Prior to the 20th century, the lake was only a focus for fishermen and marine life enthusiasts. But these days, most of the lakes are owned by state parks, have their own small but vibrant cities, and attract millions of tourists and visitors to their sandy beaches each year.
One of the many reasons people climb the bridge is to enjoy the beautiful view of the blue sea dancing below, or to hear the soothing roar of the waves if the hustle and bustle of traffic is uninterrupted.
It’s no wonder that the lakefront, away from bustling towns, congested populations, and stress-inducing traffic jams, is often a well-known retreat.
Most road trips in the US require at least one coastline. What about those who spent their time driving only the coastline? If you want to drive to resorts, museums, campgrounds and even mountains, why not take a lakeside car trip?
Below is a list of 10 perfect and beautiful lakeside road trips that visitors should consider when planning their next trip/vacation.
10/10 Crater Lakeside Road Trip
Oregon’s deep blue waters, Crater Lake, towers majestically in south-central Oregon in the western United States.
The lake is 1,943 feet deep, making it the deepest lake in the United States. To reach the bottom of the lake you need a submersible. So the excitement is on the surface, not on the bottom.
The ancient tree stump known as Crater Old Man is the first of many surface attractions. A tree stump is not tied or fastened to anything, but stands upright. Another big attraction is the volcanic island. The island looks like a battleship, but is made of 400,000-year-old erosion-resistant lava. Tourists love to hike its summit. Crater Lake isn’t just for summer. Snow can reach up to 43 feet during the winter months from November to April!
9/10 California and Nevada Lake Tahoe Road Trip
The freshwater body of Lake Tahoe lies between California and Nevada, Carson City, and North America. At 1,645 feet deep, it is her second largest lake in the United States.
Mountains surround Lake Tahoe on all sides. The area around Lake Tahoe is at its busiest in winter, with 15 ski resorts in the area. Visitors can hike the snowy trails, snowboard, ride snowmobiles, and participate in other winter sports. The area also has lakeside casinos, restaurants, and golf courses.
8/10 Finger Lakes, Lakeside Road Trip
The Finger Lakes consist of 11 lakes that were previously inundated by glaciers. These lakes cover most of New York State and extend south to the Pennsylvania border. Waterfalls, natural pools, gouges, star parks, breweries, cider houses, and more are some of the area’s attractions.
Good news for wine lovers. According to Travel and Treasure, the Finger Lake Region has hundreds of wineries and tasting rooms. The area has restaurants and hundreds of resorts, and the small Finger Lakes town of Ithaca is home to famous Cornell University. The Finger Lakes region is too large to cover in one day. Day trip tourists should focus around Lake Seneca and Cayuga.
7/10 Walden Pond, Lakeside Massachusetts Road Trip
Located in the middle of Boston, Walden Pond is a small lake where environmental activist David Thoreau once lived alone in a small cabin. Open trails leading to quiet places take visitors back to his peaceful days in the 1800s. David Thoreau’s original cabin no longer exists, but the replica still stands in the reserve and remains in awe of visitors. This reserve is great for relaxation and may not be for thrill seekers.
6/10 Table Rock, Lakeside Road Trip, Missouri
Table Rock Lake is in the center of Table Rock State Park in the Ozarks, Southern Missouri. A nearby trout farm, Hills Fish Hatchery, offers tours for interested visitors/tourists. Table Rock Park has a marina where you can rent water sports equipment, from ski boats to paddle boards, watercraft and kayaks. Land-based activities include hiking, biking on paved trails, or mountain biking trails if you’re looking for adventure.
Picnic sites dotted around the lakeshore are perfect for family gatherings and vacations. After his activity-filled day, you can grab a burger at one of the calmer restaurants in the area.
5/10 Lake Chelan, Road Trip, Washington
There are dozens of trails around Lake Chelan, making it one of the best places for hiking. Centered on Lake Chelan, the 25-mile Creek State Park has a marina. Tourists can head out here to explore the deep blue waters of Lake Chelan.
Other activities include bird watching, water skiing, fishing, boat launching, scuba diving and shellfish harvesting.
4/10 Lake Washington Road Trip, Washington
Lake Washington is a freshwater lake near the city of Seattle. The Cedar River empties into the lake in the south and into the Shamish River in the north. According to Wikipedia, Lake Washington is 22 miles long and is the largest lake in King County. While taking a boat cruise, visitors can catch a glimpse of Mouse-her-Rainer or stop by Seward-his Park, less than a mile away.
3/10 Lake Havasu Road Trip, Arizona
The waters of Lake Havasu in western Arizona witness more parties than any other beach in the region. Every spring, college students arrive in droves and hold boat parties until midnight.
From March to September, boaters flock to enjoy professional fishing tournaments, international jet ski finals, boat regattas, Havasu 95 Speedway and more.
2/10 Lake Michigan Road Trip, Wisconsin
Lake Michigan covers over 1,600 miles of shoreline and more beaches than any other lake in the state.
Attractions around the lake include Wild Rolling Dunes in Northern Indiana, Door Peninsula in Wisconsin and Traverse City. Hiking activities include waterside hiking trails along the National Lakeshore.
1/10 Great Lakes Road Trip
Brittanica highlights that the Great Lakes of North America are made up of five freshwater lakes. These lakes include Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. They are connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the Saint Lawrence River.
According to Wikipedia, the lake contains about 35,000 islands. The largest of these is Lake Huron Manitoulin Island. The larger islands, the Great Lakes, are large enough to accommodate lakes.
The Great Lakes Basin contains thousands of small lakes known as inland lakes. Lakes play an important role in transportation, fishing and freight.
Road trips dent your heart instead of punching a hole in your pocket. Road trips are not only unique and relaxing, but they also offer tourists the opportunity to learn about the local culture, and many tours familiarize visitors with unfamiliar areas.
