Watson Lake

Watson Lake: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: usually quiet; mostly local visitors. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this lake: Full / gates open · Low water level · Entry closed.

Best time to visit Watson Lake

Season: August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

Crowd: Usually quiet; mostly local visitors.

Typical week: Mon quiet · Tue quiet · Wed quiet · Thu quiet · Fri light · Sat light · Sun light.

How to reach Watson Lake — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: 39.06367, -90.68440. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Watson Lake

• Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge · sanctuary · Jersey · ~21 km · Must-see
• Pere Marquette State Park · sanctuary · Jersey · ~21 km · Must-see
• Duncan Farm · fort · Jersey · ~23 km · Must-see
• Koster Site · fort · Greene · ~25 km · Must-see
• Golden Eagle-Toppmeyer Site · fort · Calhoun · ~27 km · Must-see
• Cuivre River State Park · park · Lincoln · ~27 km · Must-see
• Kamp Mound Site · fort · Calhoun · ~38 km · Must-see
• Blanchette Landing Access · sanctuary · Calhoun · ~44 km · Must-see
• August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area · sanctuary · Calhoun · ~49 km · Must-see
• Creve Coeur Lake · lake · Calhoun · ~53 km · Must-see
• Benjamin Godfrey Chapel · church · Madison · ~56 km · Must-see
• Howell Island Conservation Area · park · Calhoun · ~56 km · Must-see
• Piasa Bird · fort · Madison · ~57 km · Must-see
• McDonnell Park · park · Madison · ~57 km · Must-see
• McPike Mansion · attraction · Madison · ~58 km · Must-see
• Alton Military Prison Site · lake · Madison · ~59 km · Must-see
• Fort Belle Fontaine · fort · Madison · ~60 km · Must-see
• Mound House · fort · Greene · ~61 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Watson Lake

Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Watson Lake

• Creve Coeur Lake · lake · Calhoun · ~53 km · Must-see
• Alton Military Prison Site · lake · Madison · ~59 km · Must-see
• Spanish Lake · lake · Madison · ~64 km · Must-see
• Beaver Dam State Park · lake · Macoupin · ~79 km · Must-see
• Compton Hill Reservoir Park · lake · Saint Louis · ~79 km · Must-see
• Horseshoe Lake State Park · lake · Madison · ~83 km · Must-see
• Lake Hillcrest Dam · lake · Madison · ~87 km · Must-see
• Dunlap Lake Dam · lake · Madison · ~88 km · Must-see
• Otter Lake Dam · lake · Macoupin · ~96 km · Must-see
• Lake Jacksonville Dam · lake · Morgan · ~98 km · Must-see

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Illinois

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