As RVers, nothing is better than cooling off in a lake on a hot summer day, especially after a long day on the road. Lakeside campgrounds are some of my favorite places in the summer. Even if I don’t feel like swimming, sitting in a camp chair in the shallows of a lake with bare feet in the water and a cold beverage in my hand is always a winning combination.
Across the country, there are lakes that offer a variety of experiences to help RVers beat the summer heat, plus offer a place to camp. These 10 lakes not only feature plenty of amenities to satisfy everyone but also provide scenic backdrops that will enhance your vacation experience and photos. While enjoying these outdoor lake adventures, please prioritize safety in and around the water.
Check out these water safety tips from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a leading federal provider of outdoor recreation with more than 400 lake and river projects in 43 states. Remember, life jackets save lives!
10 lakeside campgrounds to beat the summer heat
Green River Lakes, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Wyoming
Stay at Green River Lakes Campground on the shores of Lower Green River Lake for a serene summer getaway. Located in the Wind River Range, the adjacent Bridger Wilderness offers ample hiking opportunities, and mountain views surround the scenic lake. Enjoy swimming, canoeing, camping, and fishing at this picturesque destination.
Silver Lake, Inyo National Forest, California
Located at the base of dramatic mountains in the Eastern Sierra Nevada, Silver Lake is a high-elevation (7,200 ft/2195 m), 97-acre lake popular with anglers seeking rainbow trout. The Silver Lake Campground offers 63 sites, a boat ramp, drinking water, restrooms, and trail access to the Ansel Adams Wilderness.
Paulina Lake and East Lake, Newberry National Volcanic Monument, Oregon
Swim in the caldera of a volcano at Paulina Lake or neighboring East Lake, located within the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. These breathtakingly beautiful lakes offer a unique recreation experience. Learn more about this incredible relic of geologic history here (pdf). There are multiple campgrounds available. East Lake Campground is an option on East Lake and Paulina Lake Campground is an option on Paulina Lake.
Lake Sherwood, Monongahela National Forest, West Virginia
Despite West Virginia’s short summers, Lake Sherwood in the Monongahela National Forest is a perfect destination to beat the summer heat. Enjoy hiking, boating, and fishing for tiger muskies, channel catfish, bullhead, bluegill, and largemouth bass. Pack a picnic, swim, or camp overnight to enjoy it all over again. Click here for more information on the Lake Sherwood Recreation Area and Campground.
Lake Santeetlah, Nantahala National Forest, North Carolina
Western North Carolina is a summer haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Lake Santeetlah, a 2,800-acre (1,133 ha) lake within the Nantahala National Forest, offers a quiet getaway. Enjoy scenic drives, swimming, boating, canoeing, camping, fishing, and hiking. Cheoah Point Campground provides multiple open and wooded campsites that can accommodate up to 10 guests and two vehicles per site. Six RV sites provide 15/30/50 amp electrical hookups. Tables and campfire rings with grills are provided at each site. Flush toilets, hot showers and drinking water are provided to help create a comfortable camping experience.
Payne Lake, Talladega National Forest, Alabama
Payne Lake Recreation Area in the Talladega National Forest is one of Alabama’s hidden gems. It offers developed campsites, bathhouses with restrooms and showers, and picnic spots. The area is open year-round for boating, fishing, picnicking, and swimming.
Melvern Lake, Kansas
In the heartland of America, Melvern Lake offers 7,000 acres (2,832.8 ha) of water and 18,000 acres (7,284.3 ha) of publicly accessible lands. Enjoy fishing, hunting, camping, boating, swimming, and hiking. Picnic areas and campgrounds provide opportunities to beat the summer heat, with four developed campgrounds offering waterfront views. Campground amenities range from basic campsites to full hook-ups with 50-amp service. Click here for more information on campgrounds.
Lake Havasu, Arizona
On the Arizona-California border, Lake Havasu offers endless water-based activities to beat the Southwestern summer heat. Along the 20-mile (32 km) Arizona side, there are 73 boat-access campsites. Enjoy the beach, water activities, and picnic pavilions. Select from one of the many camping opportunities on the lake and prepare for an adventure-filled day on the water.
Lake Superior, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan
Pictured Rocks, one of only three National Lakeshores, is a unique lakeside destination. The rustic and remote Twelvemile Beach Campground offers direct access to the wild, sandy beaches of Lake Superior. Kayak below Miners Castle, Grand Portal Point, and miles of towering sandstone cliffs. It’s a grand place to beat the summer heat. It’s called Lake Superior for a reason!
Tenkiller Ferry Lake, Oklahoma
With 10 marinas and more than 20 boat launches, Tenkiller Ferry Lake is known as “Oklahoma’s Clear Water Wonderland.” Just an hour-and-a half from Tulsa, the lake is a top destination for swimming, fishing, boating, camping and scuba diving (yes, scuba diving!).
Enjoy designated swimming areas and picnic spots with restrooms, shelters, and tables. Take in the views from the Tenkiller Dam Overlook and Nature Trail during your visit. Camping is big on Tenkiller with 14 campgrounds operated by the Corps of Engineers, State of Oklahoma, and concessionaires. Types of camping range from primitive to full hookup and are evenly spread out from one end of the lake to the other.
What are you waiting for? Raise the jacks, retract the awning and hit the road to one of these 10 lakeside campgrounds across the country to beat the summer heat. Maybe I will see you there!
If you can’t get to a lake to cool off, click here for other tips for beating the summer heat while RVing.
Dave will be speaking at the upcoming RV shows:
2024 America’s Largest RV Show in Hershey, PA September 11th – 15th
Knoxville RV Show February 7 – 9, 2025
Birmingham RV Show February 14 – 16, 2025
He would love to meet RVtravel.com readers who will be attending. Feel free to introduce yourself at one of his seminars.
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Wallowa Lake in Joseph,Oregon.
WOW! for an article titled “campgrounds to beat the summer heat” the author didn’t do his research very good.Having Lake Havasu on this “beat the summer heat” list is a real joke as summer temperatures are 110-120 for most of the summer with lows of 85-100. This is a “beat the cold” destination during the winter months.
You can’t beat the heat at Lake Havasu! It’s pretty there, but it’s actually hotter there than in other parts of AZ! We live about 2 hours from there and actually own a time share there, and always watch the temps, it’s been between 109-115 all summer here and about 5-10 degrees hotter in Lake Havasu! When we go there, we go in the winter, not the summer! 😉
My big complaint about lakeside camping is – BUGS. Where there’s water, there’s bugs. It can be miserable unless there’s a continual breeze to keep them at bay.
Your July 27th article on Lake camping to beat the summer heat is good. However, recommending Lake Havasu Arizona is a tremendous mistake. During The summer, Lake Havasu averages about 110 degrees and often approaches 115 to 120 degrees. There is no cooling down at night with temperature about 95 to 100 overnight lows.
A RV would never be able to maintain a comfortable temperature. It would feel like being in a oven
Thank you, Dave! 🙂 These sound like very attractive destinations! Thank you for the suggestions! 🙂 We are presently at a national forest campground in eastern Kentucky (Holly Bay, Daniel Boone National Forest, between Corbin and London). It may prove interesting with the extremely “enthusiastic” dog “3 who already found a dead copperhead. Meanwhile bear warnings are on every bulletin board and essentially no cell coverage. This may be the most “wild” campground at which I have ever stayed!?! 🤔😯😉 Thanks again, Dave, have a great week, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
Neal, Enjoy the wilds of Kentucky!
Nothing in Minnesota land of over 10000 lakes? There are literally hundreds of lake campgrounds in Minnesota.