Lake life is rich with simple pleasures. Summer entices with boating, swimming and various water sports. Year-round fishing brings anglers from all over to enjoy the bounty. Hiking trails provide an active escape into the wilderness, with lake views in the distance.
But it’s the small towns situated along these majestic lakes that deserve attention. Rustic cabins, swanky resorts, down-home dining, elevated cuisine, bustling breweries and historic downtowns thriving with art galleries, antique shops and boutiques add culture and dimension to the bodies of water nearby.
We rounded up 80 small lake towns with populations of 20,000 or less for you to enjoy the beauty and peace you’re looking for in one of the thousands of lakes across the United States.
Note: We may earn money from affiliate partners if you buy through links on our site.
The Experience: Burrillville
Burrillville is a unique town that divides itself into “villages” rather than neighborhoods. The villages are all named after old mills. In the summer, the most popular of these villages is Glendale, which sits on the shores of Spring Lake. This beachy lake is warm on the surface and cool underneath. It is also clear and sandy, so you won’t need water shoes.
Glendale also has all the summer beach staples that you could want from a historic town: an arcade that’s almost 90 years old, rides for kids, a beanbag toss game and a waterslide. Fried foods are also easy to acquire. There’s even a diving dock to practice your form.
Note: Spring Lake is only one of the town’s lakes. There’s also the Wilson Reservoir, the Pascoag Reservoir and the Crystal Lake, which is next to an eponymous golf course.
The Experience: Sandpoint
Situated on Lake Pend Oreille, Sandpoint is an outdoor enthusiast’s dream, with its world class hiking and biking trails, ski slopes and more. A stay at The Lodge at Sandpoint will put you up close and personal to the lake, making for easy access to boating, fishing and swimming.
Events, including theatrical performances, concerts and fairs, thrive in the summer. Situated in the rugged Selkirk Mountains, Schweitzer Mountain Resort entices as well, with its uncrowded ski slopes and beautiful views of the lake below.
The Experience: Hampstead
Other than a golf course, there isn’t much going on in Hampstead outside of the water. But if what you want is to spend 98 percent of your summer splashing around, you’ll find a lot of fun ways to pass the time.
Cascade Lake is a favorite with families, particularly because it was a waterslide that goes straight into the lake. Believe us, you could spend the entire day sliding down time and time again. Swimming is highly encouraged.
If you want to be in the water but don’t really love swimming, head to Pretty Boy Reservoir instead. Though you won’t be able to swim, you spend the day hiking and birdwatching in beautiful trails, or spend time in the water boating and fishing.
The Experience: Bigfork
constantgardener / Getty Images
Bigfork has it all. It’s equal parts ski village, lakeside resort and Wild West town. Resting on the shores of Flathead Lake, Flathead Lake Lodge is a family-owned and -operated Dude Ranch offering visitors endless recreation.
Take part in sailing, lake cruises, stand-up paddleboarding, wakesurfing, canoeing, kayaking, fishing and lakeside campfires, or explore the allure of the Rocky Mountains. Stop for a bite at Stone Hill Kitchen for local, fine dining cuisine, and be sure to kick back with a cold one at Flathead Lake Brewing Co.
The Experience: Bayfield
Vallecito Lake Chamber of Commerce / Facebook
Another Colorado lake town, Bayfield features a small historic district with a few shops and restaurants in town, but it’s the town’s Vallecito Lake that’s the star. Vallecito is one of the highest mountain lakes of its size anywhere, residing at 8,000 feet above sea level.
Live music, beautiful views and home-style cooking can be found at The Lake House Bar & Grill. The lake is full of rainbow trout, brown trout and northern pike, making it a big draw for fishing. Also, be sure to check out the Tour of Carvings — 14 carvings standing around 18-feet tall created after the Missionary Ridge Fire of 2002 burned 70,000 acres.
The Experience: Lake Placid
AlbertPego / Getty Images
The town of Lake Placid is located in the Adirondack Mountains and nestled around the southernmost tip of the lake. For a while, Lake Placid had the best skiing in the United States, attracting the Winter Olympics in both 1932 and then 1980.
It still has fantastic skiing opportunities, as well as a Winter Olympic museum. This is where the “Miracle on Ice” happened, when the United States beat the Soviet Union at the 1980 Olympics, popularizing the “USA! USA!” chant.
Aside from its intriguing history, Lake Placid boasts fantastic trails to sightsee the Adirondacks, upscale restaurants and boutique shops.
The Experience: Okoboji
Jacob Boomsma / Getty Images
Okoboji is one of Iowa’s best-kept secrets. With a privileged location by the Iowa Great Lakes, you’ll have access to five glacier-carved lakes that provide opportunities for great fun.
The lakes are dotted with beaches and surrounded by state parks, but the town has also developed tourism infrastructure to cater to the summer crowds. On the water, families like to swim and play beach volleyball, but we encourage you to try more extreme sports like jet skiing, parasailing and flyboarding. The latter involves using a jet pack to hover above the water.
On dry land, the must-do activity is visiting the Arnolds Park Amusement Park and daring to ride its 1930s roller coaster or enjoying the views from its Ferris wheel.
The Experience: Moose Pass
Besides having a really awesome name, Moose Pass is surrounded by beautiful lakes. The best known is Kenai Lake, but there’s also Crescent Lake, Tern Lake and Grant Lake. The town itself is located on the banks of the Trail Lakes, a series of large interconnected lakes.
The town is tiny but offers plenty of opportunities for exploring the Alaskan wilderness safely. Hiking around Crown Point Mine Trail will give you the opportunity to see brown bears, moose, beavers, bald eagles and mountain goats. But you might also run into some old mines.
If you’re a hunter, or simply have an ax or knife you want to keep sharp, you can head to the Ed Estes’ Historic Waterwheel. This small landmark is pretty to look at but also receives visitors seeking to grind their axes.
The Experience: Salem
If you’ve even heard of Salem, South Carolina, chances are you’re from the area. With just over 100 people, this tiny, tiny lake town is a true hidden gem you’ll want to keep hidden from everyone except your closest friends. Its best feature is that it sits right on Lake Jocasse and Lake Keowee, both large lakes that will provide you with ample time in the water. Boating, kayaking, jet skiing and even scuba diving are popular ways to enjoy the lakes.
But besides this, Salem is at the foot of the mystic Blue Ridge Mountains, providing visitors with endless hiking trails and a number of gorgeous waterfalls. Oh, also, this is South Carolina, so the food tastes like it was made by angels.
