Best Lakes for Boating Near Indianapolis
Indiana
1 boating lakes within driving distance of Indianapolis, Indiana, 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 Indianapolis are sparser (1 graded lakes within reach), so the choices are limited. Lake Lemon (F) is the standout.
The boating-specific ranking layered on top of the LakeGrade rubric is what produces the list below: a grade-good lake that does not also support the boating use case is less useful than a grade-decent lake that does.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Lemon | Monroe | F | 37.4 mi | 2.1 ft | - |
Other activities near Indianapolis
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.