It’s Time to Visit These Best Lakes for Pontooning
Boat owners have few better ways to expand their boating experiences than by exploring other waters. Towing the boat to a new body of water creates new memories and maybe new favorite spots. If you own a pontoon boat, we have gathered some of the country’s best lakes for pontooning.
From the alpine beauty of Lake Tahoe to the party scene at Lake of the Ozarks, America has an incredible diversity of lakes. Whether you’re trailering a pontoon or renting one, we’ve rounded up some incredible destinations for a Great American pontoon trip.
Lake of the Ozarks
Pontoon owners who love hopping between lakeside bars and restaurants can’t do much better than Lake of the Ozarks. With more than 50 true waterfront dock-and-dine bars with colorful names such as Docknockers Bar & Grill and Beavers at the Dam, this Missouri lake can occupy boaters for days.
Lake of the Ozarks has more than 1,100 miles of shoreline and can get rough on weekends, said Brad Rowland, who set a tri-toon speed record with a 117-mph pass at the 2025 Lake of the Ozarks Shootout.
“I’m not saying you can’t go on the weekend. It’s not the best ride if you’ve got a family of eight or something,” Rowland said.
Pontoon owners looking for fun usually end up at the Party Cove at mile marker 4. The 200-yard-wide cove is within Lake of the Ozarks State Park and can host up to 3,000 boats on a busy weekend. For a quieter spot, the pontoon crowd often hangs out at Captain Ron’s, which sits in a no-wake cove at mile marker 34. The bar and restaurant hosts the World’s Largest Pontoon Party each May.
Rowland said the fuel docks and some restaurants usually have attendants to assist with docking. Restaurant hours can be highly seasonal, especially in the fall and winter months, so it’s worth checking ahead before you set out.
The lake has multiple public launch ramps, and many private marinas on the lake offer launching and overnight slips. Lake of the Ozarks has zebra mussels, so clean, drain, and dry the pontoon before you return home.
It’s easy to see why this is one of the best lakes for pontooning.
Lake Tahoe
Arguably one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, Lake Tahoe is also one of the most restrictive. Among the first lakes in the country to ban carbureted two-stroke engines, Lake Tahoe is fiercely protective of its cobalt-blue waters and near-perfect clarity.
Owners have to purchase an annual sticker, which costs $115 for first-time registration, and the boat is decontaminated with hot water before it can go into the lake. Pontoons used exclusively on Lake Tahoe don’t have to undergo reinspection. A tamper-proof tag on the boat and trailer proves it hasn’t been anywhere else.
While there is a 600-foot no-wake zone that rings the California-Nevada border lake, boaters can pull up to most beaches. The South Shore offers the best sand, and for dropping anchor, Emerald Bay is tops. Boaters can anchor for the day in front of Vikingsholm Castle, with views of the tea house on Fannette Island. California State Parks runs a small boat-in campground, and each site has its own mooring, which helps make this one of the best lakes for pontooning.
Tahoe City on the North Shore has the most boating-accessible dining on the lake. Most restaurants have limited piers—check to see if reservations are needed—while a few eateries offer boat valet service during the summer. Gar Woods Grill & Pier, named after a famed powerboat racer, is a North Shore landmark restaurant.
Lake Tahoe sits at an elevation of 6,200 feet, and the water stays cold all summer. Cold enough that jumping in can be a shock. The afternoons can get rough, so find a nearby cove and enjoy the beauty.
Lake Havasu
A sunset cruise is a must on Lake Havasu, as the lake on the California-Arizona border has a magical glow at that hour. A favorite of Southern California boaters, Lake Havasu has a well-earned party reputation, and nothing hosts a party like a pontoon.
The lake is one of the top spring break destinations for college students, who party it up in Copper Canyon, a narrow cove with steep cliffs. A buoy-marked access lane, a leftover from the canyon’s rowdier days, keeps a path clear through the raft-ups.
Pontoon owners looking for the party will find it at the Bridgewater Channel, which runs under London Bridge. The bridge is the real thing, built in London in 1831, and consists of 10,276 granite blocks. The area is popular with boaters because bars and restaurants are within walking distance. On the south side of the island in Nautical Cove, pull the pontoon onto the sand or use the limited docks to walk up to the bar.
Boaters looking for a more family-friendly place should consider the Sandbar, a small island with a sandy bottom. Located about 10 miles north of London Bridge, the Sandbar is only accessible by boat. Lake Havasu boasts more than 400 miles of shoreline, so even on a holiday weekend, there’s an empty stretch of sand somewhere.
Winds commonly kick up in the afternoon, so a good strategy is to make a morning run and find protected water later in the day. Lake Havasu is infested with the quagga mussel, and boaters trailering home to California should expect inspections on the way.
Lake Cumberland
Pontoon owners who want to be part of nature will find Kentucky’s Lake Cumberland worth the trip. With more than 1,200 miles of shoreline and no homes in sight, the lake is heavily wooded and features limestone bluffs and the occasional waterfall.
The topography is one of the major reasons why Lake Cumberland has one of the largest concentrations of houseboats in the country. Spread across 12 marinas, houseboats and pontoons seek the same calm coves and deepwater anchorages.
Every August, Lake Cumberland hosts an annual raft-up, which broke the Guinness World Record for the largest tie-up in 2010. That takes place in the Shinbone area, a popular spot for pontoon boaters to drop an anchor.
Harmon Cove earns the title as one of the best raft-up spots in the country, which helps to make this one of the best lakes for pontooning. With room to raft-up and a swimming-friendly depth, Harmon Cove is popular on weekends. Fall is one of the best times to be on the lake, said Shanalda Burden, marketing director for State Dock, the busiest marina on the lake.
“We have a little longer season than some of the lakes up north,” Burden said. “When most of the kids are back in school, the lake begins to quiet down and it’s just a really good time to be out there.”
Lake Cumberland has more than 20 public launch ramps, and boaters must be aware of invasive species. Kentucky requires a clean-drain-dry protocol for all boats trailered in or out of the lake, as well as a five-day waiting period before launching elsewhere.
Torch Lake
Boaters looking for turquoise water and white sandbars don’t have to travel to the Caribbean. Michigan’s Torch Lake delivers both without need of a passport.
A famous sandbar that stretches nearly 2 miles by the Torch River Bridge is a haven for pontoon boaters. The shallow, flat anchorage draws a crowd for barbecues and beach volleyball in shin-deep water. Because much of Torch Lake’s shoreline is privately owned, public access is limited, and it can get packed on holiday weekends.
Torch Lake is part of the Chain of Lakes Water Trail, which links Torch to Elk Lake, Clam Lake, Lake Bellaire, and Intermediate Lake before reaching East Grand Traverse Bay. Barhopping is easy on all five lakes, though pontoon owners can expect no-wake zones in the connecting rivers.
Torch Lake surprisingly has a floating food scene, led by Busters Burger Barge. The pontoon boat has been a mainstay on the lake, serving up hamburgers, grilled cheese sandwiches, and hot dogs for more than 20 years.
Please note that boat operators born after July 1, 1996, must have a Boating Safety Certificate in the state of Michigan, which can be accomplished online.
Are you ready to get away from your home waters for a little adventure with the family? Maybe before the kids get back to school? Consider one of these best lakes for pontooning. Go with a family-friendly atmosphere or get away for some adult fun in the sun.
Gregg Mansfield
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