Most Popular Lakes To Visit This Season

The most popular lakes for visitors this season

Lake Tahoe is the most in-demand lake destination in America to visit this summer, recording an average of 4,715 visit-intent searches per month, which is nearly three times the 1,584 searches per month recorded for second-placed Crater Lake in Oregon.

Lake George in New York ranks third with 648 monthly searches, followed by Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri at 300, and Lake Michigan at 269.

US states ranked by lake visit-intent searches per 100,000 residents

When the busiest months will be

Across all of the lakes assessed, July is predicted to be the single busiest month of the year for footfall based on searches. Lake Tahoe’s visit-intent searches reach 6,440 in July, up from 5,010 in April and May.

Crater Lake sees its peak in July, also, with 3,290 visit-intent searches compared to just 780 in the quietest month of October.

Lake George hits its high point in July at 1,470 searches, and Lake of the Ozarks surges to 1,440 in July from an average of around 200 to 370 in the quieter months of the year.

August follows July as the second busiest month for the top destinations. Lake Tahoe sees 5,870 visit-intent searches in August — only slightly behind July — while Lake George records 1,090 in August compared to 1,470 in July. June also features prominently as a peak month, particularly for Lake of the Ozarks, where June is the second busiest month with 370 searches.

By contrast, November and October represent the quietest period for most lakes. Lake of the Ozarks drops to just 80 visit-intent searches in both October and November, while Crater Lake falls to its lowest point of 780 searches in October. For lake tourism operators and visitors alike, this data provides a clear picture of when properties near these destinations will face the highest demand — and, for savvy travelers, which months offer the best chance of a quieter experience.

Which states are most interested in visiting lakes

When adjusted for population size, Oregon is the state where residents are most interested in visiting a lake. Vermont ranks second at 9.14 per 100,000 searches, followed by Nevada at 7.17, South Dakota at 6.89, and Delaware at 6.70.

In raw volume terms, however, California generates the most lake visit searches nationally, with 1,897 visit-intent searches per month, followed by Texas at 770.

David Ciccarelli, CEO of Lake.com, commented on the findings: “If you’re planning a vacation, particularly if you live in a metro area, visiting one of America’s lakes is the perfect getaway with lots to do but with a backdrop unlike any other.

The overwhelming interest in Lake Tahoe is particularly interesting with nearly triple the searches of the second-highest searched lake. If visiting Lake Tahoe this summer, you will need to plan ahead much more than any other lake destination, as rentals, accommodations, and activities could likely sell out or see prices rise.

However, what is interesting is that there seems to be a lull in searches around the September and October point. These are still fantastic months to visit these popular lakes, but will likely be a lot quieter and relaxed, and relatively more affordable too.”