Lake Hartwell

Easy Drive From Atlanta

One of the Southeast's largest and most popular lakes, Lake Hartwell covers almost 56,000 acres in northeast Georgia (and into South Carolina), with 962 miles of shoreline.

Lake Hartwell is bisected by Interstate 85, making Lake Hartwell only a little more than an hour away from Atlanta's northeast suburbs.

The Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport is under 80 miles away for easy travel.

Depending on what side of the lake you visit, there are plenty of hospital options. St. Mary's Sacred Heart Hospital in Georgia is around 20 miles away, and AnMed Health Medical Center in South Carolina is around 40 miles away.

Excellent Fishing, Camping, Hiking, and Wildlife

The lake provides a wide variety of fish habitats, ranging from rocky bluffs on the upper Tugaloo River arm to shallow cove pockets and sandy flats in the middle and lower sections of the lake.

Bream, catfish, smallmouth bass, walleye, and largemouth bass are among the most common species, but the most popular is striped bass.

There is a wealth of camping opportunities along this large lake. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages nine campgrounds at Lake Hartwell with a total of 524 campsites. Many include restrooms, showers, boat ramps, playgrounds, electric and water hookups, courtesy docks, group camping, and designated swimming areas.

There are more than 250 species of birds and 40 different mammals around Lake Hartwell. Also, there are numerous aquatic, reptile, and amphibian species that call this place home.

Commonly spotted wildlife includes wood ducks, chickadees, bluebirds, screech owls, flying squirrels, wild turkeys, snakes, raccoons, and the great blue heron.

Boating and Clemson Football

Boating is extremely popular on Lake Hartwell, as are its related activities, waterskiing, tubing, and wakeboarding. There are five marinas along the lake, including Clemson Marina, Big Water Marina, Harbor Light Marina, Hartwell Marina, Portman Marina, and many public boat ramps.

Clemson football games have always been a draw for boaters on Lake Hartwell. The university and stadium tower over the lake and boaters often tailgate outside during games.

The Best Place to Experience Lake Life

Whether you are looking to buy a family home, a full-time retirement residence, or find a vacation rental, Lake Hartwell is an excellent choice.