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

Tinley Anderson Swimming Pool

West Georgia
Adjacent to Leslie Civic Center
Leslie, GA 31764
229-924-4878

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Toccoa RV Park & Campground

Northeast Georgia Mountains
3494 Oak Valley Rd.
Toccoa, GA 30577-3955
706-886-2654

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Toto Creek Park – Lake Lanier

Northeast Georgia Mountains
154 Toto Creek Park Rd.
Dawsonville, GA 30534
877-444-6777

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Towne Lake Hills Golf Club

Northwest Georgia Mountains
1003 Towne Lake Hills East
Woodstock, GA 30189
770-592-9969

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Trackrock Campground & Cabins

Northeast Georgia Mountains
141 Trackrock Camp Road
Blairsville, GA 30512
706-745-2420

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Twin Oaks RV Park

Historic Heartland
305 Hwy. 26 East
Elko, GA 31025
478-987-9361

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Uchee Creek Army Campground and Marina

West Georgia
Building 2783, Eckel Ave.
Fort Benning, GA 31905
706-685-3060

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Victoria Campground at Allatoona Lake

Northwest Georgia Mountains
937 Victoria Landing Dr.
Woodstock, GA 30189
678-721-6700

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Wanee Lake Golf and RV Resort

Magnolia Midlands
3821 GA Hwy. 112 West
Ashburn, GA 31714
229-567-4653

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Wanee Lake RV Park

Plantation Trace
3821 Ga Hwy. 112 West
Ashburn, GA 31714
229-567-2267

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War Hill Park

Northeast Georgia Mountains
GA Hwy. 318
Dawsonville, GA 30534
706-344-3646

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Waterside at Blue Ridge

Northwest Georgia Mountains
984 Loving Rd.
Morganton, GA 30560
706-851-8855

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West Gwinnett Park & Aquatic Center

Atlanta Metro
4488 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.
Norcross, GA 30071
770-814-6054

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West Point Lake

West Georgia
500 Resource Management Dr.
West Point, GA 31833
706-645-2937

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Whispering Pines Campground

Northwest Georgia Mountains
290 Whispering Pines Road
Morganton, GA 30560
706-374-6494

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Whispering Pines RV Park

Georgia Coast
1755 Hodgeville Rd.
Rincon, GA 31326
912-728-7562

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Whitetail Ridge Campground – West Point Lake

West Georgia
565 Abbotsford Rd.
LaGrange, GA 30240
877-444-6777

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Wildwood Park

Classic South
6212 Holloway Rd.
Appling, GA 30802
706-541-0586

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Willow Valley RV Resort

NE GA Mountains
323 Yorkhouse Rd.
Rabun Gap, GA 30568
706-746-0078

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WindStone Golf Club

Northwest Georgia Mountains
9230 Windstone Dr.
Ringgold, GA 30736
423-894-1231

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