Summer Fun

One of the best lakes in America is in New England, according to USA Today readers

It was also named one of the best lakes in the nation for water sports.

A sailboat on Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont in 2019. Stan Grossfeld / The Boston Globe

By Kristi Palma

June 13, 2024

1 minute to read

Lake life doesn’t get much better than on Lake Champlain, according to USA Today readers.

This is the only U.S. city that is happier than Boston, according to a new report

The publication released a list of the 10 best lakes in America on Wednesday, part of its 2024 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, and Lake Champlain in Vermont and New York ranked No. 8.

“Lakes across the United States have plenty to offer for those who enjoy the great outdoors,” wrote USA Today. “From fishing and boating to swimming and camping, you can enjoy scenic views, wildlife, water sports, and fresh air and sunshine.”

Here is what USA Today wrote about Lake Champlain:

Vermont is renowned for its sprawling mountain ranges, and the state is no stranger to gorgeous water features either. Case in point: Lake Champlain, a massive body of water that runs 107 miles along the New York-Vermont border. In terms of urban exploration, Burlington is a particularly popular drinking and dining destination on the Champlain shore, while there’s a wealth of parks and islands for nature lovers to explore as well.
USA Today’s 10Best

The No. 1 lake in the nation is Lake Erie in New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, according to USA Today readers.

Lake Champlain also made the publication’s list of 10 best lakes for water sports, ranking No. 9 (Lake Erie was No. 1 on this list as well).

The publication wrote the following about watersports on Lake Champlain: “Using the charming town of Burlington as a base, newcomers can get accustomed to the Champlain shore atop a rental kayak or spend their day further out on a boat, enjoying water skiing, tubing, or wakeboarding.”

For the 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards lists, USA Today travel experts select 20 nominees in topics from food to lodging, destinations to things to do. Then the publication asks readers to cast votes to determine the top 10.

Check out the list of 10 best lakes in America.

Kristi Palma

Travel writer

Kristi Palma is the travel writer for Boston.com, focusing on the six New England states. She covers airlines, hotels, and things to do across Boston and New England. She is the author of the award-winning Scenic Six, a weekly travel newsletter.