Lake Powell

Kid Tips

Toddlers & Pre-K: Young kids will surely want to splash around in the lake to cool off. With nearly 2,000 miles of shoreline to choose from, you're bound to find a suitable spot.

School-Age Kids: Kids old enough to have seen an "Indiana Jones" movie will be thrilled by a boat tour of the lake. Visiting the dozens of side canyons is like being in scenes from one of the movies.

Pre-Teens & Teens: A15-mile whitewater river rafting excursion down the Colorado River will be an unforgettable experience.

Planning Notes

• Expect a long drive. Driving distances in southern Utah are farther than they look on the map. Lake Powell is more than five hours from Bryce Canyon National Park and more than six hours from Zion National Park.
• Take the ferry if it's running. A 27-minute car ferry saves you 120 miles and connects two sections of highway 276, running from Halls Crossing to Bullfrog every two hours from mid-May through mid-September (or you can drive on highway 95 and cross by bridge at Hite, a two-hour drive). The ferry runs on the odd hour from Halls and on the even hour from Bullfrog, 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. (until 3 p.m. September to mid-May). In the past the ferry has been docked because of low water levels. Ask at the visitor center of the national park you are visiting before making the drive.
• Stock up. Though Lake Powell is a popular tourist destination, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area covers more than 1.25 million acres in Utah and Arizona. Bring anything special that you may need with you. The only businesses available are two lodges (one inside the park and one outside), one restaurant inside the park and two fast food restaurants 15 miles to the north of Bullfrog in Ticaboo, as well as a very small market in Ticaboo. Basics like milk and bread can be bought at the marinas in Bullfrog and Halls but no camping or boating supplies.

Just the Facts

Hours: Always open

Fees: $10-$20

Recommended Time: Overnight

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