What are some iconic lakes in the USA not including the Great Lakes? By iconic I mean well known across the country, lots of tourism, big homes, a cool town along the lake, and/or celebrities.
Some I think of:
– Lake Tahoe
– Lake George
– Lake Powell
– Finger Lakes
– Lake of the Ozarks
– Lake Geneva
– Crater Lake
– Lake Chelan
– Mammoth Lakes
– Lake Champlain
– Lake Placid
– Lake Norman
Comments
Great Salt Lake
Lake Pontchartrain
*points generally at Minnesota
Mono Lake
Salton Sea
Lake of the Ozarks
Lake Mead
Crater Lake
Lake Havasu
Winnipesaukee and Moosehead but I don’t think they really have national appeal.
Also “excluding the Great Lakes” how dare you.
• Flathead Lake (MT) – One of the clearest lakes in the country, surrounded by mountains, cherry orchards, and some low-key rich people.
• Lake Sunapee (NH) – Classic New England summer retreat with old-money lake houses and small-town charm.
• Priest Lake (ID) – Remote, rugged, and absolutely stunning. Feels like a hidden gem but has some serious vacation homes.
• Lake Martin (AL) – Big lake with a mix of party spots and quiet coves, plus some massive waterfront homes.
• Smith Mountain Lake (VA) – The go-to lake in Virginia for vacation homes and boating.
• Lake Ouachita (AR) – Crazy clear water, surrounded by mountains, and no private docks, so it feels super untouched.
• Cumberland Lake (KY) – One of the biggest lakes in the South, known for houseboats and hidden waterfalls.
• Table Rock Lake (MO) – Cleaner and quieter than the Ozarks but still full of big vacation homes and boat culture.
• Possum Kingdom Lake (TX) – Hell’s Gate cliffs, lake parties, and lots of lakefront money.
• Grand Lake (CO) – Right by Rocky Mountain National Park, with a super charming little mountain town.
• Deep Creek Lake (MD) – Maryland’s big mountain lake, with ski resorts nearby and lots of vacation homes.
• Shasta Lake (CA) – Big houseboating scene and surrounded by forests and mountains.
• Caddo Lake (TX/LA) – Unlike anything else on this list—massive cypress trees, Spanish moss, and a mysterious, bayou-like vibe.
In Alabama, it would be Lake Martin and Lake Guntersville.
Banks Lake in Washington is a stupidly huge artificial lake.
Lake Cumberland’s (KY) hot sister Lake Norris, TN. 🤫
We have many, many, many lakes. So many lakes. Roughly 3 million lakes.
https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/gu3ve3/number_of_lakes_in_usa_by_state/
Lake Pontchartrain
Redfish lake
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Lake Mead is behind the Hoover Dam, that one’s pretty famous
Lake Tahoe and Great Salt Lake are the two big ones I can think of. Other lakes are well-known locally, like Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin and Lake Okeechobee in Florida, but I wouldn’t call those iconic or famous across the whole country.