Best Lakes Near Milwaukee, WI, 50 Lakes Within 50 Miles

50 lakes within 50 miles of Milwaukee have nutrient and algae readings on record. Lake Beulah in Walworth County leads the set on measured water quality, with about 10 ft of clarity. 40 of the 50 have a recorded public access point.

Within reasonable driving distance of Milwaukee sit 50 measured lakes, a lake-dense area that gives residents real choice on any given weekend.

The lakes below are sorted on measured water quality. 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

With Clarity Readings

With Fish Data

Public Access

Lake	Distance	County	Clarity	Depth	Fish
Lake Beulah	28.6 mi	Walworth	10 ft	58 ft	3
Big Cedar Lake-North Site-Near West Bend	30.6 mi	Washington	11.8 ft	105 ft	4
Powers Lake	39.4 mi	Kenosha	10 ft	33 ft	5
Catherine Lake	39.7 mi	Lake	7.4 ft	-	0
Deep Lake	43 mi	Lake	—	-	0
Cedar Lake	43.7 mi	Lake	—	-	0
Geneva Lake	45 mi	Walworth	21 ft	135 ft	6
Grays Lake	48.7 mi	Lake	3.5 ft	-	0
Denoon Lake	18.9 mi	Waukesha	9 ft	55 ft	4
Pewaukee Lake	19.5 mi	Waukesha	7.5 ft	45 ft	5
Bark Lake	19.7 mi	Washington	5.5 ft	34 ft	4
Lake Five	21.4 mi	Washington	12 ft	23 ft	3
Tichigan Lake	21.8 mi	Racine	5.5 ft	63 ft	7
Lake Keesus	22.7 mi	Waukesha	9.2 ft	42 ft	4
Little Friess Lake	23.4 mi	Washington	7.4 ft	34 ft	4
Friess Lake	23.5 mi	Washington	4 ft	48 ft	4
Nagawicka Lake	24.4 mi	Waukesha	9.5 ft	90 ft	5
Pine Lake	24.8 mi	Waukesha	25 ft	85 ft	5
Spring Lake	24.9 mi	Waukesha	—	22 ft	4
North Lake	25.3 mi	Waukesha	8 ft	78.4 ft	5
Lower Phantom Lake	25.3 mi	Waukesha	6.7 ft	12 ft	3
Lower Nemahbin Lake	26.6 mi	Waukesha	10.9 ft	36 ft	5
Upper Nemahbin Lake	26.6 mi	Waukesha	12 ft	60 ft	5
Ocauchee Lake	26.6 mi	Waukesha	6.6 ft	90 ft	6
Lower Nashotah Lake	26.7 mi	Waukesha	9 ft	43 ft	6
Potter Lake	27 mi	Walworth	4.3 ft	26 ft	3
Okauchee Lake Site	27.1 mi	Waukesha	4.6 ft	90 ft	6
Crooked Lake	27.7 mi	Waukesha	8 ft	16 ft	3
Hunters Lake	28 mi	Waukesha	9.5 ft	36 ft	3
Oconomowoc Lake	28.2 mi	Waukesha	12.5 ft	60 ft	5
Sandhill Lake	28.2 mi	Ozaukee	7.5 ft	9 ft	0
Little Cedar Lake	28.5 mi	Washington	10.5 ft	-	0
Pike Lake	28.6 mi	Washington	7 ft	45 ft	5
Army Lake	28.7 mi	Walworth	8.2 ft	17 ft	3
Silver Lake	29.5 mi	Waukesha	10 ft	40 ft	3
Browns Lake	29.5 mi	Racine	6.2 ft	44 ft	4
Ashippun Lake	29.6 mi	Waukesha	10 ft	35 ft	4
Eagle Spring Lake	29.8 mi	Waukesha	4.5 ft	8 ft	3
Ottawa Lake	29.9 mi	Waukesha	13 ft	16 ft	4
Fowler Lake	30.1 mi	Waukesha	14.5 ft	50 ft	4
Druid Lake	30.2 mi	Washington	5.5 ft	53 ft	4
Pretty Lake	30.4 mi	Waukesha	12.2 ft	31 ft	3
School Section Lake	30.4 mi	Waukesha	6.2 ft	8 ft	3
Green Lake	30.7 mi	Washington	9 ft	37 ft	4
Booth Lake	31.2 mi	Walworth	8 ft	24 ft	2
Lac la Belle Lake	31.4 mi	Waukesha	4.8 ft	45 ft	5
Golden Lake	31.8 mi	Waukesha	12.8 ft	44 ft	4
Paddock Lake	33.7 mi	Kenosha	15 ft	32 ft	3
Random Lake	35.4 mi	Sheboygan	4.5 ft	22.2 ft	5
Silver Lake	36.1 mi	Kenosha	7.1 ft	44 ft	7

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Cleanest Lakes Near Milwaukee

Lake Beulah

28.6 mi · Walworth County · 10 ft clarity

Big Cedar Lake-North Site-Near West Bend

30.6 mi · Washington County · 11.8 ft clarity

Powers Lake

39.4 mi · Kenosha County · 10 ft clarity

Catherine Lake

39.7 mi · Lake County · 7.4 ft clarity

Deep Lake

43 mi · Lake County

Cedar Lake

43.7 mi · Lake County

Plan a lake trip in Wisconsin

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Wisconsin Fishing Guide

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Wisconsin Lake Trips

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes are near Milwaukee?

There are 50 lakes with water-quality readings on record within 50 miles of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 40 of them have a recorded public access point and 47 have a clarity reading.

What are the best lakes near Milwaukee for fishing?

44 lakes near Milwaukee have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine favourable water-quality readings with diverse fish populations. 17 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.

Where to stay near Milwaukee

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Milwaukee — book a place close to the cleanest lakes in the area.

Top-rated places to stay near Milwaukee

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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.