North Carolina Lakes — Browse & Compare

Best North Carolina lakes for camping & picnicking

Best North Carolina lakes for swimming

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Best North Carolina lakes for wildlife viewing

See all best-of North Carolina lake rankings

Lakes near you

Lakes near Raleigh–Durham

Lakes near Greensboro

Lakes near Asheville

Lakes near Fayetteville

Lakes near Charlotte

Lakes near Wilmington

North Carolina lakes — frequently asked

How many North Carolina lakes are on LakeVibe?

LakeVibe tracks 105 lakes across North Carolina in 47 counties, each with real water data and things to do.

What is the largest lake in North Carolina?

John H. Kerr Reservoir is the largest lake we track in North Carolina, at about 50,000 acres.

Which North Carolina lake has the clearest water?

Of the lakes with measured clarity, Nantahala Lake has the deepest Secchi-disk reading — about 19.7 ft of visibility. Clarity varies by season and conditions.

Which North Carolina lakes have live water-level and temperature?

10 North Carolina lakes have live USGS gauge readings for water level and/or temperature, updated regularly. Each lake page shows its source and the time it was last checked.

Where can I go fishing in North Carolina?

Popular fishing lakes in North Carolina include John H. Kerr Reservoir, Lake Norman, Lake Gaston, Jordan Lake. Each lake page lists its public fishing access and what it's stocked with where that's published.

Aberdeen Lake

Apalachia Lake

Badin Lake

Bass Lake

Bay Tree Lake

Bear Creek Lake

Beetree Reservoir

Belews Lake

Blewett Falls Lake

Boiling Spring Lakes

Bond Lake

Buckhorn Reservoir

Cane Creek Lake

Cane Creek Reservoir

Cascade Lake

Cedar Cliff Lake

Chatuge Lake

Cheoah Lake

City Lake

Cliffside Lake

East Fork Lake

Falls Lake

Falls Reservoir

Fontana Lake

Graham-Mebane Lake

Greenfield Lake

High Rock Lake

Hinson Lake

Hiwassee Lake

Hyco Lake

John H. Kerr Reservoir

Jones Lake

Jordan Lake

Julian Price Lake

Lake Adger

Lake Auman

Lake Benson

Lake Brandt

Lake Burlington

Lake Butner

Lake Crabtree

Lake Devin

Lake Emory

Lake Gaston

Lake Glenville

Lake Hickory

Lake Higgins

Lake James

Lake Johnson

Lake Julian

Lake Junaluska

Lake Logan

Lake Lucas

Lake Lure

Lake Lynn

Lake Mackintosh

Lake Mattamuskeet

Lake Michie

Lake Norman

Lake Orange

Biggest lakes in North Carolina

Best North Carolina lakes for fishing

Best North Carolina lakes for boating

Best North Carolina lakes for paddling & kayaking

Best North Carolina lakes for sailing & big water