Lake Hartwell & Stephens County

Lake Hartwell is one of the largest reservoirs in the Southeast, covering 56,000 acres across the Georgia-South Carolina border with 962 miles of shoreline. Built by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1962 on the Savannah River, it is about 1.5 hours southeast of Helen and makes for a full-day trip. The Stephens County side, near Toccoa, offers the closest access from the Helen area, with Tugaloo State Park serving as the main recreational gateway.

The lake draws over 9 million visitors a year for boating, fishing, swimming, and camping. Striped bass and largemouth bass fishing are the main draws, and the lake has hosted Bassmaster Classic tournaments. Tugaloo State Park, at 1763 Tugalo State Park Road in Lavonia (706-356-4362), sits on a peninsula with direct lake access, a six-lane boat ramp, a sand beach, camping and cottage rentals, and several miles of hiking trails. The park requires a $5 daily ParkPass. Nearby Toccoa adds waterfalls, the Currahee Military Museum (of Band of Brothers fame), and other stops to fill out the trip. See our Lake Hartwell and Stephens County guide for full details.