Lake Jocassee on a budget

February 24, 2023

Lake Jocassee is one of the area’s premier destinations.

The lake is situated in the middle of the Jocassee Gorges. The only place for the public to access Lake Jocassee is inside Devils Fork State Park.

Park Admission

Price is per person, but you can stay all day, which makes this a relatively inexpensive day of family fun.

$8 adults
$5 SC seniors (age 65 & older)
$4 children ages 6-15
Free ages 5 and under
Free Park Admission for everyone on Tuesdays!

Park Hours

Spring to Fall — 7:00am-9:00pm, daily
Fall to Spring — 7:00am-6:00pm, daily

Park Tips

You can borrow SC State Parks ALL Parks Passports from libraries across the state.
This means residents of South Carolina (who have a valid library card) can access Devils Fork for free!
The parking area is limited and fills up quickly on weekends.
ARRIVE EARLY!
We suggest getting there before 9:30am on weekends during the spring and summer.
Even if you have an ALL Parks Passport, it doesn’t guarantee entry if the park is full.
For a fee, you can reserve a parking space. Call 1-866-345-7275 or reserve online to be guaranteed a place to park.

Play

Swim at the public beach area, fish the lake, hike trails around the lake or play on the playground. Read more about Things to Do at Devils Fork State Park.

You can rent canoes, kayaks or standup paddle boards from Eclectic Sun and explore the lake at your own pace.

Got a boat? Bring it! You can access the lake from three public boat ramps.

Eat

Pack a picnic lunch. Picnic shelter and tables can be found throughout the park.

The Devils Fork State Park retail store has vending machines and snacks.

Stay

Devils Fork State Park campground is near the shores of Lake Jocassee. You can tent camp or book an RV site.

There are 59 standard campsites for either RV or tent camping and 25 tent camping sites. One boat-in campground can be reserved and you can stay on your own private island!

Discover Rare Wildflowers

If you’re visiting mid-March through early April, you can hike the easy 1-mile Oconee Bell Nature Trail and see Oconee Bell wildflowers in bloom. This delicate beauty is only known to grow in this area of the USA.