Clean, cool and calling your name—these are the best lakes for swimming in the USA
26 Best Lakes for Swimming in the U.S. This Summer
Updated on Jun. 12, 2025
Whitefish Lake
Location: Montana
Set at the base of the snow-capped Rockies in Northwestern Montana, sparkling Whitefish Lake is incredibly scenic. And whether you choose to join the crowd at City Beach in Whitefish (where you can also rent paddleboats) or take a solitary swim at Les Mason State Park, you won’t be entering a frigid zone: Whitefish Lake is shallow enough to warm up, making it one of the best lakes to swim in the U.S.
Rainy Lake
Location: Minnesota
Minnesota is the land of the 10,000 lakes, and it’s hard to pick a favorite. But if you’re visiting the state, stopping by Rainy Lake is a must. Two small beaches provide access to warm-ish water on this stunning lake, which is part of Voyageurs National Park’s chain of large interconnected lakes: Lake Kabetogama, Namakan Lake, Sand Point Lake and Crane Lake. The remote North Woods region is home to more than 50 species of mammals, including moose, wolves, bears and otters, who can often be seen playing in the water surrounding the Lake Kabetogama Visitor Center. After sundown, watch for the Northern Lights dancing in the sky.
Lake Michigan
Location: Wisconsin
Most beaches known for their clear water are set along vast oceans, but some, like Schoolhouse Beach in Wisconsin, feature lakes as clear as glass and allow mirror-like reflections of the tall pines that surround this peaceful patch of Great Lake real estate. Another unique feature: Instead of sand, the beach is covered in limestone rocks smoothed by centuries of exposure to wind, snow and ice.
Lake Jocassee
Location: South Carolina
Looking for a swimming lake near you? Speckled with islands and rimmed with waterfalls (even kids can swim under Wright Creek Falls as they tumble into the lake!), Lake Jocassee keeps its cool during South Carolina’s sultry summers. It’s less crowded than other lakes, thanks to a single public access point at Devil’s Fork State Park.
Lake Jocassee is particularly popular with scuba divers, who flock to the lake for its clean, clear water and unique sites, including a sunken Chinese junk, a cemetery and a basketball hoop.
Deep Creek Lake
Location: Maryland
Twisting and turning through Western Maryland, this man-made lake brims with coves perfect for dropping anchor and bobbing about in deep water. Kids can dig in the sand and jump off rocks at Deep Creek Lake State Park, which also has a Discovery Center that provides a home for injured owls, hawks and other birds of prey no longer capable of surviving in the wild.
Crater Lake
Location: Oregon
America’s deepest lake (with a depth of 1,943 feet, to be exact) is also its cleanest: Scientists believe that Crater Lake contains some of the purest water in the world. It’s also an otherworldly shade of blue, falling somewhere between sapphire and cobalt—the perfect hue to tempt you for a swim.
Though cold, as the average summer temperature of the surface water doesn’t get above 60 degrees, the lake is popular with swimmers cooling off after completing the mile-long hike to the access point.
Lake Erie
Location: Ohio
Halfway between Cleveland and Toledo, the southwestern shore of Lake Erie is a watery wonderland for lake lovers in search of the perfect swimming spot. Day-trippers can head to city beaches in mainland coastal villages such as Vermillion, Marblehead and Huron or Kelleys and Put-In-Bay Islands that offer access to the Great Lake.
There’s even a beach for adrenaline junkies: Cedar Point Beach, where visitors to Ohio’s famous amusement park can cool off after a spin on one of its 18 roller coasters (including the scariest one in the state).
Lake Santeetlah
Location: North Carolina
Like cool oases, southern mountain lakes lure the listless with the promise of refreshing water, pine-scented breezes and calming views. Set within a particularly unspoiled stretch of Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest, an old-growth forest outside the town of Robbinsville (with a tiny population of 620), Lake Santeetlah delivers all this and more, including campsites, hiking trails, a nearly undeveloped shoreline and one of the best lakes to swim in the USA.
Lake Ouachita
Location: Arkansas
Sometimes, at the end of a perfect day floating in a glistening blue swimming lake near you, nothing feels better than strolling into a modern, air-conditioned cabin, where cool drinks await in the fridge. Sound appealing? Then pack your beach towels and head to Lake Ouachita State Park, which offers cabin rentals on the shore of Arkansas’ largest lake.
Lake Martin
Location: Alabama
There’s a party on Lake Martin, and you’re invited. Attracting swimmers, boaters and jet-skiers from all over central Alabama, who rent lakefront homes in the various towns scattered around this massive body of water, Lake Martin is the place to go when you want to celebrate summer with your crew. Constructed in 1926, the reservoir, which covers 40,000 acres and encompasses 800 miles of shoreline, was once the largest man-made lake in the world.
Shavers Lake
Location: West Virginia
Supplying the water that, during the winter, is used to make snow at nearby Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort, Shavers Lake is a swimmer’s paradise during the summer. It comes complete with a sandy beach, paddleboards and kayaks, a swim platform and a floating inflatable challenge course that—if you’re lucky—will end with a big splash in the lake.
Table Rock Lake
Location: Missouri
Scuba divers looking for more than fish will find it at Table Rock Lake: The town of Oasis, submerged for nearly 60 years under 100 feet of water, is still surprisingly intact. The lake also hides a submerged grove of oaks and several wrecked boats. Though this may sound odd, it’s nothing compared to the creepiest things found in the ocean.
Above the surface, this bluer-than-blue lake is surrounded by a forest thick with dogwood and redbud trees that burst into flower each spring.
Lake Chelan
Location: Washington
Though it’s no longer the largest lake in Washington, Lake Chelan is surely the state’s most beautiful: cutting through the landscape like a cerulean sword, this long, narrow lake is rimmed with hills and offers views of the dramatic Northern Cascades. Swimmers will want to stick to the beaches along the lake’s southern shoreline, where, by midsummer, shallower water warms to comfortable temperatures.
Afterward, explore Stehekin, one of the region’s atmospheric towns. It’s at the northern end and is accessible only by air, water or foot and is home to a number of great wineries.
Lake George
Location: New York
Stretching 32 scenic miles from Lake George to Ticonderoga and cradled by emerald-green mountains, this sparkling lake is a swimmer’s dream. Families with kids flock to sandy shores in Lake George Village, Bolton Landing and Hague, while pups can splash freely at Dog Beach—just next door to the famously named Million Dollar Beach.
Lake McConaughy
Location: Nebraska
A swimming lake near you in Nebraska? You betcha! Just head to Lake McConaughy, near Ogallala, where, thanks to the state’s nearby sandhills, much of the lake’s 100 miles of shoreline does a spot-on impression of an ocean beach, complete with bright white sand and sparkling blue water. Affectionately called Lake Mac, this massive reservoir is also a top spot for boat surfing, fishing and building castles in the deep sand.
Lake Powell
Location: Arizona
If you love swimming in warm water, you’ll adore Lake Powell, where water temperatures regularly settle in at or above 80 degrees. It’s an otherworldly scene comprising sandstone canyon walls swirled in shades of red and tan, dramatic rock formations and flat-topped mesas.
Although you can’t swim near the lake’s many marinas, you’ll find plenty of places to cool off, like Lone Rock Beach and the Chains, or if you have a boat, anywhere you can pull up along the 1,900 or so miles of shoreline.
Squam Lake
Location: New Hampshire
If Squam Lake’s beckoning shoreline and placid water look familiar, you’re not dreaming: On Golden Pond was shot along the misty coastline of this gorgeous lake. Filled with coves and islands, Squam Lake is a swimmer’s dream. Not only is there always a quiet place to swim, but boats are limited to 40 mph during the day (and even slower at night), keeping the water calm and safe.
Norris Lake
Location: Tennessee
Bordered by huge swatches of undeveloped shoreline, this pine-rimmed swimming spot is popular with paddlers, equestrians, cyclists, hikers and swimmers but rarely feels crowded. Norris Lake is loaded with secluded spots perfect for a quiet dip. Keep your eyes peeled for deer, grouse, wild turkey and other wildlife.
Priest Lake
Location: Idaho
Dotted with tiny islands covered in spiky spruce, fir and pine trees and brimming with views of the snowy Selkirk Mountains, Priest Lake could just as easily be set in the Swiss Alps. Though swimming is permitted throughout this remote body of water, the quiet Upper Lake, which has restrictions on powerboats, offers a quieter experience and the chance to spot the mule deer, moose and elk that slip down to the water’s edge to drink.
Grand Lake
Location: Colorado
Set within Rocky Mountain Park, Colorado’s largest natural lake is also one of its most stunning, with sailboats silently slipping by against a backdrop of Mount Baldy and other towering peaks. Take a dip at Sandy Grand Lake Beach, an in-town strand surrounded by shops and cafes, or grab a kayak and head to one of the lake’s myriad coves.
Clear Lake
Location: Iowa
It’s hard not to envy the residents of Clear Lake, Iowa, because the town’s namesake lake is so accessible that anyone with a hankering for a quick dip needs only to stroll to one of the many public access points that line the shore and dive right in. Solitude-seekers in search of a more peaceful experience will find it just outside of town at dog-friendly McIntosh Woods State Park.
Echo Lake
Location: Maine
Though located less than 5 miles from Maine’s cliff-lined Atlantic coast, this small freshwater lake seems a world away. Set within the deep green of Acadia National Park, the lake often spends its morning hemmed in fog, which clears by the afternoon to reveal a wonderfully warm patch of blue that, due to a ban on boat engines larger than 10 hp, is blissfully quiet.
Lake Charlevoix
Location: Michigan
Separated from Lake Michigan by a narrow spit of land, Lake Charlevoix is calmer, more temperate and less windy than its mighty next-door neighbor. The charming small town of Charlevoix is a dreamy slice of Americana complete with a general store, quirky architecture and curving cycle paths. Ernest Hemingway was so enthralled by the area that he used it as the setting for his Nick Adams Stories.
Inks Lake
Location: Texas
Inks Lake isn’t just one of the best swimming lakes in the USA—it’s a gem tucked among rocky hills, shady hardwood forests and rolling terrain. Its real claim to fame? The Devil’s Waterhole, a not-so-secret swimming spot ringed by high cliffs. That alone is worth a trip, especially if you’re up for a cliff jump into the cool, blue water.
Lake Conasauga
Location: Georgia
Located near the summit of Grassy Mountain, Georgia’s highest-elevation lake is a spring-fed wonder surrounded by the tall pines and hemlocks of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. Swim at your leisure—no motorized watercraft are permitted—but bring your hiking boots as well so you can trek to the top of Grassy Mountain.
Walden Pond
Location: Massachusetts
Yes, the moniker is correct: Walden Pond really is a pond. And yes, there really is a difference between a pond and a lake. Still, it’s a worthy addition to this list: It offers up a sandy beach, forested shoreline with an easy walking path and a broad expanse of water. The deepest natural body of freshwater in Massachusetts, Walden Pond is popular with swimmers, kayakers and literary types looking to commune with nature the way Henry David Thoreau did in the 1840s. Don’t miss a stop at Thoreau’s single-room cabin—it’s near the shore and worth checking out before or after your day by the water.
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Sources:
- Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks: “Whitefish Lake State Park”
- South Carolina State Parks: “Devils Fork State Park”
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources: “Deep Creek Lake State Park”
- National Park Service: “Crater Lake – National Park Oregon”
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources: “Lake Erie Geology”
- Arkansas State Parks: “Lake Ouachita State Park”
- Sweet Home Alabama: “Lake Martin”
- Missouri State Parks: “Table Rock State Park”
- Washington State Parks: “Lake Chelan State Park”
- Town of Lake George: “Welcome to Lake George”
- Nebraska Games and Parks: “Lake McConaughy”
- National Park Service: “Glen Canyon – National Recreation Area AZ, UT”
- New Hampshire Lakes Region Tourism Association: “Squam Lake”
- Tennessee State Parks: “Norris Dam State Park”
- Idaho State Parks and Recreation: “Priest Lake State Park”
- Ohio Department of Development: “Grand Lake Region”
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources: “Clear Lake State Park”
- National Park Service: “Echo Lake”
- Texas Parks and Wildlife: “Inks Lake State Park”
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: “Lake Conasauga”
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: “Rainy Lake”
- National Park Service: “Walden Pond in the Walden Pond State Reservation”
