Lake Powell is a different drive depending on which end you pick. By an OpenStreetMap routing estimate (OSRM, no traffic) from Center Street and University Avenue in Provo:
| Destination | Distance | Time | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullfrog (Utah) | 253 miles | 5 hr 54 min | US-6, US-191, SR-24 to Hanksville, SR-95, SR-276 |
| Halls Crossing (Utah) | 316 miles | 7 hr 22 min | Same to Hanksville, then SR-95 and SR-276 south |
| Wahweap, near Page (Arizona) | 339 miles | 6 hr 24 min | I-15, SR-20, US-89 through Kanab |
It is never a day trip. It is a long weekend at minimum, and the classic version, a week on a houseboat, is something Utah Valley families book months out. The fall of 2026 adds a complication: the lake is about 182 feet below full, and the marinas, ramps and the ferry have all moved or stopped because of it. This guide is written for that lake, not the one in old photos.
The lake right now
- Level: the National Park Service listed 3,519.79 feet on October 15, 2026. Reclamation's end-of-September figure was 3,518.08 feet, about 182 feet below full pool, holding 5.16 million acre-feet, or 22 percent of live capacity.
- Outlook: Reclamation's October 2026 24-month study, under the most probable inflow (81 percent of average), projects about 3,541 feet at the end of September 2027 if 6.0 million acre-feet is released downstream, or about 3,525 feet at a 7.0 release. Its probable range runs from about 3,497 to 3,606 feet.
- Help from upstream: Reclamation is sending an extra 660,000 to one million acre-feet from Flaming Gorge to Powell through April 2027, which our Flaming Gorge guide covers from the other end.
- The Park Service's message, in its September 15, 2026 release: the lake remains open for water-based recreation, conditions change as levels fall, and once-submerged hazards are surfacing, so extra caution is advised.
Bullfrog or Wahweap
The old answer was simple: Bullfrog is closer to Utah Valley, Wahweap is bigger. In 2026 it is more complicated.
| Bullfrog / Halls Crossing | Wahweap | |
|---|---|---|
| Drive from Provo | About 6 hours to Bullfrog; over 7 to Halls Crossing | About 6.5 hours |
| Clock | Utah time | Arizona (the resort company notes Bullfrog and Halls run on Utah time) |
| Houseboats in 2026 | All rentals from Halls Crossing | Seven of the eight rental models |
| Working motor-boat ramps (Oct. 16) | Bullfrog North (own risk), Bullfrog Primitive | Stateline Auxiliary only |
What happened at Bullfrog. After a record-low snowpack and a hot March, the marina could not stay in its bay. Its boat rental and fuel dock moved to Halls Crossing at the end of March, and the main docks were towed about three miles south to deeper water near Halls Crossing starting May 4, according to KUNC and The Salt Lake Tribune. The Park Service's September release confirms Bullfrog Marina, boat rentals, the fuel dock and the pump-out station are temporarily relocated, while land-based services at Bullfrog remain open. Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas says all rental services now operate from Halls Crossing.
The ferry is out. The Charles Hall ferry, which once crossed in about 25 minutes, is listed by the Park Service as closed and not expected to operate until further notice; it does not run below 3,575 feet. There is no road between Bullfrog and Halls Crossing, so coming from the north adds about an hour of driving. If your houseboat leaves from Halls Crossing, plan the drive to Halls Crossing, not Bullfrog.
The long-term fix is a new ramp and marina site at Stanton Creek, estimated at $73.4 million, with a contract planned for award in December, according to the same reporting.
Wahweap is the drive through Kanab, and it pairs with Zion or Bryce on the way down; our Zion and St. George guide and Bryce Canyon guide cover those stops. The Bullfrog road goes through Hanksville and past the turnoff for Goblin Valley, which makes a good leg-stretch on the way.
Which ramps work
From the Park Service's Changing Lake Levels page, updated October 16, 2026. This changes often.
Open to motorized boats:
- Wahweap Stateline Auxiliary Ramp: houseboats and small motorboats. Plate mats are needed below 3,524 feet. Projects to extend it were expected in late September or early October.
- Bullfrog Primitive Launch Ramp: houseboats and small motorboats. A dirt ramp with steel plates, extended as the water drops. This is the one the Park Service points boaters to.
- Bullfrog North Launch Ramp: launch at your own risk, west lane only, steel plate at the bottom, best for boats under 25 feet.
Paddlecraft only, at your own risk: Wahweap Main, Wahweap Stateline, Antelope Point public ramp, Bullfrog Main and its spur.
Closed: Halls Crossing ramp (to all vessels), the UDOT ferry ramps, Castle Rock Cut, and Hite, where the Park Service says the lake no longer reaches and the road from SR-95 is closed. Antelope Point's business ramp is limited and run by the marina, not the park.
Rainbow Bridge: visit at your own risk. The docks are disconnected from land, and the Park Service warns of quicksand.
The houseboat week, priced
Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas publishes its rates. A sample from the 2026 sheet (taxes and fees not included):
| Boat (where it leaves) | 3 days, off-peak | 6 or 7 days, shoulder | 6 or 7 days, peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46' Expedition (Wahweap, Halls) | $1,285 | $2,585 | $2,897 |
| 48' Navigator (Wahweap, Halls) | $1,931 | $3,883 | $5,867 |
| 59' Discovery XL (Wahweap, Halls) | $2,302 | $4,631 | $6,823 |
| 75' Excursion (Wahweap) | $4,099 | $8,242 | $9,845 |
Seasons on the 2026 sheet: peak June 13 to August 23; shoulder May 16 to June 12 and August 24 to October 3; off-peak from October 4 into May. Two entries on the sheet look like typos (a peak five-day price lower than the four-day price for the 50' Nomad, and "$9.214" for the 59' Wanderer), so confirm any quote with the marina.
What gets added:
- A $225 houseboat service fee per trip.
- A 3 percent utility pass-through charge and a 4.5 percent construction set-aside fee.
- State taxes, a damage deposit or damage waiver (the amount depends on the boat), pet fees, and water toy rentals.
- Park entrance and a vessel pass (below). A 41- to 60-foot houseboat needs the $100 weekly pass.
Cancellation: 10 percent of the rate if you cancel 90 or more days out, 20 percent at 60 to 89 days, 50 percent at 45 to 59 days, and 100 percent at 44 days or fewer. For a group of student couples or extended family splitting a boat, that 45-day line is the date to agree on.
Other rules from the company's FAQ: anyone 18 or older with a valid driver's license may drive the boat; a Coast Guard certified captain can be hired if requested well ahead; you can pay to board the night before; and grocery delivery is offered only for boats leaving Wahweap.
Fees at Glen Canyon
| Pass | Price (NPS) |
|---|---|
| Private vehicle, 7 days | $30 |
| Per person on foot or bike, 7 days | $15 (15 and under free) |
| Glen Canyon annual (no vessel fees) | $55 |
| America the Beautiful, U.S. residents | $80 |
Vessel passes are required to run a motorized boat on Lake Powell: $20 a week for personal watercraft and eFoils 16 feet and under, $30 for boats 26 feet and under, $50 for 27 to 40 feet, $100 for 41 to 60 feet, and $200 for 61 to 80 feet. Annual vessel passes are double the weekly price. The park does not accept cash, and its entrance passes do not cover Horseshoe Bend parking, which the City of Page runs.
International students and families: the America the Beautiful annual pass costs $250 for non-U.S. residents, against $80 for U.S. residents, according to the Park Service.
How the week works from Utah Valley
Book the boat first, then everything else. The houseboat decides your marina, and the marina decides your drive.
Day 0: leave Provo by early afternoon. Stay near the marina or take the pre-boarding night if you booked it. Do the big grocery run in Utah Valley before you leave, unless you are leaving Wahweap and using the delivery program.
Day 1: check in, the boat walkthrough, launch. At this water level, expect the ramps and docks to be in different places from any family trip you remember.
Days 2 to 6: the side canyons, the water toys, the beach camps. Hazards that used to be deep are now near the surface, the Park Service warns, so go slowly in unfamiliar water.
Last day: fuel, pump-out (Bullfrog's moved with the marina), return, and the long drive home. With little kids, splitting the drive with a night in Kanab, Richfield or Hanksville makes the last day easier.
For boaters bringing their own: our reservoir guide explains the state's quagga mussel rules, under which a boat that has been on Lake Powell needs a professional decontamination or a dry time before it launches elsewhere in Utah, and it covers the reservoirs closer to home, and the rules for Utah boats and rentals are in our boat and paddle rental guide.
What changes in late October and winter
- The lake stays open year-round for recreation; the Park Service has not announced a seasonal closure.
- Houseboat rentals switch to off-peak rates on October 4 and run through the winter on the 2026 to 2027 sheet.
- Bullfrog Marina is listed by the resort company as open year-round with varying seasonal hours, though its rentals have moved to Halls Crossing.
- Ramp status depends on the level, not the calendar. Check the Park Service's Changing Lake Levels page the week you go, and plan for the possibility that a ramp open in October is closed in December.
Spring break is when Utah students most often try for Powell on a budget; our spring break from Provo guide compares it with the other options within a day's drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Lake Powell from Provo?
Should we go to Bullfrog or Wahweap?
How low is Lake Powell right now?
How much does a Lake Powell houseboat cost?
What are the Glen Canyon entrance and boat fees?
Is the Bullfrog to Halls Crossing ferry running?
Can you go to Lake Powell in late October or winter?
Who can drive a rental houseboat?
Sources
The facts in this guide were checked against these sources. Hours, fees and rules change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the source before you go. How we make Provo.com.
- Fees and passes, National Park Service, Glen Canyon NRA. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Changing Lake Levels (ramp status, updated Oct. 16, 2026), National Park Service, Glen Canyon NRA. Checked October 20, 2026.
- News release, Sept. 15, 2026, National Park Service, Glen Canyon NRA. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Glen Canyon Dam / Lake Powell current status and 24-Month Study, Bureau of Reclamation. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Flaming Gorge Dam current status (DROA releases to Lake Powell), Bureau of Reclamation. Checked October 20, 2026.
- 2026 Houseboat Rates, Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Bullfrog Marina houseboat rentals, Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas. Checked October 20, 2026.
- Houseboat Rentals at Bullfrog Marina FAQs, Lake Powell Resorts & Marinas. Checked October 20, 2026.
- 'It's a different lake now' as Lake Powell drops, an iconic marina chases deeper water, KUNC / The Salt Lake Tribune. Checked October 20, 2026.
- OSRM route service (OpenStreetMap data), driving estimates from Center St & University Ave, Provo, Project OSRM. Checked October 20, 2026.
