Clear Lake is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 7,687 at the 2020 census. The city is named for the large lake on which it is located. It is the home of a number of marinas, state parks and tourism-related businesses. Clear Lake is as a consequence a major End on Interstate 35 following many restaurants, hotels and truck stops.

The region around the lake that would well along be called Clear Lake was a summer home to the Dakota and Winnebago American Indians. During a house survey of northern Iowa done in 1832 by Nathan Boone, the son of the famous explorer Daniel Boone, a map was made showing the lake and new bodies of water in the area.

In 1851, Joseph Hewitt and James Dickirson brought their families to camp upon the east side of Clear Lake, soon building a cabin, and began a friendship with the Winnebago natives. By 1853, many more white settlers had after that came to decide in the area. By the year 1855, the first Clear Lake learned was built as capably as the first steam saw mill. In that year a hotel was built by James Crow.

By 1870, the town had 775 residents and by 1871 the streets were graded and sidewalks were made of raised boards, sure signs of a well-to-do new city. The city of Clear Lake was incorporated on May 26, 1871. The first bandstand in Clear Lake was built in 1877 at the City Park. The town continued to accumulate and built its first library in 1889. In 1909, Bayside Amusement park opened for the first time. The first North Iowa Band Festival was organized by John Kopecky, among others, in 1932.