Kayaking can be more fun when you are in the best kayaking spot. Whether you are wondering, ‘what’s the best fishing spots near me?’, or ‘where can I go for kayaking near me?’ – an interactive map is your best friend!

Imagine it.

You are gliding along the shoreline in a lake…

Staring at the sun peeking through the clouds…

At the break of dawn, the nature around you wakes up to a new day. The morning light comes alive as the birds around you greet a new day.

Kayaking can be a magical experience.

And, if you have the right tools with you it can be fun, easy, and ‘fishy’. One of the most essential tools is a map that helps me pick the best places for kayaking near me.

Whether you’re an expert or a beginner, it’s always great to have a kayaking map that can find the best kayaking spots near you. Such a map always comes in handy wherever you are around the world. Without a map, you can be pretty lost, and have less fun and lesser fish when kayaking.

Today, we’re here with a map that will make all your kayaking dreams come true. You can browse the world of kayaking and pick your favorite location from this map. It features over 35,000 paddling locations!

Excited? Let’s go on!

Let’s dive right into the world of kayaking and let me share my one-stop solution for finding the best spot for kayaking near me. At the end of this article, I also have a little surprise for you!

How to Use This Map?

First off, let’s talk about how to use this magical map to explore the best paddling spots. Whether you are looking for a good spot in your area or you are planning for a kayaking holiday, this map will be the only tool you need. It is an interactive map that gives you all the information you need.

From finding the route to a kayaking spot near you to getting all the information about the water body- this map is the key. It even tells you where you can park your car and whether you need to carry some change for the fee.

If you want to learn more in-depth information about any spot on the map, you can click the magnifying glass icon to get a more detailed look at the location.

Another cool feature of this map is that it includes comments from other fishers about their experiences with a particular location. If you’re unsure about any location, you can scroll down the comments from real users to find what you need. This feature comes in handy as many users will tell you if there is anything to watch out for on the route to your kayaking spot.

This one tip has made all the difference for me when shortlisting the best lakes for kayaking near me.

You can turn on the location feature so that the map lets you access the nearest paddling spots. If you are planning for a holiday in the future, you can scroll through the map to choose the perfect kayaking spot closer to your residence. Thanks to this map, you can research the best spots ahead of time, and plan your vacation seamlessly.

Features of the Kayaking Near Me Map

Here’s a list of the useful features this map offers.

Add Locations

One of the best features of this map is that you can add a new location. This way, you can share your passion for kayaking with the rest of the world too.

As mentioned earlier, this map already has over 35,000 locations across the world. But that doesn’t mean that you cannot add the spots that you discovered yourself.

Add Trips

Once you’ve found your favorite spot on the map, you can use the ‘add your trip’ option on the side of the map and save the location. You can also save the starting and ending date of your trip. Another cool feature in this map is to add the water and weather conditions of the particular spot. In this way, you can share information about the conditions with other people. Furthermore, you can also include any wildlife that you saw on the route.

What is the Best Place for Kayaking?

Now that you know how to use this map, let’s talk about the best kayaking spots. Knowing about lakes, rivers, and coastal waters will help you decide which spot is the best one for you.

Lakes

Many amateur kayakers love lakes for the fantastic conditions they offer. Lakes have less current as compared to rivers and oceans. Thus, they are much easier to control when you’re just starting your journey as a kayaker. You can search for lakes, ponds, and other water reservoirs on the map.

At a lake, you can enjoy the serenity and breath in the magic of nature while you paddle in the water. Lakes are also free of motorized vessels and other sources of noise. Therefore, a calm lake is the best place to go for when you’re just starting.

Another point to keep in mind is that lakes are always easier to paddle on a calm day as compared to a windy day. Therefore, when you are choosing a kayaking spot on the map, make sure that you choose a lake that fits your preferences as well as the weather conditions.

Also, if you have a sit-on-top kayak (abbreviated as SOT), a lake will be your best option. You will have easy access on and off the kayak, making it easier to paddle through the water.

Rivers

When you are choosing a river as your paddling spot, there are a couple of things that you must keep in mind. First off, remember that a river’s conditions can vary from river to river. Even the save river may have different conditions at different spots.

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When you are just a beginner, you should choose a low-current river that does not have a lot of traffic. Such slow-moving rivers usually have flatwater, thus letting you move around easily. So, for beginners, slow-moving rivers are a great choice to start.

Many rivers in the US have water trails that guide you to paddle along a specific route in the river. You will also find campgrounds and other spots along your water trail if you want to spot for a rest.

You can easily use this interactive map to find the right spot for yourself. Make sure that you keep an eye on the weather conditions of the day as well.

Coastline

If you want to paddle in the ocean, you must choose the day according to the weather conditions – unless you want the waves to knock you off! Thanks to this interactive map, you can paddle your way through different locations and see which beach or coastline is the best spot for you.

Once you have used the map to come up with your favorite location, you can plan your trip accordingly.

You might wanna check up with the tides too.

What is your Kayaking Style?

Now that we have explored the different kinds of water bodies, let’s talk about you. What kind of kayaker are you?

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Recreational Kayaking

If you like recreational kayaking, a lake or flat water body is the best option for you. Recreational kayaks have larger and wider cockpit opening as compared to others. Usually, they are less than 12 feet in length. This makes recreational kayaks slower than others. But this doesn’t mean that you cannot enjoy the magical experience of kayaking on a recreational kayak.

If this one is the kind of kayaking you love, navigate through our map, and find your favorite location quickly. Before you know it, you will be planning a get-away from the weekend.

Sea Kayaking

Next up, we have sea kayaking. Sea kayaks are small boats with a covered deck. If you like open waters in bays, inlets, and oceans, sea kayaking is for you. There is also special storage for food and water on a sea kayak. So, if you are planning to go sea kayaking, find your favorite spot on the map now.

Touring

Touring kayaks are longer and narrower than recreational kayaks. They are built for greater speed. Unlike recreational kayaks that are much slower, touring kayaks will have you zooming through the water.

Most experienced kayaks love the thrill of touring kayaks. They are not as stable as recreational kayak so make sure that you have ample experience with the safety features of a touring kayak before you go for it.

Whitewater Kayaking

For the experienced kayakers who love the thrill of challenges, whitewater kayaking is the best one for them. For whitewater kayaking, experience and preparation are essential. You’ll need excellent athletic skills to maneuver the whitewater kayak through the river. They are designed for flexibility so you must be experienced to paddle with them.

You can check out our map and look at the detailed information about your kayaking destination. You can also go through the safety information and see whether your location has a launch ramp or dock. If you need a dock to enter and exit your kayak, make sure that you look it up on the map first. This will help you find the best location for yourself.

Top Kayaking Locations in the US

Now, the surprise…

Let’s talk about the top kayaking locations in the US.

In an ideal world, people will ask Alexa: ‘Alexa, what’s the best spot for kayaking near me?’ Well… that doesn’t work so well every time, so must rely on the map.

To help you choose a good kayaking spot, I have compiled a list of a few locations that you must not miss. Without further ado, let’s start.

Chesapeake Bay

The Chesapeake Bay is a 200-mile long river, making it the largest estuary in the US. It flows across six states, and tourists love it for its beauty. A slow-powered kayak is the best way to fish in this lake.

And let’s now forget the beautiful scene of the sunset. The beauty of the sunset will pull you in, leaving you just mesmerized.

Colorado River

No list of kayaking spots can be complete without the iconic Colorado River. This glorious river runs through seven states of the US. You can expect to see beautiful paintings of nature while kayaking in this river.

Gauley River

Gauley River, known to be one of the best whitewater destinations, is another heaven for kayakers. Its serenity and calmness will energize you and wash away all your stress.

Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay is the best spot to forget the stresses of city life and enjoy an enchanting kayaking experience. From the many kinds of fish to a wide variety of trees and birds, this place holds a different kind of magic.

If you’re lucky, you might also catch sight of dolphins and manatees in downtown Tampa.

Tyger River

Known for its exotic plant and animal life, the Tyger River is a go-to haven for nature-lovers. As you glide through the waters, you will experience nature in its purest form. Moreover, the Tyger River is not as rapid; it doesn’t require any special skills and practice. You can also bring your kids along if you want. But let us warn you: the kids might not want to leave the place as they fall in love with the beauty and calmness of this river!

Salmon River

Whether you are an expert kayaker or it is just your first time, the Salmon River is going to be a real treat for you. From eagles to bears and even sheep and otters, this place is home to many wonders of nature. And mind you, it doesn’t end there; you can even see the famous Hells Canyon which is home to deers and cougars. With all these beauties of nature, this river is rightly-known as the ‘river of no return!’

Wrapping Up…

Whether kayaking on a vacation or kayaking near me, the beautiful sceneries and thrilling calmness make kayaking an experience no one should miss.

Whether you are escaping from the stressful city life or giving your mind a short break, our interactive map will soon become your new best friend.

It will help you discover all the secret kayaking locations that you never knew about before. If you are just searching for locations for kayaking near you or planning a holiday abroad, this map is all you need.

Once you have found your favorite spot, don’t forget to add notes and share your secret locations with other paddlers.

Looking for more information? See our other articles to dive straight into the world of kayaking:

Tandem kayaks, kayak life vests, transporting kayak, kayak trailers, upgrades for your kayak, best fish finder for kayak

Happy Kayaking!

Updated: November 1, 2021