A new study has revealed the optimal times to visit major lakes across the US based on visitor satisfaction. The research, by vacation rental platform Lake.com, analysed five-star reviews on Tripadvisor for numerous popular lakes, focusing on reviews that specifically mentioned recent visits to avoid skewing results by posting dates.
July leads the pack
July emerged as the standout month, recording the highest volume of five-star reviews across the lakes studied, with August and September following as the next most favourable periods. The study examined both the best month and the single best week for each lake, based on the concentration of top reviews, giving travellers data-driven insight into when visitors report the most impressive experiences.
Lakes peaking in July include Yellowstone Lake in Wyoming, Flathead Lake in Montana, Moosehead Lake in Maine, and many others. August proved best for 12 lakes, while September led for eight. February, by contrast, recorded zero lakes with the highest volume of five-star reviews, making it the least popular time to visit.
The week of 8th–14th July saw the highest concentration of five-star reviews for nine lakes, with the preceding week, 1st–7th July, also performing strongly.
Best month and week by lake
| Lake | State(s) | Best month | Best week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flathead Lake | Montana | July | 8th–14th July |
| Lake Ouachita | Arkansas | August | 29th July – 4th August |
| Lake Chelan | Washington | July | 8th–14th July |
| Table Rock Lake | Missouri/Arkansas | June | 10th–16th June |
| Moosehead Lake | Maine | July | 8th–14th July |
| Lake Tahoe | California/Nevada | September | 30th September – 6th October |
| Cayuga Lake | New York | July | 1st–7th July |
| Seneca Lake | New York | August | 12th–18th August |
| Lake Michigan | Michigan/Wisconsin/Indiana/Illinois | October | 7th–13th October |
| Lake George | New York | August | 12th–18th August |
| Yellowstone Lake | Wyoming | July | 1st–7th July |
| Bear Lake | Utah/Idaho | July | 1st–7th July |
| Lake Ontario | New York | August | 5th–11th August |
| Lake Champlain | New York/Vermont | August | 1st–7th July |
| Lake Mead | Nevada/Arizona | April | 1st–7th April |
| Lake Norman | North Carolina | July | 27th May – 2nd June |
| Lake Kissimmee | Florida | January | 8th–14th January |
| Great Salt Lake | Utah | September | 16th–22nd September |
| Lake Pontchartrain | Louisiana | July | 1st–7th July |
| Lake Livingston | Texas | June | 15th–21st April |
| Lake Guntersville | Alabama | July | 29th July – 4th August |
| Lake Hartwell | South Carolina/Georgia | September | 9th–15th September |
| Leech Lake | Minnesota | July | 8th–14th July |
| Lake Winnipesaukee | New Hampshire | August | 19th–25th August |
| Lake Cumberland | Kentucky | August | 29th July – 4th August |
| Elephant Butte Lake | New Mexico | July | 24th–30th June |
| Salton Sea | California | April | 26th February – 3rd March |
| Lake Pend Oreille | Idaho | August | 8th–14th July |
| Lake of the Ozarks | Missouri | July | 2nd–8th September |
| Lake Murray | South Carolina | September | 22nd–28th April |
| Lake St. Clair | Michigan | September | 21st–27th October |
| Lake Martin | Alabama | August | 17th–23rd June |
| Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees | Oklahoma | July | 1st–7th July |
| Lake Dardanelle | Arkansas | May | 19th–25th August |
| Norris Lake | Tennessee | July | 29th July – 4th August |
| Grenada Lake | Mississippi | July | 25th–31st March |
| Wheeler Lake | Alabama | July | 1st–7th July |
| Lake Okeechobee | Florida | January | 5th–11th August |
| Bull Shoals Lake | Arkansas/Missouri | July | 8th–14th July |
| Pyramid Lake | Nevada | July | 1st–7th October |
| Rainy Lake | Minnesota | July | 29th July – 4th August |
| Fort Peck Lake | Montana | July | July 15th–21st |
| Clear Lake | California | April | February 12th–18th |
| Mille Lacs Lake | Minnesota | July | 30th September – 6th October |
| Lake Tawakoni | Texas | July | 8th–14th July |
| Lake Marion | South Carolina | April | 8th–14th April |
| Lake Mattamuskeet | North Carolina | December | 15th–21st January |
| Lake Powell | Utah/Arizona | November | 18th–24th March |
| Lake Texoma | Texas/Oklahoma | June | 30th September – 6th October 6th |
| Devils Lake | North Dakota | July | 5th–11th August |
| Eufaula Lake | Oklahoma | November | 13th–20th November |
| Lake Barkley | Kentucky/Tennessee | July | 4th–11th November |
| Lake Superior | Michigan/Wisconsin/Minnesota | September | 16th–22nd December |
| Lake Erie | Ohio/Pennsylvania/New York | September | 12th–18th August |
| Naknek Lake | Alaska | July | 15th–21st July |
| Pickwick Lake | Tennessee/Alabama/Mississippi | July | 18th–24th March |
| Lake Huron | Michigan | August | 12th–18th August |
| Lake Vermilion | Minnesota | August | 29th July – 4th August |
| Lake Lanier | Georgia | May | 6th–12th May |
| Sam Rayburn Reservoir | Texas | June | 8th–14th July |
| Lake Clark | Alaska | August | 12th–18th August |
| Lake Koocanusa | Montana | March | 11th–17th March |
| Lake Sakakawea | North Dakota | September | 16th–22nd September |
| Iliamna Lake | Alaska | July | 8th–14th July |
| Oneida Lake | New York | October | 13th–19th May |
| Kerr Lake | Virginia/North Carolina | June | 3rd–9th June |
| Lake Winnebago | Wisconsin | June | 3rd–9th June |
| Richland-Chambers Reservoir | Texas | June | 3rd–9th June |
Peak months by the numbers
| Month | Number of lakes |
|---|---|
| January | 2 |
| February | 0 |
| March | 1 |
| April | 4 |
| May | 2 |
| June | 7 |
| July | 27 |
| August | 12 |
| September | 8 |
| October | 2 |
| November | 2 |
| December | 1 |
Industry insight
David Ciccarelli, CEO of Lake.com, commented on the findings: “America is home to some of the most beautiful lakes in the world, and ultimately, you could go any day of the year and be blown away, but what this study offers is an insight into when visitors are impressed the most.”
Ciccarelli continued: “This then serves as a guide for those planning trips to some of these great lakes as to the best time of the year to do so and where your money that you spend on a trip will be the best spent. Equally, for locals, if you have spare time in the weeks that these lakes get the best reviews, it’s worth visiting to see it for yourself.”
Ciccarelli added: “What stands out is how heavily July dominates, with nearly 40% of all lakes peaking in that single month. But there are some genuinely surprising outliers. Lake Michigan, one of the Great Lakes, peaks in October, and both of Florida’s lakes in the study peak in January, which shows that the best lake experience is not always about summer sunshine.”
Ciccarelli noted: “However, this study doesn’t just highlight when to visit the lake, but offers more insight into general travel planning. Prices could be higher around these times as demand is understandably high, so planning your trip in advance is key so that you can experience these lakes at their best without needing to spend too much on nearby rentals or gas.”
Lake.com offers 75,000 properties near the water across North America and Europe, specialising in lakeside vacation rentals for families.
The findings provide practical guidance for travellers seeking peak experiences at US lakes while highlighting seasonal variations that can influence planning, from weather expectations to potential crowds and costs.