8 Best Lakeside Towns in New England
New England has one of the largest concentrations of freshwater in the entire United States, with an estimated 10,000 lakes sitting within its borders. From the northern woods of Vermont to the coastal countryside of Rhode Island, this distinct region of the country is an absolute gem when it comes to pristine bodies of water in which you can boat, fish, swim, or simply appreciate the natural beauty of. If you're looking for the perfect weekend escape this year, whether it is winter, spring, summer, or fall, these are the eight best lakeside towns in New England.
Bridgton (Maine)
Bridgton rests on the southern shore of Highland Lake, near other notable bodies of water, too, like Long Lake and Woods Pond. Highland Lake Beach, which comprises much of the town's lakefront on Highland Lake, is staffed with lifeguards in summer and includes facilities for swimming and picnicking, making this community a hotspot for visitors looking to spend an idyllic afternoon under the sun. On the other hand, if you're out to spend your time actually on the water, whether for fishing or simply touring around, the lake also features several docks all around its shores.
Be sure to explore the Bridgton proper itself as well. Shorey Park, closer to Main Street, connects to the Stevens Brook Trail, which runs through the center of town. Moreover, the downtown area sits between Highland Lake and Long Lake, both accessible by foot or vehicle, and the Causeway on Long Lake links Bridgton to Naples, making it a true regional hub in Maine.
Bridgton is also a good spot for winter recreation, with nearby Pleasant Mountain, the oldest continually operating ski area in Maine. This destination is widely considered one of the top ski hills in New England as a whole.
Wolfeboro (New Hampshire)
Located on the eastern shore of Lake Winnipesaukee, Wolfeboro markets itself as “The Oldest Summer Resort in America,” dating back to 1759! Today, you can enjoy the watery, natural sights of the area at nearby destinations like Cate Park, which provides public lake access. Moreover, the town docks, adjacent to the park, serve recreational boaters and host tour boats like the M/S Mount Washington.
If you're just looking for a swim, however, Wolfeboro’s main public swimming area, Carry Beach, is located a couple of miles from downtown and remains relatively uncrowded when compared to coastal locales.
Other draws, like the Wright Museum of WWII and the New Hampshire Boat Museum, give the town a touch of educational fun. Another historic/scenic aspect to explore is the Cotton Valley Rail Trail, which connects Wolfeboro to nearby Wakefield, offering a 12-mile path for walking and cycling.
Accommodations here come in a mix of inns, short-term rentals, and small hotels that allow the town to support more amenities than its year-round population of 6,400 would suggest. The Wolfeboro Inn is a particularly sought-after place to spend the night, as it is located right in the center of downtown and just a few steps from the water.
Meredith (New Hampshire)
Meredith instead sits at the northwestern edge of Lake Winnipesaukee and serves as another key regional hub for boaters, cyclists, hikers, and summer travelers of all kinds in New Hampshire. The waterfront here is organized around Meredith Bay, where a public boardwalk links several lake access points, including the town docks, the "sculpture walk," and Hesky Park.
The town has heavily invested in maintaining its functioning waterfront economy. For example, the Mill Falls Resort and its surrounding complex provide world-class lodging, dining, and retail spaces while still feeling deeply connected to Lake Waukewan (another lake on the western edge of town) and Lake Winnipesaukee (a short stroll to the east).
Other local spots, like the Inter-Lakes Community Auditorium, host regular performances, with the town library and its picturesque town hall both situated within walking distance, too.
As one of the top lake towns in the state, you're probably more interested in the fact that public infrastructure here also manages high seasonal demand in an effective way, including multiple marinas, structured public parking, and overflow boat trailer lots.
North Hero (Vermont)
North Hero can be found on an island of the same name in the northern section of Lake Champlain, forming a major part of the underrated Lake Champlain Islands region. It is named after Revolutionary War veteran Ethan Allen, one of the founders of Vermont. This community is defined by its direct and continuous access to the lake (an easy thing to achieve when being surrounded completely by water), with multiple public fishing piers, small boat launches, and uninterrupted shoreline views to match.
The Hero’s Welcome general store is a must-visit while in the area. Set along the main causeway, this cozy, historic shop includes a deli and a convenient e-bike and kayak rental service directly on the water. Public lake access is also available at North Hero State Park, which features a long, undeveloped shoreline and is popular with birders and paddlers in need of a quieter spot to explore.
Another excellent local park is Knight Point State Park, which connects the southern point of the island to the mainland via a causeway and includes additional facilities for swimming and picnicking. Scenic viewpoints are almost always at hand while travelling here, as the entire road network through North Hero actually runs within sight of the lake, providing numerous picturesque stops wherever you are along the route.
New Salem (Massachusetts)
New Salem borders the Quabbin Reservoir, one of the largest inland bodies of water in the northeastern United States, and the primary water supply for Boston. Though swimming and boating are prohibited to protect the body of water, the town offers some of the most expansive and unbroken shoreline access in Massachusetts through local trail systems, observation areas, and limited fishing zones.
The Quabbin Visitors Center makes for a good first stop, located in New Salem, and is very close to several notable hiking spots, historical exhibits, and ideal lookout points over the reservoir from the Winsor Dam and Enfield Lookout. The town also maintains a trail network leading to Gate 30, one of the more remote and scenic entry points into the Quabbin watershed.
While much of New Salem remains forested and sparsely populated, its connection to this vital reservoir is also seen as functional rather than decorative, used for research, conservation, and water management. However, its densely wooded location within the interior of the state means it is a great place to find some peace and quiet. The fall season here in particular is absolutely incredible for sightseers, with the leaves, leafy forests exploding with color as the year draws to an end.
Greenville (Rhode Island)
Greenville is a village within the town of Smithfield and is defined by its proximity to a variety of notable water bodies, like Waterman Reservoir, Slack Reservoir, and several smaller lakes and ponds in the Woonasquatucket River watershed. Unlike towns along the larger bays and rivers of Rhode Island, Greenville offers a more low-key, contained lakeside experience.
The lakes here are active recreational sites, used for paddling, fishing, and hiking along their lengthy shores. Waterman Reservoir, for example, is lined with both residential and public access points, including launch areas and popular fishing holes. And while swimming isn’t allowed in the reservoirs, their calm surface and wooded shorelines make way for consistent year-round use on land and excellent natural scenery.
The village center sits just east of the reservoir and includes locally owned businesses, schools, and various civic buildings, most within walking distance of the water. Just west of town, operating orchards and farm stands tie Greenville’s lake district to the region’s longstanding agricultural history as well, while the presence of visible dams, spillways, and causeways speaks to its long use as a managed water system.
It's an all-around interesting place to adventure around, with a variety of local offerings, history, and other delights for you to explore, only 20 minutes outside of Providence.
New Fairfield (Connecticut)
New Fairfield is on the western edge of Candlewood Lake, the largest lake in Connecticut. Created in the 1920s as a hydroelectric reservoir, the lake now supports full recreational use, including powerboating, sailing, swimming, fishing, and more. About a 2-hour drive from New York City and an hour from New Haven, city dwellers have been coming here on weekend getaways for multiple generations.
New Fairfield’s share of waterfront includes multiple public access points, with a local favorite being Squantz Pond State Park, which technically sits on a separate body of water connected to Candlewood. The park has a public beach, a boat launch, and trail access to the surrounding hills.
While much of the shoreline of Candlewood Lake is residential, with several villages, neighborhoods, and other towns around it, New Fairfield itself maintains multiple town beaches of its own and a huge amount of lakeside real estate, not only on Candlewood Lake but also nearby Margerie Lake Reservoir. New Fairfield is notable for having some of the highest elevated land surrounding Candlewood, offering amazing views over the lake basin.
Burlington (Vermont)
Burlington sits directly on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain and is the only actual city in Vermont with an actual urban waterfront. The city is renowned for many things: its educational institutions, numerous historic landmarks, being the largest settlement in the state, having an international airport, and, of course, tons of lakeside activities.
Be sure to check out the Burlington Bike Path, which runs the full length of this shoreline, linking beaches, parks, marinas, and the ferry terminal all to make up one of the region's most popular cycling/hiking routes. Other attractions by the water include the Community Boathouse Marina, which serves transient and seasonal boaters and includes a breakwater dock, launch ramps, and moorings.
Moreover, at the foot of College Street, Waterfront Park is used for festivals and large-scale events, drawing even more visitors to this gorgeous city throughout the year. You may want to see what other man-made tourist destinations call Burlington home, too, like the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, which functions as both a science museum and an environmental research station.
Just south of downtown, another must-see is Oakledge Park, a pleasant little greenspace that provides a second public swimming beach and convenient/easy access to Lake Champlain for canoeists and kayakers.
Mount Mansfield is also very much worth mentioning. This unmissable natural landmark, a major part of the Green Mountains, looms just east of Burlington and features the highly popular Stowe Mountain Resort on its eastern slopes.
Spend More Time by the Water in New England
While the Atlantic coast is quite nice and easy to reach pretty much wherever you are in New England, we highly advise you not to skip over the region's smaller bodies of water. Each lake and its adjacent towns mentioned above exemplify the northeast just as much as any oceanside community, with their laid-back vibes, pristine natural sights, and longstanding histories, many dating back to before the founding of the country. So, be sure to get out this summer and spend quality time by some of America's greatest lakes, while using these towns as ideal bases of operation.
