Growing up on the east coast, I always considered myself lucky that the ocean was just a few hours away. Like many families in the Mid-Atlantic area, our yearly ritual was taking a beach vacation to nearby Delaware, so it was easy for me to assume that the best water vacations had to be near the ocean. Then I found myself reading more and more about the many scenic lakes scattered throughout the USA. When this blog post was originally published back in 2015, I had been inspired by an article that highlighted some of the beautiful beaches on the Great Lakes. While we still haven’t taken that Great Lakes beach to beach road trip yet, over the years we’ve had the chance to explore a few other lakes. Here’s five places to consider for a summer lake vacation, including a few accessible by car from the DC area, and some that are still on my USA travel bucket list!
*This post was originally published in April, 2015; updated May, 2022 Table of Contents Virginia
Tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia, Smith Mountain Lake is a popular spot for a family lake vacation. With over 500 miles of shoreline, there are plenty of vacation rental choices,including many houses with dock and lake access. Kids will love all the available water activities, including fishing, paddle boarding, water skiing, tubing, and swimming. Smith Mountain Lake State Park offers hiking trails along with guarded beaches for swimming during the summer months. If you prefer to sleep on the water, Parrot Cove Boat Rentals offers houseboat rentals for 3 or 7 day excursions, giving you the opportunity to explore over 20,000 acres of the lake and find your own quiet cove to anchor. We spent 3 days on a houseboat on Smith Mountain Lake several years ago, and loved having the scenic lake as our front porch.
Another spot in Virginia for an easy lake getaway from the DC area is Lake Gaston, which straddles the Virginia/North Carolina border. Fishing, boating, swimming, and relaxing can easily be found on this 20,000 acre lake, with over 350 miles of shoreline. I still have fond memories of the gorgeous fall weekend we spent here with a group of friends and relaxing by the fire pit in the evenings with the lake as our backdrop.
Maryland
Head to the mountains of Western Maryland for another popular long weekend and summer lake vacation spot frequented by those in the DC area-Deep Creek Lake. Although known for year round fun, the lake comes alive in the summer with water activities, including boating, swimming, and kayaking to name a few. Growing up, my husband spent many family summer vacations at the lake, fishing, water skiing, horseback riding, and exploring in the woods. Now, in addition to all those popular summer activities, visitors can also spend time at the man-made, mountaintop white-water course at Adventure Sports Center International, which offers rock climbing, rafting, and adventure kayaking opportunities. Off the water, there are hiking and mountain biking trails along with golf and tennis. Be sure to stop in the Discovery Center at Deep Creek Lake State Park, and get up close to see several birds of prey serving as ambassadors of the Scales and Tales program. At night, head out for pizza at Brenda’s Pizzeria for New York style pizza or eat at the popular Dutch’s at Silver Tree for seafood. I always recommend asking the locals for their food favorites!
New York
Last year we had the opportunity to road trip to Niagara Falls, and on the way drove through parts of western New York. It made me realize that for someone who has always lived on the east coast of the USA, I had rarely explored much of New York outside of New York City. This includes the area known as the Adirondack Region, where you can find the town of Lake George, a popular area for a good old-fashioned family lake vacation. The 32-mile long lake boasts the best in lake life, with rentals available for everything from power boats and jet skis, to kayaks and paddle boards. Accommodations include private house rentals, cabins, camping, hotels, and pet-friendly options for families of all sizes. Off the water, a quick review of Lake George attractions shows plenty of options, including hiking, biking, rafting, and ziplining. And besides, Lake George is often referred to as the Mini-Golf Capital of New York State, so don’t miss the Around the World Golf Course, a classic that has been around for over 50 years!
Arizona
For the ultimate in vacations on the water, head west to Lake Powell, in Page, Arizona. It’s considered by many to be a premier destination for houseboating, and offers visitors the chance to explore the coves and canyons along the almost 2,000 miles of shoreline. During our 13 day southwest road trip, we took a day long boat tour of this magnificent natural wonder, and saw many houseboats as we traveled to Rainbow Bridge National Monument. The gorgeous scenery makes this an amazing place to explore by boat, and I hope to make it back here one day for a houseboat adventure. If you are considering this popular type of vacation, sign up for their emails ahead of time to learn of special deals and pricing. You can even find sample 3, 5, and 7 day itineraries to help make your trip planning easier, and combine some lake time with nearby places, like Antelope Canyon and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Note that in 2022, some access may be limited due to low water levels.
California & Nevada
The more I see photos from Lake Tahoe, the closer to the top of my USA travel list it moves! Did you know it’s the largest alpine lake in North America? With beach and mountain towns scattered from North Lake Tahoe around to Tahoe South, there are endless options for outdoor vacation lovers. Boasting over 2 dozen beaches on the stunning blue lake (and at least a few that are dog-friendly), it truly seems to offer something for everyone. I was excited to stumble upon the Treasures of Tahoe list from the North Lake Tahoe Visitor Bureau. I would definitely add the best panoramic view to my list, along with some activities to enjoy in the winter months. In addition to its popularity with mountain bikers, Tahoe South, designated as a Bike Friendly Community, offers even the novice bike rider places to explore. Explore the 72 mile scenic lake by car to see beaches, nature trails, historic houses, and spectacular views at stops all the way around the lake. The hardest part will be figuring out where to stay, with vacation rental options ranging from resorts on the lake to private rental homes.
If a lake vacation sounds appealing, but you just don’t know where to start, consider using a resource such as Lakehouse Vacations, to help narrow down your search, starting with rentals at over 3000 lakes around the country. It’s helpful because you can get a sense of the lake communities in each state before you book a rental. As a family of 5, we have had success using rental sites Airbnb and VRBO to find the perfect vacation home. I love using the search filters to find just the amenities that I’m looking for, such as a boat dock, swimming pool, or outdoor fire pit. You are sure to find the ideal lake house for making wonderful vacation memories. *This post contains affiliate links; if you purchase something familyTravelsUSA may receive a small commission. As always, opinions are my own.
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