The 9 Prettiest Lakes in the USA

When it comes to beach days, the ocean gets all the glory—but you’d be remiss to sleep on America’s incredible and diverse lakes. Often the result of explosive volcanic activity—like Oregon’s Crater Lake, the leftover husk of what was once the mighty Mount Mazama—the lakes that dot the United States’ interior are stunning destinations for watersports like canoeing, kayaking, and swimming—or just enjoying the view.

Without further ado, here are some of the prettiest lakes in the USA—no matter where in the country you are or what activities you have in mind. And don’t worry: In each section, we’ll include tips for RVing to these lakes, as well as all the deets you need to plan the best trip ever. Let’s go!

1. Crater Lake, Oregon

When Mount Mazama erupted about 7,700 years ago, it didn’t just flow with lava—it completely collapsed. The result: The crown jewel of what is now known as Crater Lake National Park, whose titular lake is just shy of 1,950 feet deep, making it the deepest in the country (and the 11th deepest in the world). Important Note: If you’re reading these words in 2025, you’re in luck—and you’d better get packing quick! Starting next year, the park will be experiencing major rehabilitative closures, including the Cleetwood Cove Trail, that will keep visitors from accessing the water until 2029. In other words, if this beaut has been on your bucket list, it’s time to sneak it up to the forefront!

Planning Your Trip to Crater Lake 

There are a variety of options for staying inside Crater Lake National Park proper, including the historic Crater Lake Lodge as well as two campgrounds. However, of the two, only Mazama Campground is open to RVers, while Lost Creek Campground is for tent campers only. Staying in an Airbnb or hotel outside of the park is an option, but beware: Many of the nearest communities are about an hour away, and lines at the park entry gate can get long, even early in the morning. Here are the best RV campgrounds in the area to consider.

Crater Lake Travel Information

• Best time to visit: While summers are stunning, Crater Lake also looks beautiful ringed in frost—just be sure to get there before this year is out if you want to avoid the closures!
• How to get there: Crater Lake is about 70 miles from Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport (MFR), or more like a five-hour drive from Portland. (Fortunately, it’s a beautiful five hours!)
• Seasonal closures: As mentioned above, Crater Lake is about to see some sweeping rehabilitative closures, which is why if you want to go, it’s a good idea to consider going soon!
• Entry fees: Standard private vehicle entry fees range from $20 to $30 depending on the season, and include entry for all passengers for up to seven consecutive days.

2. Diablo Lake

Known by many as the best lake for endless turquoise views (not to mention ample rainbow and cutthroat trout) in Washington state’s North Cascades National Park, Diablo Lake is truly a sight to behold. A shining blue-green gem surrounded on all sides by steep and majestic mountain peaks, the water’s otherworldly quality is in part due to what’s known as glacial flour: tiny, sparkling particles of rock that make their way into the water as glaciers travel toward it over time, offering it a reflective, shimmering quality that can make you feel downright high off nothing but the beauty of nature itself. Whether you tackle the 7.5-mile Diablo Lake Trail to enjoy sweeping views all the way out and back, or stick to a shorter and more family-friendly route like Thunder Knob, there is truly no wrong way to enjoy this incredible body of water.

Planning Your Trip to Diablo Lake

North Cascades National Park is, like most any national park these days, pretty darn popular—which means if you want to stay on-site, you’d best be getting your plans in order months ahead of time. While many of the North Cascades campgrounds allow RVs, some of them do have size limits, and all of them have a tendency towards filling up early. You may be able to find dispersed campsites in the surrounding National Forest areas, but even these can get crowded—so check out these area RV campgrounds and make your reservations ASAP!

Diablo Lake Travel Information

• Best time to visit: To access all the trails, come in the short but bright summer window in this part of the country—between late June and August. September and October offer beautiful fall foliage and fewer crowds.
• How to get there: Seattle’s airport is about 120 miles southwest of North Cascades National Park—and there are plenty of excellent RV rentals in the area so you can get set up as soon as you land. From there, you’ll drive northeast along I-5 and WA-530.
• Seasonal closures: Because this area is prone to avalanches, wildfires and other unpredictable weather conditions, closures can happen at any time—so check the official NPS site to keep abreast of current conditions. Visitor Centers and other facilities are usually only open during the summer.
• Entry fees: While there’s no entry fee for North Cascades National Park, you may end up paying fees for parking, shuttles, or other transportation services inside and around the park.

3. Lake Superior

Lake Superior is one of those lakes that you’d swear was an ocean if you didn’t know better—and no matter where you’re accessing it from, you’re truly in for a treat. You could start at Minnesota’s Grand Portage State Park or take the ferry out from Houghton or Rock Harbor, Michigan to Isle Royale National Park—or enjoy the painted shoreline caves at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. No matter your point of entry, you’ll be glimpsing one of the prettiest lakes in the USA, or anywhere for that matter—not to mention the largest freshwater lake not just in our country, but the world. Lake Superior alone holds 10% of the Earth’s surface freshwater—which is to say, at least some of the water you’ve drunk in your time has lived in this lake for a while. Pretty wild, right?

Planning Your Trip to Lake Superior

Because there are so many places from which to explore this lake, there are just as many options for “where to stay on a trip to Lake Superior,” whether it’s a hotel in Duluth, Minnesota or a campground near Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. There are also a variety of free campgrounds in the area, though not all of them may be suited for RVs (and none will offer hookups or amenities). Here are some top campgrounds to choose from near Pictured Rocks, Duluth, and Isle Royale—for starters.

Lake Superior Travel Information

• Best time to visit: You’ll find favorable weather in most areas between June and October—though if you’re feeling adventurous (and have enough layers), visiting in winter means opportunities for ice-fishing and other one-of-a-kind adventures.
• How to get there: Because the lake is so large, “how to get there” really depends on where you’re going. Some of the airports closest to the lake include Duluth International Airport (DLH), Marquette Sawyer Regional Airport (MQT), and Thunder Bay International Airport (YQT).
• Seasonal closures: The lake is too large to be owned by any one property or governance, and so it does not close as a whole—though during the winter months, some facilities in the various state parks and other preserves that surround it are likely to see closures.
• Entry fees: These, too, depend on where you’re going—but Isle Royale, for example, charges a $7 per day entry fee, whereas entry to Grand Portage State Park is free.

4. Caddo Lake

Surrounded by tall trees dripping with Spanish moss and reaching its fingers out into neighboring Texas and Louisiana, Caddo Lake spans some 25,400 acres and boasts the largest cypress forest not just in the United States, but in the world. It’s also one of the only natural lakes in a landscape (Texas) that is dotted by manmade bodies of water. Caddo Lake is also a beloved destination for paddlers, fishermen, and even hiking in nearby preserved wildernesses (like Caddo Lake State Park). Privately offered bayou tours make the lake’s swampy and mysterious atmosphere accessible to just about anyone, while more experienced adventurers will be happy to take to its waters themselves.

Planning Your Trip to Caddo Lake

Texas’s Caddo Lake State Park is a great launching point for many RVers; though the campground is relatively rustic, it does offer water hookups and can accommodate RVs up to 65 feet in length. Free camping is also available in the Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area, though campers must possess a $12 permit to recreate on those lands. 

Caddo Lake Travel Information

• Best time to visit: The spring months between March and May offer mild temperatures and teeming flora, which means many visitors will enjoy paddling and setting out for wildlife viewing during this time. Fall’s foliage offers another incentive for the other shoulder season, while summer can be extremely hot and humid and during winter, nearby facilities may have truncated hours.
• How to get there: The closest major city to Caddo Lake is Shreveport, Louisiana, though campers could also take a longer drive from Dallas.
• Seasonal closures: While there are no ongoing seasonal closures, Caddo Lake State Park does close some of its facilities from time to time for renovation and repair, so check the website before making your plans.
• Entry fees: Caddo Lake State Park charges an entry fee of $4 per adult per day, though kids 12 and under get in for free. A Texas State Park Pass gets you into all the Texas state parks for an entire year for $70.

5. Lake Tahoe

Few American destinations can approach the dynamic fame of Lake Tahoe, which is beloved both for its neighboring slopes (which winter-sports enthusiasts take to on skis and snowboards during the winter months) and the lake itself, which offers a stunning and serene background for paddling, fishing, and even snorkeling and SCUBA diving without having to hike all the way to an ocean. First formed more than two million years ago, Lake Tahoe is the second-deepest in the country, second only to—you guessed it—Crater Lake in Oregon. And given that it sits more than a mile above sea level, it’s also the largest alpine lake in North America.

Planning Your Trip to Lake Tahoe

Straddling the border between California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is another one where “how to get there” depends a lot on where, exactly, you’re going. Some worthwhile starting places include Cave Rock State Park on the Nevada side or Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park along California’s westerly shoreline. There are, of course, plenty of lodges and hotels along the rim of the lake as well, along with plenty of private RV camping accommodations.

Lake Tahoe Travel Information

• Best time to visit: Lake Tahoe is truly a year-round destination, depending on what you’re planning to do—but for those eager to take to the water, we recommend the summer months.
• How to get there: Tucked deep into the lands between eastern California and western Nevada, Lake Tahoe takes some dedication to get to. While it does have its own smaller airport, Reno or Sacramento may be your best bets for a larger hub.
• Seasonal closures: Many campgrounds in the area are only open during the summer months, since heavy winter snowfall can make some of the roads in the area impassable. Winter can also bring truncated hours or closures for local businesses and facilities.
• Entry fees: These depend on where along the lake you’re headed—though interagency passes work in most parts of the Tahoe National Forest.

6. Lake George

As soon as you visit Lake George, you’ll understand exactly why it’s sometimes called the Queen of American Lakes—and why it serves as the unofficial backyard destination for everyone who calls New York City home. With clear enough waters to allow you to see up to 30 feet into its depths, this spring-fed lake is one of the best lakes for those who live in the densely populated reaches of the Northeastern United States to get away from it all, whether that means sipping tea along the lake-shore, jet-skiing on its surface, or taking a historic steamboat cruise. 

Planning Your Trip to Lake George

For most, the first port of call at Lake George is the New York city of the same name, where nearby Lake George Beach gives you a stunning panorama of the lake, surrounded as it is by mountains. Along with nearby RV camping options, there’s also the expanse of Adirondack State Park to consider to the west, with more than 6 million acres of wilderness to explore and discover.

Lake George Travel Information

• Best time to visit: The summer is high tourist season—but also the sunniest and loveliest. However, if you bring a jacket, shoulder season can reduce crowds and prices (and still offer once-in-a-lifetime views).
• How to get there: Lake George is sandwiched about midway between Albany, New York and Burlington, Vermont—both of which are great cities to find an RVshare rental to take to your final destination.
• Seasonal closures: Like any lake this far north, the winter months will bring some closures—and truncated hours for facilities that do remain open.
• Entry fees: While there’s no one park or governance issuing an entry fee, you may need to pay for parking or other transportation services.

7. Lake Clark

Truly wild adventurers will enjoy a trip all the way to Alaska’s Lake Clark, which is safeguarded as part of the greater Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. Known in the Dena’ina language as Qizhjeh Vena—”the place where people gather,” this glacial lake, which often reflects its surroundings in pure, stunning technicolor, is some 40 miles long and five miles wide, with a depth that reaches over 1,000 feet in some places. Along with the mirror-like surface of the lake itself, visitors make this trek to enjoy the wildlife that call the area home, including grizzly bears and sockeye salmon. But be warned: there are no roads into Lake Clark State Park, so only the most committed adventurers will make it.

Planning Your Trip to Lake Clark

Situated due west of the Kenai peninsula—taking up just about all of the distance between Anchorage and Homer—Lake Clark is only accessible via chartered bush plane. Which is to say, if you want to stay in Lake Clark National Park, you’ll need to carry everything you need with you on your back. Nearby developed communities like Homer and Anchorage can serve as great home bases—and both have excellent nearby RV parks to choose from.

Lake Clark Travel Information

• Best time to visit: This untouched wilderness is truly only accessible when the weather allows, and in Alaska, the weather is highly variable. The NPS talks about the fact that all visitors should be well informed about their trip parameters, as well as giving themselves an extra few days on either side of their planned travel to account for any unexpected weather. If you do want to visit in winter, you may need to arrive in a plane outfitted with skis.
• How to get there: Lake Clark is only accessible via chartered bush plane.
• Seasonal closures: Lake Clark’s Port Alsworth Visitor Center is closed between September and May.
• Entry fees: There is no entry fee for Lake Clark State Park, though you will need to pay for transport costs (such as hiring a bush plane charter).

8. Jenny Lake

A perfect blue hole that lies at the foot of the Grand Tetons, Jenny Lake first popped into being some 12,000 years ago around the time of the last glacial maximum. This lake is well known for its knockout views, especially since its clear, alpine surface reflects the mountains that surround it. It’s the perfect place for a serene, waterside relaxation session after a more rough-and-tumble or rugged mountain adventure in the surrounding wildernesses.

Planning Your Trip to Jenny Lake

Jenny Lake is often an add-on destination for visitors to Grand Teton National Park or Yellowstone National Park—or both. (After all, if you’re going to make your way out to this big-sky part of the country, you might as well spend enough time to see it all.) Both Grand Teton and Yellowstone offer RV-friendly camping, including some full-hookup sites, though as is always true of national park properties, reservations fill up quickly, so be sure to get on the books as early as possible. You can also explore surrounding BLM lands for disperse camping options, but you may have to keep your fingers crossed since many of those sites are first-come, first-served.

Jenny Lake Travel Information

• Best time to visit: Late spring through early summer is prime time at this beautiful lake—with wildflowers marking the start of the season in May and fall foliage marking its end in September.
• How to get there: Visitors can head due north from Jackson, Wyoming to this stunning destination—or tack it onto a trip to one of the above-mentioned national parks.
• Seasonal closures: Many of the facilities surrounding Jenny Lake, including campgrounds, close during the winter months due to inclement weather.
• Entry fees: Both Yellowstone and Grand Teton charge a fee of $35 per private vehicle, which gets all passengers into the park for seven consecutive days. 

9. Lake Powell

Northern Arizona isn’t exactly known for watersports—but Lake Powell cuts a gorgeous blue thread through the surrounding red canyonlands. A reservoir on the Colorado River, Lake Powell is one of the first ports of call for anyone looking to get wet and wild in the American southwest, with popular activities ranging from boating and jetskiing to paddleboarding, swimming, and simply relaxing along its beaches. Fishers with the right license can enjoy reeling in striped bass, largemouth bass, and catfish among others, and it’s all within an easy drive of once-in-a-lifetime destination sites like Horseshoe Bend and Antelope Canyon—not to mention Grand Canyon National Park.

Planning Your Trip to Lake Powell

From Rainbow Bridge Navajo Monument to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and in all the wide-open spaces between, there are plenty of amazing off-the-beaten-path camping opportunities around Lake Powell, especially for campers willing to rough it. (Even if you’re not, you can check out these well-appointed Arizona RV campgrounds.)

Lake Powell Travel Information

• Best time to visit: School may be out during the summer, but so is the hot Arizona sun—which makes spring and fall the best times to visit this particular body of water
• How to get there: Lake Powell straddles the border of Arizona and Utah and is close to the city of Page. If you’re flying in, your closest major hub might be either Las Vegas or Salt Lake City.
• Seasonal closures: While there are no standing closures, some parts of the park may close if water levels fall below certain thresholds or temperatures sore above a given indication.
• Entry fees: The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area specifically requires a $30 entry fee per vehicle, which gets you in for seven consecutive days.

These are just eight of the incredible lakes to explore in the U.S. this summer—and beyond. From Crater Lake to the Great Lakes to Tahoe and beyond, we hope you enjoy the one-of-a-kind adventure that is RV camping in one of these lake destinations!