Best Lakes for Boating Near Mankato
Minnesota
11 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.
A moderate cluster of 11 graded lakes lies within reach of Mankato, averaging a grade of D. Lower Prior Lake (B) is the cleanest of the set.
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 | Lower Prior Lake | Scott | B | 48.7 mi | 9.5 ft | - |
| 2 | Lake Jefferson | Le Sueur | D | 14.2 mi | 4 ft | - |
| 3 | Marion Lake | McLeod | D | 47 mi | - | - |
| 4 | Sleepy Eye Lake | Brown | D | 37.5 mi | 3.3 ft | - |
| 5 | Emily Lake | Le Sueur | F | 10.9 mi | 2 ft | - |
| 6 | Jefferson Lake | Le Sueur | F | 12.2 mi | 2 ft | - |
| 7 | Clear Lake | Waseca | F | 26.1 mi | 2.5 ft | - |
| 8 | Watkins Lake | Waseca | F | 27.6 mi | 3.2 ft | - |
| 9 | Eagle Lake | Carver | F | 44.7 mi | 2.3 ft | - |
| 10 | Fountain Lake | Freeborn | F | 46.3 mi | 1.5 ft | - |
| 11 | Mountain Lake | Cottonwood | F | 49.3 mi | 1.2 ft | - |
Other activities near Mankato
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.