Hartwell Lake

About Hartwell Lake

Hartwell Lake is one of the most popular Corps lakes in the nation. Built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1955 and 1963 as part of a flood control, hydropower, and navigation project, authorized purposes now include recreation, water quality, water supply, and fish and wildlife management. Hartwell Lake comprises nearly 56,000 acres of water with a shoreline of 962 miles. Over 20,000 acres of public land surrounds the lake. The Corps operates 9 campgrounds, 15 major day use areas, and numerous other lake-access areas.

How to Get There

The dam is located just off of U.S. Hwy 29 on the South Carolina/Georgia border. The Hartwell Operation's Managers Office and Visitor Center is located one mile past the dam on the Georgia side (or 5 miles north of Hartwell, Georgia).

Plan Your Visit to Hartwell Lake

Heading to Hartwell Lake? A few things to know before you go:

• Reservations: popular sites fill up fast — check Recreation.gov 6 months in advance
• Fees: day-use and camping fees vary; check current rates on the official park page
• Trash & pack-out: follow Leave No Trace principles
• Wildlife: store food in bear boxes where provided; never feed wildlife
• Weather: the 5-day forecast above is updated every 6 hours; verify just before you go

References & Official Resources

• Official Recreation.gov page
• View on OpenStreetMap
• Driving directions (Google Maps)