The Lakes is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Murray County, Minnesota, United States located north of Currie and south of Garvin.

[1] The outlet of Lake Shetek, at the southern end of the community, is the Des Moines River, flowing southward toward Iowa.

U.S. Highway 59 runs through the western side of the CDP, leading south 10 miles (16 km) to Slayton, the Murray county seat, and north 23 miles (37 km) to Marshall.

Minnesota State Highway 30 runs along the southern edge of the CDP, leading east toward Currie and Dovray.

The racial makeup of the CDP was 99.35% White, 0.16% Native American, and 0.48% from two or more races.

The Lakes is located in Minnesota's 1st congressional district, most recently represented by Republican Jim Hagedorn of Blue Earth until his death in 2022.