When most people think of Page, Arizona they plan to spend the majority of time on beautiful Lake Powell. If you can rent a house boat, or any type of boat for that matter, or if you own one, then that will be an excellent way to explore the stunning rock formations and enjoy the cool water. But maybe your budget is too tight for a boat or you dislike being on the water. Don’t worry, there are plenty of short (better for children) activities for you to enjoy while visiting Lake Powell.

Lake Powell is about a five hour drive from the Phoenix Metro area. We did the drive straight through only taking a brief stop in Flagstaff for our toilet learning toddler. Since the children are most excited on the first day of travel we decided to avoid planned stops along the way and instead save a fun activity for the return trip. Our first free activity when arriving to Page, Arizona was a small hike to the Glen Canyon Dam overlook. Hikers beware, some areas are steep but most of the area is steps and there is a railing for support. Our seven and two year old were able to do it slowly however the heat was intense in June and we weren’t able to enjoy the overlook as you would during fall or winter. If you’re of decent health, bring water, good shoes, and a camera since the views will not disappoint. This short little hike helped to get the wiggles out after traveling and passed some time until we could check into our hotel.

If you get hot then the obvious thing to do next is get wet. We decided to check out Wahweap Beach for water play and swimming. If you’re planning to take this trip or visit any other National treasures we highly recommend the purchase of the America the Beautiful Pass. This pass allowed us free access to Wahweap Beach. If you’re not ready to invest in a pass, no worries, the cost is just $30 for a non commercial vehicle for seven consecutive days. Since we visited during the summer the parking lot seems to fill quickly so plan to head down to the lake early to secure your spot.

The swim area is excellent for children with plenty of sandy beach to build sand castles. The restrooms near the parking lot were well kept and perfect for changing. If you have kids, then you’re inevitably hauling stuff, please be advised that it is quite a long trek from the parking area to the lake. Now that our oldest is seven years old, he’s responsible to help haul stuff in his children’s CO op backpack from REI. Click here to see a similar one. Just down from the large beach area we found a smaller beach that was more secluded. The views were like nothing we’ve seen. The lake is cold. Your kids won’t mind. You’ll want to visit during the summer when the hot temperatures give you no choice but to dive right in with them.

Another fun family activity is a visit to the Carl Hayden Visitor Center. Due to the current pandemic situation the the visitor center was closed but typically tours of the dam are just $5. We did stop to film the dam and allow the children to see the area. There is no parking fee and the view is worth the quick stop.

You’re dying to see Horseshoe bend on this trip and you should. It’s definitely affordable! Use your America the Beautiful pass to get in free or plan to pay $10 per vehicle. Horseshoe bend is an excellent hike for children and families. The paved path was easy for our children. They enjoyed leaving their mark by building small rock piles along the way. Bring water and enjoy the peaceful desert walk in the early part of the day before the sun is blazing and Instagrammers take over.

If you’re looking for affordable lodging in Page I highly recommend the Best Western Lake View. We felt this location was a steal for just $70 per night. Granted, travel and tourism is down due to the Covid Pandemic so rates may change. The views from the hotel balcony were stunning. We spent the evening sitting around the fire pit with a pizza and the children enjoyed a dip in the pool and hot tub as well.

Going home always feels sad when you’ve had so much fun exploring a new place. Brighten their mood with a stop to see the Dinosaur Tracks discovered on the Navajo nation land. This activity was free and made our Dino-obssesed toddler’s dreams come true. You can tell from the video we experienced extremely high winds and some dust so sunglasses and a face covering is helpful if these conditions are present.

We hope our family video gives you a better idea of what to expect when visiting Lake Powell country. We’ve never taken a more affordable road trip with kids while still experiencing so much.  If you haven’t already, please subscribe so you don’t miss our next family adventure!

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