Are you going boating in Georgia?
What’s your favorite way to spend a day on the water? Rip it up on a PWC? Glide across a freshwater lake in your kayak? Capture an epic tube wipeout with your GoPro camera? Whatever your favorite type of watersport, if you’re visiting Georgia, you’ll have no trouble finding a spectacular waterway for your boating activities!
So, will you visit Savannah, the gateway to the Atlantic coast? Or the popular boating and fishing waters of the Lincoln County area? How about Lake Sinclair, known for its over 417 miles of scenic shoreline? Or maybe you’ll visit Georgia’s big cities, like Atlanta, Augusta, or Columbus?
The truth is, it doesn’t really matter where you’ll be; there are boating opportunities all over the beautiful state of Georgia.
So, keep reading to learn more about Georgia’s lakes and the best places to boat, fish, and enjoy the water!
Lake Sinclair
Lake Sinclair, situated just outside Milledgeville, offers a peaceful setting for boating, fishing, and unwinding. As a Georgia Power reservoir near Lake Oconee, it spans over 15,330 acres of water and features 400 miles of picturesque shoreline.
Rocky Creek Park, located on the southeast side of the lake in Baldwin County near Sinclair Dam, is an ideal spot to launch your boat and enjoy a day on the water. The park offers numerous amenities, including a swimming beach, restrooms, picnic tables, grills, a playground, and a fishing pier.
Lake Lanier
Known as Georgia’s “Great Lake,” Lake Lanier offers something for almost any water or outdoor enthusiast. Whether you’re into watersports, fast boats, quiet fishing spots, or exploring theaters, local parks, and museums, this destination has it all.
Located in North Georgia, only 60 miles from Atlanta, it boasts nearly 700 miles of shoreline across 38,000 acres and welcomes millions of visitors each year. For overnight stays, you’ll find over 45 parks and ten campgrounds along the lake’s shores, including Don Carter State Park.
Lake Chatuge
Also called Chatuge Lake or Chatuga Reservoir, this lake is nestled in Hiawassee, spanning 7,050 acres along the northern Georgia and western North Carolina borders.
Lake Chatuge offers a variety of activities, from camping in scenic forests and fishing to enjoying water sports and boating. With plenty of public boat ramps, access is easy, and for added convenience, Boundary Waters Resort and Marina provides boat rentals, cabin rentals, sales, and a full-service marina.
There’s no shortage of fun and adventure on these waters!
Lake Allatoona
Lake Allatoona is a sprawling body of water that offers endless opportunities for enjoying your boat or other outdoor activities. It spans over 12,000 acres with 270 miles of shoreline, making it a boater’s paradise.
Built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1940s and still maintained by them today, the lake is fed by water from the Blue Ridge Mountains. When bringing your boat, you’ll find plenty of marinas along the shoreline, offering boat services, sales, rentals, and even restaurants for a relaxing meal.
Lake Blue Ridge
Located in Fannin County, northern Georgia, this reservoir includes 3,300 acres of clear blue waters with the stunning Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop. Much of the shoreline is part of the Chattahoochee National Forest, with the rest privately owned. The lake offers several public boat ramps and numerous National Forest campsites for those who want to stay overnight.
It’s an ideal spot for boating, jet skiing, kayaking, swimming, and fishing. The waters are home to walleye, smallmouth bass, white bass, bluegill, yellow perch, channel catfish, and flathead catfish, making it a great place to cast a line and try your luck.
This is a lake you won’t want to miss on your next trip to Georgia!
Lake Oconee
Lake Oconee is the perfect spot for both casual and luxury outdoor fun. Located in central Georgia, it runs through Georgia’s Putnam, Morgan, and Greene counties. You’ll enjoy 19,971 acres of water and 374 miles of shoreline to explore here.
Fishing in Georgia
Georgia has become a very popular fishing destination in the U.S. This is due to the variety of waterways located in the state and the diversity of recreational species found in Georgia’s waters.
Freshwater anglers can reel in anything from sturgeon, trout, and sunfish to several types of bass, carp, and catfish. Saltwater anglers on the coast commonly reel in seatrout, flounder, red drum, and seabass.
Did you know that Georgia holds license-free fishing days a couple times during the year? Just remember to read up on Georgia’s Fishing Regulations and boating laws before you fire up a boat engine or cast a line. Always know before you go!
Check Out Georgia State Parks
Georgia’s 63 state parks offer historic sites, waterfalls, mountain ranges, state trails, and sparkling lakes for outdoor enthusiasts to check out.
These beautiful parks are here for you to use. So get out there and enjoy them! Get active and go for a hike, drop a fishing line, or head out on a kayak trip. Looking for some R&R? Visit Black Rock Mountain State Park and kick back at a cottage to watch the sunset from Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
If you plan on boating in Georgia’s state parks, find out where the boat launch ramps are before heading out with your boat trailer. Oh, and if you’re an angler, you’re in luck. Several of Georgia’s state parks, like Crooked River State Park, have awesome fishing.
Enjoy Boating in Georgia With Safety In Mind
So, with endless boating options, where do you start? We hope the destinations and activities we’ve listed today help you plan the perfect boating trip in Georgia!
But don’t let our list limit your travels. There are endless miles of shoreline in Georgia for swimming, whitewater rafting, tubing, kayaking and boating! Just make sure you know how to stay safe when on your boat or in the water.
Taking the online Georgia boater education course through BOATsmart! is the best way to learn everything you need to know about boating safety. Start your course today so you’re ready to hit the water in any of Georgia’s best boating lakes and parks!
Originally published in November 2018. Content most recently reviewed and updated for accuracy and relevancy October 4, 2024.
