Best Lakes Near Kansas City, MO
50 lakes within 50 miles of Kansas City ranked by water quality grade.
Within reasonable driving distance of Kansas City 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 D.
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.
| Lake | Distance | County | Grade | Depth | Fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weatherby Lake | 11.1 mi | Platte | A | - | 0 |
| Rock Lake Village Lake | 30.9 mi | Johnson | A | - | 0 |
| Douglas Co State Fishing Lake | 37.2 mi | Douglas | A | - | 0 |
| Waukomis Lake | 9.4 mi | Platte | B | - | 0 |
| Jacomo Lake | 16.2 mi | Jackson | B | - | 0 |
| Lotawana Lake | 21 mi | Jackson | B | - | 0 |
| New Olathe Lake | 21.9 mi | Johnson | B | - | 0 |
| Louisburg State Fishing Lake | 41.6 mi | Miami | B | - | 0 |
| Longview Lake by Dam | 13.8 mi | Jackson | C | - | 0 |
| Lenexa Lake | 16.9 mi | Johnson | C | - | 0 |
| Prairie Lee Lake | 17.1 mi | Jackson | C | - | 0 |
| Olathe Lake | 21.9 mi | Johnson | C | - | 0 |
| Watkins Mill Lake | 26.4 mi | Clay | C | - | 0 |
| Leavenworth Co State Fishing Lake | 30.8 mi | Leavenworth | C | - | 0 |
| Hillsdale Lake | 35.2 mi | Miami | C | - | 0 |
| Clinton Lake | 42.6 mi | Douglas | C | - | 0 |
| Blue Valley Lake | 3.7 mi | Jackson | D | - | 0 |
| Lake of the Woods-Kc | 7.9 mi | Jackson | D | - | 0 |
| Quivira Lake | 11 mi | Wyandotte | D | - | 0 |
| Blue Springs Lake | 14.1 mi | Jackson | D | - | 0 |
| Lake Tapawingo | 15 mi | Jackson | D | - | 0 |
| Stoll Park Lake | 15 mi | Johnson | D | - | 0 |
| Smithville Lake by Dam | 20.6 mi | Clay | D | - | 0 |
| Smithville Lake | 21.2 mi | Clay | D | - | 0 |
| Smithville Lake | 24.2 mi | Clay | D | - | 0 |
| Lake Arrowhead | 30.2 mi | Clinton | D | - | 0 |
| Potter'S Lake | 37.2 mi | Douglas | D | - | 0 |
| Hazel Hill Lake by Dam | 46.5 mi | Johnson | D | - | 0 |
| Lone Star Lake | 46.6 mi | Douglas | D | - | 0 |
| Higginsville South Lake | 48.8 mi | Lafayette | D | - | 0 |
| Pony Express Lake | 49.8 mi | DeKalb | D | - | 0 |
| Washington Lake | 1.7 mi | Jackson | F | - | 0 |
| Troost Lake | 1.8 mi | Jackson | F | - | 0 |
| Troost Lake | 1.8 mi | Jackson | F | - | 0 |
| Kessler Lake | 1.8 mi | Jackson | F | - | 0 |
| Valley Lake | 2 mi | Jackson | F | - | 0 |
| Big Eleven Lake | 3.4 mi | Wyandotte | F | - | 0 |
| Loose Park Lake | 4.8 mi | Jackson | F | - | 0 |
| Chaumiere Park Lake | 5.5 mi | Clay | F | - | 0 |
| Houston Lake | 6.7 mi | Platte | F | - | 0 |
| Pierson Lake | 7.5 mi | Wyandotte | F | - | 0 |
| Firehouse Park Lake | 7.8 mi | Jackson | F | - | 0 |
| Lake of the Woods | 7.9 mi | Jackson | F | - | 0 |
| Antioch Park Lake | 8.4 mi | Johnson | F | - | 0 |
| South Lake | 10.2 mi | Johnson | F | - | 0 |
| Blue River Parkway Lake | 11.3 mi | Jackson | F | - | 0 |
| Leawood Park Lake | 11.9 mi | Johnson | F | - | 0 |
| Tomahawk Creek Park Lake | 12.7 mi | Johnson | F | - | 0 |
| Sar Ko Park Lake | 13.2 mi | Johnson | F | - | 0 |
| Kingston Lake Park | 18.1 mi | Johnson | F | - | 0 |
Top-Rated Lakes Near Kansas City
11.1 mi · Platte County · Grade A
30.9 mi · Johnson County · Grade A
37.2 mi · Douglas County · Grade A
9.4 mi · Platte County · Grade B
16.2 mi · Jackson County · Grade B
21 mi · Jackson County · Grade B
Lakes Near Other Cities
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes are near Kansas City?
There are 50 graded lakes within 50 miles of Kansas City, Missouri. 3 of these have an A water quality grade (excellent).
What are the best lakes near Kansas City for fishing?
0 lakes near Kansas City 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.
Where to stay near Kansas City
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Top-rated places to stay near Kansas City
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.