DO IT: Swimming

Swimming: Cool Off in Georgia’s Pools, Lakes, & Ocean

Georgia summers tend to get hot – often in the 90s, and with high humidity – so there is no doubt that
swimming is a popular recreational activity for cooling off and there are plenty of places to do it.

Swimming pools and water parks abound, operated by the state’s resorts, hotels, municipal and county governments, and Georgia State Parks. The outdoor pools in Georgia are generally open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, whereas the indoor pools are often year-round facilities.

Many of the state’s public pools hold special events, such as “dive in” movies, tropical-themed parties, and water sports contests. Almost all offer swimming lessons. Guest passes can be purchased if you’re not a local resident. A couple of pools you might want to check out are the Georgia Tech Indoor Pool and the Liberty Bell pool at F.D. Roosevelt State Park. The Georgia Tech Indoor Pool in downtown Atlanta was constructed for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, where American Amy Van Dyken won four gold medals in the women’s events, and features a leisure pool with six-25-yard lanes, a water slide, lazy river, kids play area. The pool offers public swimming lessons; usage otherwise is restricted to Georgia Tech-affiliated members and their guests. The Liberty Bell pool at F.D. Roosevelt State Park is a beautiful, large, rock-lined, spring-fed pool built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. Pool general admission is $3-$5 depending on the day of the week. Pools also are the main attraction at the state’s water parks, many of them an adjunct to theme parks such as Six Flags Over Georgia, Wild Adventures, and Lake Winnepesaukah.

Resort area water parks such as Margaritaville at Lanier Islands and Summer Waves on Jekyll Island ensure there are activities for every member of the family. One of the newest water parks in the state is Rigby’s Water World in Warner Robins which bills itself as having the world’s largest wet play structure. Or take your water fun indoors at the Great Wolf Lodge in LaGrange with its indoor pools and slides, accessible to resort guests and those who purchase a day pass.

While pools and water parks are great, there’s nothing like a good, old-fashioned swimming hole. Located in the midst of nature at its finest, these swimming spots are open year-round, and often free to access. Several Georgia waterfalls, including High Shoals Falls and Dukes Creek Falls near Helen, Blue Hole Falls near Hiawassee and Helton Creek Falls near Blairsville, plunge into pools that are swimmable. Just be aware, the water may be a chilly 40 degrees. And please swim with a buddy since there are no lifeguards at these swimming holes.

Lake swimming is also plentiful. Recreational facilities on the Army Corps of Engineers’ 10 Georgia lakes, Georgia Power’s 17 lakes and 20 Georgia State Parks lakes often feature sandy beaches and roped-off areas designated for swimming.

Wherever you go in Georgia, remember to pack a swimsuit.

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Swimming - Locations

Tugaloo State Park

Northeast Georgia Mountains
1763 Tugaloo State Park Rd.
Lavonia, GA 30553
706-356-4362

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Victoria Bryant State Park

Northeast Georgia Mountains
1105 Bryant Park Rd.
Royston, GA 30662
706-245-6270

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River’s End Campground & RV Park

Georgia Coast
5 Fort Ave.
Tybee Island, GA 31328
912-786-5518

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YMCA of Georgia’s Piedmont

Northeast Georgia Mountains
50 Brad Akins Dr.
Winder, GA 30677
770-868-2917

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Fort Mountain State Park

Northwest Georgia Mountains
181 Fort Mountain Park Rd.
Chatsworth, GA 30705
706-422-1932

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Lake Lanier

Northeast Georgia Mountains
Northeast Georgia
Gainesville, GA 30501
770-297-5499

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Fort Yargo State Park

Northeast Georgia Mountains
210 S. Broad St.
Winder, GA 30680
770-867-3489

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Don Carter State Park

Northeast Georgia Mountains
5000 N. Browning Bridge Rd.
Gainesville, GA 30506
678-450-7726

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IronKids Alpharetta

Atlanta Metro
1815 Old Milton Pkwy.
Alpharetta, GA 30009
678-297-2811

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Georgia State Parks

Atlanta Metro
2600 Hwy. 155 SW
Stockbridge, GA 30281
770-389-7286

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Little Ocmulgee State Park & Lodge

Magnolia Midlands
80 Live Oak Tr.
McRae-Helena, GA 31037
229-868-7474

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Lake Blackshear Resort & Golf Club

West Georgia
2459H U.S. Hwy. 280 W.
Cordele, GA 31015
229-276-1004

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George T. Bagby State Park and Lodge

Plantation Trace
330 Bagby Pkwy.
Fort Gaines, GA 39851
229-768-2571

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Red Top Mountain State Park

Atlanta Metro
50 Lodge Rd.
Acworth, GA 30102
770-975-0055

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Vogel State Park

Northeast Georgia Mountains
405 Vogel State Park Rd.
Blairsville, GA 30512
706-745-2628

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Seminole State Park

Plantation Trace
7870 State Park Dr.
Donalsonville, GA 31745
229-861-3137

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Magnolia Springs State Park

Classic South
1053 Magnolia Springs Dr.
Millen, GA 30442-6604
478-982-1660

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Kolomoki Mounds State Park

Plantation Trace
205 Indian Mounds Rd.
Blakely, GA 39823
229-724-2150

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Indian Springs State Park

Historic Heartland
678 Lake Clark Rd.
Flovilla, GA 30216
770-504-2277

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Jack Hill State Park

Magnolia Midlands
322 Park Ln./Hwy. 280 W.
Reidsville, GA 30453
912-557-7744

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