2024 USMS Open Water Nationals Preview

In summer 2024, USMS’s open water national championships return with stunning venues and unique swim challenges. Make tracks to medal in your age group while making a vacation out of each one of these fabulous swims. 

No matter which of these great events you choose to take on, expect great swimming and an even greater travel experience, all courtesy of swimming.  
(Note: Check usms.org/ownats for updates on USMS’s open water national championship schedule this year.) 

USMS MIDDLE-DISTANCE OPEN WATER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

(2 MILES)
June 1 / Lake Berryessa, California 

Hosted by Davis Aquatic Masters, the Lake Berryessa 2-mile race will be the site of USMS’s first open water national championship race in 2024. Lake Berryessa, the longest lake in Napa County, California, has hosted one of the longest-running open water swims in the U.S., doing so annually since 1981. 

The lake covers more than 26,000 acres and boasts more than 165 miles of shoreline. A wilderness retreat, it offers a wide range of recreational opportunities from wakeboarding and water skiing to kayaking, fishing, hiking, birdwatching, and camping.  

Close to both San Francisco and Napa Valley’s world-class vineyards, Lake Berryessa offers a little something for every visitor. The spillway for the dam that forms the lake—a unique drainage feature that serves as an overflow valve for the reservoir—is a must-see attraction that illustrates the awe-inspiring power of water and hydroengineering.  

USMS MARATHON-DISTANCE OPEN WATER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

(10 KILOMETERS) 
June 8 / Lake Del Valle, California 

California boasts plenty of amazing beaches and swimming spots, but it has a few extraordinarily beautiful lakes as well. Participants in the USMS Marathon-Distance Open Water National Championship will find this out first-hand on June 8 at the picturesque Lake Del Valle. 

Hosted by Tri Valley Masters, the 10K swim is just one element of a fabulous weekend in a lovely lake a stone’s throw from the San Francisco Bay Area. Come for the championship 10K and stay for the other challenging races the same weekend, followed by horseback riding, camping, or hiking in the hills around Mount Diablo. Or stick to the water with boating, paddleboarding, or just plain frolicking. When it comes to outdoor recreation, Lake Del Valle offers a little something for everyone. 

When you’ve had enough of the fresh air and clear water, head into nearby Livermore, California, the most populous city in the Tri-Valley area, which has recently experienced a rebirth of its historic, gold-rush downtown. Or head north to Napa Valley, where you can sample the amazing wines of some of the finest vineyards in the world. With so many options for fun and relaxation, you might want to extend your stay a few extra days! 

USMS SPRINT- AND LONG-DISTANCE OPEN WATER NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

(1 MILE AND 5 KILOMETERS) 
July 20–21 / Square Lake, Stillwater, Minnesota  

In July, head to Square Lake, one of the prettiest waterways in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” to take part in a doubleheader weekend festival for the USMS Sprint- and Long-Distance Open Water National Championships. 

Stillwater lives up to its name; one of the hallmark features of Square Lake, a tidy 200-acre centerpiece for the region, is its still, exceptionally clear, and tranquil water. The glassy surface reflects the surrounding trees and sky, creating a soothing sensation—until the racing gets underway. Roughly 250 swimmers are expected to take to the waters over the two-day, two-race schedule.  

After the racing is done, you can avail yourself of the many other recreational opportunities at the lake, including paddleboarding, canoeing, and hiking. When you’ve had enough of the natural beauty of Square Lake, head into Stillwater and visit its historic main street. There you can get a world-class meal at one of downtown’s 30 restaurants and pubs; poke around in one of the many authentic antique shops that have earned Stillwater accolades as one of America’s best antiquing destinations; or just savor the local culture in this municipality that’s been voted one of America’s Most Picturesque Small Towns by USA Today.