Live · updated daily from USGS
Swimmable water near you
2,137 USGS sensors are reporting a live water temperature right now, the newest reading from August 21, 2026 (8 hrs ago).
- Cold · below 60°F · 375
- Cool · 60–69°F · 595
- Comfortable · 70–86°F · 938
- Warm · above 86°F · 229
- You
A map of the United States with one coloured dot per USGS sensor reporting a live water temperature. The readings are listed below.
Nearest live readings
The closest USGS sensors currently reporting a water temperature, nearest first.
- SCOTTS LEVEL BRANCH AT ROCKDALE, MDUSGS gauge · Maryland · 1 ft³/s70°F15 mi8 hrs ago
- 75°F16 mi8 hrs ago
- PAINT BRANCH NEAR COLLEGE PARK, MDUSGS gauge · Maryland · 13 ft³/s72°F20 mi8 hrs ago
- NORTHEAST BRANCH ANACOSTIA RIVER AT RIVERDALE, MDUSGS gauge · Maryland · 69 ft³/s74°F21 mi8 hrs ago
- FOSTER BRANCH NEAR JOPPATOWNE, MDUSGS gauge · Maryland · 1 ft³/s70°F23 mi8 hrs ago
- NORTHWEST BRANCH ANACOSTIA RIVER AT BRENTWOOD, MDUSGS gauge · Maryland · 77 ft³/s74°F23 mi8 hrs ago
- SLIGO CREEK NEAR TAKOMA PARK, MDUSGS gauge · Maryland · 11 ft³/s73°F24 mi8 hrs ago
- WATTS BRANCH AT WASHINGTON, DCUSGS gauge · 1 ft³/s73°F25 mi8 hrs ago
Nearest swimmable spots
Rated, photographed water destinations within 25 miles — pair one with the nearest sensor reading above before you go.
4.6(1,610)Lake Waterford Park
County park with a lake, offering recreational & natural areas, plus an accessible playing field.
5.5 mi from your location
4.7(215)Lake Elkhorn
Reservoir featuring a park with a picnic shelter & a popular, 2-mile walking circuit.
11 mi from your location
4.5(62)Centennial Lake
Scenic manmade lake providing a variety of fish species & a launch for non-motorized boats.
13 mi from your location
4.3(2,055)Rocky Point Park and Beach
On 375 acres on the Back & Middle Rivers, this park offers swimming, boating, fishing & picnicking.
13 mi from your location
4.7(813)Lake Roland Nature Council
Multifaceted green space with trails, pavilions, waterfront activities & an off-leash dog park.
14 mi from your location
4.7(1,760)Buddy Attick Lake Park
Named after the city's first policeman, this lake-centered park offers picnic areas & nature trails.
18 mi from your location
4.6(326)Loch Raven Reservoir
Sprawling, artificial lake with hiking trails & historic bridges, plus a fishing & boating center.
20 mi from your location
4.8(261)Lake Artemesia
Reservoir covering 38 acres, with fishing piers, aquatic gardens & trails in the surrounding area.
20 mi from your location
4.5(3,496)Gunpowder Falls State Park Hammerman Area
Gunpowder River hub for picnics & kayaking, with rentable picnic shelters, fishing & swimming.
20 mi from your location
4.0(30)Triadelphia Reservoir
This 800-acre reservoir on the Patuxent River features fishing & non-motorized boating.
21 mi from your location
About this map
Every pin is a live reading from a USGS real-time monitoring station, captured in a daily snapshot. Colours follow the site’s cold-water-safety thresholds and describe the water at that one sensor — usually a river or stream gauge, not a swim beach — so treat them as a guide to what the water is doing nearby, not a verdict on a specific spot. Readings are provisional and can be revised by the USGS. Your location only sorts this page: the coordinates appear in the address bar (rounded to about a mile) and are not saved to an account or our database.
Conditions are for general information only and can change quickly. Always judge the water in person and follow posted advisories and local guidance before swimming or paddling.