States

Swimming Lakes by State

Find the best lakes for a swim in all 50 states. Pick a state on the map or from the list to see its lakes, beaches and how to get there.

Tap a highlighted state to see its swimming lakes.

All states A–Z

Every state guide covers the top swimming lakes, the nearest towns and airports, and what to know before you go.

    America’s Lakes by the Numbers

    A few facts about the lakes you’ll be swimming in.

    3 million+lakes in Alaska
    31,700 mi²Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake on Earth
    1,943 ftCrater Lake, the deepest lake in the US
    6.4 millionvisitors to Lake Mead in 2024

    Swim Collections

    Not sure where to start? Pick the kind of swim you’re after.

    Romantic Swims

    Sunset dips, quiet coves and lakeside lodges for two.

    Family Days Out

    Sandy beaches, gentle shallows and lifeguarded swim areas.

    Swims with a View

    Mountain lakes where the scenery is half the reason to go.

    Hidden Gems

    Remote, quiet lakes most visitors never find.

    Biggest, Most and Most Concentrated

    How the states and their lakes compare.

    Biggest Lakes

    Surface area, square miles

    • Lake Superior31,700
    • Lake Huron23,000
    • Lake Michigan22,300
    • Lake Erie9,910
    • Lake Ontario7,340
    • Lake of the Woods1,679
    • Iliamna Lake, AK1,014
    • Great Salt Lake, UT950
    • Lake Oahe, ND/SD685
    • Lake Okeechobee, FL662

    Shared lakes are measured as the whole lake.

    Most Lakes

    Each state’s official count

    Alaska is off the chart with 3 million+ lakes, most of them unnamed.
    • Wisconsin~15,000
    • Minnesota11,842
    • Michigan11,000+

    States count differently: Minnesota counts lakes of 10+ acres, Wisconsin about 2+ acres. Minnesota’s “Land of 10,000 Lakes” undersells it.

    Most Concentrated

    Lakes per 1,000 mi² of land

    Alaska leads with about 5,257. Here are the lower 48.
    • Florida662
    • Georgia568
    • North Carolina496
    • Minnesota373
    • Pennsylvania320
    • New York315
    • Michigan281
    • Wisconsin278
    • Delaware277

    Lakes and reservoirs of 1 hectare (about 2.5 acres) or more.

    Lake Records

    The largest, deepest, clearest and busiest.

    Largest Lake

    Lake Superior

    Holds about 10% of the world’s surface fresh water, and it’s the coldest Great Lake.

    Largest Entirely in the US

    Lake Michigan

    The only Great Lake wholly inside the US, bordered by four states.

    Deepest and Clearest

    Crater Lake, Oregon

    A volcanic caldera with no rivers flowing in. Swimming is allowed in one spot, and the water stays cold all summer.

    Famous for Clear Water

    Lake Tahoe, CA/NV

    About 1,645 ft deep and North America’s largest alpine lake.

    Most Visited

    Lake Mead, NV/AZ

    The largest man-made reservoir in the US and one of the busiest National Park Service sites every year.

    Top State for Overseas Visitors

    Florida

    9.3 million overseas visitors in 2025, just ahead of New York and California.

    Lakes on the Big Screen

    Real swimming lakes you’ve already seen in the movies.

    Dirty Dancing (1987)

    Lake Lure & Mountain Lake

    North Carolina and Virginia stood in for the Catskills.

    On Golden Pond (1981)

    Squam Lake, NH

    The cottage on “Golden Pond” sits on Squam’s shore.

    What About Bob? (1991)

    Smith Mountain Lake, VA

    Set on Lake Winnipesaukee, but filmed in Virginia.

    The Godfather Part II (1974)

    Lake Tahoe, CA/NV

    Home of the Corleone family’s lakeside compound.

    Sources: National Park Service; National Travel and Tourism Office, 2025 Survey of International Air Travelers; Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan Departments of Natural Resources; LAGOS-US lake database via WorldAtlas.