Evanston Lakes

Lakes Close to Evanston

The weather is warm and that means it’s time to pack up and head out for your upcoming grand getaway. There aren’t many better options than a lake near Evanston. A stay at a lake is wonderful for people who love wildlife too, because they offer opportunities to see birds, fish, turtles and other animals in their natural habitat.

There are countless brilliant motivations to visit a lake in Evanston this summer – the cool water for swimming, relaxing summer entertainment like boating, fishing or swimming. Some of the lakes in Evanston have beaches that are perfect for a relaxing day. Browse through the data directly beneath this paragraph and have a look the nearby locations from swimming lakes to all sports lakes for you and the family to visit.

Nearby Lakes for Evanston

Things to Do at the Lake

When you visit a lake near Evanston you’ll find all kinds of activities that can be enjoyed by people of all persuasions. You could go for an exciting day trip or take a longer vacation at a hotel or a bed and breakfast on the water to make for a bigger, better getaway.

Every getaway at the lake offers you a full range of activities from thrilling to chilling.

Catch some fish. For those that love to fish, finding a good fishing hole shouldn’t be too hard to help you have a relaxing day with a line in the water whether you’re roaming the lake in a killer fishing boat or tossing a line in from the dock.

Partake in some delicious delights outside. Evanston’s lakes offer all sorts of excellent picnic areas for you to pack up some foods, or just a couple of sandwiches to enjoy while enjoying the scenery. For a romantic evening, good food and a view should put a smile on their face.

Get a little crazy with the water sports. Should you be able to get access to a speed boat, why not spend the day flying around the water showing off your water sports expertise? Enjoy a day of tubing or skiing as the local lakes offer you all kinds of choices.

Preparing for a Day on the Lake

Every day at the lake will have its own requirements depending on which lake you go to, what time of year it is, what your goals are for the getaway. For your benefit, we took the time to make a list that will give some ideas for your lake getaway so there’s nothing to stress over!

The basics

When you’re out on a lake near Evanston it makes a lot of sense to bring some of the things in our list below so that you’ll be safe, healthy, and having fun.

  • Sweatshirt and sweatpants
  • Snacks
  • Eye protection, a hat, or both
  • Swimsuits
  • Cooler, ice, beverages (always remember water!)
  • Something to dry off with
  • Proper footwear
  • Beach blanket
  • A receptacle for trash
  • Travel dinnerware and cups

More lake stuff

The gear in the list below might prove useful for trips to the lake depending on what your plans are. You may want to double check some of these before heading out.

  • Hand sanitizers or moist towelettes
  • Tackle box
  • Beach toys (buckets, shovels, football, frisbee, etc.)
  • Corkscrew
  • Bait
  • Legal flotation devices
  • Books
  • Rafts for the kids
  • Goggles or masks
  • Fishing gear

Lake Safety Tips

Of course spending a weekend to the lake can be lots of fun, safety should remain top of mind at all times. A day on the lake means safety first so these are some extremely important tips for keeping everyone safe.

  • Avoid swimming near rocks or shallow water areas that may not be deep enough to dive underneath and escape from waves
  • Be aware of your surroundings and know where you are in relation to land
  • Avoid plants that can sting or cause allergic reactions
  • Use sunscreen, even if it’s cloudy outside
  • Avoid drinking alcohol while boating
  • Always wear a life jacket when boating, kayaking or paddle boarding
  • Don’t swim alone

More Ideas for Lake Fun

When you make a trip to the one of a kind lakes around Evanston, you’ll want to remember a couple critical items that might make your itinerary substantially more successful. As an example, every lake is going to have unique qualities and surroundings which makes it important to consider what will make for a memorable getaway when planning yours.

  1. Make the most of the best local resources. If you have time for a longer getaway, find local state parks and recreation areas that offer the option to stay in a spot that is right on top of the water without breaking the bank.
  2. Research your beaches. If you pick the wrong time of year, occasionally beaches might be really busy. If you want more space to yourself, do some digging on a variety of lakes in the area to see if you can find one that’s less crowded to find one with a slower pace. If you want to be where the party’s at, search out the busiest, most popular sandy party scene!
  3. Rent a boat. It’s common that lakes will have local marinas where you can rent a boat. You don’t need to own a boat to enjoy fishing with family and friends or a day of watersports. Doing a quick Google search can usually help you find options for renting the perfect boat.