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.

  • Region

  • Reset

Swimming - Locations

Doyle Street Pool

Northeast Georgia Mountains
Doyle Street
Toccoa, GA 30577
706-886-8453

icon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
> Learn More
Duckett Mill Campground- Lake Lanier

Northeast Georgia Mountains
3720 Duckett Mill Rd.
Gainesville, GA 30506
877-444-6777

icon-boating.pngicon-camping.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-swimming.png
> Learn More
Eagle Hammock RV Park

Georgia Coast
937 USS Daniel Webster Rd.
Kings Bay, GA 31547
912-673-1161

icon-camping.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-golf.pngicon-paddlingfloating.pngicon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
> Learn More
Eagle Watch Golf Club

Northwest Georgia Mountains
3055 Eagle Watch Dr.
Woodstock, GA 30188
770-274-0704

icon-golf.pngicon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
> Learn More
Eastbank Campground – Lake Seminole

Plantation Trace
153 Eastbank Rd.
Bainbridge, GA 39819
877-444-6777

icon-bicyclingicon-birdingwildlife.pngicon-boating.pngicon-camping.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-hiking.pngicon-paddlingfloating.pngicon-swimming.png
> Learn More
Elbert County Chamber of Commerce

Northeast Georgia Mountains
148 College Ave.
Elberton, GA` 30635
706-283-5651

icon-adrenalineadventuresicon-bicyclingicon-birdingwildlife.pngicon-boating.pngicon-camping.pngicon-cabins.pngicon-equestrian.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-geocaching.pngicon-golf.pngicon-hiking.pngicon-huntingshooting.pngicon-paddlingfloating.pngicon-running.pngicon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
Elijah Clark State Park

Classic South
2959 McCormick Hwy.
Lincolnton, GA 30817
706-359-3458

icon-adrenalineadventuresicon-birdingwildlife.pngicon-boating.pngicon-camping.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-geocaching.pngicon-hiking.pngicon-huntingshooting.pngicon-paddlingfloating.pngicon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
Explore Highway 341

Magnolia Midlands
9 East Oak St.
McRae-Helena, GA 31055
229-868-6365

icon-adrenalineadventuresicon-airsportsicon-bicyclingicon-birdingwildlife.pngicon-boating.pngicon-camping.pngicon-cabins.pngicon-equestrian.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-geocaching.pngicon-golf.pngicon-hiking.pngicon-huntingshooting.pngicon-paddlingfloating.pngicon-running.pngicon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
> Learn More
Flat Creek Country Club

Atlanta Metro
100 Flat Creek Rd.
Peachtree City, GA 30269
770-487-8140

icon-golf.pngicon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
> Learn More
Flint River RV Park

Plantation Trace
801 West Shotwell St.
Bainbridge, GA 39819
229-246-5802

icon-boating.pngicon-camping.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-hiking.pngicon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
> Learn More
Forrest Hills Resort

Northeast Georgia Mountains
135 Forrest Hills Rd.
Dahlonega, GA 30533
800-654-6313

icon-birdingwildlife.pngicon-cabins.pngicon-equestrian.pngicon-hiking.pngicon-running.pngicon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
> Learn More
Forsyth KOA

Historic Heartland
414 S. Frontage Rd.
Forsyth, GA 31029
478-994-2019

icon-bicyclingicon-camping.pngicon-cabins.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
> Learn More
Forward Rabun

Northeast Georgia Mountains
10 Seed Tick Rd.
Clayton, GA 30525
706-212-0241

icon-adrenalineadventuresicon-bicyclingicon-birdingwildlife.pngicon-boating.pngicon-camping.pngicon-cabins.pngicon-equestrian.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-geocaching.pngicon-golf.pngicon-hiking.pngicon-huntingshooting.pngicon-paddlingfloating.pngicon-running.pngicon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
Fountain Park

Historic Heartland
614 Kimberly Rd.
Warner Robins, GA 31088
478-293-1070

icon-hiking.pngicon-running.pngicon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
> Learn More
Foxhall Resort

Atlanta Metro
8000 Capps Ferry Rd.
Douglasville, GA 30134
770-489-4380

icon-adrenalineadventuresicon-bicyclingicon-birdingwildlife.pngicon-boating.pngicon-equestrian.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-hiking.pngicon-huntingshooting.pngicon-paddlingfloating.pngicon-running.pngicon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
> Learn More
Frances Meadows Aquatic and Community Center

Northeast Georgia Mountains
1545 Community Way NE
Gainesville, GA 30501
770-533-5850

icon-swimming.png
> Learn More
Frank Johnson Recreation Center

Historic Heartland
2227 Mercer University Dr.
Macon, GA 31204
478-751-9274

icon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
> Learn More
Frederica Golf Club

Georgia Coast
30 Pikes Bluff Lane
St. Simons Island, GA 31522
912-634-6900

icon-equestrian.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-golf.pngicon-paddlingfloating.pngicon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
> Learn More
G. Cecil Pruett Community Center Family YMCA

Northwest Georgia Mountains
151 Waleska St.
Canton, GA 30114
770-345-9622

icon-hiking.pngicon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
> Learn More
Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park

West Georgia
2459-A U.S. Hwy. 280 W.
Cordele, GA 31015
229-276-2371

icon-adrenalineadventuresicon-bicyclingicon-birdingwildlife.pngicon-boating.pngicon-camping.pngicon-cabins.pngicon-fishing.pngicon-geocaching.pngicon-golf.pngicon-hiking.pngicon-paddlingfloating.pngicon-running.pngicon-services.pngicon-swimming.png
> Learn More

Featured Attractions