Best Lakes for Boating Near Mankato
Minnesota
30 boating lakes within driving distance of Mankato, Minnesota, 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.
Mankato sits in a lake-rich part of the upper Midwest: 30 graded lakes within reach, average grade D. Piersons Lake (A) leads the cluster.
The boating-specific ranking layered on top of the letter grade 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 | Piersons Lake | Carver | A | 48.7 mi | 9.9 ft | 40 ft |
| 2 | Marion Lake | Dakota | A | 49.5 mi | 7 ft | 21 ft |
| 3 | Fedji Lake | Watonwan | C | 20.1 mi | 3.3 ft | 6 ft |
| 4 | Loon Lake | Waseca | C | 24.6 mi | 2.5 ft | 9 ft |
| 5 | St James Lake | Watonwan | C | 34.4 mi | 3 ft | 15.4 ft |
| 6 | Sleepy Eye Lake | Brown | C | 37.5 mi | 3.3 ft | 21 ft |
| 7 | Round Grove Lake | McLeod | C | 44.8 mi | 2.3 ft | 7 ft |
| 8 | Upper Prior Lake | Scott | C | 46.7 mi | 5 ft | 50 ft |
| 9 | O'Dowd Lake | Scott | C | 46.7 mi | 5.5 ft | 22 ft |
| 10 | Lower Prior Lake | Scott | C | 48.7 mi | 10 ft | 60 ft |
| 11 | Waconia Lake | Carver | C | 50 mi | 7.3 ft | 37 ft |
| 12 | Ballantyne Lake | Blue Earth | D | 8.8 mi | 2.5 ft | 58 ft |
| 13 | Madison Lake | Blue Earth | D | 9.5 mi | 4 ft | 59 ft |
| 14 | Scotch Lake | Le Sueur | D | 14.6 mi | 2.6 ft | 11 ft |
| 15 | Frances Lake | Le Sueur | D | 15.3 mi | 6 ft | 60 ft |
| 16 | Volney Lake | Le Sueur | D | 22.7 mi | 5.5 ft | 67 ft |
| 17 | High Island Lake | Sibley | D | 36 mi | 2.1 ft | 6.5 ft |
| 18 | Long Lake | Watonwan | D | 37.3 mi | 2.5 ft | 13 ft |
| 19 | Kansas Lake | Watonwan | D | 38.9 mi | 1.5 ft | 7 ft |
| 20 | Union Lake | Rice | D | 40 mi | 3 ft | 10 ft |
| 21 | Fish Lake | Scott | D | 43 mi | 3.9 ft | 28 ft |
| 22 | Spring Lake | Scott | D | 45.4 mi | 6.2 ft | 37 ft |
| 23 | Bavaria Lake | Carver | D | 49.9 mi | 5.1 ft | 66 ft |
| 24 | Washington Lake | Le Sueur | F | 8.9 mi | 4.5 ft | 51 ft |
| 25 | Duck Lake | Blue Earth | F | 9.9 mi | 2.8 ft | 25 ft |
| 26 | Crystal Lake | Blue Earth | F | 10.8 mi | 1.5 ft | 8 ft |
| 27 | Emily Lake | Le Sueur | F | 10.9 mi | 2 ft | 37 ft |
| 28 | Jefferson Lake | Le Sueur | F | 12.5 mi | 2 ft | - |
| 29 | German Lake | Le Sueur | F | 15.5 mi | 3.5 ft | 51 ft |
| 30 | Tetonka Lake | Le Sueur | F | 19.4 mi | 3 ft | 35 ft |
Other activities near Mankato
Where to stay near Mankato
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mankato — book a place close to the best-rated lakes in the area.
Top-rated places to stay near Mankato
Prices for Sep 18–20, 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 Mankato?
Get lake water-quality report cards plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Mankato — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.