Outdoors
Lakes near Santa Maria
9 named lakes within 30 miles, nearest first, with a map and directions.
Lakes within 30 mi
9
Closest
6.5 mi
Twitchell Reservoir
Within 10 miles
1
Reservoirs
2
Worth the drive
Map
Map of 9 places loads as you scroll.
All lakes, nearest first
- 6.5miTwitchell Reservoirreservoir
- 11.5miLittle Oso Flaco Lake
- 12.1miOso Flaco Lake
- 12.6miCelery Lake
- 12.7miWhite Lake
- 12.7miMud Lake
- 16.8miLopez Lakereservoir
- 26.1miSanta Margarita Lake
- 26.2miLaguna Lake
Straight-line distance from the center of Santa Maria; 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 Santa Maria?
Twitchell Reservoir, about 6.5 miles from the center of Santa Maria.
How many lakes are near Santa Maria?
9 named lakes are within 30 miles, 1 of them within 10 miles.
Are the lakes near Santa Maria natural?
2 of the 9 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.