Summer is a magical time for the middle of the country. Sure, it’s muggy, the mosquitoes are out with a vengeance, and the 4th of July fireworks scare your dog every year. It’s all worth it though, because for about three magical months, it’s swimming season.
Here in the Ozarks, the water’s warm enough for all kinds of fun in the sun—boating, fishing, kayaks, paddleboards, jet skis, and so much more.
Pack up the cooler and load up the family minivan for a road trip, because we’re listing off some of our favorite places to enjoy the water in Missouri and beyond.
Best Places for Wakeboarding, Water Skiing & Boat Tubing
If you have a sense of athleticism and adventure, it’s hard to top the thrill of strapping yourself to a plank of fiberglass or inflatable raft and hucking behind a speedboat at 60 miles per hour.
Stonewater Cove
If you don’t have your own boat and gear, fret not, because there are tons of opportunities to rent. This swanky resort on the western portion of Table Rock Lake offers more activities than you can shake a stick at, and it happens to be a great spot for beginners to learn wakeboarding and boat skiing.
Pomme de Terre Lake
This hidden gem lake is just an hour south of Lake of the Ozarks, but the vibe couldn’t be more relaxed. Despite its chill attitude, it still has a full marina and boat ramps that make it easy to drop your vessel in the water for a day of high-speed water sport fun. Ample campgrounds are located in the state park, and rental properties all around the lake make it a great place for an extended family stay.
Best Places for Jet Skiing
Do you like motorcycles and snowmobiles? Of course you do. So why not translate those skills to the water?
Paradise Marina and Watersports
Are you looking for ocean views but don’t feel like driving twenty hours one way? You’re in the right place.
Paradise offers a full-service Marina with white sandy beaches right on Lake of the Ozarks. Parasailing, stand-up paddleboarding, kite surfing, wind surfing—you name it, they’ve got it. Of course, that includes hourly waverunner rental. If ripping around one of the biggest natural lakes in the Midwest doesn’t convince you to finally buck up and buy one, nothing will.
Mark Twain Lake
So named for its proximity to the famous author’s childhood home, this lake is a fantastic summer vacation destination for the family. The lake has multiple marinas for jet ski rental, but for our money, we’d rather hook the trailer up behind the Honda Pilot and enjoy exploring the lake’s 18,600 acres without worrying about a time limit.
Even if you’re not a literary buff, be sure to visit the Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site!
Best Places for Fishing
Maybe the extreme stuff isn’t for you, and you just prefer to kick back and enjoy reeling in the next big catch. Nothing wrong with that!
Stockton Lake
Said to have some of the best smallmouth bass fishing around, this is one of the largest lakes in the state, at 25,000 acres. There are tons of other usual lake activities, but if you end up with some free time and are looking to learn a thing or two, check out the nationally recognized sailing school at Lake Stockton Boat Works to take a class in basic keelboat sailing.
Bull Shoals Lake
If you’re anywhere near Southern Missouri asking yourself, “Where can I go fishing near me?” — you’re doing yourself a disservice if you haven’t been here yet.
This lake is absolutely teeming with all manner of native fish species, including a world-record bass that weighed over 68 pounds. There’s a ton of other stuff to do, including houseboat rental. Can you think of anything more fun than you and seven of your fishing buddies on a weekend getaway like that? We sure can’t.
Best Places for Boating
Whether you have a speedster of your own and you’re wondering where to boat, or you’re renting a deck boat for the weekend, absolutely nothing beats a lake day with good company. Hitch it up to your Honda Ridgeline and enjoy!
Table Rock Lake
This one often gets overlooked by tourists coming from the north, but it’s a great alternative if you want a slightly more low-key vibe than Lake of the Ozarks. It’s located by the fun little town of Branson, and with plenty of things to do on and off the water, Table Rock is a primo spot to book a cabin, load up the family Ridgeline, and get lost for a week.
While you’re in Branson, be sure to check out some of the finest cuisine and antique shopping in the Midwest!
Fellows Lake
A hop, skip, and a jump north of Springfield, Missouri, this lake is a bit shy of 1,000 acres, and it’s an absolutely perfect place for a beginner boater to dip their toes in the water, so to speak. They offer affordable boat rentals, including an available 10-person party barge. Remember to make good choices!
Best Places for Canoeing, Kayaking, Paddleboarding & Rafting
Many people don’t realize that there are thousands of kayaking spots near them. Few activities can match the feeling of zen you get floating downstream and connecting with nature sans engine power. Just you, a paddle, and open water.
Lake Lincoln
This gem in Northeast Missouri may be a bit of a hike for some, but once you get a view of its crystal-clear waters, you’ll understand why it’s one of the best places to kayak.
Located in Cuivre River State Park, this 55-acre lake offers half-day and all-day canoe and kayak rentals, with plenty of shoreline and inlets to explore. The surrounding park is expansive and is often referred to as having a very Ozark Mountains feel, despite being smack-dab in the middle of the predominant northern farmland. If you’re coming from more than a couple of hours away, be sure to book a campsite, because this is a great place to spend a weekend.
Beaver Lake
Just across the border in Northwest Arkansas, this destination spot is one of the best lakes within throwing distance of Joplin, and it also happens to be one of the best places for kayak, canoe, and paddle board rentals.
Kayaking Beaver Lake is a one-of-a-kind experience—its sparkling waters and limestone bluffs are sure to inspire your inner photographer. If you’re in Southwest Missouri, it’s truly one of the most beautiful lakes near you.
Cossatot River State Park
If you’re looking for a mix of everything, from leisurely floats to expert-level rapids, this is your spot.
Experienced ‘yakkers wondering where to kayak to feel the death-defying rush of whitewater rapids don’t have to travel far to get their fix. Cossatot offers Class IV rapids, with thousands of gallons of water rushing past technical boulder-y terrain. It’s not for the faint of heart, so plan your trip accordingly. And maybe bring a vehicle with all-wheel drive.
The park offers plenty of mellower activities as well, like hiking and equestrian trails.
River Ranch Resort
If you’re in the four-state area and looking for places to kayak near you, we promise you really can’t do much better than this place.
Not only do they offer a great selection of floats for canoes, kayaks, rafts, and tubes, but they even offer a one-of-a-kind night float that’s well worth the price of admission. They have abundant campground amenities, as well as an on-site café with delicious pizza. Make a weekend of it and ask them about catering a barbecue dinner!
Windy’s Floats
Located in the postcard town of Eminence, Windy’s has been family owned and operated for three generations, providing aquatic fun for all. They offer five different excursions on two of the best rivers in Southern Missouri—the Current River and Jacks Fork River. Not only is it the ideal place for family kayaking, but as the name suggests, they have multiple tube float trips for you to kick back and relax in the sunshine. We voted this one as the best place to canoe with a buddy.
Where Are You Spending Your Summer in the Midwest?
Did we miss your favorite summer watersport destination? Leave a comment below or hit us up on our Facebook page and let us know so we can add it to the list!
Are you seeking out your next adventure-mobile so you can go kayaking or canoeing this summer? It’s not too late! Check out our specials on pre-owned Honda trucks and SUVs, or give us a call at (417) 625-0800 to ask our parts department about ordering and installing a roof rack.