Five Gorgeous Lake Options For Early Spring Plans

It may not feel like it right now, but boating season will be here sooner than you might think. For those looking for an idea of where to head this spring after the weather warms up, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite southern lakes.

Lake Havasu

Sunshiny weather and warm temperatures are the year-round norm for this glittering 19,300-acre gem of the desert. Located on the border between Arizona and California above Parker Dam on the Colorado River, this body of water lives up to the sapphire glory of its name; after all, the Mojave word for blue is Havasu.

Though the lake has developed a reputation for spring break gatherings, it has reportedly calmed down in recent years. Accessing this remote desert oasis by car takes you and the family on I-40 to Arizona State Route 95 to reach Lake Havasu City on the Arizona side. The city is also accessible via the Lake Havasu City airport.

Continuing on to the Lake Havasu Marina by car will take you over another of the city’s claims to fame: the original London Bridge. When the 1831 incarnation of the London Bridge was near the end of its days on the Thames, the city of London sold it to an enterprising American who had the facing stones of the bridge numbered and moved to their present location in the Arizona desert. You could say even bridges need vacations, but this one has no intention of coming back from holiday.

The Lake Havasu Marina has wet slips for 1,000 vessels up to 60 feet, a well-equipped ships store, and a commitment to customer service.

If you are looking for adventure, consider cruising upriver to the Pirates Cove Marina and Resort on the California side. With white sandy beaches, an award-winning pirate-themed restaurant and beach bar, spacious beachfront cabins, riverfront RV resort, boat rentals, and children’s water park, there will be more than enough to keep everyone entertained.

Anglers will be pleased to find largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, carp, flathead and channel catfish, crappie, razorback sucker, and sunfish in those blue waters. Legend has it that there are even some monster white sturgeons lurking in those depths.

So if you’re looking for a warm place to carve a wake, drop a line, rent a boat or relax on a beach, consider making a trip to Lake Havasu.

Lake Norman

Called the "inland sea" of North Carolina with good reason, Lake Norman is absolutely gargantuan. With its 520 miles of sprawling shoreline and a surface area of 32,500 acres, Lake Norman is the largest man-made body of fresh water located in North Carolina.

With a scale of this magnitude coupled with the warm weather and the picturesque sweep of southern countryside, this vacation getaway offers options for boaters in the thousands. Here are a few features of this lake to pique your interest.

Lake Effects Boat Rentals offers a wide selection of rental pontoons including models from Crest, Bentley, South Bay, Sun Tracker, and Sweetwater to get you out on the water for a day of fun with the family.

If you are still sitting on the fence about buying a pontoon of your very own, Lake Norman Marina, located in the quieter, less congested northwest portion of the lake, might help tip you over into the good life with their offering of Bennington pontoons.

Morningstar Marinas at Kings Point offers a variety of pontoon rentals including a massive Solid Craft double decker of 31 feet.

And there are many more marinas beyond this short sampling.

Once you have your boat in the water, there are many worthy destinations for your hungry and thirsty crew. Among the many lake-accessible restaurants are the Port City Club in Cornelius, N.C.; the North Harbor Club in Davidson, N.C.; and The Blue Parrot Grill in Mooresville, N.C.

There are campsites aplenty with the Lake Norman State Park available on the northern end of the lake representing just one possible destination, and fishing families can battle several species including yellow perch, crappie, bluegill, and striped, largemouth and white bass. With a lake of this magnitude, there is sure to be something to draw just about every kind of boater to North Carolina’s inland sea.

Table Rock Lake

Situated near the southern edge of Missouri in the rolling Ozarks, Table Rock Lake fills 43,100 acres above Table Rock Dam on the White River. The lake, which can reach depths of 220 feet, was originally built for the purpose of flood control on the White River, but today the functionality of this lake spills beyond the original intention to send waves of fun in every direction.

Table Rock Lake Pontoon offers economy pontoon rentals to get you out on the waves in a jiffy, and Indian Point Marina offers not only a wide variety of boats and water toys for your enjoyment, but also the Indian Point Floating Café for stepping directly from the boat to a good meal. Or, for another sort of dining experience on the water, you could take a two-hour cruise on the Showboat Branson Belle, where the three-course dinner is accompanied by a variety show of comedy, dancing, and music appropriate for all ages.

In addition to the more obvious fun to be had from fishing the lake and zooming across its surface, the region around this lake is loaded with state parks and opportunities for hiking, camping, and the enjoyment of pristine natural environments.

Located just south of the dam and six miles from Branson, Table Rock State Park provides facilities that include a boat launch and full service marina (including cafe, boat rental and scuba dive shop), campground (including full RV hookups and a yurt), fishing access, swimming access, a picnic area, hiking and mountain bike trails.

In the near vicinity of the lake, you will find the Pilot Knob Conservation Area and the Dogwood Canyon Nature Park where hiking, fishing, and mountain biking can broaden out your weekend plans. Table Rock Lake offers options as wide and deep as the lake itself.

Lake Ouachita

Lake Ouachita is Arkansas’ largest lake that it does not share with another state. Surrounded by the Ouachita National Forest, this lake has more than its share of unique natural wonders. Fishermen and women will be pleased to find largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, bream, crappie, catfish, walleye and striped bass all inhabiting these waters. And the ambitious striped bass enthusiast will relish the opportunity to catch some of this lake’s world-class, trophy-worthy-sized fish. In addition to fishing species, Lake Ouachita is also known for its rare freshwater jellyfish that swarm from June through September (don’t worry, they’re not big enough to sting humans) and freshwater sponges. Scuba divers from all over the world enjoy the underwater experience as well as the spear fishing.

Brady Mountain Resort and Marina offers fishing guides and packages to guide you to the big catch of your lakeside vacation, as well as renting pontoons, ski boats, and party barges to get the boat-less boater out on the water.

Lake Ouachita Shores Marina also offers pontoon rentals, while renting large and small bungalows on the shore. Other marinas include Shangri-La Marina, Mountain Harbor Marina, Crystal Springs Marina, Lake Ouachita State Park Marina, Little Fir Landing, North Shores Marina, and Echo Canyon Resort. Some even offer houseboat rentals for those who never want to leave the water.

Lake Ouachita boasts over 40,000 acres of water with numerous small islands to see and explore. But if for some reason you were to find yourself bored with the vibrant natural variety of this lake, Arkansas’ Hot Springs National Park is only 30 minutes away with the hot springs, the Mid-America Science Museum, and the Magic Springs theme park. 

In short, this remarkably unique lake packs in the surprises. Here, you can be sure no one is going to be bored.

Lake Lanier

This wet spot on the map fills with water from Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains coursing through the Chattahoochee and Chestatee Rivers above Buford Dam to cover 38,000 acres with nearly 700 miles of shoreline, at least when it’s full. Though the lake has had perennial difficulties with drought, it remains a classic vacation getaway with more than 7.5 million visitors every year.

With more than 45 parks and 10 campgrounds lining the 700 miles of Lake Lanier shoreline, visitors won’t have difficulty finding a park to suit their needs. RV hookups, boat ramps, beaches, swimming areas, hiking trails, picnic tables, and playgrounds abound for your visiting pleasure. After a day of solid boating or fishing on the lake, what could be better than a barbecue at one of the many pavilions scattered among the lake’s many parks?

And speaking of parks, the Lake Lanier Islands 1,100-acre resort offers not only resort amenities and pet-friendly accommodations, but also a water park with slides and a wave pool.

Located at the south end of Lake Lanier just outside of Lake Lanier Islands, is the marina that has become synonymous with Lake Lanier. Established in 1957, Holliday Marina is the oldest, and one of the largest, marinas on the lake. Offering ethanol-free boating fuel, a restaurant on the water, and a fully-equipped dry dock for boat repairs, this marina will keep you and your boat well-fueled and ready to go. Holliday offers rentals of Sweetwater and Harris pontoons, as well as fiberglass bow riders and runabouts, so you don’t have to trailer your own boat all the way to Georgia to enjoy boating on Lake Lanier. A little farther north, Aqualand Marina near the town of Flowery Branch offers a dock-and-eat restaurant and a self-service yard allowing you to test your technical talents by allowing access to tools and a boat lift for DIY repairs and detailing. So come launch your boat at Lake Lanier and make some memories this Memorial Day!