Fourth of July Lake Tips

There is nothing like the Fourth of July on the lake. It is so much fun, and most lakes allow fireworks, unlike the cities and towns. It doesn’t matter what lake you visit. The Fourth is the time for camping, BBQ, beer, and fireworks because we celebrate our freedom. It is also one of the busiest weekends on the lake. Doing your research before your Fourth adventure at the lake is a golden timesaver.

Our Fourth of July national holiday represents many, many, things to many demographic sectors, including age brackets, geographic locations, and historical U.S. cultural heritage groups. The crucial element that Independence Day accomplishes with Native Born Americans all over the globe is that it unifies Americans for one day every year, and has been doing so since July 4, 1776.

Safety Is Key

We present these reminders of how crucial acuity, awareness, and preparedness are necessary to carry out a successful summer lake holiday year after year. We do not attempt to bore or insult intelligences, but to get vital information out to new visitors to unfamiliar lakes, to people unfamiliar with lake life for the first time, and many more.

Lakes thrive in season for humans and nature. There is simply no comparison if you love the water and you love every nuance of marine and earth life forms. Local lake businesses love lake lubbers from out of town. Major U.S. lakes greet people from all over the country and beyond on the wildly popular American Fourth of July holiday.

The “tweentie” generation (18 to 25 age bracket) always finds every experience new and exciting if they are of the exploring kind. The tweenties are spending a few years on their own trying to prove that their parent’s wisdom, while as teens, was completely incorrect before they come home and revel in the age-old wisdom later. The tweenties love lake parties. They do not always make good decisions when with their tweentie friends.

Whether we are locals who live on the lake year-round, someone who just bought their first-time boat, a city dweller who hates the heat and the bugs just to keep the family peace and is visiting the relatives, or a tweentie who knows it all, we all need to keep in mind that safety is of the utmost concern. Expect the unexpected.

Have Emergency Equipment (Do Not Depend on Electronics)

If you are participating in a summer outdoor activity, whether it be birding, boating, camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, horseback riding, off-roading on any vehicle, swimming, target shooting, water-sporting, or ziplining, be prepared for anything. Different activities require different emergency equipment.

Electronics fail. They just do. No matter what your genre in outdoor experiences, get yourself a real compass. Pack a first aid kit that accommodates an emergency akin to your activity. Wear the proper clothes and layer if necessary, hats, and shoes/boots/slip-proof footwear. Identify the dangerous animals, insects, and plants inhabiting your destination. Make sure you can navigate in any situation or weather event with light and fire.

Are You Taking Your Boat?

Find out what boat ramps have the most lanes and biggest parking lots. Boat ramps are crowded on holiday lake weekends. Researching online which authority operates the lake you want to visit and calling them to make sure the online information is correct can give you tons more fun of time at the lake. You might want to find a place to camp or stay near a boat ramp so you are not dealing with boat traffic late at night.

Keep an Eye on the Weather

Knowing the forecast helps you decide what supplies you will need. Even though the weather forecast can change without warning, find out as much as you can about it. Wind is a factor that affects boaters, anglers, and campers. Check out windfinder.com for great weather information.

Find the Exact Locations of the Fireworks Shows

You will want to see them clearly even if you do buy your own fireworks. Whatever lake you are visiting, firework shows around the lakes are usually highly publicized online. Some lakes have designated areas just for watching the fireworks shows.

Do You Have Children?

If you are taking kids to the lake on the Fourth, you will want to make sure you are going to stay at kid friendly campgrounds or lodging. Making a few phone calls beforehand to establishments catering to lake visitors can help you enjoy your family time in the best way possible. Some establishments cater to partiers, so you want to know before you go.

What if You Forget Supplies?

You want to make sure if there are nearby stores if you forget necessary lake supplies. Some lakes are in extremely rural areas and lack commerce. Make a list and stick to it if you are going to a lake without stores nearby. Even when there are stores nearby the lakes, the prices are a lot higher than what you can usually buy where you live. Shop early to avoid long lines.

What Highways or Interstates Are You Going to Take?

Are there confusing back roads that twist and turn at the lake on the way to your destination that will not register on GPS? Check for traffic and consult a map beforehand so you know what to expect on the highways and back roads. Expect heavy traffic after fireworks shows in bottleneck areas such as boat ramps and major intersections.

Are you staying at a Resort, Campground, Motel, Hotel, RV Park, or Renting a Cabin?

Make sure you have a spot by checking for reservation requirements. These accommodations fill up quickly on holiday weekends at the lake. Book your accommodations in advance to make sure you do not get caught with nowhere to stay.

What to Expect on Fourth of July at the Lake

You can expect that the businesses will be busy, boat traffic will be heavy, campgrounds and parks will be full, and restaurants will be noisy. Stores near the lake are highly likely to run out of products early on the Fourth of July holiday.

It is unfortunately common to experience rude or out-of-control behavior from some visitors due to alcohol and drug use. Most people obey the law and behave well, but there is always the chance of witnessing bad and lewd behavior from boaters and lake visitors.

Holiday Boating Safety Tips

When there is more boat traffic on a lake, there is more risk for boating accidents. There are a few things to be aware of when boating on a holiday weekend.

Be aware of the laws at the lake you are visiting and the lake’s operating authority’s rules.
Conduct a thorough inspection of your vessel and trailer to ensure everything is in working order.
Conduct a pre-departure check to make sure all required safety equipment is secured on board and operational.
Make sure VHF radios, phones, and EPIRB transponders work. Consider carrying a portable cell phone battery charger as a back-up.
Don’t drink and drive. Boating under the influence is the primary cause of boating-related deaths in the United States.

Best Fourth of July Lakes

This is a smidgeon of some of the best lakes in the U.S. for the Fourth of July holiday because this is a vast land with many ecological zones. These pop up as favorite lakes for a wonderful Fourth of July celebration.