Aerial view of Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee, Georgia. Photo by @overwatchproductions

Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee, Georgia. Photo by @overwatchproductions

Georgia’s Six Best Lake Vacations

For lakeside resorts, pontoon boats and all the freshwater fun you can handle, you can’t beat these Georgia lakes.

From fishing and boating surrounded by the North Georgia mountains to swimming and kayaking among cypress trees in the southern part of the state, Georgia’s lakes are ideal for those seeking active and scenic vacations. With accommodations ranging from luxury lakeside resorts to rustic cabins and tent camping, lake getaways in Georgia are a great fit for any occasion.

Whether you want a full-on nature experience complete with scenic hikes on the Appalachian Trail, an action-packed family-friendly vacation filled with water sports and group activities, or a relaxing food and drink-filled getaway with a view, these are the six best lake vacations in Georgia.

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Best for Luxury Vacations: Lake Oconee

Best for Families: Lake Rabun

Best for A Nature Experience: Lake Chatuge

Best for Groups: Lake Lanier

Best for Local Cuisine: Lake Blue Ridge

Best for History Lovers: Lake Blackshear

Aerial view of Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee in Greensboro, Georgia

Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee in Greensboro, Georgia. Photo by @visitoconeega

Best for Luxury Vacations: Lake Oconee

Located halfway between Atlanta and Augusta in Greensboro, Lake Oconee, the second largest in the state, is your destination for a luxury lakeside vacation.

Stay

With its 30 acres of pristine lakefront property and amenities like golf and tennis, fishing and boat rentals, and an infinity pool with private cabanas, the Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee is renowned for its luxurious accommodations. Located just 85 miles east of Atlanta, the newly renovated property was named one of Travel + Leisure’s Top Resorts in the South in 2020, when it also received the AAA Four Diamond Award and the Forbes Four Star Award. It offers generously sized rooms and suites with private balconies and marble-trimmed bathrooms, as well as group-friendly cabins with panoramic views, living room fireplaces, wrap-around porches, and a dedicated concierge.

Play

Lake Oconee’s four full-service marinas can equip you with everything you need to enjoy the lake, from boating, fishing, tubing, wakeboarding, canoeing, and other water sports. For a customized experience, book a four-hour guided fishing trip on the lake with Young Harris Water Sports. Available for up to four guests per boat, the excursion includes a professional guide and fishing for striped bass, crappie, or large-mouth bass, depending on group size and season.

Nestled by the lake among towering oak trees and brilliant magnolias and designed by renowned architects like Jack Nicklaus, the Ritz-Carlton’s five championship golf courses offer 99 holes of challenging play for hotel guests, as well as custom club fittings and private instruction with resort pros. Indoors, the 30,000-square-foot spa at the Ritz — with a sauna, indoor pool, cold plunge pool, and treatments like sports massages and age-defying facials — offers a tranquil retreat from the day’s activities.

Eat

Dine on Tomahawk steaks, lobster tail and caviar expertly paired with wines at the Linger Longer Steakhouse. Or, enjoy pizza and other casual fare with a view at Gaby’s by the Lake. Venture into Greensboro to relax with a craft beer in a renovated historic warehouse at Oconee Brewing Company.

Houses on Lake Rabun near Clayton, Georgia. Photo by @klaude_g

Lake Rabun near Clayton, Georgia. Photo by @klaude_g

Best for Families: Lake Rabun

From scenic hiking trails to water sports and group-friendly campgrounds, this 835-acre mountain lake nestled in the North Georgia mountains near Clayton is a great getaway for families.

Stay

Stay in the tiny home campground or a cabin at Bleu Canoe, a 23-acre property with a full-service Cajun-American restaurant, fire pits, yard games like bocce and corn hole, and convenient access to outdoor activities. Relax near the water at Lake Rabun Hotel, built in 1922, and enjoy complimentary gourmet breakfast, a full bar and restaurant, and an onsite spa. The hotel is located across from Historic Hall’s Boat House Marina, where you can rent pontoon boats to cruise around the lake. Or opt for one of the 80 tent and camper sites at Lake Rabun Beach Recreation Area, which has facilities with hot showers, grills, picnic tables — all steps away from 25 miles of pristine shoreline.

Play

For all your lake supplies, stop by Bear Gap Outfitters, which offers day-long canoe, paddleboard and kayak rentals. Pack your binoculars or a telescope for one of their guided stargazing cruises: the lake’s open sky and wide expanses make it one of the best places in Georgia to view constellations.

Boat launches for Lake Burton are available at Clarkesville's 32-acre Moccasin Creek State Park, a tranquil, low-key recreation area that also has a playground and flat, gentle paths ideal for those cycling and walking with little ones. To learn more about the area’s unique ecosystem, tour the Burton Trout Hatchery or hike the one-mile Wildlife Loop Trail to spot white-tailed deer, mallards, Canadian geese, bald eagles and wildflowers. Other nearby family-friendly hikes include the four-mile round trip to the tumbling, 100-foot Minnehaha Falls as well as the rim trails around the dramatic, nearly 1,000-foot-deep canyon at Tallulah Gorge State Park.

For outdoor thrills for kids of all ages, head 10 miles south of the park to Sunburst Adventures, where you can zipline through the treetops, take a guided ATV tour along the waterways and ridgelines of the Chattahoochee National Forest, or ride horses through pristine mountain countryside.

In the summer, pack a picnic and catch a film at the pet-friendly Tiger Drive-In, which also has a playground, and an onsite grill serving corn dogs, nachos and other kid-approved snacks.

Eat

Stop into The Open Door at Alley’s Ol’ Store in Lakemont for sandwiches, soups, salads and sweets - either to enjoy inside the cafe, outside on the patio, or pick up to-go for a day on the lake. In Clarkesville’s charming downtown, The Copper Pot serves wood-fired pizzas.

Water and mountains at Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee, Georgia

Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee, Georgia

Best for A Nature Experience: Lake Chatuge

From day hikes along the storied Appalachian Trail to beaches with panoramic North Georgia mountain views, Lake Chatuge in Hiawassee is an outdoor lover’s paradise.

Stay

Stay lakeside at The Ridges Resort, with an onsite marina and boat rentals, plus a swimming pool, walking paths, tennis court, lawn games, and restaurants. The area also has several campgrounds, including Chatuge Woods right on the lake.

Play

Public lake access is available just two miles from downtown Hiawassee at Towns County Recreational Beach, which also has a large beach with swimming area. Rent or bring your own boat to paddle along the lake's 130-plus miles of shoreline, hidden coves and sweeping mountain vistas.

Higher above ground, don’t miss the steep but short half-mile hike to Brasstown Bald. At 4,784-feet, the mountain is Georgia’s highest peak, with an observation deck that offers 360-degree views of the Southern Appalachian Mountains as well as four states on a clear day.

For a more challenging excursion with equally stellar views, head to Unicoi Gap and hike a 5-mile loop of the Appalachian Trail that ascends 1,000 feet through several switchbacks to the summit of Rocky Mountain. Another standout area hike is High Shoals Falls, a succession of five waterfalls with a combined vertical drop of 300 feet in a moderately challenging, 2.4-mile, out-and-back hike.

Other area highlights include scenic overlooks at Bell Mountain, wine tours and tastings at Crane Creek Vineyards, and events including the Georgia Mountain Fall Festival, concerts, fairs and more at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds.

Eat

The Sawmill Place in Blairsville is a favorite place to start the day, with a menu featuring locally sourced ingredients, including farm-fresh eggs and made-from-scratch biscuits for breakfast, and Southern-style meat-and-three lunches. Or, visit Brasstown Valley Resort to have a casual bite to eat at Brassie’s Grill, or reserve a table for dinner in the dining room.

Boats on the water at Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia

Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Georgia

Best for Groups: Lake Lanier

At 38,000 acres​​ and with nearly 700 miles of shoreline, Lake Lanier is the largest lake in Georgia. Located near Gainesville, it borders five counties in North Georgia and is an ideal destination for family vacations, reunions, bachelorette parties and other group outings.

Stay

For a splurge, opt for the Lanier Islands Legacy Lodge, a 220-room lake resort with two onsite restaurants, a fitness center, spa, and heated outdoor saltwater pool. Or, stay at Camp Margaritaville RV Resort & Cabins, which offers upscale rental cabins and an RV park, all with access to amenities like boat and kayak rentals, hiking and walking trails, and lakeside dining.

Experience a lakeside tent glamping getaway at Timberline Glamping, which has a dedicated beach and swimming access, plus a boat launch for paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, and other water activities.

Play

Spend the day playing on the water slides, relaxing in the wave pool, zip-lining over the cove and lounging on the beach at Margaritaville Water Park. Ready for a break from the sun? Head over to Game Changer, a two-story entertainment venue with arcade games, axe throwing, an escape room, indoor putting course, virtual sports suites and more.

Or, book a guided sailing excursion with Windsong Sailing Academy, which offers themed, group-friendly outings throughout the year, ranging from excursions to secluded swimming beaches and murder mystery parties to leaf-peeping and educational cruises. For more water-based fun, rent a ski boat, pontoon boat or luxury houseboat at the Port of Indecision at Margaritaville.

Happy to let someone else play captain? Grab seats on a margarita or brunch cruise to sip drinks and enjoy snacks with a view from the enclosed climate-controlled cabin or outdoor upper deck. 

Eat

At night, stay and enjoy the area’s lively nightlife and restaurant scene, or head to historic downtown Gainesville, which is dotted with restaurants, galleries and boutiques. Be sure to stop in for lunch at Scott's Downtown, and pick up some sweet treats at Southern Baked Pie Company.

View of the lake from Boat Dock Bar & Grill at Lake Blue Ridge Marina in Blue Ridge, Georgia

Boat Dock Bar & Grill at Lake Blue Ridge Marina in Blue Ridge, Georgia

Best for Local Cuisine: Lake Blue Ridge

One of the state’s most picturesque mountain lakes, Blue Ridge offers plenty of outdoor fun as well as some of North Georgia’s best food and drink.

Stay

Rent a cabin in Blue Ridge, or stay at one of many local inns, hotels, or campgrounds. Wake up with a view of the lake from your pet-friendly cabin or campsite at Morganton Point Recreation Area.

Play

Although small, the 3,290-acre lake has a full-service marina, public swimming and picnic areas, and several boat ramps — all surrounded by the beautiful dense woodlands of the Chattahoochee National Forest. Rent paddleboards or kayaks from Lake Blue Ridge Outfitters and pontoon boats from Lake Blue Ridge Marina. And, hike the area’s many trails, including the two-mile round trip from Three Forks to the 50-foot Long Creek Falls.

After an invigorating swim or hike, refuel with freshly baked goods, cider and some famed apples from the family-owned Mercier Orchards, which also sells boxed lunches — ideal for a scenic picnic at the lake.

On Saturdays, book a VIP tour of Bear Claw Vineyards. The 90-minute tour includes seven tastings of wines like the sweet and tropical Vidal Blanc, plus a souvenir glass and snacks. Or, relax with a glass of wine and mountain views on spring and summer weekends, when the vineyard hosts live music on the lawn.

Eat

Fuel up for a day of adventure with Cuban coffee, sandwiches and sweets at the Rum Cake Lady, or weekend brunch at Black Sheep Restaurant Bar & Patio, featuring menu items like chicken and red velvet waffles and creme brulee French toast. Cruise over to the Boat Dock Bar & Grill at Lake Blue Ridge Marina (open seasonally) for a bite and a cold drink overlooking the water.

At night, grab drinks and tapas Hook & Eye, the newly opened Hampton Inn’s rooftop bar with sweeping views of downtown and the countryside, or enjoy dinner at the elegant Harvest on Main, which sources from many local producers, including Brasstown Beef.

The area is also home to several breweries and wineries, including Grumpy Old Men Brewing.

Sunset through the trees at Lake Blackshear in Cordele, Georgia

Lake Blackshear in Cordele, Georgia. Photo by @adamhammond5

Best for History Lovers: Lake Blackshear

Located in the south Georgia town of Cordele, the 8,700-acre Lake Blackshear has 97 miles of coastline, ideal for swimming, boating, and access to several historical points of interest.

Stay

Stay at the Lake Blackshear Resort & Golf Club, with accommodations ranging from campgrounds to cabins. During your stay, enjoy amenities such as a championship golf course, miles of hiking and cycling trails, and a full-service marina for fishing, kayaking, and other water activities.

Play

History buffs will want to check out Georgia Veterans State Park, a memorial dedicated to U.S. veterans with an onsite museum featuring armored vehicles, uniforms, aircraft, medals, and other artifacts. The park also has four miles of nature trails, an archery and air gun range, and an 18-hole championship golf course. Rent pontoon boats or kayaks, and spend a day cruising the lake.

To learn more about the area’s history, hop aboard the Historic SAM Shortline Railroad. Guests ride in air-conditioned, 1940s-era vintage train cars from the park across Lake Blackshear to downtown Plains, birthplace of President Jimmy Carter. The tour includes stops at Carter’s boyhood farm, the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site Museum, and the Georgia Rural Telephone Museum, which houses the world's largest collection of antique telephones and telephone memorabilia. 

Eat

Savor a dinner of fresh seafood, steak and classic American cuisine at Daphne Lodge, a local landmark and family favorite since the 1950s. And, be sure to stop into Stripling’s General Store for its famous sausage, jerky and other Southern specialties.

Published: March 2024
Written by: Laura Scholz
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