Strom Thurmond Lake & Hartwell Lake GA/SC

[TenOC]

My son and I are thinking about a 2 week Largemouth bass fishing trip to the lakes between Georgia and South Carolina. We have a 36 foot 5th wheel. I will be pulling the 5th wheel and my son will tow his boat with his truck.

What is the best Corps of Engineers campground on these lakes. We would like to be able to park the boat and trailer at or near the campsite.

Any and all suggestions are welcome.

[kohldad]

Was there any justification given for closing/giving away Big Hart? It seemed pretty busy to me.

COE releasing control of a park happens for a number of reasons. Two biggest is budget short fall and/or local authorities wish to take control. From this article, it seems it was a combination of the two. McDuffe County to Operate . . .

I do know I recently traveled through South Dakota and the state took over all of the COE parks when there was budget cuts years ago. Instead of letting the COE close the parks for a while, they took over the operations. Today South Dakota has some very nice state park campgrounds.

[johnhicks]

Was there any justification given for closing/giving away Big Hart? It seemed pretty busy to me.

[kohldad]

Just a little more info on Petersburg. Most of the sites are very big and will easily accommodate both a large rig and extra vehicle towing your boat. If you want to leave it in the water, recommend sites 25-27 as it is back in a cove protected from waves and the beach is sandy (just make sure it is near full pond). If you would rather have a breeze, stay out in 42 or such. Can't pull you boat onto shore on most of the sites but you could anchor just off shore or trailer the 1/4 mile to the boat landing in the campground. I'm was in 42 last visit and can see 4 different directions to go from here.

[Horsedoc]

For fishing. I suggest Lake Russell. Richard B Russell State Park in Georgia and/or Calhoun Falls State Park in SC. Calhoun Falls is easier to access. Russell has a long an narrow road down to the lake

[kohldad]

Check out Petersburg for Strom Thurmond (Still called Clarks Hill on the GA side). Most of the sites are on the water. Most convienent for running into town to eat or get supplies. Modoc isn't as nice, but still a good park and will put you further up the lake giving you more choices.

For Hartwell, recommend Watsadler. These are wonderful sites on the water though the only problem is you are near the dam so it's only one way to go. Twin Lakes is nice if you can get out on the point where the outer loop sites are on the water, but otherwise most sites aren't on the water.

[johnhicks]

Well fooey. The website goes to recreation.gov, which says that it's McDuffie county. So I suspect it's probably ruined and gone.

[TenOC]

johnhicks wrote:
Big Hart COE

At all these parks, bring your ant powder. Big ones even fall from the trees.

As of December 16, 2019, Big Hart Campground will be managed by McDuffie County

Big Hart Recreation Area is a day use recreation area with picnic shelters, boat ramp, beaches. From Explore McDuffie County Georgia Parks

[johnhicks]

Big Hart COE

At all these parks, bring your ant powder. Big ones even fall from the trees.

[JKJavelin]

We stayed at Lake Hartwell COE a year ago and it was nice. I noticed a couple people had boats in the water at their site. The only negative thing was, when we arrived we noticed white powder on the ground at our site and others. The host confirmed it: ants. We had no problems with them at all though.
JK

Edit-- I just remembered, this is where we discovered Huddle House. I just love their breakfast.

[Belgique]

Elijah Clark State (GA) Park near Lincolnton is are fav.

[pbeverly]

I have stayed at Twin Lakes near Clemson, SC a couple times and was real happy with it. It does have a boat ramp. You would need to contact them in regards to where you would park the boat.