Lake Jocassee

Lake Jocassee

Located in Salem, SC, Lake Jocassee is one of our most popular destinations!

Lake Jocassee, was created in 1973 in partnership with the state of South Carolina and Duke Power. The lake covers 7,500 acres and reaches a depth of 300 feet.

Lake Jocassee is a beautiful southern lake known for its undeveloped shoreline and clean water. The lake is bordered by glorious green forests and offers refreshing outdoor pursuits that you can enjoy all year long.

No matter how hot it gets, you can beat the heat in the clear, cool lake. Let the kids swim at the sandy beach. Rent stand up paddleboards, flatwater kayaks, life jackets, or water gear.

Love to fish? Fishing guides can take you to the best fishing spots. The lake’s visibility makes it popular for scuba diving, and several companies offer Jocassee dive trips.

Not the type to get wet? Don’t sweat it. Go hike in the shady woods along the Oconee Bells Nature Trail, Bear Cove Trail, or access the Foothills Trail. Or don’t do anything at all. Just sit, relax, and enjoy being at Lake Jocassee.

For more history and details, read this article: Jocassee is an Adventure Paradise!

Tourist Tips

Lake Jocassee is only accessible from inside Devils Fork State Park.

Park Hours

Late spring to mid-fall, 7am – 9pm
Late fall to mid-spring, 7am-6pm

Park Office is open daily, 9am-5pm

Park admission required: Adults $8/Seniors $5 (age 65 & older)/Children $4 (ages 6-15)/Under 5 free

Parking

Vehicle capacity: 172 trailers, 115 single cars

A limited number of parking spots mean this place fills up early!  Get there by 9:30am for the best chance of parking.

Devils Fork State Park will post on THIS WEBPAGE when the park is at capacity.

You can pay a fee to reserve a spot online; parking reservations must be made at least 2 days in advance

You’ll be a good ways out. If you plan to stay at Devils Fork State Park all day, pack a picnic lunch, or purchase snacks from the park store.

Area Lodging

You can find neat places to stay, but keep in mind: the area is not saturated with hotels or tourist attractions, which is a good thing! Overnight accommodations typically book months out.

The closest options are located within Devils Fork State Park (rental villas, RV and campsites).  Private RV sites and dozens of vacation rental homes are located near the lake (on Airbnb or VRBO search “Salem, SC”).

Drive Times

Lake Jocassee is popular with visitors traveling from these cities in the southeast:

• From Greenville, SC – 1 hour 20 minutes
• From Columbia, SC – 3 hours
• From Charlotte, NC – 3 hours
• From Atlanta, GA – 3 hours
• From Charleston, SC – 4 hours 30 minutes
• From Raleigh-Durham, NC – 5 hours