USA TODAY 10Best
10 best lakes in the US for unforgettable water sports experiences
Best Lake for Water Sports (2024)
If you love water sports, then you probably know the United States is home to some amazing lakes that are hubs for aquatic adventures. Whether you enjoy kayaking, jet skiing, fishing, or wakeboarding, there's a lake for you.
To find the best lakes for sporting adventures, we asked an expert panel to nominate their top picks, then readers voted for their favorites. Here are the 10 best lakes in the U.S. for water sports.
- Lake Mendota - Wisconsin
- Lake Champlain - New York and Vermont
- Lake Superior - Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin
- Big Bear Lake - California
- Lake Havasu - Arizona and California
- Lake Martin - Alabama
- Lake Michigan - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin
- Lake of the Ozarks - Missouri
- Lake Murray - South Carolina
- Lake Erie - New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania
Photo courtesy of g-stockstudio // Getty Images
No. 10:
It may not be the largest lake on the planet, but Lake Mendota is home to its fair share of outdoor adventure opportunities for visitors to enjoy. While classic lakefront activities like swimming and fishing are popular during the warmer months, the fun doesn't stop when the lake freezes over, with local Madison residents taking up ice fishing and ice hockey.
Photo courtesy of Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism (Lake Placid)
No. 9:
The stunning natural beauty of both New York and Vermont are on full display across Lake Champlain, a natural water feature that's been a fixture of the landscape for thousands of years. Using the charming town of Burlington as a base, newcomers can get accustomed to the Champlain shore atop a rental kayak or spend their day further out on a boat, enjoying water skiing, tubing, or wakeboarding.
Photo courtesy of dlewis33 // Getty Images
No. 8:
Spanning from Minnesota to Michigan to Ontario, the king-sized Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake on the planet by surface area, measuring in at a mind-blowing 31,700 square miles. Given its size, it should come as no surprise that Lake Superior is a paradise for water sports, with tourists flocking to destinations like Duluth and Marquette to kayak, stand-up paddleboard, and fish to their hearts' content.
Photo courtesy of Visit Big Bear
No. 7:
From polar plunges to inner tubing, Big Bear Lake is a treasure trove for aquatic adventure in the Golden State. During warmer months, the water's surface is brimming with jet skis, canoes, and catamarans as visitors take advantage of the sun, while winter brings the opportunity for trout fishing — just as long as the lake hasn't frozen over, that is.
Photo courtesy of Go Lake Havasu Tourism Bureau
No. 6:
Though Lake Havasu was only formed about a century ago, this sprawling reservoir has gained abundant acclaim for its outdoor adventure opportunities, drawing visitors from both Arizona and California. In addition to boating, stand-up paddleboarding, and kayaking, fishing is a particularly popular activity, thanks to the lake's high concentration of both largemouth and smallmouth bass.
Photo courtesy of Lake Martin Tourism Association
No. 5:
Located northeast of Montgomery, 44,000-acre Lake Martin held the honor of being the planet's largest artificial body of water after its creation in the 1920s. Today, the reservoir draws eager outdoor adventurers for fishing, water skiing, and boating, while the area's wealth of restaurants and bars serve as the perfect nightcap after a long day spent on the water.
Photo courtesy of Pure Michigan
No. 4:
Lake Michigan is best known for its many shoreside cities — Chicago being a particularly famous example — but in addition to urban life, the lake also serves as a treasure trove for aquatic adventure opportunities. Inner tubing and kayaking are two particularly leisurely activities to take advantage of, while a parasailing excursion is perfect for getting your adrenaline pumping high over the Michigan coastline.
Photo courtesy of Lake of the Ozarks CVB Funlake.com
No. 3:
Missouri's Ozarks are renowned for their spectacular natural beauty, and the aptly named Lake of the Ozarks is a top destination for some warm-weather outdoor adventure. There are over 1,100 miles of shoreline to explore across the region, inviting visitors to swim, kayak, and even cruise up to Party Cove, an iconic destination that's become famous for its raucous gatherings.
Photo courtesy of Capital City/Lake Murray Country
No. 2:
On a sweltering summer day, Lake Murray serves as a particularly inviting refuge from the South Carolina heat. During the weekend, Columbia residents gather along its banks to fish for striped bass or set off on a leisurely sailboat cruise, while the lake's surrounding rivers are perfect for a relaxing float atop an inner tube with a drink in hand.
Photo courtesy of Shores & Islands Ohio
No. 1:
From Toledo to Buffalo, Lake Erie is loaded with historic cities all along its shores — and this large concentration of settlements has fostered an impressive outdoor adventure scene for aquatic explorers. A paradise for fishing in particular, this sprawling water feature is packed full of bass, salmon, trout, and a wealth of other marine animals, and as an added bonus, there's no shortage of fascinating shipwrecks for divers to explore.
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
The Experts
Angelica Talan
Angelica Talan is the founder & editor of two... Read More
Angelica Talan is the founder & editor of two popular Washington, D.C. based blogs, Angelica In The City and Clarendon Moms. She has written articles for Arlington Magazine, DUN magazine and has been featured on several Washington, D.C. based television news channels to share family travel tips. A passionate fly fishing enthusiast, Angelica is one of the current brand ambassadors for TakeMeFishing.org and a brand ambassador for the Trout Routes an app dedicated to making fly fishing more accessible and a brand ambassador for Fishewear, a women’s line of fly fishing clothing and accessories based out of Alaska. Angelica has served over three years as the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Liason for United Women On The Fly and is excited to continue to connect with others in the great outdoors and to be a source of positive inspiration for those interested in learning to fly fish. You can connect with her on Instagram, TikTok and X.
Angelica Talan
Angelica Talan is the founder & editor of two popular Washington, D.C. based blogs, Angelica In The City and Clarendon Moms. She has written articles for Arlington Magazine, DUN magazine and has been featured on several Washington, D.C. based television news channels to share family travel tips. A passionate fly fishing enthusiast, Angelica is one of the current brand ambassadors for TakeMeFishing.org and a brand ambassador for the Trout Routes an app dedicated to making fly fishing more accessible and a brand ambassador for Fishewear, a women’s line of fly fishing clothing and accessories based out of Alaska. Angelica has served over three years as the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Liason for United Women On The Fly and is excited to continue to connect with others in the great outdoors and to be a source of positive inspiration for those interested in learning to fly fish. You can connect with her on Instagram, TikTok and X.
Jamie Davis Smith
Jamie is an attorney, writer and photographer. She... Read More
Jamie is an attorney, writer and photographer. She was born with deeply ingrained wanderlust and has visited 45 countries and counting. She often brings her children along for the adventure and is passing her love of travel on to the next generation. Jamie has written for Insider, Fodor's Travel, Yahoo, the Huffington Post, the Washington Post, Viator and Reviewed among many other publications. Jamie is from Philadelphia and now lives in Washington, DC, where she takes advantage of everything the region has to offer. Jamie can be reached at jamiesmithwrites@gmail.com and can be found on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
Jamie Davis Smith
Jamie is an attorney, writer and photographer. She was born with deeply ingrained wanderlust and has visited 45 countries and counting. She often brings her children along for the adventure and is passing her love of travel on to the next generation. Jamie has written for Insider, Fodor's Travel, Yahoo, the Huffington Post, the Washington Post, Viator and Reviewed among many other publications. Jamie is from Philadelphia and now lives in Washington, DC, where she takes advantage of everything the region has to offer. Jamie can be reached at jamiesmithwrites@gmail.com and can be found on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.
Kristen Lummis
Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in... Read More
Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in Western Colorado. The mom of two now-adult sons, Lummis broke into her writing career through snowsports, founding the website braveskimom.com in 2010 to provide family-friendly tips across a full range of winter topics. And while skiing is Lummis’ first true outdoor love, she grew up camping, hiking, biking, kayaking and traveling extensively with her family — pursuits that she continues today. She prides herself on unbiased opinions, based on activities and destinations she’s visited and experienced. Lummis is honored to be considered an “expert” for 10Best. Follow her @braveskimom on Instagram and Facebook.
Kristen Lummis
Kristen Lummis is a freelance writer based in Western Colorado. The mom of two now-adult sons, Lummis broke into her writing career through snowsports, founding the website braveskimom.com in 2010 to provide family-friendly tips across a full range of winter topics. And while skiing is Lummis’ first true outdoor love, she grew up camping, hiking, biking, kayaking and traveling extensively with her family — pursuits that she continues today. She prides herself on unbiased opinions, based on activities and destinations she’s visited and experienced. Lummis is honored to be considered an “expert” for 10Best. Follow her @braveskimom on Instagram and Facebook.
Marla Cimini
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion... Read More
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion for travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures! An avid globetrotter and guidebook writer, she has covered topics such as the Hawaiian islands (including food trends and luxury beachfront resorts), as well as European getaways and global destinations. Her articles have appeared in many publications worldwide, including USA Today. Marla lives in New Jersey (Philadelphia area) and is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California, and often covers those destinations. Her travel website is: www.marlacimini.com
Marla Cimini
Marla is an award-winning writer with a passion for travel, music, surfing and culinary adventures! An avid globetrotter and guidebook writer, she has covered topics such as the Hawaiian islands (including food trends and luxury beachfront resorts), as well as European getaways and global destinations. Her articles have appeared in many publications worldwide, including USA Today. Marla lives in New Jersey (Philadelphia area) and is a frequent visitor to Hawaii and Southern California, and often covers those destinations. Her travel website is: www.marlacimini.com
Molly O'Brien
Molly O'Brien is a Los Angeles-based freelance... Read More
Molly O'Brien is a Los Angeles-based freelance travel journalist, who writes and edits for a variety of international travel and lifestyle outlets including Fodor’s Travel, Travel + Leisure, and Business Insider among others. She's lived on both coasts from Massachusetts to California and has so far made Greater Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, San Luis Obispo, Barcelona, and Los Angeles her home. Molly earned her journalism degree at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on the Central Coast of California and since then has worked professionally in the fields of hospitality and travel PR and most recently, as a freelance travel writer and editor. Molly especially enjoys covering feature profiles about interesting people doing interesting things such as chocolate making, beekeeping, wing-walking, and interesting destinations like under-the-radar wine spots, the best brewery towns, and lesser-known ski destinations. She also loves to write about a boutique hotel with a good story. When she's not writing, Molly enjoys spending time outdoors, exploring new coffee shops and breweries, and of course, traveling. Her favorite city in the world (so far) is Barcelona, Spain, but she loves traveling anywhere that offers sunny weather and ample hiking opportunities. She loves spending time in the mountains, enjoys connecting with nature through camping and glamping adventures, and is always up for learning about the world through fun, immersive experiences (and then sharing those stories!). You can connect with Molly here: Instagram: @metropolitanmolly Twitter: @Molly_A_OBrien Facebook: @MetropolitanMolly LinkedIn: @mollyannobrien www.metropolitanmolly.com
Molly O'Brien
Molly O'Brien is a Los Angeles-based freelance travel journalist, who writes and edits for a variety of international travel and lifestyle outlets including Fodor’s Travel, Travel + Leisure, and Business Insider among others. She's lived on both coasts from Massachusetts to California and has so far made Greater Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, San Luis Obispo, Barcelona, and Los Angeles her home. Molly earned her journalism degree at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on the Central Coast of California and since then has worked professionally in the fields of hospitality and travel PR and most recently, as a freelance travel writer and editor. Molly especially enjoys covering feature profiles about interesting people doing interesting things such as chocolate making, beekeeping, wing-walking, and interesting destinations like under-the-radar wine spots, the best brewery towns, and lesser-known ski destinations. She also loves to write about a boutique hotel with a good story. When she's not writing, Molly enjoys spending time outdoors, exploring new coffee shops and breweries, and of course, traveling. Her favorite city in the world (so far) is Barcelona, Spain, but she loves traveling anywhere that offers sunny weather and ample hiking opportunities. She loves spending time in the mountains, enjoys connecting with nature through camping and glamping adventures, and is always up for learning about the world through fun, immersive experiences (and then sharing those stories!). You can connect with Molly here: Instagram: @metropolitanmolly Twitter: @Molly_A_OBrien Facebook: @MetropolitanMolly LinkedIn: @mollyannobrien www.metropolitanmolly.com
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original,... Read More
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
10Best Editors
USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.
