Best Lakes for Boating Near Chicago
Illinois
2 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.
Lakes near Chicago are sparser (2 graded lakes within reach), so the choices are limited. Round Lake (B) is the standout.
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 | Round Lake | Lake | B | 40.7 mi | 7.4 ft | - |
| 2 | Lake Shangrila -Benet | Kenosha | D | 48.5 mi | 2.9 ft | 24 ft |
Other activities near Chicago
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.