Best Lakes in South Carolina for Boating (2026)
South Carolina's got 73 lakes and rivers with public boat ramp access — from massive Piedmont reservoirs built on the Savannah and Wateree rivers, to blackwater Lowcountry lakes where cypress trees line the banks. Bass boats, pontoons, kayaks — the state covers all of it.
We ranked these 15 by ramp count. Simple logic: more ramps means less time waiting in line on a Saturday and better odds of launching close to where you actually want to be. We tracked which ramps are free, which are paved, and which have ADA access — all the stuff that matters when you're deciding where to go.
Quick Answer
The best lakes in South Carolina for boating, ranked by ramp access: 1. Lake Hartwell (57 ramps), 2. Lake Thurmond (33 ramps), 3. Lake Marion (25 ramps), 4. Broad River (21 ramps), 5. Pond (20 ramps). South Carolina has 73 total lakes and rivers with public boat ramp access.
At a Glance
| # | Lake | Ramps | Free | Paid | ADA | Concrete |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Hartwell | 57 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 36 |
| 2 | Lake Thurmond | 33 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 25 |
| 3 | Lake Marion | 25 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 16 |
| 4 | Broad River | 21 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| 5 | Pond | 20 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 6 | Lake Russell | 20 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 15 |
| 7 | Lake Murray | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 8 | Little Pee Dee River | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 9 | Lake Wateree | 14 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| 10 | Edisto River | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| 11 | Waccamaw River | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 12 | Great Pee Dee River | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 13 | Lake Greenwood | 11 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| 14 | Intracoastal Waterway | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 15 | Lake Moultrie | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
The Top 15 Lakes
#1. Lake Hartwell
Photo: Toujon Lyfoung
The biggest lake in South Carolina and it's not close. When the Santee and Wateree rivers were dammed in the 1940s, they created a two-lake system — Marion and Moultrie — that transformed the Lowcountry. Lake Hartwell leads the state with 57 ramps. 0 are free. 36 are concrete. 2 have ADA access. With that many options, you can usually find a quiet launch even on peak weekends.
57 ramps · 0 free · 2 ADA accessible
#2. Lake Thurmond
Photo: Thomson McDuffie
Straddling the SC-Georgia border on the Savannah River, this Corps of Engineers reservoir covers 71,100 acres and holds the record as the largest artificial lake east of the Mississippi. South Carolina calls it J. Strom Thurmond; Georgia calls it Clarks Hill. Either way, the striped bass fishing is legendary. 33 ramps give you 0 free launch points. 25 concrete ramps. 2 with ADA access.
33 ramps · 0 free · 2 ADA accessible
#3. Lake Marion
Photo: Jose Marquez
Built in 1962 on the Savannah River, Hartwell covers 56,000 acres with 962 miles of shoreline shared between South Carolina and Georgia. The lake's known for trophy striped bass — fish over 60 pounds come out of here regularly. 25 ramps: 0 free. 16 concrete. 5 with ADA access.
25 ramps · 0 free · 5 ADA accessible
#4. Broad River
Photo: Jenn Van
Lake Murray was one of the largest artificial lakes in the world when it was completed in 1930 — the dam on the Saluda River took nearly a decade to build. Today it's 50,000 acres of water just 15 minutes from downtown Columbia. 21 ramps: 0 free. 6 concrete. 4 with ADA access.
21 ramps · 0 free · 4 ADA accessible
#5. Pond
Photo: Tiffany Stevens
The newest of the big Savannah River lakes, Richard B. Russell was completed in 1984 and sits between Hartwell and Thurmond. It's quieter than both — no private docks allowed, which keeps development off the shoreline and the water uncrowded. 20 ramps (0 free). 1 concrete. 2 ADA accessible.
20 ramps · 0 free · 2 ADA accessible
#6. Lake Russell
Photo: Ross Bower
Lake Russell sits in a sweet spot — big enough to spread out, not so famous that every ramp's packed by 8 AM. 20 ramps total: 0 free. 15 concrete. 6 ADA accessible.
20 ramps · 0 free · 6 ADA accessible
#7. Lake Murray
Photo: Bōt Flōt
Lake Murray doesn't get the press of Murray or Hartwell, and that's part of the appeal. 19 ramps with 0 free means you've got options without the lines. 9 concrete ramps.
19 ramps · 0 free · 0 ADA accessible
#8. Little Pee Dee River
Photo: Pasi
If the big reservoirs feel too crowded for you, Little Pee Dee River is worth a look. 18 ramps — 0 free. 9 are concrete.
18 ramps · 0 free · 0 ADA accessible
#9. Lake Wateree
Photo: Everette Martin
Good ramp-to-water ratio on Lake Wateree. 14 launch points for a lake this size means you won't circle around looking for a spot. 0 free. 9 concrete. 6 ADA accessible.
14 ramps · 0 free · 6 ADA accessible
#10. Edisto River
Photo: April (Jasmine)
Edisto River rounds out the top ten with 13 ramps. Not the biggest name on the list, but the access is solid: 0 free. 11 concrete.
13 ramps · 0 free · 0 ADA accessible
#11. Waccamaw River
Photo: S D
Waccamaw River — 13 ramps, 0 free, 12 concrete.
13 ramps · 0 free · 0 ADA accessible
#12. Great Pee Dee River
Photo: Glenn Hanna
12 ramps on Great Pee Dee River: 0 free, 10 concrete.
12 ramps · 0 free · 0 ADA accessible
#13. Lake Greenwood
Photo: Landon Hammett
Quieter than the top-ten lakes, but Lake Greenwood still has 11 ramps to work with. 0 free, 8 concrete, 2 ADA accessible.
11 ramps · 0 free · 2 ADA accessible
#14. Intracoastal Waterway
Photo: Terry Moser
Intracoastal Waterway has 10 ramps — better access than most South Carolina lakes. 0 free, 10 concrete.
10 ramps · 0 free · 0 ADA accessible
#15. Lake Moultrie
Photo: Frank Arnold
Number 15 and still 10 ramps: 0 free, 8 concrete.
10 ramps · 0 free · 0 ADA accessible
Tips for Boating in South Carolina
South Carolina's boating season runs nearly year-round in the Lowcountry, with peak months from April through October. Upstate reservoirs like Hartwell and Keowee are best from late March through early November. Spring and fall offer the sweet spot — warm enough for comfortable boating without the summer crowds that pack the most popular lakes.
All motorized boats in South Carolina must be titled and registered with the SC Department of Natural Resources. Out-of-state boats with valid home registration can operate for up to 60 days. South Carolina requires all boat operators born after June 30, 1988 to complete a boater education course — check whether that applies to anyone in your group before heading out.
At the ramp: prep your boat in the staging area before backing down, drain plug in, lines ready, and clear the lane as soon as you're launched. On busy weekends, arrive early — ramps at the top lakes on this list can see lines by mid-morning. Keep an eye on water levels too, especially in late summer when reservoirs draw down. Low water exposes shallow ramps and makes launches tricky. Check conditions on the SCDNR website or the Army Corps lake pages before you head out.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the best lakes in South Carolina for boating?
- The top 5 are Lake Hartwell (57 ramps), Lake Thurmond (33 ramps), Lake Marion (25 ramps), Broad River (21 ramps), Pond (20 ramps). Rankings are based on the number of public boat ramps at each lake.
- Which South Carolina lakes have free boat ramps?
- 0 of the top 15 South Carolina lakes have free boat ramps. Lake Hartwell has 0 free ramps, the most of any South Carolina lake.
- How many lakes with boat ramps are in South Carolina?
- South Carolina has 73 lakes and rivers with at least 2 public boat ramps in our database. The largest by ramp access is Lake Hartwell with 57 ramps.
Explore More South Carolina Lakes
These 15 are just the start. South Carolina has 73 lakes with public boat ramp access in our database.