Top rated Swimming lakes in Durham, United States to elevate your visit (Updated March, 2024)

Top rated Swimming lakes in Durham

Experience the best that Durham has to offer with our curated list of top-rated places. Sorted by average review scores from venues boasting over 30 reviews, these establishments promise exceptional quality and experiences to elevate your visit in the city. This list contains 19 places from Swimming lake category.

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Within Durham

WV Glamping Domes

Lodge

👍👍 We stayed at The Manor and had family meet up from across a few states. The location was perfect, easy access but quiet in the woods. The domes are so unique and had just enough provided to feel cozy but still feel like we were camping. The service and communication was above and beyond and we appre...

5.00 (78 reviews) (~247.58 km from centre)

Dogwood on Lake Norman, Meeting & Retreat Center

Retreat center

4.80 (43 reviews) (~195.28 km from centre)

Bear Creek Lake State Park

State park

Set in Cumberland State Forest, this 40-acre lake hosts swimming, boating & fishing, plus cabins.

4.70 (855 reviews) (~179.66 km from centre)

Ebenezer Beach

Swimming lake

👍 A nice beach to bring the family and partake in water skiing, kayaking, swimming, or simply lounging in the sun. There are several cement cove paths into the water, great to launch kayaks, or take have kids stand in shallow water. There is a large bathroom area with a shower in the back. The small...

4.70 (226 reviews) (~34.02 km from centre)

Lake Tabor

Swimming lake

4.70 (50 reviews) (~204.37 km from centre)

PDRA Quarry Lake Norman

Swimming lake

👍👍 Beautiful and convenient place to practice scuba diving in the Charlotte area.

4.70 (36 reviews) (~187.43 km from centre)

Fairy Stone State Park

State park

Named for cross-shaped staurolite found here, the forested park has a lake, cabins & hiking trails.

4.60 (1.6K reviews) (~138.38 km from centre)

Sandling Beach Recreation Area

Park

👍 There is good news and bad news about this beach. The bad news is that I just found out about this beach the other day and have lived in the area for several years. The good news is that it's the beginning of spring so I have plenty of chances to make up for lost time. The beach and sand are nice a...

4.60 (480 reviews) (~17.71 km from centre)

Pleasant Landing at Lake Anna

Boat rental service

4.60 (285 reviews) (~247.08 km from centre)

Cabin Lake County Park

Park

👍👍 A part of me doesn’t want to leave a review because this place is one of the best kept secrets around. However, the park deserves an excellent review. The park offers a small RV area with water and electric. Make sure you have 50 feet of house with you, as some of the water spigots are pretty far a...

4.60 (242 reviews) (~150.74 km from centre)

Pipestem Spa, Mountain Chalets & Event Center

Event venue

Resort featuring chalet-style lodging, live entertainment & a spa for hair, skin & body treatments.

4.50 (195 reviews) (~249.44 km from centre)

Lake Wallace

Swimming lake

👍👍 Great place for the family Kid friendly Swimming Boating/WaterSports Fishing Wildlife, geese, ducks, Turtles the usual lake stuff which amazes youngsters. 3 Mile Trial in Middle of Lake if your feeling up for a walk, hike or even your bike.

4.50 (69 reviews) (~167.22 km from centre)

Carrigan Farms

Farm

👍👍 A good size swimming quarry but not big. Some grass space for everyone allowed, or a covered picnic table. Check in was slow. Beautiful water. 5 exits from water, a couple of good jumps and a cable over the water for flips. Parking indicates capacity of venue well. I'm a fan and will likely come aga...

4.40 (877 reviews) (~174.06 km from centre)

Badin Public access & swimming

Swimming lake

👍👍 We stopped here while driving back from Morrow Mountain. Beautiful lake views. The swim area seems to be marked pretty well with safety flotation dividers. I'm sure this must be a lot of fun in warm weather when it is open for swimming (May 15 - September 15).

4.40 (257 reviews) (~127.35 km from centre)

Buddle Creek Swim Area

Swimming lake

👍 Popular place for the locals. Lots of fishing, boating and swimming. Easy access for all things water. Can get really busy and crowded at times, but overall a great place to spend a hot day.

4.30 (435 reviews) (~124.56 km from centre)

Lake Phoenix Scuba Park

SCUBA instructor

A clear, spring-fed lake stocked with fish, buses & a helicopter for scuba divers, plus camping.

4.30 (199 reviews) (~147.13 km from centre)

Virginia Dare Cruises & Marina

Tourist attraction

Marina on a mountain lake with boat cruises & a relaxed bar & grill with indoor-outdoor seating.

4.30 (173 reviews) (~138.39 km from centre)

Destination Watersports Carolinas, Boat, Kayak, and Paddleboard Rentals on Lake Wylie

Boat rental service

4.30 (97 reviews) (~217.23 km from centre)

Hadad's Lake

Swimming lake

👍👍 This place is very nostalgic and makes you feel like you're back in the 80s at the lake with your family. It's really cool because they made the lake into a swimming pool but it's still with the lake water and it has a lot of awesome stuff to do like a rope swing a big huge bounce thing and water sl...

4.00 (395 reviews) (~209.2 km from centre)

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Top rated Swimming lakes in Durham, United States