Charlotte has lots to see and do, with everything from a rich history and sports venues to top-notch cuisine. When you’re looking to immerse yourself in nature, there are natural and manmade lakes that offer the usual swimming, fishing, and boating, and on land, you might find trails that wind through the forest and routes that lead to mountain tops. These lakes are the best options for those in Charlotte, whether you’re looking for something just minutes from the downtown area or within a couple of hours’ drive away.
Lake Norman - Davidson
Less than 40 miles north of Charlotte, Lake Norman is within easy reach for a day trip but it feels as if it’s worlds away. It has 520 miles of shoreline with a wide range of activities whether you’re looking for a high-energy party in a cove, to whiz around on a powerboat, or enjoy something more relaxing, like casting your line into a tranquil fishing hole. A popular spot for fishing in North Carolina, you can catch blue catfish, bluegill, or crappie, among others. Plus, annually in June the McGuire Nuclear Station hosts the Charlotte Symphony concert on the lake, drawing hundreds of boaters to anchor in the cove and thousands of spectators to grab a spot on the lawn.
Lake Wylie - Lake Wylie, South Carolina
Lake Wylie is actually in South Carolina but it’s considered a suburb of Charlotte, located less than 14 miles away. The beauty is spectacular and you’ll be able to escape the busy city life with just a half-hour’s drive so there’s no need to stay overnight. A man-made reservoir, it provides ample things to do, including family activities, and some outstanding bars and eateries. Visitors can enjoy boat charters that include tubing, fishing, and sunset dinners, or just head to one of the many coves with shallow waters for splashing around. Copperhead Island, a 14-acre park, offers direct boating access to the lake with multiple boat ramps, fishing piers, kayaking, trails for hiking, areas for picnicking, beach volleyball, and more.
Lake James - Linville
Located about a two-hour drive north-west of Charlotte in Linville, Lake James is a crystal-clear freshwater lake with pure mountain water in shades that range from emerald to turquoise. It sits at the base of Linville Gorge, known as the state’s “Grand Canyon” with many different recreational activities available like scenic trails to hike at Linville Falls and a tour that will take you underground at Linville Caverns. The lake itself is ideal for swimming, paddling, boating, and fishing, with largemouth bass the most common catch. There’s abundant flora and fauna in the area too, with colorful wildflowers and steep forested ridges covered with pines, hemlocks, and hardwoods. Watch for wildlife like deer, flying squirrel, mink, fox, rabbit, and muskrat. This is also a popular destination in North Carolina for camping.
Lake Lure
Located about 93 miles west of Charlotte, Lake Lure might look familiar to fans of “Dirty Dancing”, as it was the famous setting for the 1987 film. Go for the day or stick around a while. It’s just as picturesque as what you saw on screen, surrounded by forested mountains. It includes a beach for sunbathing and swimming, opportunities for boating, access to rock climbing, and zip lines. At Chimney Rock State Park, you can head to its signature 315-foot spire for a view over the lake and Hickory Nut Gorge. You’ll find plenty of shops, eateries and other attractions in town, in fact, boat tours depart daily between April and October from Lake Lure Marina.
High Rock Lake - Southmont
Just a little over an hour from Charlotte, High Rock Lake is an easy day trip, providing outstanding opportunities for a wide range of sports on the state’s second-largest lake. Anyone who wants to explore the vast, enticing waters can do it on a boat, kayak, canoe, or jet ski, but if you don’t have your own, there are plenty of rental options available. When it comes to fishing, you can catch bass, crappie, striper, bream, or catfish. The lake is especially scenic, getting its name from nearby High Rock Mountain which features dramatic cliffs, thick canopies of trees, and other lush vegetation.
Badin Lake - Badin
Located in the Uwharrie National Forest near New London, just over an hour from Charlotte, Badin Lake is popular for boating, hiking, mountain biking, four-wheeling, and camping. If you want to fish, there is abundant game fish, including largemouth bass, spotted bass, striped bass, white bass, catfish, and crappie. If you don’t have your own vessel, a variety of watercraft is available right on-site. Uwharrie State Park nearby offers scenic trails that wind along the water which will be perfectly warm for swimming during the summer too. The Badin Swim Area has sandy beaches with a special zone cordoned off for safety, while King’s Mountain Point day-use area hosts picnic sites, fishing piers, and four campgrounds.
Belews Lake - Pine Hall
Tucked in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains near the towns of Pine Hall and Stokesdale, Belews Lake is a reservoir created in 1973 by the Duke Energy corporation as a cooling basin for the Belews Creek Steam Station. It’s just over 100 miles from Charlotte or about an hour and 45-minute drive. Visitors will find it has lots to offer, with opportunities for fishing, boating, and hiking with forested trails that surround the lake. As the water is so clear, it’s even popular for scuba diving, a great spot to practice before heading to the open ocean. If you’re looking to fill your Instagram feed, the early morning hours are ideal for capturing beautiful photos with a layer of steam forming over the water thanks to the nearby power plant.
Jordan Lake - Wilsonville
Just under 150 miles from Charlotte, Jordan Lake is a 14,000-acre reservoir located west of the greater Raleigh-Durham area. While it’s about a 2-hour and 15-minute drive, it’s worth getting up early to enjoy this one as it hosts the largest concentration of bald eagles in the entire eastern U.S. Visitors also enjoy breathtaking views of forested mountains in one of the best lakes for swimming and other water sports like paddleboarding or even snorkeling, while nature reserves are home to thousands of plant and animal species. Fishing for bass and crappie is excellent and there are seven swim beaches, around a thousand campsites and over 14 miles of hiking trails in the Jordan Lake Recreation Area.
Mountain Island Lake - Charlotte
Mountain Island Lake is a local favorite, less than 15 miles from the center of the city. While its primary role is to provide fresh drinking water and electricity to area residents, visitors can enjoy the clear, calm water for everything from swimming and fishing to boating and stand-up paddleboarding. Right off the lake’s shores is 265-acre Rural Hill, with a nature preserve that offers scenic hiking trails, a historic site with six structures, including the Bethesda Schoolhouse, one of the first African-American schools, along with a living farm with highland cows. Many special events are hosted here too like the Scottish Festival, Brewers & Music Festival, Amazing Maize Maze, and Sheep Dog Trials.
Lake Tillery
Just over 50 miles east of Charlotte, Lake Tillery offers 100 miles of shoreline that include Morrow Mountain State Park and the Uwharrie National Forest, bringing opportunities for recreation on land and water. Visitors can hike, bike, camp, go swimming, fishing, tubing, or rent a pontoon or fishing boat. Nearby, there are a number of 18-hole golf courses, a mini-golf course, several museums, and restaurants. While it’s a fairly easy day trip from the city, campgrounds are available too.
Randleman Lake - Randleman
Created in 2004, Randleman Lake is located in the Cape Fear River Basin, only a little over an hour from Uptown, making it a fun and easy spot to reach for enjoying a day on or along the water. It includes more than 100 miles of shoreline and offers a variety of activities like fishing for bass, bluegill, catfish, or crappie, boating, sailing, stand-up paddleboarding, and kayaking. There’s a marina where you can rent kayaks for a very affordable price too – less than $20 for an entire day currently.
Hyco Lake - Roxboro
While it’s one of the farther lakes from Charlotte at about a 2.5-hour drive away, if you’re looking for a relaxing escape there’s plenty to do at Hyco Lake. If you don’t want to do it all in one day, you’ll find campgrounds with RV and primitive sites as well as cabin rentals right at the lakeside. Take a break and immerse yourself in nature, watching for the myriad of bird species that inhabit the area, including hummingbirds, spotted sandpipers, and cliff swallows. The more than 3,750-acre lake has 120 miles of shoreline, with opportunities for boating and fishing for largemouth bass, white bass, bluegill, and crappie, among others. There’s an 18-hole disc golf here too, all you need to do is bring your discs as it’s free to play.
