San Diego Lakes

Lakes Around San Diego

The weather is warm so it’s time to start planning your upcoming family vacation. There aren’t many better options than a lake near San Diego. A stay at a lake is amazing for people who love the outdoors too, because they offer opportunities to take in the local scenery and all that nature has to offer.

There are countless great motivations to visit a lake in San Diego while it’s hot outside – the water is refreshing on hot days, relaxing summer activities like paddle boarding, kayaking, or swimming. Some of the lakes in San Diego have beaches you can enjoy while building sandcastles with the family. Don’t you deserve an enjoyable getaway? Load up the car with your fishing gear and a picnic basket then hit the road on your next vacation and discover a brand new number one location on a lake!

Lakes Close to San Diego

Lake Activities

When you visit a lake near San Diego you’ll find all kinds of activities that can be enjoyed by groups of all types. You could go for an exciting day trip or decide to stay overnight to a hotel or AirBnB to make the most of your time unwinding.

Every getaway on or in the water offers you all the options from partying to restful bliss.

Partake in some delicious delights outside. San Diego’s lakes gives you the chance to visit many great picnic areas partake in the enjoyment of your favorite culinary delights, or a quick snack by the water. For a romantic evening, a picnic on the beach should put a smile on their face.

Go fishing. For anglers, you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding a good fishing spot to help you have a relaxing day with a line in the water whether you’re out on a boat or fishing from shore.

Swimming. Finding a swimming lake near San Diego will offer all kinds of laughs and games for the youngsters, or all the physical activity that an exercise junky could want in between getting that perfect golden tan. If you want to spend time swimming and on the beach you’ll want to be sure your lake has a sandy beach and a designated swimming area before you make the trip! Admit it, even the nicest swimming pool doesn’t offer as much to do as a magnificent public beach on a lake near San Diego!

Checklist for a Day at the Lake

A day at the lake can honestly be all over the map when you take into consideration which lake you’re going to, the time of year, the weather, and the activities on your to-do list. However, we’ve put together a list of popular lake and beach-related items that you can use as a checklist prior to locking up the house and heading out.

General items

For a day spent on the water you will likely need to bring along some of these items to make sure you’re feeling good, healthy, and getting the most out of your getaway.

  • Towels
  • Plates, cups and utensils
  • Cords and a charger for portable devices
  • A sunhat or glasses
  • UV protection
  • Plastic grocery bags (for trash and/or wet clothes)
  • Food and snacks
  • Sweatshirt and sweatpants
  • Cooler, ice, beverages (always remember water!)
  • Radio or speaker

Specialty lake items

The following items might prove useful for getaways to the lake depending on what your plans are. It’s also worth checking so you’re not missing something critical.

  • Your favorite magazine or book
  • Bait
  • Beach toys (buckets, shovels, football, frisbee, etc.)
  • Inflatable pool toys
  • Diapers (if a baby’s on board)
  • Goggles or masks
  • Legal flotation devices
  • Wine key
  • Fishing poles, nets, etc.
  • Your tackle box

Lake Safety Tips

While it’s easy to get lost in a fun day at a lake near San Diego, safety should be top of mind. The following safety protocols should ensure that everyone are always safe while around the lake.

  • Have an emergency plan if you run into trouble on your watercraft
  • Avoid swimming near rocks or shallow water areas that may not be deep enough to dive underneath and escape from waves
  • Always swim with a buddy
  • Keep children within arm’s reach at all times while swimming in deep water
  • Make sure you have a life jacket for every person on the boat
  • Don’t mix alcohol with swimming
  • Use sunscreen, even if it’s cloudy outside

More Ideas for Lake Fun

When you make a trip to the one of a kind lakes around San Diego, there are a few things that will make your trip plan substantially more successful. For example, each individual lake near San Diego has their own environment which makes it important to think about what will make for an unforgettable adventure when planning yours.

  1. Do homework on the beaches. Early, mid, or late season, occasionally the beaches near San Diego can get extremely crowded. To find more space to yourself, do some digging on multiple lakes and beaches to learn about how busy they are to find one with a slower pace. To get in on the party, search out the biggest, most happening sandy party scene!
  2. Maximize the best assets in the area. If there’s time for a longer getaway, find local state parks and recreation areas that offer the option to camp directly on the water without breaking the bank.
  3. Rent a boat. It’s common that lakes will have local marinas that offer boat rentals. Just because you don’t own a boat to enjoy fishing with family and friends or a wild day of wakeboarding. Doing a quick Google search will typically allow you to locate a marina that has what you need.