Longview Lakes

Lakes Close to Longview

It’s summertime so it’s time to pack up and head out for your upcoming family vacation. There aren’t many better options than a lake near Longview. A stay at a lake is amazing for people who love wildlife too, as they are a great way to see birds, fish, turtles and other animals in their natural habitat.

There are numerous great motivations for making a trip to a lake in Longview this summer – the water is refreshing on hot days, enjoyable summer entertainment like boating, fishing or swimming. Some of the lakes in Longview have beaches you can enjoy while building sandcastles with the family. Scan the table below to see the options including small lakes with beaches to all sports lakes for you to enjoy.

Nearby Lakes for Longview

A Day at the Lake: An Itinerary

On a day trip to a lake near Longview there are many things to do for groups of all types. 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 lake near Longview:

Grab a board. If you want a little physical activity, pack up your board of choice and chart your course to a lake that has a boat launch and get out and enjoy the scenery in all it’s glory.

Swimming. The swimming lakes near Longview offer all kinds of laughs and games for the kids, or plenty of exercise for those looking to be active in between working on their tan. Make sure to do your research and verify that your lake has a nice swimming area and a sandy beach to spread out on prior to packing the car and the family! You know as well as we do that a swimming pool just isn’t as much fun as a beautiful public beach!

Have a picnic. Longview’s lakes provide all sorts of great picnic areas where you can enjoy culinary delights, or you could just do some cheese and crackers by the water. For a romantic evening, this plan is hard to beat.

Checklist for a Day at the Lake

A lake day itinerary can be drastically different when you take into consideration which lake you’re going to, when you decide to go, and the activities on your to-do list. However, we’ve built out a short list of some of the most common lake and beach-related necessities for you to use as a checklist for your getaway.

General items

When the plan is to be outdoors for the majority of the weekend, the following list of items should be an excellent place to start for essentials that you’ll be happy to have on hand.

  • Trash bags (one for trash, one for wet items)
  • UV protection
  • Something to eat
  • A cooler with water bottles
  • Sneakers
  • Bug spray
  • Dry shirt
  • Eye protection, a hat, or both
  • Portable stereo
  • Bathing suits

Specialty lake gear

The list of items below might prove useful for getaways to the lake considering your itinerary. You may want to double check for some of these before heading out.

  • Baby gear (if necessary)
  • Licenses and registration for boating and fishing
  • Fishing poles
  • Toys for the beach
  • Rafts and floaties
  • Worms or other bait
  • Kindle
  • Hand sanitizers or moist towelettes
  • Swimming goggles
  • Safety gear like life jackets

Lake Safety

Of course spending a weekend at a lake in Longview should be lots of fun, safety should remain top of mind at all times. If you’re going to be out on the water these are some extremely important tips for keeping everyone safe.

  • Have an emergency plan if you run into trouble on your watercraft
  • Stay close to shore and avoid areas with shallow water or where the current is strong
  • Regularly apply sunblock throughout the day – following the product’s instructions
  • Make sure children have swimmies or other approved flotation devices
  • Always wear a life jacket when boating, kayaking or paddle boarding
  • Avoid alcohol consumption before swimming, as it can impair judgment and result in drowning
  • Always swim with a buddy

Some More Tips

Not everyone has had the opportunity to visit the amazing lakes around Longview and likely have some questions about how to make the most of their time there. Of course, no matter where you go each lake will possess unique qualities and surroundings, but here are a handful of items to review while planning that might help start your trip on the right foot.

  1. Research your beaches. If you pick the wrong time of year, occasionally beaches may be very busy. If you want some more peace and quiet, do some digging on a variety of nearby beaches and lakes to learn about how busy they are if you want a more relaxing vibe. To get in on the party, then look for the busiest, most popular beach!
  2. Find a marina. It’s common that lakes will have local marinas that offer boat rentals. Boats are expensive to own, but a rental will still allow you to enjoy fishing with family and friends or a wild day of wakeboarding. Using a search engine will typically allow you to find several places that can hook you up with the right vessel.
  3. Make the most of the best local resources. If you have time for a lengthier stay, find local state parks and recreation areas which give you the option to stay right on the water without breaking the bank.