Best Lakes Near St. Louis, MO
48 lakes within 50 miles of St. Louis, ranked on agency water-quality readings.
48 lakes within 50 miles of St. Louis have nutrient and algae readings on record. Lake Wauwanoka in Jefferson County leads the set on measured water quality, with about 12.9 ft of clarity. 10 of the 48 have a recorded public access point.
St. Louis sits in a lake-rich part of the upper Midwest: 48 measured lakes within reach. Lake Wauwanoka carries the lowest nutrient and algae readings of the cluster.
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.
| Lake | Distance | County | Clarity | Depth | Fish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Wauwanoka | 32.9 mi | Jefferson | 12.9 ft | - | 0 |
| Sherwood Lake | 42.6 mi | Warren | 5.9 ft | - | 0 |
| Goose Creek Lake | 45.1 mi | Ste. Genevieve | 9.9 ft | - | 0 |
| Whippoorwill Lake | 46 mi | Warren | 5 ft | - | 0 |
| Aspen Lake Along Southern Arm | 46.1 mi | Warren | 3.8 ft | - | 0 |
| Castlenovo Lake | 46.9 mi | Warren | 6 ft | - | 0 |
| Innsbrook Lake | 47.1 mi | Warren | 5.2 ft | - | 0 |
| Lincoln Lake | 47.4 mi | Lincoln | 5.7 ft | - | 0 |
| Timberline Lakes | 47.6 mi | St. Francois | 14.3 ft | - | 0 |
| Lake Konstanz | 48.1 mi | Warren | 7.7 ft | - | 0 |
| Alpine Lake | 48.3 mi | Warren | 12.6 ft | - | 0 |
| Lake Lucern | 47.5 mi | Warren | 5.2 ft | - | 0 |
| Lake Tishomingo | 30.5 mi | Jefferson | 5.4 ft | - | 0 |
| L Ste Louise Lake | 34.1 mi | St. Charles | 3.2 ft | - | 0 |
| Lake Eleanor | 41.9 mi | Warren | 3 ft | - | 0 |
| Sugar Hollow Lake | 42.1 mi | Warren | 3.3 ft | - | 0 |
| Red Fox Lake | 45.7 mi | Warren | 3.3 ft | - | 0 |
| Fawn Lake | 49.5 mi | Franklin | 3.6 ft | - | 0 |
| Lafayette Park Lake | 1.2 mi | St. Louis city | 2.3 ft | - | 0 |
| Forest Park Pond | 4.7 mi | St. Louis city | 1.6 ft | - | 0 |
| Boathouse Lake | 5.8 mi | St. Louis city | 2.3 ft | - | 0 |
| Simpson Park Lake | 15.2 mi | St. Louis | 1.9 ft | - | 0 |
| Lake Serene | 34.9 mi | Franklin | 2.6 ft | - | 0 |
| Callaway Fork Lake | 36.5 mi | St. Charles | 2.1 ft | - | 0 |
| Robin Hood Lake | 42.6 mi | Warren | 3 ft | - | 0 |
| Greenfield Lake | 49.3 mi | Greene | — | - | 0 |
| Koeneman Park Lake | 8.3 mi | St. Louis | 3.1 ft | - | 0 |
| Spanish Lake | 12 mi | St. Louis | 1.6 ft | - | 0 |
| Creve Coeur Lake | 16.3 mi | St. Louis | 1.6 ft | - | 0 |
| Mallard Lake | 16.8 mi | St. Louis | 1.9 ft | - | 0 |
| Fon-du-Lac Reservoir | 17.4 mi | Jefferson | 1.3 ft | - | 0 |
| Holiday Shores Lake | 24.9 mi | Madison | 1.7 ft | - | 0 |
| Slm Side Channel Lake | 27.9 mi | St. Clair | 0.8 ft | - | 0 |
| Highland Silver Lake | 30 mi | Madison | 1.3 ft | - | 0 |
| Sparta Northwest Lake | 42.4 mi | Randolph | 2.6 ft | - | 0 |
| Coulterville Lake | 43.1 mi | Randolph | 2.7 ft | - | 0 |
| Loveless Lake | 45.3 mi | Macoupin | — | - | 0 |
| Governor Bond Lake | 48.9 mi | Bond | 1.2 ft | - | 0 |
| Nashville City Lake | 49.3 mi | Washington | 1.3 ft | - | 0 |
| Carlyle Lake | 49.9 mi | Clinton | 1.8 ft | - | 0 |
| O'Fallon Park Lake | 3.8 mi | St. Louis city | 1.6 ft | - | 0 |
| Jefferson Lake | 3.8 mi | St. Louis city | — | - | 0 |
| Tilles Park Reservoir | 8.9 mi | St. Louis | — | - | 0 |
| Bee Tree Lake | 16.7 mi | St. Louis | — | - | 0 |
| Lake St Louis | 32.8 mi | St. Charles | 2.7 ft | - | 0 |
| Kruse Lake | 33 mi | St. Charles | 2.6 ft | - | 0 |
| Marion Reservoir | 35.1 mi | Franklin | 5.9 ft | - | 0 |
| Cole Lake | 46.5 mi | Jefferson | — | - | 0 |
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Cleanest Lakes Near St. Louis
32.9 mi · Jefferson County · 12.9 ft clarity
42.6 mi · Warren County · 5.9 ft clarity
45.1 mi · Ste. Genevieve County · 9.9 ft clarity
46 mi · Warren County · 5 ft clarity
46.1 mi · Warren County · 3.8 ft clarity
46.9 mi · Warren County · 6 ft clarity
Lakes Near Other Cities
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes are near St. Louis?
There are 48 lakes with water-quality readings on record within 50 miles of St. Louis, Missouri. 10 of them have a recorded public access point and 42 have a clarity reading.
What are the best lakes near St. Louis for fishing?
0 lakes near St. Louis have documented fish species data. The best fishing lakes combine favourable water-quality readings with diverse fish populations. 0 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.
Where to stay near St. Louis
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.