Lakes Around Baton Rouge
Every once in a while you just need to gather your family and friends and make time to be on the water. Fortunately, when you make a trip to Baton Rouge you have quite a few options for spending time on the lake.
It doesn’t matter if you’re seeking to go kayaking, partake in some watersports, swim, or work on your tan, the lakes near Baton Rouge offer you plentiful opportunities for outdoor fun. The time is now! Load up the car with your fishing gear and snacks then make the trip your next day off and discover your own favorite location on the water!
Lakes Near Baton Rouge
A Day at the Lake: An Itinerary
On a day trip to a lake near Baton Rouge you’ll find all kinds of activities that can be enjoyed by families, couples, or with a group of friends. You could go for an exciting day trip or decide to stay overnight to a hotel or a bed and breakfast on the water to make the most of your time unwinding.
Let’s look at some of the options available to you when you visit a Baton Rouge lake:
Water sports. If you’re able to get access to a speed boat, you might want to have some fun and make a day of flying around the water demonstrating your athleticism and water sports expertise? Hit the water and go wakeboarding, skiing, or tubing as the all sports lakes give you all kinds of options.
Picnic time. The lakes near Baton Rouge provide many excellent picnic areas partake in the enjoyment of your favorite foods, or just a couple of sandwiches to enjoy by the water. Should you be with someone you want to impress, good food and a view should be suitably romantic.
Grab a board. If you want a little physical activity, pack up your board of choice and find yourself a lake near Baton Rouge with a public boat launch you can use and get out and soak up nature’s beauty in all it’s glory.
Lake Checklist
A day at the lake can be drastically different when you take into consideration which lake you’re going to, the weather forecast, and what you want to do while you’re there. To make things easier we’ve built out a short list of some of the most common lake items that you can use as a checklist before you hit the road.
Lake basics
For a day spent on the water it makes a lot of sense to take along several of the things in our list below so that you’ll be safe, healthy, and relaxed.
- Plates, cups and utensils
- Sunblock
- USB charger
- Flip flops or water shoes
- Garbage bags
- Bathing suits
- A beach blanket and umbrella
- Radio or speaker
- Snacks
- A fully stocked cooler
Specialty lake items
The following items can make your life easier for trips to the lake considering your itinerary. It’s also worth checking before heading out.
- Fishing poles, nets, etc.
- Licenses and registration for boating and fishing
- Kindle
- Games for the beach
- Hand sanitizers or moist towelettes
- Life jackets
- Rafts for the kids
- Bait
- Corkscrew
- Swimming goggles
Lake Safety Checklist
Of course your getaway on your favorite body of water can be tons of fun, you always have to keep safety in mind. A day on the lake means safety first so these are some extremely important tips for keeping everyone safe.
- Have an escape plan for what to do if you get stuck on a boat that capsizes or tips over
- Always swim with a buddy
- Don’t mix alcohol with swimming
- Avoid plants that can sting or cause allergic reactions
- Avoid swimming near rocks or shallow water areas that may not be deep enough to dive underneath and escape from waves
- Always wear a life jacket when boating, kayaking or paddle boarding
- Regularly apply sunblock throughout the day – following the product’s instructions
More Baton Rouge Lake Tips
When you make a trip to the fabulous lakes around Baton Rouge, you’ll want to remember a couple critical items that will make your trip plan substantially more successful. Case in point, every lake has unique qualities and surroundings which makes it important to think about what you need to make an unforgettable trip when planning yours.
- Make the most of unique assets in the area. When there’s time for a longer stay, look for local recreational areas, state parks, and campgrounds which give you the option to camp right on the water at an affordable price.
- Research your beaches. If you pick the wrong time of year, occasionally beaches might be very busy. To find more space to yourself, research multiple 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 happening beach!
- Find a marina. It’s common that lakes will have nearby marinas that offer boat rentals of all sizes. Boats are expensive to own, but a rental will still allow you to enjoy a day fishing on the lake or taking the kids out for some wakeboarding or tubing. Doing a quick Google search can usually help you locate several places that can hook you up with the right vessel.