• Carson City in Nevada is the fifth sunniest lakeside destination in America, averaging direct sunlight of 278.27 watts per square meter.
• The city averages over 10% more direct sunlight than one of the country’s most populated cities, Los Angeles.
• California is America’s hotspot for a sunny lakeside getaway, with three of the top 10 destinations found in the Golden State. 
• Nevada spot ranks among America’s sunniest lakeside destinations. 

As Americans look to finalize summer vacation plans, Carson City in Nevada has been named among the top destinations for a sunny lakeside getaway nationwide. 

Vacation rental platform Lake.com analyzed over 100 popular lakeside destinations across America, with only one location per lake chosen based on proximity and hotel availability.

The average amount of direct sunlight that reaches a surface, or Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI), was found for each location using 2023 data from the National Solar Radiation Database.

Destinations were then ranked based on the highest DNI to reveal America’s sunniest lakeside destinations.

Locations in Alaska were not included in the study due to a lack of data on the National Solar Radiation Database. 

Table: The sunniest lakeside destinations in America 

Rank	City	State	Lake	2023 Average DNI (Watts per square meter)
1	Big Bear Lake	California	Big Bear Lake	335.02
2	Lake Havasu City	Arizona	Havasu Lake	314.13
3	Santa Rosa	New Mexico	Santa Rosa Lake	296.73
4	Clearlake	California	Clear Lake	287.86
5	Carson City	Nevada	Lake Tahoe	278.27
6	Hanford-Corcoran	California	Tulare Lake	271.16
7	Klamath Falls	Oregon	Klamath Lake	253.46
8	Marble Falls	Texas	Lake Marble Falls	242.54
9	Lakeland	Florida	Lake Parker	240.48
10	Ogallala	Nebraska	Lake Ogallala	240.34

Carson City, Nevada, forms part of the western dominance in the study, ranking fifth. On average, the volume of direct sunlight is 278.27 watts per square meter, making it one of the sunniest lakeside spots in the country. Located near the eastern shores of Lake Tahoe, the state capital is renowned for its historical attractions, outdoor trails, and proximity to the popular lake.   

The city averages over 10% more direct sunlight than California’s most populated city, Los Angeles (251.90 watts per square meter).

Other lakeside spots to rank high in the study include Big Bear Lake in California, Lake Havasu City, Arizona, and Santa Rosa, New Mexico.

All 10 of the least sunny lakeside destinations in the study are located in the northeast, seven of which are found in New York. The state’s Lake Placid and Saranac Lake rank rock bottom of the study, averaging direct sunlight of 131.42 and 131.81 watts per square meter, respectively.   

David Ciccarelli, CEO of Lake.com, commented on the study, “As summer approaches and temperatures increase, America’s lakes are expected to welcome an influx of vacationers and tourists.   

“While the beautiful surroundings and activities play a key role in everyone’s vacation destination, sunshine and weather may dictate where you spend your summer. In fact, seven of the 10 sunniest lakeside spots are on the West Coast, indicating this may be where to look if you’re interested in a peaceful, sunny retreat.  

“As well as allowing for fun, outdoor activities like swimming, paddleboarding, and water sports, sunshine can also accentuate the natural beauty of your surroundings on vacation and enhance your overall mood and health by boosting vitamin D production.”