Best Lakes Near St. Louis, MO
48 lakes within 50 miles of St. Louis ranked by water quality grade.
St. Louis sits in a lake-rich part of the upper Midwest: 48 graded lakes within reach, average grade C. Lake Wauwanoka (A) leads the cluster.
The lakes below are sorted by overall letter grade. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Wauwanoka | 32.9 mi | Jefferson | A | - | 0 |
| Sherwood Lake | 42.6 mi | Warren | A | - | 0 |
| Goose Creek Lake | 45.1 mi | Ste. Genevieve | A | - | 0 |
| Whippoorwill Lake | 46 mi | Warren | A | - | 0 |
| Aspen Lake Along Southern Arm | 46.1 mi | Warren | A | - | 0 |
| Castlenovo Lake | 46.9 mi | Warren | A | - | 0 |
| Innsbrook Lake | 47.1 mi | Warren | A | - | 0 |
| Lincoln Lake | 47.4 mi | Lincoln | A | - | 0 |
| Timberline Lakes | 47.6 mi | St. Francois | A | - | 0 |
| Lake Konstanz | 48.1 mi | Warren | A | - | 0 |
| Alpine Lake | 48.3 mi | Warren | A | - | 0 |
| Lake Lucern | 47.5 mi | Warren | B | - | 0 |
| Lake Tishomingo | 30.5 mi | Jefferson | C | - | 0 |
| L Ste Louise Lake | 34.1 mi | St. Charles | C | - | 0 |
| Lake Eleanor | 41.9 mi | Warren | C | - | 0 |
| Sugar Hollow Lake | 42.1 mi | Warren | C | - | 0 |
| Red Fox Lake | 45.7 mi | Warren | C | - | 0 |
| Fawn Lake | 49.5 mi | Franklin | C | - | 0 |
| Lafayette Park Lake | 1.2 mi | St. Louis city | D | - | 0 |
| Forest Park Pond | 4.7 mi | St. Louis city | D | - | 0 |
| Boathouse Lake | 5.8 mi | St. Louis city | D | - | 0 |
| Simpson Park Lake | 15.2 mi | St. Louis | D | - | 0 |
| Lake Serene | 34.9 mi | Franklin | D | - | 0 |
| Callaway Fork Lake | 36.5 mi | St. Charles | D | - | 0 |
| Robin Hood Lake | 42.6 mi | Warren | D | - | 0 |
| Greenfield Lake | 49.3 mi | Greene | D | - | 0 |
| Koeneman Park Lake | 8.3 mi | St. Louis | F | - | 0 |
| Spanish Lake | 12 mi | St. Louis | F | - | 0 |
| Creve Coeur Lake | 16.3 mi | St. Louis | F | - | 0 |
| Mallard Lake | 16.8 mi | St. Louis | F | - | 0 |
| Fon-du-Lac Reservoir | 17.4 mi | Jefferson | F | - | 0 |
| Holiday Shores Lake | 24.9 mi | Madison | F | - | 0 |
| Slm Side Channel Lake | 27.9 mi | St. Clair | F | - | 0 |
| Highland Silver Lake | 30 mi | Madison | F | - | 0 |
| Sparta Northwest Lake | 42.4 mi | Randolph | F | - | 0 |
| Coulterville Lake | 43.1 mi | Randolph | F | - | 0 |
| Loveless Lake | 45.3 mi | Macoupin | F | - | 0 |
| Governor Bond Lake | 48.9 mi | Bond | F | - | 0 |
| Nashville City Lake | 49.3 mi | Washington | F | - | 0 |
| Carlyle Lake | 49.9 mi | Clinton | F | - | 0 |
| O'Fallon Park Lake | 3.8 mi | St. Louis city | NR | - | 0 |
| Jefferson Lake | 3.8 mi | St. Louis city | NR | - | 0 |
| Tilles Park Reservoir | 8.9 mi | St. Louis | NR | - | 0 |
| Bee Tree Lake | 16.7 mi | St. Louis | NR | - | 0 |
| Lake St Louis | 32.8 mi | St. Charles | NR | - | 0 |
| Kruse Lake | 33 mi | St. Charles | NR | - | 0 |
| Marion Reservoir | 35.1 mi | Franklin | NR | - | 0 |
| Cole Lake | 46.5 mi | Jefferson | NR | - | 0 |
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Top-Rated Lakes Near St. Louis
32.9 mi · Jefferson County · Grade A
42.6 mi · Warren County · Grade A
45.1 mi · Ste. Genevieve County · Grade A
46 mi · Warren County · Grade A
46.1 mi · Warren County · Grade A
46.9 mi · Warren County · Grade A
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes are near St. Louis?
There are 48 graded lakes within 50 miles of St. Louis, Missouri. 11 of these have an A water quality grade (excellent).
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 good water quality grades with diverse fish populations. 0 lakes within 50 miles have 5 or more documented fish species.
Where to stay near St. Louis
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near St. Louis — book a place close to the best-rated lakes in the area.
Top-rated places to stay near St. Louis
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Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.