These Beauties Have Been Named KY’s Best Lakeside Towns

I love being in the water. I love being BY the water. I love seeing it. I love hearing it. And, boy, am I lucky to be in a state that gives me ample opportunity to enjoy it. I'm the guy who will go to the beach and be perfectly content just sitting there LISTENING to the waves. I'm easy to please in this regard.

That affinity started early with motel swimming pools and the awesome swim lakes in Daviess County. It grew with visits to Kentucky Lake where we'd stay in a lakeside cottage that belonged to friends of my parents. I loved having that easy access to the water.

Best Lakeside Towns in Kentucky

With so many beautiful lakes in Kentucky, it's no surprise I found of list of the best lakeside towns in the Commonwealth. I'm not picky; any town next to a body of water has a built-in advantage. But these are the ones that have impressed World Atlas the most. They're in no particular order, but I wouldn't be able to rank them, either, for the reasons mentioned above.

Kuttawa

With all this movie activity in Kentucky, some filmmaker needs to get their butt to Kuttawa and start filming something. Yes, a screenwriter WOULD need to set their story in this picturesque little town. Maybe they'd be inspired once they got a look at it.

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Grand Rivers

I love this charming little town and the lake that butts up against it.

The folks are super-friendly. But I'd be willing to bet that a HUGE reason folks from Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, and Missouri spend so much time in Grand Rivers is this place:

Paducah

I'm a big fan of Paducah. They're active and beautifully maintained downtown area pairs well with the National Quilt Museum and a really dope riverfront. And BECAUSE of the Ohio River, Paducah gives folks the best of both worlds. It's not ON a lake, but it's close enough that World Atlas wanted it on this list.

Calvert City

Beaches, trails, the Tennessee River, and Lake Barkley are just a few of the reasons visitors like to spend time near the water in Calvert City. But enough of that...they have a COFFEE AND CHOCOLATE FEST and I missed it. (I won't let it happen again.)

Burnside

This is the only town on the list NOT on Kentucky Lake or Lake Barkley. Its status as the only town on Lake Cumberland sort of mandated its inclusion. But Burnside has plenty to offer, regardless. General Burnside Island State Park and multiple events that draw lots of attendees are merely two reasons.

Aurora

A quiet, unassuming small town (a likely reason it's so popular), Aurora really is perfect for a water lover, as it is where you will find Kenlake State Resort Park, not to mention the Hot August Blues Festival. The nearby LBL National Recreation Area is a great spot for elk and bison viewing, as well. Don't worry; there are plenty of places to stay.

Obviously, these are great suggestions, but if you're looking for a lake getaway in Kentucky, I say, "Pick a lake and pick a town, and you're probably good to go."