Boating in Georgia

Going boating in Georgia? What’s your favourite 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 favourite type of watersport, if you’re visiting Georgia, you’ll have no trouble finding a spectacular waterway for your boating activities!

So, will you be visiting 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 it’s over 417 miles of scenic shoreline? Or maybe you’ll be visiting Georgia’s big cities, like Atlanta, Augusta or Columbus? Truth is, it doesn’t really matter where you’ll be, there’s boating opportunities all over the beautiful state of Georgia.

Georgia is home to some pretty epic bodies of water. With the Blue Ridge Mountains as the scenic backdrop for many of the lakes, it’s obvious why Georgia has many popular areas for boating. We’ve made a list of some of the best lakes and opportunities for boating in Georgia. 

Known as Georgia’s “Great Lake,” Lanier has something for everyone. There are sections for fast boats, watersports, quiet spots for fishing, and local spots with parks, theaters and museums. With so much variety, it’s no wonder this is one of the South’s greatest boating destinations. It’s located in North Georgia, just 60 miles from the state capitol of Atlanta. It has nearly 700 miles of shoreline spread over 38,000 acres and has several million visitors annually. Staying overnight? There are over 45 parks and 10 campgrounds that line the shores of Lake Lanier including a state park, Don Carter State Park.

This lake is located just outside Milledgeville which offers a quiet place to boat, fish and relax. This is a Georgia Power reservoir located near Lake Oconee  has more than 15,330 acres of water. It also boasts 400 miles of scenic shoreline. The Georgia Power lake website is a resource that you can utilize for recommendations of lake access and amenities. Rocky Creek Park is a great place to launch your boat for a relaxing day on the water. It’s located on the southeast side of the lake in Baldwin County near Sinclair Dam. It provides many amenities such as restrooms, picnic tables, grills, fishing pier, swimming beach and playground.

Located in central Georgia, this is a destination lake for both casual and luxury outdoor fun. It runs through Georgia’s Morgan, Greene and Putnam counties. It is separated from its sister lake, Sinclair by the Wallace Dam. There is 19,971 acres of water to explore on this lake with 374 miles of shoreline.

Also known as Chatuge Lake and Chatuga Reservoir, this lake is located in Hiawassee. It covers 7,050 acres along the northern Georgia and western North Carolina boarders. This lake has it all, from camping in its beautiful forests, fishing, trying out some water activities to boating. There is no shortage of fun to be had on these waters. There are plenty of public ramps for boat access while Boundary Waters Resort and Marina offers boat rentals and sales, cabin rentals and a full marina.

This is a reservoir in Fannin County in northern Georgia. It encompasses 3,300 acres of crystal blue waters with the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop. The Chattahoochee National Forest encompasses a majority of the shorelines with the remaining being held by private land. There are several accessible public boat ramps and numerous National Forest campsites if you feel like staying the night. This is the perfect lake to go boating, jet skiing, kayaking, swimming and fishing. It’s in habited by plenty of walleye, small mouth bass, white-pass, bluegill, yellow perch, channel catfish and flathead catfish. Throw in a line and test your luck! This is a lake you’re not going to want to miss next time you’re visiting Georgia!

Lake Allatoona

One of the most popular lakes in all of the United States due to the size of the lake that you can enjoy.  It was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the 1940’s and they still maintain it today. The water flows from the Blue Ridge Mountains. It covers more than 12,000 acres with 270 miles of shoreline making it a boater’s dream! With plenty of marinas along the shore of the lake that offer boat services, sales, rentals as well as restaurants if you feel like stretching your legs for lunch.

These popular lakes in Georgia are the perfect spot to launch your boat and take your family on a scenic outing on the water. With the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains as your view, you’ll be floating on wave nine. Make memories and share laughs in this unforgettable state.

Georgia has become a very popular fishing destiniation 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.

So what’s the big deal? What kind of fish can you catch in Georgia? 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 learn 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!

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 sun set from the Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains.

If you plan on boating in Georgia’s state parks, find out where the boat launch ramps are before you head out with your boat trailer in tow. 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. Just make sure you learn up on Georgia’s fishing regualtions, fishing license requirements and boating license requirements before you go!

So, with endless boating options, where do you start? To help you plan out your Georgia boating trip, we’ve listed a few of our favorite places to go boating in Georgia and thrown in a couple ideas for boating activities too. 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! Enjoy!