Outdoors
Lakes near Princeton
30 named lakes within 30 miles, nearest first, with a map and directions.
Lakes within 30 mi
30
Closest
1.9 mi
Lake Carnegie
Within 10 miles
10
Reservoirs
22
Worth the drive
Map
Map of 30 places loads as you scroll.
All lakes, nearest first
- 1.9miLake Carnegiereservoir
- 5.1miRosedale Lakereservoir
- 5.4miPlainsboro Preservereservoir
- 6.2miCurlis Lakereservoir
- 6.3miMercer Lakereservoir
- 7.7miColonial Lake
- 8.2miLake Sylva
- 8.4miLake Ceva
- 9miDavidsons Millpondreservoir
- 10miPeddie Lake
- 10.4miMeadow Lakesreservoir
- 11.4miEtra Lakereservoir
- 11.6miGropp Lakereservoir
- 12.8miFarrington Lakereservoir
- 14.7miDeVoe Lake
- 15.7miDuhernal Lake
- 19.1miProspertown Lake
- 19.5miRound Valley Reservoirreservoir
- 21.2miChurchville Reservoirreservoir
- 23.1miLake Leffertsreservoir
- 24.7miSpruce Run Reservoirreservoir
- 24.7miLake Solitudereservoir
- 25.1miSuccess Lakereservoir
- 25.9miRobinson's Branch Reservoirreservoir
- 26.9miMarlu Lakereservoir
- 27.2miLake Surprisereservoir
- 27.2miManasquan Reservoirreservoir
- 27.7miLake Galenareservoir
- 28.6miSwimming River Reservoirreservoir
- 29.8miLake Carasaljo
Straight-line distance from the center of Princeton; driving and trail distances are longer.
Before you go
Many reservoirs are drinking-water supplies with no swimming or body contact. Look for a designated swim beach.
Green, scummy or paint-like water can be a toxic blue-green algae bloom. Keep kids and dogs out and check the county advisory.
Boat launches often need a day pass or inspection for invasive mussels, and anglers 16 and older usually need a state fishing license.
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Questions
What is the closest lake to Princeton?
Lake Carnegie, about 1.9 miles from the center of Princeton.
How many lakes are near Princeton?
30 named lakes are within 30 miles, 10 of them within 10 miles.
Are the lakes near Princeton natural?
22 of the 30 are reservoirs made by dams; the rest are mapped as natural lakes. Swimming rules differ, so check each one.
Sources: Wikidata and OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), checked 2026-11-08; photos from Wikimedia Commons under the licenses shown. Access, fees and conditions change; check before visiting.