Running through the sand, jumping off a pier, cruising across the water or watching the sun set on the water, there’s something about a lake vacation in the USA that makes it easy to relax. And you don’t have to give up adventure to enjoy that laid-back lake lifestyle.
America is home to thousands of lakes, offering everything from swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, and boating to hiking, scenic drives, charming waterfront towns, and beautiful mountain landscapes. Some even have water that can rival the Caribbean for color and clarity.
If you’re looking for a vacation where you can combine water activities with outdoor adventures and beautiful scenery, a lake getaway may be exactly what you’re looking for.
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Here are some of the best lake vacations in the United States for water fun, scenic landscapes, and unforgettable getaways.
1. Lake Tahoe, California & Nevada
Few lakes in the United States are as spectacular as Lake Tahoe.
At 22 miles long and 12 miles wide, this enormous alpine lake straddles California and Nevada and is famous for its crystal-clear blue water, mountain scenery, and year-round outdoor recreation.
During the summer, Lake Tahoe is a water-lover’s playground. You can spend the day swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, boating, or cruising across the lake before heading into the mountains for a hike. For a more relaxed experience, take a sightseeing cruise on the M.S. Dixie II. The cruise visits Fannette Island and Vikingsholm while offering beautiful views of Tahoe’s rocky shoreline.
South Lake Tahoe is a particularly convenient base for a lake vacation, with beaches, marinas, restaurants, hotels, and plenty of water activities nearby. And when you’ve had enough sun for the day, you’ll find everything from full-service resorts to affordable hotels along Lake Tahoe Boulevard.
Best for: Water sports, mountain scenery, beaches, boating, hiking, and couples or families.
2. Lake George, New York
Nestled in New York’s Adirondack Mountains, Lake George combines beautiful scenery with a classic lakeside vacation atmosphere.
The lake is perfect for getting out on the water, whether you rent a boat or jet ski, take a sightseeing cruise, or simply spend the day swimming and relaxing along the shore.
But Lake George offers much more than lake activities. The surrounding Adirondacks provide opportunities for hiking, fishing, golfing, whitewater rafting, and scenic drives. There are also plenty of charming towns and attractions to explore when you need a break from the water.
Waterfront lodging puts you close to beaches, docks, and restaurants, while hotels and motels outside the village can be easier on the budget.
Best for: Families, boating, outdoor adventures, scenic mountain vacations, and classic lake-town charm.
Pro Tip: Take a dash camera on your road trips and record your trip. It surprised us the first time we used ours and there were little things recorded that we totally missed!
3. Lake Champlain, Vermont & New York
Lake Champlain offers a lake vacation with a little history and a healthy dose of mystery.
Legend has it that Champ, Lake Champlain’s famous lake monster, lurks beneath the surface. Whether you believe the legend or not, there’s plenty of reason to visit this enormous lake.
Located between Vermont’s Green Mountains and New York’s Adirondacks, Lake Champlain offers boating, fishing, swimming, scuba diving, kayaking, and sightseeing cruises. History lovers can explore Fort Ticonderoga, Mount Independence, and the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum.
Nearby Burlington adds restaurants, breweries, shops, parks, and a lively waterfront to the experience. Staying near downtown Burlington makes it easy to leave the car parked while exploring the area.
Best for: History lovers, couples, boating, foodies, and active travelers.
4. Lake Chelan, Washington
If you want a lake vacation surrounded by Pacific Northwest scenery, Lake Chelan should be on your list.
Located between the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and North Cascades National Park, Lake Chelan stretches for nearly 50 miles through a spectacular mountain landscape.
The water is perfect for kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, swimming, waterskiing, wakeboarding, and boating. There are also hundreds of miles of trails surrounding the lake, making it easy to combine water adventures with hiking and other outdoor activities. For something completely different, take a boat to Stehekin, a tiny community at the northern end of the lake that isn’t accessible by road.
Accommodations range from resorts and hotels to cabins and campgrounds, with many options concentrated around the southern end of the lake.
Best for: Outdoor enthusiasts, boating, kayaking, hiking, and Pacific Northwest scenery.
Pro Tip: Be sure to bring a jacket as nights can get cool especially near the lake.
5. Finger Lakes, New York
The Finger Lakes region of New York is ideal if you want a lake vacation that includes much more than water activities. The Finger Lakes also work well for a longer vacation because there is enough to keep you busy for several days.
Water activities include kayaking, swimming, canoeing, boating and lake cruise on a paddleboat. The region’s eleven long, narrow lakes are surrounded by wineries, waterfalls, charming towns, state parks, and scenic countryside.
One of the highlights is Watkins Glen State Park, where you can walk through a dramatic gorge filled with waterfalls and rock formations. Wine lovers can explore the many vineyards surrounding the lakes, while outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy hiking, boating, fishing, swimming, and scenic drives.
Consider splurging on one of the Finger Lakes’ beautiful lakefront hotels, such as Geneva On The Lake. You’ll also find more budget-friendly places nearby. Take time to explore the town for shopping, galleries, museums and great restaurants.
Best for: Wine lovers, couples, scenic drives, waterfalls, hiking, and relaxing getaways.
6. Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
If your idea of a perfect lake vacation involves boating, swimming, waterfront restaurants, and plenty of entertainment, Lake of the Ozarks delivers. The lake stretches roughly 90 miles and has an enormous shoreline filled with coves and inlets, creating seemingly endless opportunities for exploring the water.
Lake of the Ozarks State Park offers swimming, boating, hiking, and beautiful lake views. You can also enjoy golf, spas, wineries, water parks, and plenty of restaurants around the lake.
Accommodation options range from campgrounds and cabins to resorts and vacation rentals.
Best for: Families, boating, water sports, groups, and travelers who want plenty of entertainment.
7. Geneva Lake, Wisconsin
For a more upscale lake getaway, head to Geneva Lake, Wisconsin.
Located about 55 miles southwest of Milwaukee, Geneva Lake is known for its waterfront resorts, spas, restaurants, shops, and beautiful scenery.
Take a boat tour, spend the day swimming at the beach, or walk the Geneva Lake Shore Path. There are plenty of activities beyond the lake, including zip lining, horseback riding, golf, hot-air balloon rides, and family attractions.
You can make the trip as luxurious or budget-friendly as you want, with options ranging from upscale hotels and resorts to campgrounds and vacation rentals.
Best for: Couples, romantic getaways, families, and travelers looking for a little luxury.
8. Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin
Elkhart Lake is smaller than some of the destinations on this list, but don’t let its size fool you.
This Wisconsin resort community offers swimming, kayaking, boating, fishing, water skiing, wakeboarding, and pontoon cruises. It’s also home to Road America, where visitors can watch auto and motorcycle racing, a pretty fun change of pace from the lake.
For a splurge, The Osthoff Resort offers suites, restaurants, a spa, tennis, pickleball, and indoor and outdoor pools.
Best for: Couples, families, resort vacations, water sports, and motorsports fans.
9. Bear Lake, Utah & Idaho
Known as the “Caribbean of the Rockies,” Bear Lake is famous for its brilliant turquoise water.
Located along the Utah-Idaho border, the lake is surrounded by mountains and sandy beaches, making it an excellent destination for a summer water vacation. Popular activities include boating, sailing, fishing, waterskiing, swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
One thing you absolutely shouldn’t skip? The famous raspberry shakes are sold all around the lake. Nearby Garden City offers restaurants, lodging, and shops, while the surrounding mountains provide plenty of opportunities for hiking and scenic drives.
Best for: Families, beaches, boating, swimming, and summer road trips.
10. Lake Powell, Arizona & Utah
Few lake destinations have scenery quite like Lake Powell. Located along the Colorado River in Arizona and Utah, this enormous reservoir is surrounded by towering red-rock cliffs and more than 2,000 miles of shoreline.
The best way to experience Lake Powell is to spend time on the water and exploring the surrounding landscape. Kayaking, paddleboarding, waterskiing, boating, and houseboating are all popular. You can also take boat tours into canyons and visit places such as Rainbow Bridge National Monument.
Nearby Page, Arizona, is a convenient basecamp to recharge with food and sleep before exploring Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, and the geological wonders of The Wave and Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.
Best for: Houseboating, kayaking, desert scenery, families, and adventure travelers.
11. Lake Havasu, Arizona & California
Lake Havasu proves you don’t need mountains and pine forests to have a fantastic lake vacation. Located along the Arizona-California border, Lake Havasu combines warm weather, desert scenery, beaches, and plenty of water activities.
Boating, swimming, paddleboarding, waterskiing, and fishing are popular ways to enjoy the lake. Renting a houseboat is another fun way to spend several days on the water. And, of course, there’s London Bridge, which was famously relocated to Lake Havasu City from England.
Lake Havasu City has plenty of restaurants, hotels, shops, and entertainment.
Best for: Warm-weather getaways, boating, families, and desert-meets-water scenery.
12. Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
If incredible scenery is your priority, it’s hard to beat Crater Lake.
At 1,943 feet deep, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and is famous for its intensely blue water. The lake was formed inside the collapsed volcanic crater of Mount Mazama and is fed entirely by rain and snow.
Visitors can drive Rim Drive, a spectacular 33-mile route with numerous scenic overlooks, hike the surrounding trails, enjoy the incredible views from the rim and take a boat cruise on the lake. Crater Lake is a little different from the other destinations on this list because swimming and boating opportunities are more limited, but the scenery more than makes up for it.
Inside the park, you’ll find Crater Lake Lodge and the Cabins at Mazama Village. Outdoor lovers can camp at the seasonal Mazama campground. Crater Lake Lodge has a restaurant on premises.
Best for: Scenic drives, hiking, photography, and spectacular landscapes.
Pro Tip: Bring binoculars so you can get some good views when on the cruise or scenic drive. We like our digital binoculars so we can get great pictures too.
13. Mammoth Lakes Basin, California
The Mammoth Lakes Basin is a fantastic destination for travelers who want to combine mountain adventures with lake activities. Five beautiful lakes are tucked into the Eastern Sierra Nevada, surrounded by mountains and wilderness.
Spend the day swimming, fishing, kayaking, paddleboarding, or boating, then head out on one of the area’s many hiking trails. More than 100 miles of trails surround Mammoth Lakes, including portions of the famous John Muir Trail.
Several campgrounds are located in the basin, while the nearby town of Mammoth Lakes provides hotels, restaurants, and other amenities.
Best for: Hiking, kayaking, fishing, camping, and mountain scenery.
14. Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho
Surrounded by forested mountains, Lake Pend Oreille near Sandpoint is one of Idaho’s most beautiful lake destinations. It’s Idaho’s largest lake and one of the deepest lakes in the United States, reaching depths of more than 1,100 feet.
The lake offers opportunities for swimming, paddling, boating, fishing, and sightseeing cruises. Nearby Farragut State Park provides additional hiking trails and outdoor recreation.
Sandpoint makes a convenient home base with restaurants, shopping, museums, spas, and places to stay.
Best for: Mountain scenery, boating, paddling, fishing, and peaceful getaways.
15. Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Lake Coeur d’Alene combines beautiful scenery with the amenities of a lively resort town.
The lake is known for its deep-blue water, forested shoreline, and excellent fishing. Anglers can try their luck for rainbow trout, kokanee salmon, largemouth bass, and other species. You can also take a lake cruise or try something a little unusual: scuba diving to see underwater steamboat wrecks and sunken Model T Fords.
When you’re ready to leave the water behind, explore the city’s waterfront restaurants, shops, galleries, shoreline trails and a golf course with a floating green. Pamper yourself at the Coeur d’Alene resort or enjoy one of the many other hotels in town.
Best for: Fishing, boating, couples, waterfront dining, and active vacations.
How to Choose the Best Lake Vacation for You
With so many incredible lake destinations around the country, choosing one can be almost as difficult as choosing which ice cream flavor to order.
Think about what you actually want to do:
For serious water sports: Lake Tahoe, Lake Powell, Lake Havasu, and Lake of the Ozarks are excellent choices.
For mountain scenery: Lake Tahoe, Lake Chelan, Mammoth Lakes, and Lake Pend Oreille stand out.
For a romantic getaway: Geneva Lake, Lake Champlain, and Lake Coeur d’Alene offer plenty of opportunities to slow down and enjoy the scenery.
For families: Lake George, Bear Lake, Lake of the Ozarks, and Lake Havasu have plenty of activities beyond simply sitting by the water.
For scenic drives: Crater Lake, Lake Tahoe, Mammoth Lakes, and the Finger Lakes are great choices.
And if you’re traveling with your dog, don’t forget to check the local rules before booking. Not every beach, trail, campground, or boat operator allows dogs.
Final Thoughts: Your Perfect Lake Vacation Is Waiting
You don’t have to head to the coast to have an incredible water vacation.From the turquoise waters of Bear Lake and the crystal-clear beauty of Lake Tahoe to the red-rock canyons of Lake Powell and the forested shores of Lake Pend Oreille, America’s lakes offer an incredible variety of landscapes and experiences.
Whether your perfect getaway means spending all day on a boat, hiking mountain trails in the morning and swimming in the afternoon, exploring a charming lake town, or simply sitting on a dock watching the sunset, there’s a lake vacation out there for you.
So, grab the swimsuit, pack the sunscreen, and start planning. Your next great American lake vacation might be closer than you think.
We love sharing tips and information we learn along the way to help you plan your next vacation. We hope to inspire you to find your adventures, have lots of fun and make many memories.