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

Gilmer County Public Pool

Northwest Georgia Mountains
Old Hwy. 5 S.
Ellijay, GA 30540
706-635-7700

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Glenloch Recreational Complex

Atlanta Metro
601 Stevens Entry
Peachtree City, GA 30269
770-633-2452

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Golden Isles RV Park

Georgia Coast
7445 Blythe Island Hwy.
Brunswick, GA 31523
912-261-1025

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Gordon County Parks & Recreation

Northwest Georgia Mountains
7494 Fairmount Hwy.
Calhoun, GA 30701
706-602-4435

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Grassy Pond Military Recreation Area

Plantation Trace
5360 Grassy Pond Rd.
Lake Park, GA 31636
229-559-5840

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Hamburg State Park

Classic South
6071 Hamburg State Park Rd.
Mitchell, GA 30820
478-552-2393

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Hard Labor Creek State Park

Historic Heartland
5 Hard Labor Creek Rd.
Rutledge, GA 30663
706-557-3001

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Hawks Ridge Golf Club

Northwest Georgia Mountains
1100 Hawks Club Dr.
Ball Ground, GA 30107
770-205-6889

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Helton Howland Memorial Park

Northwest Georgia Mountains
Hwy. 78 E.
Tallapoosa, GA 30176
770-574-2345

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High Shoals Falls

Northwest Georgia Mountains
High Shoals Rd., one mile north of Dallas
Dallas, GA 30028
7704456016

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Highland Marina Resort

West Georgia
1000 Seminole Rd.
LaGrange, GA 30240
706-882-3437

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Holiday Campground – West Point Lake

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

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Holiday Harbor Marina

Atlanta Metro
5989 Groovers Landing
Acworth, GA 30102
770-974-2575

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Honey Creek Golf Club

Historic Heartland
635 Clubhouse Dr. SE
Conyers, GA 30094
770-483-6343

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Horseshoe Trails Camping Resort

Northeast Georgia Mountains
1 Rose Rd.
Cleveland, GA 30528
706-348-6434

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Interstate RV Center and Campground

Historic Heartland
305 Chapman Rd.
Byron, GA 31008
478-956-5511

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Jacksonville North/St. Marys KOA

Georgia Coast
2970 Scrubby Bluff Road
Kingsland, GA 31548
912-729-3232

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Jekyll Island Campground

Georgia Coast
1197 Riverview Dr.
Jekyll Island, GA 31527
866-658-3021

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Jenkins Park

Northwest Georgia Mountains
103 Price St.
Trenton, GA 30752
706-657-4167

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John Davis Recreation Center / James Brown Park

Northwest Georgia Mountains
904 Civic Dr
Dalton, GA 30721
706-278-5404

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