St. Charles Lakes

Lakes Close to St. Charles

Every once in a while you should gather your family and friends and make time to be near the water. A stay at a lake can be amazing for people who love getting outside too, because they offer opportunities to take in the local scenery and all that nature has to offer.

It doesn’t matter if you’re looking to float in a tube with a book, get active with wakeboarding, go swimming, or nap in the sand, the lakes near St. Charles offer you plentiful options for aquatic adventures. The time is now! Load up the car with your fishing gear and a picnic basket then make the trip your next day off to find a brand new favorite spot on a lake!

Lakes Near St. Charles

Things to Do at the Lake

When you visit a lake near St. Charles there are many things to do for groups of all types. Whether you’re just looking for a day trip or take a longer vacation at a hotel or a bed and breakfast on the water to enjoy yourself more fully.

Let’s look at some of the options available to you when you make your way to a lake near St. Charles:

Canoeing, kayaking, or paddle boarding. If paddling is your thing, pack up your board of choice and find yourself a lake that has a boat launch and start paddling around to enjoy the scenery on the waterfront.

Have a picnic. The lakes near St. Charles gives you the chance to visit a wealth of great picnic areas partake in the enjoyment of your favorite portable delicacies, or a quick snack as you enjoy the view. Should you be with someone you want to impress, this plan should put a smile on their face.

Fishing. 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 drifting behind a trolling motor or tossing a line in from the dock.

Lake Checklist

A day at the lake can be very different depending on the lake you’re heading to, what time of year it is, and what your perfect itinerary looks like. For your benefit, we’ve created a list with some of our favorite ideas for your next trip to a lake near St. Charles so everything goes smoothly!

General items

When the plan is to be outdoors for most of the weekend, our list of provisions below is a good starting point for essentials to have on hand.

  • Eye protection, a hat, or both
  • Backup clothes
  • Trash bags (one for trash, one for wet items)
  • A cooler and drinks
  • Plates, bowls, utensils, cups
  • Beach blanket
  • Bug spray
  • Sunblock
  • Bathing suits
  • Bluetooth speaker

Additional lake stuff

The gear in the list below could be helpful for excursions to the lake depending on what you’ll be doing. You may want to double check for some of these before heading out.

  • Wine key
  • Diapers and baby gear
  • Beach toys (buckets, shovels, football, frisbee, etc.)
  • Fishing poles
  • Bait
  • Fishing and boating licenses
  • Goggles or masks
  • Legal flotation devices
  • Kindle
  • Tackle box

Lake Safety Checklist

While spending a weekend to a lake in St. Charles should be ample amounts of fun, you always have to keep safety in mind. If you’re going to be out on the water here are some general safety tips to keep in mind.

  • Make sure you have a life jacket for every person on the boat
  • Always swim with a buddy
  • Regularly apply sunblock throughout the day – following the product’s instructions
  • Avoid drinking alcohol while boating
  • Keep children within arm’s reach at all times while swimming in deep water
  • Be aware of your surroundings and know where you are in relation to land
  • Avoid swimming near rocks or shallow water areas that may not be deep enough to dive underneath and escape from waves

More St. Charles Lake Tips

If you’re going to visit the one of a kind lakes near St. Charles, you’ll want to remember a couple critical items that might make your itinerary much more rewarding. Case in point, each lake is going to have unique qualities so it is important to think about what you need to make an unforgettable trip when planning yours.

  1. Maximize unique assets in the area. If you have time for a lengthier stay, look for local state campgrounds and parks that offer the ability to stay directly on the water at an affordable price.
  2. Pay attention to the beaches. Early, mid, or late season, occasionally beaches might be packed with tourists. To find more space to yourself, research multiple nearby beaches and lakes 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 that offer boat rentals. You don’t need to own a boat to enjoy fishing with family and friends or tubing with the kids. Asking a local will typically allow you to locate several places that can hook you up with the right vessel.