Gainesville Lakes

Lakes Around Gainesville

It’s summertime so it’s time to pack up and head out for your upcoming family vacation. If you’re looking for a fun destination, consider visiting a lake near Gainesville. As it turns out, when you visit Gainesville there are quite a few options when it comes to spending time on the lake.

It doesn’t matter if you’re looking to float in a tube with a book, get active with water skiing, go swimming, or work on your tan, the lakes near Gainesville offer you plentiful opportunities for outdoor adventures. The time is now! Load up the car with your fishing gear and a cooler then hit the road on your next vacation to find your own number one location on a lake!

Nearby Lakes for Gainesville

Things to Do at the Lake

A day trip, or a longer getaway provides a nearly boundless list of things to do for families, couples, or even those looking for some quality alone time.

Now we’ll run down a list of some of the best things to do when you make your way to a Gainesville lake:

Have a picnic. The lakes near Gainesville provide many top-notch picnic areas where you can enjoy tasty treats, or you could just do some cheese and crackers while enjoying the scenery. If you’re with that special someone, a picnic on the beach is hard to beat.

Start paddling. For those in search of some exercise, load up your preferred vessel and find yourself a lake near Gainesville that has a public boat launch you can use and get out and enjoy the scenery on the waterfront.

Partake in some water sports. Should you be able to get access to a ski boat, why not get out on the water and start kicking up a wake showing off your water sports talents? Hit the water and go wakeboarding, skiing, or tubing as the all sports lakes provide you with all kinds of options.

Checklist for a Day at the Lake

Your plan for a lake getaway can be drastically different depending on the specific lake you’ll be visiting, when you decide to go, and your plan of attack. However, we’ve assembled a rundown of some of the most common lake and beach-related items that you can use as a checklist for your getaway.

General items

For a day spent on the water it makes a lot of sense to take many of these things so that you’ll be safe, comfortable, and relaxed.

  • Cords and a charger for portable devices
  • A sunhat or glasses
  • Towels
  • Bluetooth speaker
  • Insect repellant
  • A cooler with water bottles
  • Plates, bowls, utensils, cups
  • Sunblock
  • Bottle opener
  • Sweatshirt and sweatpants

Additional lake stuff

The following items might prove useful for trips to the lake based on your plans. You may want to double check some of these before heading out.

  • Worms or other bait
  • Fishing and boating licenses
  • Life jackets
  • Something to clean up with like sanitizers or wet wipes
  • Toys for the beach
  • Baby gear (if necessary)
  • Swimming goggles
  • Inflatable pool toys
  • Corkscrew
  • Tackle box

Lake Safety Tips

Of course your getaway on the lake can be lots of fun, you always have to keep safety in mind. A day on the lake means safety first so here are some general safety tips to keep in mind.

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

More Gainesville Lake Tips

Not everyone has had a chance to visit the amazing lakes around Gainesville and likely have a few questions regarding planning. Of course, each lake near Gainesville is going to possess their own character and trappings, but you should keep in mind a handful of items to review when planning that might help put together a trip your whole family will remember.

  1. Find a marina. If you’re near the water you’ll often find nearby marinas where you can rent a boat. Just because you don’t own a boat to enjoy a day fishing on the lake or taking the kids out for some wakeboarding or tubing. Doing a quick Google search will usually allow you to find a marina that has what you need.
  2. Do homework on the beaches. Early, mid, or late season, sometimes beaches can get extremely crowded. To find some more peace and quiet, research a variety of nearby beaches and lakes to learn about how busy they are to find one with a slower pace. To get in on the party, then look for the biggest, most popular beach!
  3. Make the most of unique local resources. If there’s time for a lengthier stay, find local state campgrounds and parks that offer the option to stay directly on the water for a reasonable price.