Best Lakes Near Chicago, IL
50 lakes within 50 miles of Chicago ranked by water quality grade.
Within reasonable driving distance of Chicago sit 50 graded lakes — a lake-dense area that gives residents real choice on any given weekend. The average grade across the nearby set is C.
The lakes below are sorted by composite LakeGrade rubric score. If you have a specific activity in mind — swimming, kayaking, ice-fishing, family-fishing — the activity-specific sub-pages will filter further.
Top-Rated Lakes Near Chicago
Lakes Near Other Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes are near Chicago?
There are 50 graded lakes within 50 miles of Chicago, Illinois. 6 of these have an A water quality grade (excellent).
What are the best lakes near Chicago for fishing?
3 lakes near Chicago have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine good water quality grades with diverse fish populations. 0 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.