 94 miles north.
- Laughlin Nevada: 2 miles west.
- Oatman, Arizona: 28 miles east.
- Chloride, Arizona: 41 miles northeast.
- Needles, California: 30 miles south.
- Quartzsite, Az 65 miles south
Parks & Monuments
- Death Valley National Park: 172 miles west
- Mojave National Preserve: 63 miles west.
Wilderness & Recreation Areas
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area: 70 miles north.
- Lake Mohave: 20 miles north.
- Mojave National Preserve: The Desert Protection Act created the 1.4 million-acre Mojave National Preserve in the heart of California's Mojave Desert.
- Big Bend State Recreation Area: The state of Nevada preserves this area along the banks of the Colorado River south of Laughlin.
- Dead Mountains Wilderness Area: 48, 850 acres in the eastern Mojave Desert (BLM).
- Havasu National Wildlife Refuge: Created for waterfowl, this is a wintering habitat for Snow Goose and other waterfowl.
Historic & Points of Interest
- Colorado River Nature Center (CRNC): 500 acres located along the Colorado River south of Bullhead City.
- Oatman: Arizona town reenacts the Old West with staged gunfights in the middle of town.
- Katherine Mine: Katherine's Landing takes it name from the decaying Katherine Mine, located northeast of the current Marina.
- Davis Dam: Constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation downstream from Hoover Dam, it impounds Lake Mohave.
- Lake Havasu: 50 miles south.
- Fort Mohave Indian Reservation: 41, 884-acre home of the Mohave people, noted for their basketry and beadwork.
DesertUSA Newsletter -- We send articles on hiking, camping and places to explore, as well as animals, wildflower reports, plant information and much more. Sign up now. (It's free.)
| THE DESERT ENVIRONMENT | |||
| The North American Deserts | |||
| Chihuahuan Desert | Great Basin Desert | Mojave Desert | Sonoran Desert |
| Glossary of Desert & Geological Terms | |||
Animals - Wildlife | Wildflowers-Plants | Minerals - Geology | Desert People
SEARCH THIS SITE
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
The movie Stagecoach, in 1939 introduced two stars to the American public, John Wayne, and Monument Valley. Visiting Monument Valley gives you a spiritual and uplifting experience that few places on earth can duplicate. Take a look at this spectacular scenery in this DesertUSA video.
Glen Canyon Dam - Lake Powell Held behind the Bureau of Reclamation's Glen Canyon Dam, waters of the Colorado River and tributaries are backed up almost 186 miles, forming Lake Powell. The dam was completed in 1963. Take a look at this tremendous feat of engineering - the Glen Canyon Dam.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument
Canyon de Chelly NM offers the opportunity to learn about Southwestern Indian history from the earliest Anasazi to the Navajo Indians who live and farm here today. Its primary attractions are ruins of Indian villages built between 350 and 1300 AD at the base of sheer red cliffs and in canyon wall caves.
Laughlin - Lake Mohave - Colorado River
In the summer, Katherine's Landing at the southern end of Lake Mohave is a hub of activity. It has fuel, a general store, a restaurant and a snack bar. The Colorado River south of the dam offers many recreational opportunities. Take a look at this river destination!
___________________________________
Take a look at our Animals index page to find information about all kinds of birds, snakes, mammals, spiders and more!
Are you interested in the temperatures in the
desert?Click here to see current desert temperatures!
DesertUSA is a comprehensive resource about the North American deserts and Southwest destinations. Learn about desert biomes while you discover how desert plants and animals learn to adapt to the harsh desert environment. Find travel information about national parks, state parks, BLM land, and Southwest cities and towns located in or near the desert regions of the United States. Access maps and information about the Sonoran Desert, Mojave Desert, Great Basin Desert, and Chihuahuan Desert.
