10 Best Lakes In South Carolina For A Sunny Escape

Lake Jocassee
Photo:

Courtesy of Visit South Carolina, Seeing Southern

From the mountains to South Carolina's Lowcountry, the state’s major lakes and reservoirs are man-made, providing hydroelectric power to consumers, as well as endless opportunities for exploration. Choose your pleasure and itinerary, and there’ll be at least one body of water (if not more) that will strike a chord.

Whether you’re seeking a solitary getaway, surrounded by nature with a non-existent to-do list; the cleanest, clearest expanse of water where you can while away an afternoon; or an outdoor adventure filled with swimming, sports, and recreation, the best lakes in South Carolina are calling with infinite opportunities.

Southern climates make taking to the water a year-round activity in many parts of the state, and if you’re a fisherman, you're in for a treat on these bodies of water, too. Explore some of our favorite lakes in South Carolina, and you'll quickly learn that life is better on the water.

01 of 10

Lake Marion

Lake Marion

Discover SC

Santee, South Carolina

Lake Marion is the state’s largest body of water and delivers plenty of diversion. Part of the Santee Cooper Reservoir, this freshwater lake exposes anglers to the catch of a lifetime, including massive catfish, largemouth bass, and gigantic alligators. You can fish along the shoreline or head out to open water. However, if it’s your first time fishing the open waters, hire a fishing guide who knows the lake’s stumpy bottom for your best luck at a catch.

Bring the family and the RV; you can play and stay at one of multiple marinas and campgrounds located along the 511-mile shoreline. Lake Marion’s headwaters are located at Sparkleberry Swamp, a submerged cypress and tupelo forest, that baits kayakers with views. Have breakfast on the lake, then ride the waters to Charleston for lunch; it’s a picture-perfect, any-season kind of day.

southcarolinaparks.com, 251 State Park Rd., Santee, SC 29142

02 of 10

Lake Moultrie

Lake Moultrie, SC

Riddhish Chakraborty/Getty

Moncks Corner, South Carolina

North of Charleston along the coastal region, Lake Moultrie offers lakeside campgrounds and lodges for getaways. Together with the larger Lake Marion, the combo is called the Santee Cooper Lakes. Here, cypress trees mesh with the swampy wilderness for a truly unique scene; this beauty sets this body of water apart from all others. Due to its proximity to the ocean and its open water (at its widest, the lake is 14 miles across), large waves on the otherwise tranquil Lake Moultrie can rock and roll with high winds. Still, there are plenty of fishing opportunities—although keep an eye out for gators. Folks looking to safely swim can visit Overton Beach Park.

santeecooper.com, 204 Short Stay Rd, Moncks Corner, SC 29461

03 of 10

Lake Jocassee

Lake Jocassee

Jared Kreiss

Salem, South Carolina

One of four lakes in Oconee County, South Carolina, Lake Jocassee offers pristine waters, an undeveloped shoreline, coves for lounging, and beaches for swimming. Rent paddle boards and flatwater kayaks, or grab your tent and fishing pole, and enjoy the clear, cool reservoir water, which is fed by mountain springs and waterfalls. Drop anchor on this popular Southern lake, accessible only through Devils Fork State Park in Salem, year-round. The state park has 20 lakeside villas, ideal for family getaways.

southcarolinaparks.com, 161 Holcombe Cir., Salem, SC 29676

04 of 10

Lake Murray

Lake Murray, South Carolina

Glenn Ross Images/Getty

Columbia, South Carolina

Central South Carolina is Lake Murray country. Just west of Columbia, it’s a region bursting with adventure, and the lake is its crown jewel. With 650 miles of shoreline, Lake Murray’s coves and open waters come alive with bass boats, pontoons, and sailboats, as each vessel sets out on a day’s adventure. When the weather’s cooler, bring your binoculars to see the rare ospreys (or watch a livestream of their nests). Get a tour of Bomb Island, the country's largest sanctuary for Purple Martins, where around 1 million birds stop to roost in the summer. Or, take to the waterside trails for hiking and biking.

As summer’s temperature rises, add water skiing, kneeboarding, and scuba diving to the day’s agenda. On the Lexington side of this reservoir lake, enjoy the beach and take advantage of the shallow depth of the water’s edge to easily get on your paddle board or kayak.

lakemurraycountry.com, 2184 North Lake Dr., Columbia, SC 29212

05 of 10

Lake Thurmond

Hammock by Lake Thurmond, SC

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Clarks Hill, South Carolina

Sharing its beauty with Georgia, Lake Thurmond—officially called the J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers—has almost 1,200 miles of shoreline. Called Clarks Hill Lake on the Georgia side, it's located northwest of Augusta. Nearby Baker Creek State Park offers camping and access to the lake including a 10-mile hiking trail. Hamilton Branch State Park puts camping sites (almost) in the middle of Lake Thurmond on fingers of land that are perfect for swimming, fishing, or doing absolutely nothing.

recreation.gov, Clarks Hill Recreation Area, Clarks Hill, SC 29821

06 of 10

Lake Russell

Lake Russell Dam

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Calhoun Falls, South Carolina

Just north of Lake Thurmond, Richard B. Russell Dam and Lake is formed by the Savannah River, and like most man-made lakes, its picturesque views are only trumped by the abundance of fish available to anglers. Here, you can cast lines for largemouth bass, crappie, bream, and catfish. It shares a border with Georgia, and its undeveloped 500 miles of shoreline provide a haven for wildlife. With 13 access points in South Carolina, including Calhoun Falls State Park, the lake's scenic waters are the perfect backdrop for walk-in camping sites, RV slips, swimming, and stargazing along the shoreline on summer nights.

southcarolinaparks.com, 46 Maintenance Shop Rd., Calhoun Falls, SC 29628

07 of 10

Lake Keowee

Lake Keowee

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Seneca, South Carolina

Upstate has never looked so beautiful. While a short drive from vibrant cities like Seneca, Walhalla, and Clemson, Lake Keowee’s shoreline winds 300 miles through the Mountain Lakes Region. It’s the perfect outdoor playground, with lots of room for motorboats, jet skis, and all water sports, including wakeboarding. Dip your toes in the water at the small sandy beach at High Falls Park. With 10 waterfront campsites, the county park is the perfect spot to bring your boat or rent your dream watercraft and take it to the reservoir.

visitoconeesc.com, 671 High Falls Rd., Seneca, SC 29672

08 of 10

Lake Greenwood

Lake Greenwood

Seeing Southern

Ninety Six, South Carolina

Waterfront communities line this freshwater lake, which borders Lake Greenwood State Park. The Lake Greenwood Blueway boasts an aquatic trail for paddle enthusiasts with eight stops along its 34 miles that end at Buzzards Roost Dam. Although there are no designated swimming areas, the lake hosts the South Carolina Festival of Flowers Triathlon, including a fun run, bike, and swim events each June. Notice the unfinished rock wall at the entrance of the state park, a reminder of when the U.S. entered World War II and construction of the park came to a halt.

southcarolinaparks.com, 302 State Park Rd., Ninety Six, SC 29666

09 of 10

Lake Hartwell

Lake Hartwell
Courtesy of Big Water Marina

Fair Play, South Carolina

This man-made reservoir sits on the Georgia-South Carolina border, upstream from Lakes Russell and Thurmond. With more than 900 miles of shoreline, numerous access points, and 15 day-use areas, Lake Hartwell offers plenty of room for boaters and anglers to spread out. Across both sides of the border, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages 500 campsites—book one for a lakeside stay.

If you shimmy up to Ghost Island (also called Cemetery Island), you’ll be sharing it with the Harris Family, all dead in a centuries-old burial ground that the family refused to move when the area was flooded to complete the lake. The ruins of the city of Andersonville, which was destroyed in an 1850s flood, live underneath the water, too. Hopefully, you’ll never see ghosts in either.

southcarolinaparks.com, 19138A SC-11, Fair Play, SC 29643

10 of 10

Lake George Warren

Lake Warren

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Hampton, South Carolina

Among Lake Warren State Park's many scenic attractions is, naturally, Lake George Warren. But beyond the water, the wetlands and woodlands here are home to a variety of plants and wildlife. You may spot bald eagles, ospreys, and other waterfowl. With 200 accessible acres, this lake is great for freshwater fishing, like shellcracker, large-mouth bass, bluegill, and catfish (just be wary of alligator sightings). The park even has a smaller 2-acre fishing pond. Choose one of four picnic shelters for a family gathering. Camping is very primitive and requires reservations.

southcarolinaparks.com, 1079 Lake Warren Rd., Hampton, SC 29924

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