Trout fishing is popular on Lake Taneycomo. From a time-capsule-worthy main drag in Greensboro, Georgia, to a sun-soaked chain of lakes in Winter Haven, Florida, these are the South's best lake towns of 2022. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. That makes it appealing for investors as well as folks who stay there part of the time and rent out for the rest, to help pay off their mortgages. The company, based in Hoover, AL, has lakefront listings in 34 states. For the price-conscious, there is a two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo on Shoreline Drive that is listed for $260,000. Ebenezer Park on Lake Wylie offers a boat ramp, picnic tables, swimming, playgrounds, and fishing. Lightvision, LLC/ Getty Images. There is a thriving and vibrant art and cultural scene that highlights the areas Alaskan native heritage. Residential lots on Lake Monticello 8. The small community of Georgetown on the Carolina coast is what Charleston used to be - 200-year-old homes (more than Charleston, in fact), lots of Southern . Dillon's overall cost of living score is 88, compared to South Carolina's 94 and the national average of 100. The unique 1.88-acre, lake-to-bay lot offers views from every window in the 8,800-square-foot home. However, those who want a waterfront view should expect to spend $400,000 and up, such as this lakefront two-bedroom with a rooftop deck listed for $499,999. Unlike beach towns, lake towns never close for an off season, so there's always plenty to do and see year-round. 10. South Lake Tahoe: If North Lake Tahoe is a pristine and relaxed winter wonderland, South Lake Tahoe is more of a year-round affair. Summer and fall in the South Lake Tahoe area is synonymous with boat rentals, hiking Rubicon Trail for views of the lake, dining al fresco at Boathouse on the Pier, and sunsets savored with a bottle of wine. Homes: $165K - $1.5M Lots: $10K - $300K. While the town of Osage Beach has only 5,000 residents, there is a variety of restaurants, bars, and parks that attract visitors every summer. Browse Art on the Lake, where a variety of local art can be viewed and purchased; enjoy a zipline adventure at Screaming Eagle at Lake Guntersville, where you'll catch a great view of Northeastern Alabama forests and learn about the efforts Guntersville has made to restore the North American Bald Eagle population; and finish your stay with the best of lakeside cooking at Wintzell's Oyster House. For more places to explore, check out The South's Greatest Lakes and The South's Best Small Towns. Lake of the Ozarks State Park is the largest state park in Missouri. His company sells lake homes in 33 states. Find a warm welcome in LaGrange, a cozy West Georgia town located on West Point Lake. Next: 10. The cold winters allow for hockey and ice fishing, and the warmer months . There are many reasons why Lake Tahoe stands out as a lake vacation. Along the 185-mile shoreline, you'll find patches of crystal clear water. You're sure to catch your fix of small-town charm and slow country living in this Alabama town. For outdoor enthusiasts, Chickasaw National Recreation Area (Oklahomas oldest national park) offers nearly 10,000 acres of camping, hiking, horseback riding, and biking. The family-friendly area boasts water sports and a drive-in movie theater in the summer months with plenty of hockey, ice fishing and other outdoor winter sports during the colder parts of the year. In town, you'll find its historic district and long-loved restaurants. Population: 316,381. Ogden, Utah. (Fun fact: Big Spirit Lake is home to 40 different species of fish.). Median home sales price: $175,000. With the campsites, the natural spring water, the scenic views around the park, and the lake, its just so calming and relaxing, says Misty Treptow, executive director of the Sulphur Chamber of Commerce. 9. Lake Tahoe is so big (22 miles long and 12 miles wide) that it straddles . Our readers voted on their favorites, and while no two stays are alike, we're sure that you'll find plenty of rest and relaxation in each of them. I cover residential real estate, including buying, selling and trends. Lake Greenwood in Lake Greenwood State Park, located right outside the towns of Ninety Six (yes, real name) and Greenwood, offers 11,400-acres of floating fun. ( (Tony Franzel for Realtor.com)) 1. Its possible to get a single-family home right on one of the smaller lakes in the $100,000 range, like this three-bedroom on Center Lake for $119,800. Emmie Martin , Melissa Stanger, and Andy Kiersz. Maine is home to (literally) thousands of lakes and ponds, from the largest lake, Moosehead, to midsize lakes like Portland-adjacent Sebago Lake and Rangeley Lake near the middle of the state. Condos start as low as $40,000. A vacation in a lake town is a guaranteed dose of old-fashioned family fun. Chattanooga, Tennessee. * Median home list prices as of June from Realtor.com. For those looking for a property as close to the water as possible, there are options. Then we calculated affordability by analyzing median home list prices year to date through May 2022 for these communities. Conroe, Texas, has made its name as a live music destination with shows happening in town almost every day. Cost of living . Caddo Lake / Shutterstock. Those looking for history and a well-preserved downtown will enjoy the heart of this city, while those keen on a lake vacation can head straight to Basin Harbor, a resort on Lake Champlain celebrating its 135th season. Anglers from all over the Midwest flock to this rural destination for the awesome catch on manmade Lake Delton, two local rivers, and other, smaller bodies of water that are surrounded with lovely and affordable homes all along their shorelines. Every outdoor activity you can imagineswimming, hiking, rock climbing, golfing, canoeing, fishing, water skiing, and moreis possible at Lake Lure, and you'll still find plenty of time for relaxation once the sun sinks behind Chimney Rock each evening. A majority of the population is seasonal. This fast-growing city of nearly 90,000 is 40 miles north of Houston and abuts Lake Conroe, a 33-square-mile lake, and is close to Sam Houston National Forest. Its quiet and peaceful early in the morning, and bustling with waterskiers and boaters in the afternoon. Halfway between Minneapolis and Chicago, the area has become a popular year-round destination for urbanites seeking an escape from city life. The trooper had successful surgery Thursday and is in "great spirits," Attorney General Matt . Sights include the Palace Hotel and Bath House, listed on the National Historic Register, as well as the Basin Park Hotel and the supposedly haunted Crescent Hotel. And isn't that what makes the best lake towns shine? We also factored in the number of restaurants, bars, and entertainment establishments per capita to ensure there was more to do in these places than just lounge by the water. This five-bedroom, two-bedroom house is listed for $325,000. Animal lovers will gladly pay roughly $7 ($4 for kids) to spend a couple . Visitors will find endless entertainment within the village of Big Bear, from brunch at Teddy Bear Restaurant to midday microbrews at Big Bear Lake Brewing Company. Lake Wylie is in both Carolinas and the variety of activities in this area is great. There are few things more relaxing than the quintessentially American lake vacation. 3. Just 12 miles from Minneapolis, the lake town is one of Niche's top suburbs in the state, grading highly in nearly every quality-of-life category from crime to education. The community is nestled between the southern shores of the lake and the foothills of the Coeur d'Alene Mountains. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Chelan offers housing options at a wide range of price points. What do Frank Lloyd Wright, shellfish, and the Tennessee River all have in common? Alabama's Lake Town lives up to its moniker by offering plenty of activities on and off the water. There are no theme parks or big music shows. RETIRE NEAR THE WATER. Yup. Share of household income . For many looking to escape the city, it became a great place this summer to social distance and enjoy the outdoors. Each place had to have at least 50 listings each month to make the cut. Its also a prized destination for great shopping and local activitieslike a top-notch weekly farmers marketand its welcoming community vibe, says Jen Schaben, real estate agent with Stauss Realty in Okoboji. Crestline, California. The community is home to several private bodies of water: Roamingwood Lake, Deerfield Lake, Brooks Lake, Windermere Lake, Hidden Lake, and Big Springs Pond. In the winter, it is a haven for ice fishing and the indoor water parks are open throughout the year. The actual town of Bigfork has a growing arts scene - between their impressive array of galleries, notable theatre presence, and annual Festival of the Arts - and it is known for great hiking, with many trails offering views of the lake. While Charlevoix offers both waterfront attractions and inland charms, beach-going visitors will love the five miles of shore at Fisherman's Island State Park and Beach. The dock area of a home for sale in Crane Lake, where most listings are under $226,000. Winter Olympics. Glen Arbor is nestled between Lake Michigans Sleeping Bear Bay and the Glen Lakes. "The City of Opportunity" offers plenty of rest-and-relaxation opportunities to its visitors. Healthcare is another notable bargain, running 12% . Families love heading to the rides and entertainment at Cedar Point Amusement Parkthe self-proclaimed roller coaster capital of the world., We have a lot of second-home buyers that come here for their getaway homes, says real estate agent Jenny Craig of Russell Realty Company. They're not just waterfront havens where you can rent a boat for the day or go stand-up paddle boarding, they're also destinations with exciting restaurants, hotels, shopping, and plenty of non-water-based activities. Just a three-hour drive, the idyllic glacial valley, located across the Cascade Range in the high desert, centers on the crystal-clear waters of Lake Chelan. Heres a $55,000 one-bedroom unit. Lake Wylie is the oldest lake on the Catawba River. There's also plenty of nature . The word is getting out. Near Klamath Falls. Covington, Louisiana. And we specifically wanted to hone in on the best lake towns in America as a way to help travelers pinpoint exactly where to book a week-long rental or a charming inn for their next lake vacation. Take a tour of Wright's Rosenbaum House, the only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house in Alabama. Budget tip: Ko Lanta is one of the cheap beach towns that's as perfect for adventurous backpackers as it is for families. Winter activities include snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Single-family homes on the water start in the high $300,000s to low $400,000 range, such as this four-bedroom on 2.31 acres listed at $410,000 or this three-bedroom on the market for $399,000. Most of the time beach towns are far too expensive to actua. #13. According to Time and Money magazines, Murfreesboro is one of the top 20 places to live in the US. These lake towns might not be ones with the highest name recognition or bragging rights, but they do offer a host of fun water activitiesand the privacy and small-town feel missing from bigger, more populated vacation spots. Cayuga Lake is known for its stunning wine trail and Aurora, nestled right on the shores of Cayuga, is in close proximity to wineries along the lake as well as wineries lining the adjacent Seneca Lake. As one of the best beach vacations in Texas, Port Aransas has everything you need for a family or solo getaway. But that doesnt mean the rest of the 99% cant get in on the waterfront action. Residents can enjoy leisurely days boating on the lake, or go fishing in two of the nearby lakes, Lake Henry and Lake Wallenpaupack. Situated approximately 40 miles southwest of Knoxville, this gated lakefront community offers space to grow and explore the iconic wilderness of the region. The 440-acre, 3-mile-long lake features two public beaches and a shoreline dotted with a mix of upscale and affordable permanent and vacation homes. Come for the entire summer, or just for the annual White Lake Water Festival traditionally held in May. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at twilight. The former industrial town has pivoted and is cultivating its reputation as a resort town, Fullford says. The quaint village offers restaurants, hotels, resorts, and fun and unique shops along its cute downtown corridor. Your life in Wolfeboro will be filled with sunset swims at Brewster Beach, ice cream cones at Wolfeboro Dockside Grille & Dairy Bar, and beers at Lone Wolfe Brewing Company. And yes, they can be terrific investments, too. 5) CityFlatsHotel: A sister property to the CityFlats in downtown Grand . Treat your family to a boat tour aboard the M/S Mount Washington, which has been cruising the lake for nearly 150 years, and if you're looking for a charming hotel, Pickering House Inn is just the place. Rent a house right on the shores of Flathead Lake, or book a cabin at the all-inclusive Flathead Lake Lodge for a memorable dude ranch experience. From Turnip Greens Country Market, where you'll find a farmer's market as well a range of boutique stores, to Vernon Square, with historic sites and trails, Darien is an ideal destination for a low key family getaway. Lake homes have always been a popular, aspirational home. With the Chickasaw National Recreation Area, the Lake of the Arbuckles, and the Artesian Hotel, Casino, and Spa, the small town has a lot to offer. . The 800-acre recreational lake is surrounded by a wooded shoreline, winding road and grassy picnic spots that come right up to the edge of the water. The city sits about 30 miles southeast of Nashville. As for housing, there is something for any price range. Located just south of the Iowa-Minnesota border, Spirit Lake sits on the western shore of East Okoboji Lake, in the Iowa Great Lakes region. Vacation homes are still affordable in Winsted. Originally located precisely where the lake is, the town of Butler was submerged in 1948 as the reservoir filled. 23. The top tourist attractions are the International Wolf Center and North American Bear Center. 11. We have four seasons here, and most people like that it switches things up from boating, to snowmobiling, ice fishing, and huntingthe list goes on, says Jayson Maguire, Realtor and owner of Exit Realty Connection in Watertown. Its basically the complete opposite of Bransonaside from, you know, the lakes. We have homes that are $100,000 to $250,000, and then we also have $5 million lake homes. Spirit Lake also offers a host of museums and local historical sites such as the Dickinson County Heritage Center and the Iowa Great Lakes Maritime Museum. Reality check: Most of us are no more likely find ourselves in ostentatious ocean estates in Malibu, the Hamptons, or Bal Harbour than we are to enjoy an eight-minute joyride to the edge of space. Its possible to get a house in this area for just over $100,000, such as this cute three-bedroomasking $115,000. Lake Wylie is a 13,400 acre lake that was created for hydro-electric power, but is also used as a recreational facility by its nearby towns - which includes the rather famous Tega Cay, known for the Jim Bakker/PTL Club extravagance. Closer to town, those similar units near the large body of water go for at least an extra $100,000if not moresuch as this three-bedroom asking $539,000. The area also has lots to do, from shopping and dining to mountain biking, hiking, fishing, and canoeing on its rivers and lakes. Lake Wylie covers over 13,000 acres, with a shoreline of 325 miles. The most affordable town on the list is Jamestown, N.Y., with a median list price of just $59,000, but if you desire a two-bedroom home with a private shoreline that can raise the price significantly. While the area boasts multiple lakes, the family-friendly destination offers plenty to do when you need a break from the sun and heat. Located along the Guadalupe River, Canyon Lake is one of the most picturesque places to own a home, and it just so happens to also be the most affordable.