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A water-around-us data study

Where America swims

The highest-rated swimming spot in every state — beaches, lakes, rivers, and swimming holes, ranked by real visitor ratings.

Every state's best swim, scored

Locations approximate to pin
Alabama: Gulf Shores Public BeachAlaska: Kenai BeachArizona: Pebble Beach Recreation AreaArkansas: Buffalo Point River AccessCalifornia: Partington CoveColorado: Sloan LakeConnecticut: Anchor BeachDelaware: Cape Henlopen State Park BeachFlorida: Gulf Islands National SeashoreGeorgia: East BeachHawaii: Lake WaiauIdaho: Redfish LakeIllinois: Maple LakeIndiana: Mount Saint Frances LakeIowa: Lake CorneliaKansas: Melvern LakeKentucky: Lake CumberlandLouisiana: Caddo LakeMaine: Sebago LakeMaryland: Lake ArtemesiaMassachusetts: Horn PondMichigan: Lake of the CloudsMinnesota: Lake Belle TaineMississippi: Enid LakeMissouri: Big Spring - Ozark National Scenic RiverwaysMontana: Giant Springs State ParkNebraska: Enders ReservoirNevada: Nevada BeachNew Hampshire: Newfound LakeNew Jersey: Wildwood Crest Beach New JerseyNew Mexico: Williams LakeNew York: Lake MinnewaskaNorth Carolina: Frisco BeachNorth Dakota: Harmon LakeOhio: Indigo LakeOklahoma: Bath Lake Medicine ParkOregon: Crater LakePennsylvania: Sweet Arrow Lake County ParkRhode Island: Salty Brine State BeachSouth Carolina: Sullivan's Island BeachSouth Dakota: Sylvan LakeTennessee: Norris LakeTexas: Waterloo LakeUtah: Lake PowellVermont: Lake WilloughbyVirginia: Smith Mountain LakeWashington: Lake CrescentWest Virginia: Summersville LakeWisconsin: Saxon HarborWyoming: Jenny LakeWAMOWYCANY
Winner score:lowerhigher★ winning spot top-5 state
  1. AlabamaGulf Shores Public BeachGulf Shores, Alabama · Public beach★ 4.811,325 reviews
  2. AlaskaKenai BeachKenai, Alaska · Beach★ 4.7400 reviews
  3. ArizonaPebble Beach Recreation AreaMesa, Arizona · Public beach★ 4.71,370 reviews
  4. ArkansasBuffalo Point River AccessYellville, Arkansas · Swimming basin★ 4.9213 reviews
  5. CaliforniaPartington CoveBig Sur, California · Bay★ 4.9450 reviews
  6. ColoradoSloan LakeDenver, Colorado · Lake★ 4.7287 reviews
  7. ConnecticutAnchor BeachMilford, Connecticut · Public beach★ 4.8167 reviews
  8. DelawareCape Henlopen State Park BeachLewes, Delaware · Public beach★ 4.8166 reviews
  9. FloridaGulf Islands National SeashoreGulf Breeze, Florida · Beach★ 4.9176 reviews
  10. GeorgiaEast BeachSt Simons Island, Georgia · Beach★ 4.71,634 reviews
  11. HawaiiLake WaiauHawaii · Lake★ 4.914 reviews
  12. IdahoRedfish LakeIdaho · Lake★ 4.8268 reviews
  13. IllinoisMaple LakeWillow Springs, Illinois · Reservoir★ 4.8230 reviews
  14. IndianaMount Saint Frances LakeIndiana · Lake★ 5.069 reviews
  15. IowaLake CorneliaIowa · Lake★ 4.859 reviews
  16. KansasMelvern LakeKansas · Lake★ 4.8156 reviews
  17. KentuckyLake CumberlandKentucky · Lake★ 4.8963 reviews
  18. LouisianaCaddo LakeLouisiana · Lake★ 4.7272 reviews
  19. MaineSebago LakeMaine · Lake★ 4.8191 reviews
  20. MarylandLake ArtemesiaCollege Park, Maryland · Lake★ 4.8261 reviews
  21. MassachusettsHorn PondWoburn, Massachusetts · Lake★ 4.9181 reviews
  22. MichiganLake of the CloudsCarp Lake Township, Michigan · Lake★ 4.9233 reviews
  23. MinnesotaLake Belle TaineMinnesota · Lake★ 5.045 reviews
  24. MississippiEnid LakeMississippi · Lake★ 4.8109 reviews
  25. MissouriBig Spring - Ozark National Scenic RiverwaysVan Buren, Missouri · Spring★ 4.9818 reviews
  26. MontanaGiant Springs State ParkGreat Falls, Montana · Spring★ 4.82,547 reviews
  27. NebraskaEnders ReservoirImperial Rural Precinct, Nebraska · Lake★ 4.751 reviews
  28. NevadaNevada BeachZephyr Cove, Nevada · Public beach★ 4.8899 reviews
  29. New HampshireNewfound LakeNew Hampshire · Lake★ 4.9172 reviews
  30. New JerseyWildwood Crest Beach New JerseyWildwood Crest, New Jersey · Beach★ 4.8670 reviews
  31. New MexicoWilliams LakeNew Mexico · Lake★ 4.984 reviews
  32. New YorkLake MinnewaskaRochester, New York · Lake★ 4.9240 reviews
  33. North CarolinaFrisco BeachFrisco, North Carolina · Public beach★ 4.9173 reviews
  34. North DakotaHarmon LakeMandan, North Dakota · Lake★ 4.868 reviews
  35. OhioIndigo LakeCuyahoga Falls, Ohio · Lake★ 5.041 reviews
  36. OklahomaBath Lake Medicine ParkMedicine Park, Oklahoma · Swimming lake★ 4.71,259 reviews
  37. OregonCrater LakeOregon · Lake★ 4.81,937 reviews
  38. PennsylvaniaSweet Arrow Lake County ParkPine Grove, Pennsylvania · Reservoir★ 4.8698 reviews
  39. Rhode IslandSalty Brine State BeachNarragansett, Rhode Island · Beach★ 4.7138 reviews
  40. South CarolinaSullivan's Island BeachCharleston, South Carolina · Beach★ 4.71,732 reviews
  41. South DakotaSylvan LakeEast Custer, South Dakota · Lake★ 4.8692 reviews
  42. TennesseeNorris LakeTennessee · Lake★ 4.8511 reviews
  43. TexasWaterloo LakeDenison, Texas · Lake★ 4.975 reviews
  44. UtahLake PowellUtah · Reservoir★ 4.71,078 reviews
  45. VermontLake WilloughbyWestmore, Vermont · Lake★ 4.8290 reviews
  46. VirginiaSmith Mountain LakeVirginia · Lake★ 4.8590 reviews
  47. WashingtonLake CrescentWashington · Lake★ 4.9857 reviews
  48. West VirginiaSummersville LakeWest Virginia · Lake★ 4.8631 reviews
  49. WisconsinSaxon HarborWisconsin · Bay★ 4.974 reviews
  50. WyomingJenny LakeWyoming · Lake★ 4.9515 reviews

How we ranked them

We looked at swim-worthy water locations — beaches, lakes, rivers, springs, and swimming holes — and picked the best spot in each state using a weighted rating that blends each spot's score with how many reviews back it up, so a single 5-star rating can't outrank a consistently-loved place. Ratings come from aggregated public visitor data and shift over time, so this is a living snapshot.

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