Updated July 2026
Wakesurfing in Illinois
16 Illinois lakes rated for wakesurf suitability on measured depth and surface area. Each one also carries an A–F water-quality grade, so you can pick water that is both rideable and clean.
- 16 rated lakes
- 4 Excellent
Excellent
4
Good
4
Fair
6
Limited
2
Not suitable
0
Rated lakes
| Lake | Suitability | Max depth | Surface area | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlyle Lake · Clinton County | Excellent | — | 24,580 ac | No |
| Decatur Lake · Macon County | Excellent | — | 3,335 ac | No |
| Kinkaid Lake · Jackson County | Excellent | — | 2,500 ac | No |
| Lake Springfield · Sangamon County | Excellent | — | 4,224 ac | No |
| Governor Bond Lake · Bond County | Good | — | 900 ac | No |
| Lake of Egypt · Williamson County | Good | — | 2,265 ac | No |
| Lou Yaeger Lake · Montgomery County | Good | — | 1,410 ac | No |
| Mattoon Lake · Cumberland County | Good | — | 980 ac | No |
| Centralia Lake · Marion County | Fair | — | 300 ac | No |
| Holiday Shores Lake · Madison County | Fair | — | 345 ac | No |
| Jacksonville Lake · Morgan County | Fair | — | 477 ac | No |
| Otter Lake · Macoupin County | Fair | — | 760 ac | No |
| Raccoon Lake · Marion County | Fair | — | 730 ac | No |
| Sara Lake · Effingham County | Fair | — | 586 ac | No |
| Mauvaise Terre Lake · Morgan County | Limited | — | 262 ac | No |
| Round Lake · Lake County | Limited | — | 242 ac | No |
Also in Illinois
4 more Illinois water bodies appear in the wakesurf inventory but are not yet in the LakeQuality graded dataset, so they have no detail page. They are listed here for completeness and are queued for the next data pull.
- Fox Chain O'lakes
- Lake Shelbyville
- Skokie Lagoon 5 Lake · Cook County
- Skokie Lagoon 6 Lake · Cook County
Where to stay near Illinois lakes
Top-rated places to stay near Illinois lakes
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