Lake Tahoe has emerged as America’s most sought-after lake destination for the summer season, according to a study by vacation rental platform Lake.com. The analysis examined Google search data across 28 popular North American lakes, focusing on visit intent terms such as “visit [lake]”, “best time to visit [lake]”, and “when to visit [lake]”.
Peak destinations and monthly search averages
Lake Tahoe recorded an average of 4,715 visit intent searches per month, nearly triple the volume of second-placed Crater Lake in Oregon.
| Lake | State(s) | Peak month (visit intent searches) | Average monthly visit intent searches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Tahoe | California, Nevada | July (6,440) | 4,715 |
| Crater Lake | Oregon | July (3,290) | 1,584 |
| Lake George | New York | July (1,470) | 648 |
| Lake of the Ozarks | Missouri | July (1,440) | 300 |
| Lake Michigan | Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois | July and September (430 each) | 269 |
| Lake Superior | Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota | July (310) | 129 |
| Lake Champlain | New York, Vermont | July (170) | 44 |
| Flathead Lake | Montana | May and July (90 each) | 43 |
| Lake Okeechobee | Florida | July (110) | 35 |
| Lake Ontario | New York | July (110) | 27 |
Seasonal shifts: July to Autumn
July stands out as the peak month for lake tourism nationwide, followed closely by August and June.
- Lake Tahoe: Climbs to 6,440 searches in July (up from 5,010 in April and May), followed by 5,870 in August.
- Crater Lake: Reaches 3,290 searches in July before hitting its lowest point of 780 in October.
- Lake George: Surges to 1,470 searches in July and maintains 1,090 in August.
- Lake of the Ozarks: Spikes to 1,440 in July and 370 in June, dropping to a low of 80 searches in both October and November.
Geographic search patterns
When adjusting search interest per 100,000 residents
| Rank | State | Visit intent searches per 100,000 residents | Total visit intent searches (monthly avg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon | 10.89 | 461 |
| 2 | Vermont | 9.14 | 59 |
| 3 | Nevada | 7.17 | 229 |
| 4 | South Dakota | 6.89 | 63 |
| 5 | Delaware | 6.70 | 69 |
| 6 | Wyoming | 6.56 | 38 |
| 7 | North Dakota | 6.38 | 50 |
| 8 | Montana | 6.03 | 68 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | 5.17 | 57 |
| 10 | Maine | 5.13 | 72 |
Industry insights
David Ciccarelli, CEO of Lake.com, commented on the findings: “The overwhelming interest in Lake Tahoe is particularly notable, with nearly triple the searches of the second-highest-searched lake. Visitors planning a trip to Lake Tahoe this summer should book as early as possible, as rentals, accommodations, and activities are more likely to sell out or see prices rise than at any other lake destination. However, what is interesting is that there seems to be a lull in searches around the September and October period. These are still fantastic months to visit these popular lakes, but will likely be a lot quieter and more relaxed, and relatively more affordable too.”
The study was conducted by Lake.com, which lists 75,000 waterfront properties across North America and Europe.