15 Affordable Lake Vacations Everyone Should Take

The best kind of late summer vacation.

Hannah Wong / BuzzFeed

When talking about summer vacations, lake destinations are highly underrated and often get left out of the conversation. To change this, we asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us about their favorite lake getaways. Here are their responses:

1. Lake Gaston, North Carolina

Jrayupchurch / Getty Images

"Beautiful quiet coves and a killer main lake make it easy for people of every age to fall in love with this place. And it’s on the state line so you can swim from one state to the next in a single afternoon."

—gillianc434417c9e

2. Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

Instagram: @reneeashphoto

"This lake is a dream! Perfect for everything from boating, tubing, and kayaking to camping and fishing."

—tripleowl152

3. Lake Tahoe, California

Boogich / Getty Images

"The largest alpine lake in North America, Lake Tahoe is known for its amazingly clear water. It's also surrounded by a plethora of outdoor activities year-round and plays host to amazing events like hot August nights, Shakespeare Festival, and an outdoor obstacle."

—deannar437b546cd

4. Skaneateles Lake, New York

instagram.com

"Featuring the beautiful village of Skaneateles at one end, and peaceful serenity at the other, Skaneateles Lake has water so clean that nearby towns such as Syracuse use its unfiltered water as a drinking source."

—andrews4ed60b2a6

5. Sleeping Bear Dunes, Lake Michigan

Smontgom65 / Getty Images

"It’s such a beautiful lake, and rarely crowded wherever part of the lake you happen to be."

—tffnyfearn

6. Lake Lure, North Carolina

Jilllang / Getty Images

"Their Flowering Bridge looks like something out of a fairy tale! Plus, they filmed part of 'Dirty Dancing' at the lake."

—hannahisheretoplaypokemon

7. Rice Lake, Ontario, Canada

instagram.com

"Rice Lake has the best sunsets I have ever seen!"

—katelynv4c6cc2ad8

8. Beaver Lake, Arkansas

Serrhel / Getty Images

"The Ozarks are beautiful and the water is so clear you can see nearly 100 feet down. Plus Eureka Springs is nearby so you can get your artsy shopping fix if you want."

—meghane4cf3d47d8

9. Little Crater Lake, Oregon

instagram.com

"Not to be confused with the *actual* Crater Lake which is a totally different place, this little lake is a tiny thing — more of a pond really — but it's stunning. The water is this brilliant green-blue color that's downright tropical-looking that you can see through, all the way to the bottom. The area is full of cool hiking trails and campgrounds too, as well as a load of other lakes just a short drive away."

—ilikeaffenpinschers

10. Deep Creek Lake, Maryland

Rpernell / Getty Images

"There's so much to do (like rafting and boating around the lake), and the houses are extremely beautiful. The sunsets and sunrises are also amazing to watch."

—shaymj3133

11. Lake Whiskeytown, California

giav41cc6e5b0

"Water is as smooth as glass. Also, it has a fun name!"

—giav41cc6e5b0

12. Lake Murray, South Carolina

instagram.com

"It’s so large, there's always something new to explore. In some areas you feel like you are completely away from it all, while in others you can explore bars and restaurants galore. There’s also a state park on the lake if you prefer camping over a rental home."

—mlansburg

13. Lake Superior, Tettegouche State Park, Minnesota

Nikitsin / Getty Images

"It’s on Lake Superior on the North Shore in Minnesota, which is absolutely stunning and reminds me of the ocean. You can’t always see the other side and when it storms it crashes hard against the cliffs."

—Jenna Ballinger

14. Lake George, New York

Jennifer Mathews / Getty Images

"It’s the queen of American lakes. It’s kept clean because it's the surrounding towns' water supply. In the summer, you can picnic on the islands in the lakes, jet ski, parasail, or just enjoy the water."

—BakerStGirl

15. Wallowa Lake, Oregon

Garysfrp / Getty Images

"Wallowa Lake in Oregon is a pretty little lake, that is often overshadowed by Crater Lake. Wallowa Lake offers camping and a resort, as well as the opportunity to paddle boat, swim, or take a tram to a trail where you can see mountains in four states."

—Cherryll Batty, Facebook

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