Best Lakes Near Milwaukee, WI
50 lakes within 50 miles of Milwaukee ranked by water quality grade.
Within reasonable driving distance of Milwaukee 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 A.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Muskego Lake | 14.8 mi | Waukesha | A | 65 ft | 4 |
| Amy Bell Lake | 18.8 mi | Washington | A | 37 ft | 3 |
| Moldenhauer Lake | 21.1 mi | Ozaukee | A | 32 ft | 3 |
| Pine Lake | 24.8 mi | Waukesha | A | 85 ft | 5 |
| Spring Lake | 24.9 mi | Waukesha | A | 22 ft | 4 |
| Moose Lake | 25.8 mi | Waukesha | A | - | 0 |
| Unnamed Lake | 26.3 mi | Ozaukee | A | - | 0 |
| Big Cedar Lake | 30.8 mi | Washington | A | 105 ft | 4 |
| Paddock Lake | 33.7 mi | Kenosha | A | 32 ft | 3 |
| Geneva Lake Site B | 42.6 mi | Walworth | A | 135 ft | 6 |
| Geneva Lake | 46.2 mi | Walworth | A | 135 ft | 6 |
| Geneva Lake | 46.3 mi | Walworth | A | 135 ft | 6 |
| Lake Five | 21.4 mi | Washington | A | 23 ft | 3 |
| Lower Nemahbin Lake | 26.6 mi | Waukesha | A | 36 ft | 5 |
| Upper Nemahbin Lake | 26.6 mi | Waukesha | A | 60 ft | 5 |
| Okauchee Lake | 26.7 mi | Waukesha | A | 90 ft | 6 |
| Oconomowoc Lake Site | 27.3 mi | Waukesha | A | 60 ft | 5 |
| Okauchee Lake | 27.7 mi | Waukesha | A | 90 ft | 6 |
| Oconomowoc Lake | 28.2 mi | Waukesha | A | 60 ft | 5 |
| Lake Beulah | 28.4 mi | Walworth | A | 58 ft | 3 |
| Little Cedar Lake | 28.5 mi | Washington | A | - | 0 |
| Big Cedar Lake-South Site-Near West Bend | 29.3 mi | Washington | A | 105 ft | 4 |
| Silver Lake | 29.5 mi | Waukesha | A | 40 ft | 3 |
| Ashippun Lake | 29.6 mi | Waukesha | A | 35 ft | 4 |
| Lake Beulah | 29.7 mi | Walworth | A | 58 ft | 3 |
| Ottawa Lake | 29.9 mi | Waukesha | A | 16 ft | 4 |
| Fowler Lake | 30.1 mi | Waukesha | A | 50 ft | 4 |
| Pretty Lake | 30.4 mi | Waukesha | A | 31 ft | 3 |
| Big Cedar Lake-North Site-Near West Bend | 30.6 mi | Washington | A | 105 ft | 4 |
| Golden Lake | 31.8 mi | Waukesha | A | 44 ft | 4 |
| Lilly Lake | 36.3 mi | Kenosha | A | 22 ft | 3 |
| Pleasant Lake | 37 mi | Walworth | A | 29 ft | 4 |
| Green Lake | 38 mi | Walworth | A | 57 ft | 4 |
| Middle Lake | 38.2 mi | Walworth | A | 40 ft | 4 |
| Rock Lake | 38.6 mi | Kenosha | A | 33 ft | 3 |
| Powers Lake | 39.3 mi | Kenosha | A | 33 ft | 5 |
| Powers Lake | 39.5 mi | Kenosha | A | 33 ft | 5 |
| Forest Lake | 41.5 mi | Fond du Lac | A | 32 ft | 4 |
| Turtle Lake | 44.8 mi | Walworth | A | 30 ft | 3 |
| Kettle Moraine Lake | 45.1 mi | Fond du Lac | A | 30 ft | 4 |
| Pewaukee Lake | 19.5 mi | Waukesha | B | 45 ft | 5 |
| Lake Keesus | 22.7 mi | Waukesha | B | 42 ft | 4 |
| Nagawicka Lake | 24.4 mi | Waukesha | B | 90 ft | 5 |
| North Lake | 25.3 mi | Waukesha | B | 78.4 ft | 5 |
| Lower Phantom Lake | 25.3 mi | Waukesha | B | 12 ft | 3 |
| Upper Nemahbin Lake | 26.5 mi | Waukesha | B | 60 ft | 5 |
| Lower Nashotah Lake | 26.7 mi | Waukesha | B | 43 ft | 6 |
| Crooked Lake | 27.7 mi | Waukesha | B | 16 ft | 3 |
| Hunters Lake | 28 mi | Waukesha | B | 36 ft | 3 |
| Pike Lake | 28.6 mi | Washington | B | 45 ft | 5 |
Top-Rated Lakes Near Milwaukee
Lakes Near Other Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes are near Milwaukee?
There are 50 graded lakes within 50 miles of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 40 of these have an A water quality grade (excellent).
What are the best lakes near Milwaukee for fishing?
47 lakes near Milwaukee have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine good water quality grades with diverse fish populations. 18 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.