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

River Forks Park and Campground

Northeast Georgia Mountains
3500 Keith Bridge Rd.
Gainesville, GA 30504
770-535-8280

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River Vista Mountain Village

Northeast Georgia Mountains
20 River Vista Dr.
Dillard, GA 30537
706-746-2722

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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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Rocky Mountain Recreation and Fishing Area

Northwest Georgia Mountains
4054 Big Texas Valley Rd.
Rome, GA 30165
706-802-5087

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Rose Lane Park

Northeast Georgia Mountains
199 Rose Lane Park Dr.
Toccoa, GA 30577
706-886-5101

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Roswell Adult Aquatics Center

Atlanta Metro
200 Frank Lewis Dr.
Roswell, GA 30075
770-641-3982

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Roswell Area Park

Atlanta Metro
10495 Woodstock Rd.
Roswell, GA 30075
770-640-3253

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Sandy Creek Park

Historic Heartland
400 Bob Holman Rd.
Athens, GA 30607
706-613-3631

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Sandy Springs

Atlanta Metro
5920 Roswell Rd., Ste. A-118
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
866-511-7742

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Savannah Oaks RV Resort

Georgia Coast
805 Fort Argyle Rd.
Savannah, GA 31419
912-748-4000

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Savannah South KOA

Georgia Coast
4915 US 17 South
Richmond Hill, GA 31324
912-756-3396

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Sawnee Campground – Lake Lanier

Northeast Georgia Mountains
3200 Buford Dam Rd.
Cumming, GA 30041
877-444-6777

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Sea Palms Resort

Georgia Coast
5445 Frederica Rd.
St. Simons Island, GA 31522
912-638-3351

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Selden Park

Georgia Coast
Hwy. 341
Brunswick, GA 31523
912-279-2800

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Seventy-Four Ranch

Northwest Georgia Mountains
9205 Hwy. 53 W.
Jasper, GA 30143
706-692-0123

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Shady Grove Campground

Northeast Georgia Mountains
7800 Shadburn Ferry Rd.
Cumming, GA 30041
770-205-6849

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Shirley Winston Supercenter

West Georgia
5033 Steam Mill Rd.
Columbus, GA 31907
706-653-4958

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Six Flags White Water

Atlanta Metro
250 Cobb Pkwy N.
Marietta, GA 30062
770-424-9283

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Sky Valley Country Club

Northeast Georgia Mountains
568 Sky Valley Dr.
Sky Valley, GA 30537
706-746-5302

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South Bibb Recreation Center

Historic Heartland
7035 Houston Rd.
Macon, GA 31216
478-788-0430

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