Houghton Lake is a lake located in Roscommon County, Michigan. The area known as Prudenville is near the southeastern part of the lake, and the areas called Houghton Lake and Houghton Lake Heights are on the southwest and west sides. Houghton Lake is the largest inland lake in Michigan and one of the largest natural inland lakes in the United States, though many man-made lakes are larger. The lake is about 10 miles (16 km) from north to south and up to 5½ miles (8.9 km) wide at its widest point. Houghton Lake has about 30 miles (48 km) of shoreline, and its surface covers 20,044 acres (81.12 km²). The lake is a popular place for recreation and fishing all year. Houghton Lake is the location of Tip-Up-Town USA, a large winter festival that includes ice fishing and other winter sports activities on the frozen lake. The lake is named after Douglass Houghton, the first state geologist who explored the area. Houghton County, located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, is also named after Douglass Houghton. The lake’s name is pronounced by Michigan residents as "HOTE'n" (/ˈhoʊʔn̩/).

The lake receives water from Higgins Lake, which flows into it through the Cut River. In turn, Houghton Lake is the starting point of the Muskegon River, which flows out of the North Bay on the lake’s northwest side. The lake is partly within four townships: Markey Township on the northeast, Denton Township on the southeast, Roscommon Township on the southwest, and Lake Township on the northwest. The lake is mid to late mesotrophic, meaning it has moderate levels of nutrients, and is classified as a warm, shallow lake. Its average depth is less than 9 feet, and its deepest point is 35 feet. The lake is home to nearly every type of game and panfish found in Michigan, except for trout, salmon, sturgeon, muskellunge, and white bass. Common fish caught include northern pike, bluegill, walleye, crappie, yellow perch, largemouth bass, and smallmouth bass.

M-55 runs along the southern shore of the lake, while U.S. Highway 127 passes just to the west. M-18 and Interstate 75 are located just to the east.

Houghton Lake is known for its annual winter carnival, Tip-Up-Town USA, which takes place over two consecutive weekends in January. The festival’s name comes from "tip-ups," which are flag-like tools used for ice fishing. The "USA" part of the name was added later. Badges for entering the Tip-Up-Town area on the lake’s south shore are sold each year at local businesses.