Calling all lake lovers – America is the perfect vacation spot for you! Some of the most beautiful lakes in the world are born in this country, whether it’s America’s deepest crater lake hidden in Oregon’s Cascade Mountains or the ultra-blue waters of Lake Tahoe, which straddles the California-Nevada state line in the Sierra Nevada mountains. But which states have the most lakes? Which corners of the country have so much water that you can’t apply for a fishing license?
Well, we decided to find out. To compile our list, we used data from a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study of major U.S. lakes to rank the areas with the most lakes in the country. The study filtered out small lakes and ponds and included only bodies of water with a surface area greater than 10 square miles. We took these metrics as a base and added an additional lake for each of the Great Lakes that bordered one of our states, a process that had little effect on the last five lakes but did change the order in which they appeared.
The result is that, in some places, water vacations are sure to cause a stir. Whether you plan to swim in the clear waters of Minnesota’s lush Northwoods or cruise Alaska’s scenic lakeside trails, you can’t go wrong.
Read more: This picturesque train ride across America is a coast-to-coast journey from skyscrapers to bays
many lakes in alaska
A brown bear and his family at an Alaskan lake – N8turegrl/Getty Images
No other state has as many lakes as Alaska. According to the USGS, the Last Frontier is home to more than 90 lakes 10 square miles or larger. However, other estimates that do not include the USGS size limit suggest the number is much higher. This vast region of glaciers and tundra is home to as many as 3 million natural lakes, most of which are unnamed, according to the World Population Review, which draws on data from a range of sources including the United Nations and the U.S. Census Bureau.
But that’s not surprising. After all, Alaska is the largest state in the United States, covering 665,384 square miles, which means it’s more than twice the size of Texas. In addition, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game estimates that 40% of the surface water in the United States is located in Alaska. That’s a lot of water!
Many of the lakes in this northern land are quite remote. Take the bear-infested body of water in Clark Lake, a 45-mile stretch of water surrounded by volcanoes and glaciers. The effort required to appreciate Alaska’s beautiful lakes includes embarking on one of the most dangerous hikes in the United States, a stunning route from Chinitna Bay to Coho Salmon Creek. Access to the area is mainly achieved by small-wing aircraft. Other locations are more accessible, such as the birding haven of Goose Lake on the outskirts of Anchorage.
minnesota
Yellow canoe on a northern Minnesota lake – Dan Thornberg/Shutterstock
No list of the states with the most lakes in the United States would be complete without mentioning Minnesota. In addition to being known as the “North Star State,” this vast swath of the Midwest has another nickname: the “Land of 10,000 Lakes.” The truth is, there are many more lakes than that, with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reporting a total of 11,842 lakes in the region. Meanwhile, a USGS survey of larger lakes shows that if you include the Great Lakes, there are more than 40 larger bodies of water.
Some Minnesota lakes are pretty iconic. Take Lake Superior, for example, which is the largest of the five Great Lakes and the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. This behemoth occupies a large swath of Minnesota’s northwest border, with its coast stretching from the town of Duluth to the U.S.-Canada border 146 miles away. The Coast Route is actually a scenic byway on State Highway 61, where the rushing waters and forested campgrounds of Gooseberry Falls State Park meet the quirky pink stones of Iona’s Beach.
You don’t have to stray far from Minneapolis to enjoy Minnesota’s lakes. The bustling Twin Cities are located just 1.5 hours south of Mille Lacs Lake, the state’s second largest inland lake.
maine
A lake in Acadia National Park, Maine – Douglas Rissing/Getty Images
The bronze medal for most U.S. lakes goes to the gem of the East Coast, the Pine Tree State. While the official USGS survey lists 25 lakes larger than 10 square miles in this corner of the country, other numbers paint a waterier story. Yes, the University of Maine estimates there are nearly 6,000 individual lakes totaling nearly one million acres.
So, where to visit? It’s hard to say, but you won’t find what you want because there are quite a few standouts in the state. Megunticook Lake, the largest in Knox County at 1,300 acres, is a veritable center for rest and relaxation—summer fishing, swimming at the bay beaches, and hiking in the hemlock groves surrounding the riverbanks. It’s home to Maine’s deepest Lake Sebago, and boaters flock here during the warmer months to take in the views of the forested hills.
Of course, Maine also has saltier water. In fact, there are 3,500 miles of coastline that majestically meet the Atlantic Ocean. Swap the lake for the ocean and you can go whale watching at Bar Harbor or enjoy scenic sand and surf at Popham Beach, which has some of the best waves in the state.
michigan
Houses on Lake Michigan – Benedek/Getty Images
Motor City, cars, cherries – the great state of Michigan is known for many things. Freshwater should be up there, too, since the USGS reports there are about 20 lakes larger than 10 square miles in these areas, and Michigan estimates its total inland lakes to be closer to 11,000.
Just a glance at the map is enough to tell that this is a lake-dense corner of the U.S. state of Michigan, bisected by the Straits of Mackinac, with the Upper Peninsula to the north and the Lower Peninsula to the south. The Great Lakes happily impose themselves in all directions. Starting in the southeast, they fan out; first Lake Erie, then Lake Huron, Lake Superior, and finally the namesake Lake Michigan to the west. This geography has even spawned a local myth: It’s never more than 85 miles away from one of the Great Lakes.
Smaller lakes are also found in remote areas of Michigan. Torch Lake is known as one of the most beautiful lakes in the state, and its clear water has even led some to compare it to the Caribbean Sea. Visitors and locals alike rave about Higgins Lake, a sparkling glacier-formed lake with a state park offering camping, a boat launch, and beautiful oceanfront.
Florida
Grassy shores of a Florida lake – Bilanol/Getty Images
Florida is known as the “Sunshine State,” but it could also be called the “Water State” or the “Lake State.” What’s the reason? A U.S. Geological Survey survey counts 19 large lakes, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which manages the area’s wildlife, says there are as many as 7,500 lakes when including smaller bodies of water (those under 10 square miles).
The most obvious place to go is Lake County (the clue is in the name). It covers a region of central Florida that is home to as many as 1,000 lakes intertwined by river channels and occasional rolling hills. The southern part of the county is even home to the Clermont Chain of Lakes, which spreads out like a crown along the bend of the Palatracaha River. You get 17 lakes for the price of 1!
There’s also hiking, camping and wildlife activities in the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, a 21,000-acre water wonderland that spans two counties. Getting there means entering the headwaters of the iconic Everglades, home to sawgrass meadows and hammocks, and bald eagles and turtles can be seen in the surrounding nature preserve.
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