Best Lakes for Boating Near Chicago
Illinois
28 boating lakes within driving distance of Chicago, Illinois, 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.
Chicago sits in a lake-rich part of the upper Midwest: 28 measured lakes within reach. Flint Lake carries the lowest nutrient and algae readings of the cluster.
Filtered for boating, the nearby-lake list narrows further. boating-specific signals, fish species, public access, depth profile, motor-boat congestion, interact with the water-quality readings in different ways depending on the use case.
| # | Lake | County | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flint Lake | Porter | 39.4 mi | - | - |
| 2 | Round Lake | Lake | 40.7 mi | 7.4 ft | - |
| 3 | Lake Shangrila -Benet | Kenosha | 48.5 mi | 2.9 ft | 24 ft |
| 4 | Lake Louise | Porter | 38.3 mi | - | - |
| 5 | Lake Holiday | Lake | 38.9 mi | - | - |
| 6 | Wolf Lake | Cook | 15.5 mi | - | - |
| 7 | Orland Lake | Cook | 20.5 mi | - | - |
| 8 | Lake George | Lake | 30.4 mi | - | - |
| 9 | Baker Lake | Cook | 31.1 mi | - | - |
| 10 | Saint Marys Lake | Lake | 33.4 mi | - | - |
| 11 | Countryside Lake | Lake | 33.4 mi | - | - |
| 12 | Lake Renwick | Will | 34.7 mi | - | - |
| 13 | Bangs Lake | Lake | 37.3 mi | - | - |
| 14 | Gages Lake | Lake | 37.5 mi | - | - |
| 15 | Third Lake | Lake | 39.3 mi | - | - |
| 16 | Highland Lake | Lake | 40 mi | - | - |
| 17 | Fourth Lake | Lake | 41 mi | - | - |
| 18 | Griswold Lake | McHenry | 41.4 mi | - | - |
| 19 | Vulcan Lakes | McHenry | 41.8 mi | - | - |
| 20 | Sand Lake | Lake | 42.4 mi | - | - |
| 21 | Crooked Lake | Lake | 43.4 mi | - | - |
| 22 | Duck Lake | Lake | 43.8 mi | - | - |
| 23 | Crystal Lake | McHenry | 44.6 mi | - | - |
| 24 | Pistakee Lake | McHenry | 45.8 mi | - | - |
| 25 | Redwing Slough Lake | Lake | 46.6 mi | - | - |
| 26 | McCullom Lake | McHenry | 47.5 mi | - | - |
| 27 | Dresden Cooling Lake | Grundy | 48.5 mi | - | - |
| 28 | Fishtrap Lake | LaPorte | 49.4 mi | - | - |
Other activities near Chicago
Where to stay near Chicago
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Chicago — book a place close to the best-rated lakes in the area.
Top-rated places to stay near Chicago
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip to Chicago?
Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Chicago — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.