Our Lakes
We are fortunate to have four wonderful lakes in Oconee County!
- Lake Jocassee
- Lake Keowee
- Lake Hartwell
- Lake Tugaloo
Lake Keowee and Lake Jocassee are known for their pristine waters, endless mountain views, and lots of room for all forms of water activity. With over 300 miles of shoreline on Lake Keowee and 90 miles on the more secluded Lake Jocassee, even the most beautiful days allow for plenty of room to enjoy the water.
As you might expect, Monday – Thursday are less crowded days on the lakes. On weekends lake parking lots fill up early in the day. Plan to get there in the morning. If you want to be guaranteed a spot to park at Lake Jocassee, you can pay to reserve a parking space. Devils Forks State Park (the only public access to Lake Jocassee) accepts online day-use reservations for a limited number of parking spaces.
At the southern end of Oconee County, Lake Hartwell is one of the Southeast’s largest and most popular public recreation lakes, and often referred to as “the Great Lake of the South.”
Lake Tugalo is fed by the Chattooga (SC) and Tallulah (GA) Rivers. Backed up by the Tugalo dam, the lake is a peaceful spot and a great place for fishermen. If you raft or kayak down Section IV of the Chattooga River, this is the lake where you end up.
Travel Tip: ARRIVE EARLY!
Especially if you are coming to enjoy a day on Lake Jocassee or Lake Keowee. Parking at lake public access points is limited.
Devils Fork State Park–the only public access for Lake Jocassee–is a very popular destination. Depending on the season, the parking lot gets full early in the day. If you’re not there by 9:30AM, you will likely be turned away.
Parking lots at Lake Keowee boat ramps also fill up early in the day. And roads near Lake Keowee have been experiencing heavy traffic. We strongly discourage parking in private neighborhoods along the lake.