A report by the Bloomington Visitors Bureau dated 2019 lists $22.4 million in annual recreation and entertainment spending in Monroe County.  When adding lodging, food, shopping, and transportation the total annual spending is $429 million derived from 1.5 million annual visitors.  Although many visitors come to attend Indiana University events and other cultural activities a large portion of visitors come only for recreation on and in and around Lake Monroe or combine other activities with Lake Monroe recreation activities.

These activities include swimming, sunbathing, hiking, boating, fishing, picnicking and more.