Largest Lakes in the US

From the Great Lakes of the Midwest to the massive reservoirs of the West, the United States is home to some of the most expansive freshwater bodies in the world. These lakes serve as critical ecosystems, major shipping arteries, and premier destinations for outdoor recreation. While the five Great Lakes dominate the rankings in terms of sheer surface area and volume, other significant bodies of water—both natural and man-made—play vital roles in the geography of states like Florida, Utah, and Alaska. The following table details the top 25 largest lakes in the U.S. by surface area, providing a glimpse into the diverse aquatic landscapes found across the country.

Rank	Lake Name	Location (State)	Area (sq mi)
1	Lake Superior	MI, MN, WI	31,700
2	Lake Huron	MI	23,000
3	Lake Michigan	IL, IN, MI, WI	22,300
4	Lake Erie	NY, OH, PA, MI	9,910
5	Lake Ontario	NY	7,340
6	Great Salt Lake	UT	1,700
7	Lake of the Woods	MN	1,485
8	Iliamna Lake	AK	1,013
9	Lake Oahe	SD, ND	685
10	Lake Okeechobee	FL	662
11	Lake Pontchartrain	LA	631
12	Lake Champlain	NY, VT	439
13	Becharof Lake	AK	433
14	Lake St. Clair	MI	430
15	Red Lake	MN	427
16	Selawik Lake	AK	404
17	Lake Francis Case	SD	379
18	Mille Lacs Lake	MN	206
19	Flathead Lake	MT	197
20	Tahoe Lake	CA, NV	191
21	Pyramid Lake	NV	188
22	Lake Sakakawea	ND	182
23	Upper Klamath Lake	OR	181
24	Utah Lake	UT	148
25	Lake Mead	NV, AZ	146