Best Lakes Near Fargo, ND

50 lakes within 50 miles of Fargo ranked by water quality grade.

Within reasonable driving distance of Fargo 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 A.

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.

Lakes Within 50 mi

Grade A Lakes

With Fish Data

Public Access

Lake	Distance	County	Grade	Depth	Fish
Barnesville Lake	23.3 mi	Clay	A	17 ft	4
Turtle Lake	29.9 mi	Becker	A	73 ft	13
Middle Cormorant Lake	33.1 mi	Becker	A	40 ft	13
Ida Lake	34.4 mi	Becker	A	20 ft	14
Big Cormorant Lake	35.7 mi	Becker	A	75 ft	16
Pelican Lake	38.3 mi	Otter Tail	A	55 ft	20
Maud Lake	39.1 mi	Becker	A	32 ft	15
Bass Lake	39.2 mi	Otter Tail	A	-	0
Fish Lake	39.8 mi	Otter Tail	A	69 ft	17
Lizzie Lake	39.9 mi	Otter Tail	A	66 ft	21
Eunice Lake	40.1 mi	Becker	A	30 ft	17
Pearl Lake	40.8 mi	Becker	A	54 ft	11
Little Pelican Lake	41.2 mi	Otter Tail	A	25 ft	2
Loon Lake	41.2 mi	Becker	A	-	0
Franklin Lake	41.5 mi	Otter Tail	A	48 ft	18
Fox Lake	42.2 mi	Becker	A	24 ft	13
Long Lake	42.7 mi	Becker	A	61 ft	16
Sallie Lake	43.1 mi	Becker	A	50 ft	16
Mill Lake	43.2 mi	Becker	A	10 ft	14
Melissa Lake	43.3 mi	Becker	A	37 ft	16
Tamarac Lake	43.3 mi	Becker	A	34 ft	16
Mud Lake	43.9 mi	Becker	A	34 ft	16
Meadow Lake	44.3 mi	Becker	A	72 ft	11
Cottage Lake	44.3 mi	Becker	A	-	0
Floyd Lake	44.5 mi	Becker	A	34 ft	16
Sands Lake	44.5 mi	Becker	A	-	0
Lind Lake	44.5 mi	Becker	A	-	0
Lida Lake	44.6 mi	Otter Tail	A	58 ft	20
Curfman Lake	44.7 mi	Becker	A	24 ft	0
Glawe Lake	44.8 mi	Becker	A	24 ft	0
Little Floyd Lake	45.2 mi	Becker	A	34 ft	16
Detroit Lake	45.3 mi	Becker	A	89 ft	19
Johnson Lake	45.8 mi	Becker	A	30 ft	0
Leek Lake	45.8 mi	Otter Tail	A	-	0
Abbey Lake	46.2 mi	Becker	A	-	0
Trowbridge Lake	46.4 mi	Otter Tail	A	76 ft	13
Long Lake	46.6 mi	Otter Tail	A	73 ft	17
Jewett Lake	47.7 mi	Otter Tail	A	75 ft	13
Hospital Lake	47.7 mi	Becker	A	-	0
West Silent Lake	48.6 mi	Otter Tail	A	58 ft	9
East Loon Lake	48.8 mi	Otter Tail	A	105 ft	17
Big Sugar Bush Lake	49.2 mi	Becker	A	42 ft	13
Six Lake	49.2 mi	Otter Tail	A	140 ft	11
Scalp Lake	49.6 mi	Otter Tail	A	90 ft	13
Prairie Lake	38.9 mi	Otter Tail	B	22 ft	15
Beseau Lake	30.5 mi	Becker	C	27 ft	14
Upper Cormorant Lake	32 mi	Becker	C	29 ft	13
Nelson Lake	33 mi	Becker	C	-	0
Tamarac Lake	36.8 mi	Otter Tail	C	11 ft	11
Spear Lake	40 mi	Becker	C	-	0

Top-Rated Lakes Near Fargo

Barnesville Lake

23.3 mi · Clay County · Grade A

Turtle Lake

29.9 mi · Becker County · Grade A

Middle Cormorant Lake

33.1 mi · Becker County · Grade A

Ida Lake

34.4 mi · Becker County · Grade A

Big Cormorant Lake

35.7 mi · Becker County · Grade A

Pelican Lake

38.3 mi · Otter Tail County · Grade A

Plan a lake trip in North Dakota

The State of North Dakota's Lakes

North Dakota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked A–F

Lake Fishing Forecast

Species activity outlook by water temperature and season

North Dakota Lake Trips

Where to stay at North Dakota's top lakes, each with its grade

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes are near Fargo?

There are 50 graded lakes within 50 miles of Fargo, North Dakota. 44 of these have an A water quality grade (excellent).

What are the best lakes near Fargo for fishing?

37 lakes near Fargo have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine good water quality grades with diverse fish populations. 35 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.

Where to stay near Fargo

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fargo — book a place close to the best-rated lakes in the area.

Top-rated places to stay near Fargo

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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.