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Lauren Dana Ellman
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A new study ranked Chickamauga Lake in Tennessee first, followed by Chicago’s Lake Michigan shoreline and Florida’s Winter Haven Chain of Lakes.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/TAL-chickamauga-lake-tennessee-USLAKEGETAWAY1026-d50f24d7036e4c5e8fee89c1b72c0481.jpg "Sunrise over Chickamauga Lake in southeastern Tennessee.Credit: Darren Koobs/Adobe Stock")
Sunrise over Chickamauga Lake in southeastern Tennessee.
Credit: Darren Koobs/Adobe Stock
A weekend away doesn’t have to involve plane tickets or a long road trip. In fact, a new study found that nearly three-quarters of the nation’s largest metro areas have a lake getaway within a two-hour drive, making a few days by the water easier to plan than you might think.
The findings come from vacation-rental platform Lake.com, which ranked the best drive-to lake destinations nationwide. To create the analysis, the platform developed a Drive-To Index that considered travel time, vacation-rental availability, and the estimated cost of a weekend stay. The study put the median weekend cost at $1,408 for a family of four, including lodging, transportation, groceries, and activities. Keep in mind these figures are estimates, not actual booking prices, and costs can vary by travel dates, accommodations, and activities.
And while popular destinations such as Lake Tahoe and Lake George might come to mind when planning a lakeside vacation, neither claimed the top spot. Chickamauga Lake near Chattanooga, Tennessee, earned that honor with a score of 92.8 out of 100.
Located along the Tennessee River, Chickamauga Lake is known for boating and fishing. It also boasts hundreds of miles of shoreline—about 800 miles, to be exact. Beyond the water, there’s also plenty of hiking and biking trails. Alternatively, visitors can head into nearby Chattanooga—known for its mountain scenery, Civil War history, and vibrant arts scene to explore the Tennessee Aquarium or grab a bite downtown.
Chicago’s Lake Michigan shoreline took second place, with beaches, waterfront parks, and the city’s popular Lakefront Trail all within easy reach. In third was Central Florida’s Winter Haven Chain of Lakes, where a series of connected lakes makes it easy to spend a weekend boating, kayaking, or fishing.
Overall, Florida had the most destinations in the top 10, with Lake Dora and Lake Tarpon joining the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes farther down the rankings. Notably absent, however, were destinations in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest, as well as lake-heavy states like Minnesota and Wisconsin.
See the full ranking below.
Sunrise over Chickamauga Lake in southeastern Tennessee.
Credit: Darren Koobs/Adobe Stock
A weekend away doesn’t have to involve plane tickets or a long road trip. In fact, a new study found that nearly three-quarters of the nation’s largest metro areas have a lake getaway within a two-hour drive, making a few days by the water easier to plan than you might think.
The findings come from vacation-rental platform Lake.com, which ranked the best drive-to lake destinations nationwide. To create the analysis, the platform developed a Drive-To Index that considered travel time, vacation-rental availability, and the estimated cost of a weekend stay. The study put the median weekend cost at $1,408 for a family of four, including lodging, transportation, groceries, and activities. Keep in mind these figures are estimates, not actual booking prices, and costs can vary by travel dates, accommodations, and activities.
And while popular destinations such as Lake Tahoe and Lake George might come to mind when planning a lakeside vacation, neither claimed the top spot. Chickamauga Lake near Chattanooga, Tennessee, earned that honor with a score of 92.8 out of 100.
Located along the Tennessee River, Chickamauga Lake is known for boating and fishing. It also boasts hundreds of miles of shoreline—about 800 miles, to be exact. Beyond the water, there’s also plenty of hiking and biking trails. Alternatively, visitors can head into nearby Chattanooga—known for its mountain scenery, Civil War history, and vibrant arts scene to explore the Tennessee Aquarium or grab a bite downtown.
Chicago’s Lake Michigan shoreline took second place, with beaches, waterfront parks, and the city’s popular Lakefront Trail all within easy reach. In third was Central Florida’s Winter Haven Chain of Lakes, where a series of connected lakes makes it easy to spend a weekend boating, kayaking, or fishing.
Overall, Florida had the most destinations in the top 10, with Lake Dora and Lake Tarpon joining the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes farther down the rankings. Notably absent, however, were destinations in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest, as well as lake-heavy states like Minnesota and Wisconsin.
See the full ranking below.
- Chickamauga Lake, TN
- Lake Michigan, IL
- Winter Haven Chain of Lakes, FL
- Ross Barnett Reservoir, MS
- Beaver Lake, AR
- Lake Pueblo, CO
- Lake Dora, FL
- Lake Tarpon, FL
- Lake Pontchartrain, LA
- Lake Mead, NV