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Lake Monticello

Charlottesville, Virginia — Fluvanna County.

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334Surface acres

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 66115258).

Location & fast facts

Where Lake Monticello is in Virginia

The red circle marks Lake Monticello.

Fast facts

About Lake Monticello

  • County: Fluvanna
  • Nearest city: Charlottesville (about 8.2 mi from the lake)
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 12 mi from Charlottesville and 55 mi from Richmond, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Virginia: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in Virginia

Official DWR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Swimming. 5 public beach or swim spots on the map (details)
  • Camping. 3 campgrounds within 15 mi (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Wandering hydrilla recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • No lifeguard listed. None of our sources lists a staffed lifeguard. Swim at your own risk and watch children closely.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Lake map

Lake Monticello shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Main Beach (Beach 1) (Beach)1Lake Monticello Beach 2 (Beach)2Lake Monticello Beach 3 (Beach)3Lake Monticello Beach 5 (Beach)4Lake Monticello Beach 4 (Beach)5½ mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Beach
  1. 1Main Beach (Beach 1)
    Beach
  2. 2Lake Monticello Beach 2
    Beach
  3. 3Lake Monticello Beach 3
    Beach
  4. 4Lake Monticello Beach 5
    Beach
  5. 5Lake Monticello Beach 4
    Beach

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 66115258), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Lake Monticello

We found 3 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lake Monticello, 1 of them within 5 miles. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

All campgrounds & RV parks in Virginia

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Lake Monticello, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Car rental links go to our partner Discover Cars; LakeRipple may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (37.9168, -78.3130). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake Monticello. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Lake Monticello

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in ET (America/New_York), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Public beaches

    On OpenStreetMap: 5 beaches and swimming spots on the shore of Lake Monticello not marked private, residents-only or members-only.

    BeachTypeAccessDirections
    Main Beach (Beach 1)BeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions
    Lake Monticello Beach 2BeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions
    Lake Monticello Beach 3BeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions
    Lake Monticello Beach 5BeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions
    Lake Monticello Beach 4BeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions

    Beaches: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), within about 150 m (500 ft) of the lake outline. A mapped beach is not a guarantee that swimming is allowed, supervised or safe; some town beaches need a resident sticker even when the map doesn't say so. Check posted rules and water-quality advisories before you swim.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Lake Monticello

    Clean, Drain, Dry. Remove plants and mud, drain all water, and dry your boat, trailer and gear before moving to another water.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Lake Monticello

    How big is Lake Monticello?

    Lake Monticello covers about 334 acres in Charlottesville, Virginia (Fluvanna County).

    Can you swim in Lake Monticello?

    OpenStreetMap shows 5 public beach or swimming spots on the shore. None of our sources lists a lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and follow posted rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Lake Monticello?

    Yes. We list 3 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 1 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Lake Monticello?

    Lake Monticello touches Charlottesville in Fluvanna County, Virginia.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Lake Monticello? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Virginia lakes & ponds · All waters in Charlottesville