Region
Georgia Heartland
Lake Oconee Recreation Guide
Make Memories at Lake Oconee
Large central Georgia reservoir with bass, crappie, hybrids, blue catfish, channel catfish, and white bass.
Why Lake Oconee Belongs on Your Georgia Outdoors List
Lake Oconee is a major central Georgia reservoir between Greensboro, Eatonton, and Madison. Anglers target largemouth bass, black crappie, hybrid-striped bass, blue catfish, channel catfish, and white bass. The lake is popular with tournament anglers and vacationers. Access includes public ramps, marinas, resorts, and shoreline communities.
Quick Facts for Planning Your Visit
Use these at-a-glance details to understand the setting, then build the trip around how your family or group wants to enjoy the water.
Lake Size
19,000 acres
Shoreline
374 miles
Best For
Boating, fishing, swimming, camping, parks & day use
What You Can Do at Lake Oconee
These lake-specific notes highlight the recreation that is genuinely available here, along with the limits and practical details that shape a visit.
Public Ramps and Marina Services
Lake Oconee supports a highly developed boating experience with public ramps, commercial marinas, fuel, service, storage, and access from several lakefront communities. It works well for pontoons, fishing boats, paddling, cruising, and active watersports.
Fish from Boats, Piers, and Public Access
Anglers can launch at public ramps, use fishing piers along Highways 16 and 44, or fish from parks and shoreline access areas. The variety of access makes Lake Oconee useful for both boat anglers and visitors without their own watercraft.
Swim at Developed Lake Parks
Lawrence Shoals, Old Salem, and Parks Ferry provide established swimming areas along with picnic space, restrooms, and other recreation facilities. These parks are the best choice for visitors planning a public beach day.
Choose from Three Georgia Power Campgrounds
Lawrence Shoals, Old Salem, and Parks Ferry each provide seasonal camping with direct access to Lake Oconee. Their combinations of ramps, swimming, fishing, picnic areas, playgrounds, and restrooms make them practical bases for a complete lake weekend.
More Than a Boating Lake
Lake Oconee’s public parks support picnicking, playground time, shoreline fishing, swimming, trails, and group outings in addition to boating. The mix of developed parks and private lake services gives visitors several ways to shape a day on the water.
Launch Points & Shoreline Access
Lake Access & Boat Ramps at Lake Oconee
10 published access points can help you choose where to launch, fish, picnic, swim, or begin a day on the water. Confirm current hours, fees, water levels, and ramp conditions before traveling.
Georgia Power Recreation Area
Public access
Lawrence Shoals Recreation Area
Operated by: Georgia Power
Location:
123 Wallace Dam Road
GA 31024
Available: Camping, Boat launch, Fishing access, Bank fishing, Swimming, Restrooms, Picnic area
Phone: 855-607-6462
Georgia Power Recreation Area
Public access
Old Salem Park
Operated by: Georgia Power
Location:
1530 Old Salem Rd
GA 30642
Available: Camping, Boat launch, Fishing access, Bank fishing, Swimming, Restrooms, Picnic area
Phone: 855-607-6462
Georgia Power Recreation Area
Public access
Parks Ferry Recreation Area
Operated by: Georgia Power
Location:
1491 Parks Mill Road
GA 30642
Available: Camping, Boat launch, Fishing access, Bank fishing, Swimming, Restrooms, Picnic area
Phone: 855-607-6462
USFS Recreation Area
Public access
Swords Recreation Area
Operated by: U.S. Forest Service
Location:
Blue Springs Rd
GA 30625
Available: Boat launch, Fishing access, Bank fishing, Swimming, Restrooms, Picnic area
Phone: 706-485-7110
Marina
Private business
Fish Tale Marina
Operated by: Fish Tale Marina
Location:
891 Greensboro Road
GA 31024
Available: Boat launch, Fishing access, Bank fishing, Marina, Boat rentals, Fuel, Bait & tackle
Phone: 706-717-8158
Marina
Private business
Lake Oconee Marina
Operated by: Lake Oconee Marina
Location:
144 Collis Marina Rd
GA 31024
Available: Boat launch, Fishing access, Bank fishing, Marina, Boat rentals, Fuel, Bait & tackle
Phone: 706-485-7596
Marina
Private business
The Boathouse Marina at Harbor Club
Operated by: The Boathouse Marina at Harbor Club
Location:
3991 Walker Church Road
GA 30642
Available: Boat launch, Fishing access, Bank fishing, Marina, Fuel
Phone: 706-999-9717
Marina
Private business
Blue Springs Marina
Operated by: Blue Springs Marina
Location:
1271 Blue Springs Drive
GA 30625
Available: Boat launch, Fishing access, Bank fishing, Marina, Fuel, Bait & tackle
Phone: 706-342-9446
Boat / Jet Ski Rentals
Private business
Oconee Wild Watersports
Operated by: Oconee Wild Watersports
Location:
1133 Lake Oconee Parkway
GA 31024
Available: Fishing access, Boat rentals
Phone: 706-816-0166
Boat / Jet Ski Rentals
Private business
Young Harris Watersports - Lake Oconee 44 Bridge
Operated by: Young Harris Watersports
Location:
1139 Lake Oconee Pkwy
GA 31024
Available: Fishing access, Boat rentals
Phone: 706-200-1720
Marinas, Rentals & Lake Services
For many visitors, lake weekends start with practical services: fuel, ramps, rentals, dock access, supplies, and a good launching point for the day.
Marina
Anchors Marina
Lake Oconee marina in Eatonton with storage, fuel, ship store, slips, boat rentals, cleaning, and maintenance services.
Anchors Marina is a Lake Oconee marina on Lake Oconee Parkway in Eatonton, offering marina services such as dry stack storage, fuel, ship store access, slips, boat rentals, cleaning, and routine maintenance.
Services: marina, dry stack storage, fuel dock, ship store, slips, boat rentals, boat cleaning, routine maintenance
Hours: Confirm current marina hours, fuel availability, and rental details before visiting.
Address:
1054 Lake Oconee Pkwy, Eatonton, GA 31024
Phone: 706-623-0024
Boat Dealer
Crowe Marine
Boat dealer serving the Lake Oconee, Lake Sinclair, and Jackson Lake area.
Services: boat sales, service, financing
Address:
1010 Greensboro Rd, Eatonton, GA 31024
Phone: 706-485-9600
Marina
Fish Tale Marina
Full-service Lake Oconee marina with rentals, gas, bait, storage, and convenience-store service.
Services: rentals, storage, gas, bait, snacks, marina services
Address:
891 Greensboro Rd, Eatonton, GA 31024
Phone: 706-717-8158
Watersports Rental
Oconee Wild Watersports
Lake Oconee watersports rental business offering jet ski and boat rentals from the Eatonton area.
Oconee Wild Watersports helps Lake Oconee visitors get on the water with jet ski rentals, boat rentals, and family-friendly watersports service from the Lake Oconee Parkway area in Eatonton.
Services: jet ski rentals, boat rentals, watersports rentals, lake rentals
Hours: Check current rental hours and reservation availability before visiting.
Address:
1133 Lake Oconee Parkway, Eatonton, GA 31024
Phone: 706-816-0166
Boat Dealer
Skier's Marine Lake Oconee
Boat dealer serving Lake Oconee and nearby lake communities.
Services: boat sales, service
Address:
951 Greensboro Rd, Eatonton, GA 31014
Phone: 706-268-9300
Watersports Rental
Young Harris Water Sports at Lake Oconee / 44 Bridge
Lake Oconee watersports rental location at 44 Bridge offering boats, jet skis, kayaks, paddleboards, and watersports equipment.
Young Harris Water Sports at Lake Oconee / 44 Bridge serves Lake Oconee visitors with boat rentals, jet ski rentals, kayaks, paddleboards, and watersports equipment from the Eatonton area.
Services: boat rentals, jet ski rentals, pontoon rentals, tritoon rentals, wake boat rentals, ski boat rentals, fishing boat rentals, kayak rentals, paddleboard rentals, watersports equipment
Hours: Confirm current rental hours and reservation availability before visiting.
Address:
2683 US Hwy 76, Eatonton, GA 31024
Phone: 706-200-1720
Boat Dealer
Justice Marine
Family-owned full-service marine dealership serving the Lake Oconee area.
Services: boat sales, service, engines
Address:
815 Harmony Rd, Eatonton, GA 31024
Phone: 706-485-4063
Marina
Lake Oconee Marina
Lake Oconee marina in Eatonton with dry-stack and yard storage, pontoon rentals, fuel dock, ship store, and staging-dock access.
Address:
144 Collis Marina Rd
Eatonton, GA 31024
Phone: 706-485-7596
Marina
Sun Life Marinas - Lake Oconee
Lake Oconee marina and boat club location with storage, rentals, ship store, fuel dock, service racks, and boat-club access.
Sun Life Marinas - Lake Oconee is a marina and boat-club location in Eatonton offering dry stack storage, covered storage, boat rentals, ship store access, fuel dock service, service racks, dock carts, and Freedom Boat Club access.
Services: marina, boat club, dry stack storage, covered storage, boat rentals, ship store, fuel dock, service racks, dock carts
Hours: Confirm current marina, boat club, fuel dock, and rental availability before visiting.
Address:
144 Collis Marina Rd NE, Eatonton, GA 31024
Phone: 706-485-7596
Watersports Rental
Young Harris Water Sports at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee
Resort-based Lake Oconee watersports rental location serving registered guests at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee.
Young Harris Water Sports at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee offers resort-based boat, jet ski, and watersports rentals for registered resort guests, helping visitors build a full Lake Oconee recreation experience around the water.
Services: boat rentals, jet ski rentals, pontoon rentals, tritoon rentals, fishing boat rentals, wake boat rentals, watersports equipment, resort rentals
Hours: Availability may be limited to registered Ritz-Carlton Reynolds guests. Confirm before planning.
Address:
The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee, Greensboro, GA
Campgrounds & Places to Stay Near Lake Oconee
A lake trip changes when you stay overnight. Campgrounds, cabins, RV parks, resorts, and local lodging can turn a day on the water into a more complete weekend with more time for the people you came with.
Featured Places to Stay
Resort
The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee
Luxury lakeside resort on Lake Oconee with guest rooms and cottages, beach access, water recreation, golf, spa services, pools, and on-site dining.
Build a Weekend Around Lake Oconee
Use the lake as the anchor, then add campgrounds, parks, restaurants, marinas, and nearby outdoor stops to shape a trip that feels distinctly Georgia.
Start with the Water
Plan a day of fishing with information on fish species, access points, and places to cast from shore or launch a boat.
Add the Basecamp
Choose a campground, RV site, cabin, hotel, or nearby town that gives everyone more time together.
Explore Nearby
Look for parks, restaurants, events, trails, and small-town stops that turn the lake visit into a more memorable Georgia getaway.
Plan Your Lake Trip
Explore More Around Lake Oconee
Find campgrounds, explore the map, and use the lake as the beginning of your next Georgia outdoor memory.