Why is the Lake of the Ozarks the "Best Lake" in the U.S.

So why exactly does the Lake of the Ozarks rank so highly when compared to other popular lakes?

Well, what makes a lake popular? What makes a lake ideal for "recreational use"? Obviously, part of the answer is what any particular lake is used for, be it for fishing, water sports, boating, or all of the above. In this respect the Lake of the Ozarks is fairly unique, appealing for just about any type of usage a person could desire. For fishing, the Lake of the Ozarks is still ranked as one of best fishing lakes in the country. In terms of size, it is one of the largest lakes in the U.S. (#60), boasting over 1000 miles of shoreline. so there's plenty of room, and the quality of shoreline is really unmatched by any other lake regardless of size(and for good reason).  Water sports enthusiasts may find the lake rough in most places, but during the week it is very playable and even on the roughest weekends there's always a place to enjoy skiing, wakeboarding or tubing. For boaters, the Lake of the Ozarks offers the unique ability to socialize exclusively by boat with a great variety of restaurants, clubs, special events, and of course the Party Cove. Among the top ten list there are lakes that accommodate a few of these purposes quite well, but none so completely. The Lake of the Ozarks also excels in other respects important to boaters such as accessibility, facilities, activities, water quality, and the aesthetics of the surrounding area.

In my travels, the Lake of the Ozarks is the only lake of its size that provides boaters with such a wide variety of uses, or such a plentitude of services and activities. By comparison, Big Bear Lake in California, number two on the list and a previous winner of "best" lake, is a stark contrast to the Lake of the Ozarks. Big Bear Lake is a relatively small lake located in the mountains east of  Los Angeles and used primarily as a reservoir.  At only 7 miles long by roughly 2.5 miles wide. there are not too many large boats on the lake. There is a substantial tourist community in the area with marinas, lodging and restaurants but only a few are accessible by water . While fishing is rated very highly, the drawback here is that for boaters, the lake presents challenges with unpredictable depth and hazards to navigation near the shoreline. The snow fed lake is also very cold and at nearly 7000 feet in elevation it is not conducive to water sports at any time of year without specialty equipment.

Lake Tahoe, another contender, is nearly twice as large as Big Bear and ranks #5 on the list. It is a personal favorite of mine just because of it's beautiful surroundings, incredibly clear water and the sheer awesomeness of its average depth of 1000ft, but it too suffers from limited water focused activities. Being open and classically round, it's a great lake for sailing but not terribly appealing for water sports. Attractions are limited and most vacation activities are focused inland. Esthetically speaking though it is one of the most beautiful lakes in the country.

Lake Powell?  Provided it has a future Lake Powell and Lake Mead are simply massive reservoirs (two of the largest man-made lakes in the U.S. in fact) and do not offer much in terms of attractions or things to do off the lake. It's primary appeal is water sports and exploring the scenery which is awesome but can get a bit monotonous.

There's another factor that I believe is important, and that is climate.  Lake Michigan, Big Bear Lake, Lake Tahoe are all very cold.  In the summer months, the Lake of the Ozarks reaches a surface temperature in the high 70s. Warm enough to be inviting but cool enough to feel refreshing.  The last time I swam in Lake Tahoe, I lasted about five minutes.

So there really is no other lake that can compare to the Lake of the Ozarks in nearly every respect that makes a lake fun to play on.  It's little surprise then that as the lake becomes more well known throughout the country it's rightful place as the "Best Recreational Lake" in the country will only solidify.