Best Lakes for Boating Near Appleton
Wisconsin
7 boating lakes within driving distance of Appleton, Wisconsin, ranked by water quality and boating-specific filters. Filtered for at least 100 acres and public access. The largest lakes with boat-worthy water are listed first.
A moderate cluster of 7 graded lakes lies within reach of Appleton, averaging a grade of C. Iola Lake (A) is the cleanest of the set.
Filtered for boating, the nearby-lake list narrows further. boating-specific signals — fish species, public access, depth profile, motor-boat congestion — interact with the LakeGrade rubric in different ways depending on the use case.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iola Lake | Waupaca | A | 39.3 mi | 10 ft | - |
| 2 | Legend Lake | Menominee | A | 44.7 mi | 10 ft | - |
| 3 | Green Lake | Green Lake | B | 39.7 mi | - | - |
| 4 | Long Lake | Fond du Lac | B | 42.6 mi | 9.1 ft | - |
| 5 | City Millpond | Green Lake | C | 39.7 mi | - | - |
| 6 | Pigeon Lake | Waupaca | D | 30.8 mi | 2.4 ft | - |
| 7 | Little Lake Butte des Morts | Winnebago | F | 3.9 mi | 2 ft | - |
Other activities near Appleton
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.