Memorial Day Weekend on Arizona's Lakes: Your Booking Guide for Jet Skis, Pontoons, and Wakeboats

By Steve, Wave & Ridge Owner

Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start of lake season in Arizona — and honestly, it's my favorite weekend of the year. The water's finally warming up, the snowbirds have headed home, and every boat ramp from Saguaro to Roosevelt is buzzing with people who've been waiting since October to get back on the water. I've been running rentals out here in the East Valley for years, and every Memorial Day teaches me something new. This guide is everything I'd tell a friend who called me up and said, "Steve, I want to get on a lake this Memorial Day — what do I need to know?"

Short answer: book a few weeks ahead, pick your lake, and don't overthink the packing list. I'll handle the rest below.

What's Available — Memorial Day Weekend Rental Pricing

I'm going to give you real numbers because I can't stand rental sites that make you call just to find out what something costs. Here's what we run for Memorial Day Weekend:

Watercraft	4-Hour Rental	8-Hour Rental	Details
Jet Ski	$219	$319	2025 Sea-Doo Spark 3up, seats 2–3 riders
Sea-Doo Switch Pontoon	$449	$699	Seats up to 10 passengers
Centurion RI 245 Wakeboat	$999	$1,499	Up to 16 passengers, tournament-level wake

Jet skis are the first to book out every year — they're the most accessible price point and they're flat-out fun. Pontoons are the move for families and groups who want to float, swim, and eat lunch on the water. And the Centurion wakeboat? That's for the crew that's serious about wakeboarding, surfing, or just flexing with a tournament boat on a holiday weekend.

Lake-by-Lake Breakdown — Where Should You Go?

Arizona's got more lake options than most people realize. Here's how I'd break them down for Memorial Day Weekend:

Saguaro Lake

Saguaro is the go-to for jet skis and pontoons on a holiday weekend — wide open water, iconic saguaro-lined shores, and about 45 minutes from Phoenix (roughly 30 minutes from our Apache Junction lot). Expect the marina and ramp to be busy on any holiday Saturday or Sunday; arrive early or plan a mid-morning launch to skip the rush.

Canyon Lake

Canyon Lake brings dramatic canyon walls and clearer water, about 50 minutes from Phoenix and a short tow from our shop. Parts of the lake are no-wake zones, so it's a better fit if you want scenery over wide-open throttle room. The Acacia boat ramp lot is small — plan to arrive early on a holiday weekend.

Looking for Quieter Water?

Apache Lake, Roosevelt Lake, and Bartlett Lake offer real solitude on holiday weekends, and they're worth knowing about if you own your own watercraft. Our rentals currently run on Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake — both are an easy tow from our Apache Junction lot, and both have coves that stay calm even on the busiest weekends if you head up-lake early.

Why Wave & Ridge for Memorial Day Weekend

I started this company because I got tired of renting beat-up watercraft from operators who treated you like a transaction number. Here's what you actually get when you book with us:

Your Holiday Weekend Survival Kit — What to Bring

I've seen people show up to a full-day lake rental in jeans and flip-flops with no sunscreen. Don't be that person. Here's the short list:

• Sunscreen (SPF 50+, reef-safe): Arizona sun on the water is no joke. Reapply every 90 minutes.
• Cooler with ice, water, and snacks: There's nowhere to buy food once you're on the lake. Pack more water than you think you need.
• Towels and dry bag: Keep your phone and keys in a waterproof bag. I've seen too many phones hit the bottom of Saguaro.
• Hat, sunglasses, and UV shirt: You're getting 8+ hours of direct sun exposure. Cover up.
• Cash for parking: Some ramps charge $10–$15 per vehicle. Some marinas take cards; others may not.
• Shoes you can get wet: Water shoes or old sneakers. Lake ramps are slippery, and the gravel parking lots will eat bare feet.

Holiday Weekend Parking, Ramps, and No-Wake Zones

Here's the stuff nobody warns you about until you're stuck in a line at 7 AM:

Parking: Saguaro Lake Marina fills up fast on Memorial Day Weekend. If you're driving separately from your rental, carpool. Overflow parking exists, but it's a hike. Canyon Lake's Acacia lot is even smaller — arrive early or plan on waiting.

No-wake zones: Canyon Lake has mandatory no-wake zones in the narrow canyon sections. If you're on a jet ski, stay in the open water near the dam. Saguaro is more open, but stay aware of the buoy markers near the marina and swim areas. Fines are real and rangers are out in force on holiday weekends.

Crowds: Let's be honest — Memorial Day Weekend is one of the busiest weekends of the year on Arizona lakes. If you want solitude, go midweek or choose Apache/Roosevelt. If you want the holiday energy, Saguaro and Canyon deliver that in full. Either way, we'll have your watercraft ready and waiting.

Book Your Memorial Day Weekend Rental

Memorial Day Weekend is one of our busiest stretches of the year — jet skis go first, then pontoons, then wakeboats. Our fleet typically books out 2-3 weeks ahead of the holiday, so the earlier you call, the better your pick of watercraft and start time.

One personal note — one Memorial Day, I had a family rent a pontoon for Saguaro who'd never been on a boat before. Mom was nervous, the kids were bouncing off the walls, and Dad kept asking if he was going to break something. By 2 PM, I got a text with a photo of all four of them anchored in a cove, eating sandwiches, and grinning like they'd discovered a secret. That's the whole reason I do this. I want your Memorial Day to feel like that.

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