What is the biggest lake in Georgia?

Lake Lanier is the most heavily developed lake in Georgia, with 46 Army Corps of Engineers recreation areas around its shoreline. Lake Oconee has the most shoreline mileage at 374 miles.

Which Georgia lake is closest to Atlanta?

Lake Allatoona and Lake Lanier are both within easy driving distance of Atlanta, making them the most popular lakes for metro-area day trips and weekend visits.

What is the best Georgia lake for fishing?

Lake Burton is known for its quality spotted bass fishery, while Lake Hartwell offers varied fish habitat across rocky bluffs and shallow coves, making both strong choices depending on the species you are after.

Best Lakes in Georgia for Boating and Fishing

Georgia has an unusually deep bench of lakes, from massive Corps of Engineers reservoirs near Atlanta to small, quiet mountain lakes in the Blue Ridge. These are the ones we send boaters, anglers, and swimmers to most often.

1. Lake Lanier

Key facts: 46 Corps of Engineers recreation areas

Lake Sidney Lanier is the most developed and heavily used lake in Georgia, with the Army Corps of Engineers operating 46 park areas around its shoreline offering picnicking, campgrounds, boat ramps, swimming beaches, and hiking trails. Additional marinas and resort areas are leased out separately, so there is a wide range of ways to experience the lake, from a quiet cove to a full-service marina. It is also home to the Magical Nights of Lights holiday display each winter. See our Lake Lanier page for the full list of access points.

2. Lake Allatoona

Key facts: Oldest Army Corps of Engineers lake in Georgia, close to Atlanta

Lake Allatoona, on the Etowah River, is one of the most frequently visited Corps of Engineers lakes in the state, largely because it is so close to Atlanta. It offers picnicking, swimming, camping, hunting, fishing, and boating along its shoreline, and its proximity makes it a realistic after-work or weekend option for people who live in the metro area rather than requiring a full day trip. See our Lake Allatoona page for access points.

3. Lake Blue Ridge

Lake Blue Ridge surrounded by North Georgia mountains

Key facts: 3,290-acre TVA reservoir near Blue Ridge, GA

Lake Blue Ridge is a 3,290-acre reservoir on the Toccoa River, built by the Tennessee Valley Authority between 1925 and 1930. Blue Ridge Dam itself is 167 feet high and stretches 1,000 feet across the river. Surrounded by national forest, it is one of the more scenic mountain lakes in the state and pairs naturally with a weekend trip to the town of Blue Ridge. See our Atlanta to Blue Ridge weekend itinerary or Lake Blue Ridge page for more.

4. Carters Lake

Carters Lake in the North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains

Key facts: Rugged shoreline in the Blue Ridge Mountains between Calhoun and Ellijay

Carters Lake sits on the Coosawattee River between Calhoun and Ellijay, embracing a tract of rugged foothills scenery in the North Georgia Blue Ridge Mountains. Its steep, forested shoreline makes it feel more remote than lakes closer to Atlanta, and it is a favorite for anglers and boaters who want scenery along with their fishing. See our Carters Lake page for access and marina details.

5. Lake Oconee

Key facts: 19,050 acres with 374 miles of shoreline

Lake Oconee is a 19,050-acre reservoir with 374 miles of shoreline, located mainly in Greene County near Madison and Greensboro. It is operated by Georgia Power in tandem with nearby Lake Sinclair as a pump-storage hydropower system, and its extensive shoreline supports a large number of marinas, resorts, and golf communities alongside more traditional public fishing and boating access. See our Lake Oconee page for details.

6. Lake Burton

Key facts: 2,775 acres near Clayton, known for spotted bass fishing

Lake Burton is a 2,775-acre reservoir near Clayton managed by Georgia Power, known both for its scenery and lakeside homes and for holding a quality spotted bass fishery. It is one of the prettiest of the Georgia Power lakes in the mountains, and its relatively smaller size compared to Lanier or Allatoona makes it feel less crowded on a summer weekend. See our Lake Burton page for fishing reports.

7. Lake Rabun

Lake Rabun Recreation Area in the North Georgia mountains

Key facts: Small mountain lake with a dedicated recreation area for camping and swimming

Lake Rabun is cradled in the North Georgia mountains and has a family-oriented recreation area offering camping, hiking, swimming, boating, and fishing right on the water. It is smaller and quieter than the larger Corps of Engineers lakes, making it a good pick if you want a peaceful lake day rather than a busy marina scene. See our Lake Rabun Recreation Area page for camping details.

8. Lake Hartwell

Lake Hartwell on the Georgia South Carolina border

Key facts: One of the largest reservoirs on the Georgia-South Carolina border

Lake Hartwell offers a wide variety of fish habitat, from rocky bluffs on the upper Tugaloo River arm to shallow cove pockets and sandy flats in the middle and lower sections of the lake. Straddling the Georgia-South Carolina line, it is one of the larger reservoirs in the region and a popular destination for both bass anglers and recreational boaters. See our Lake Hartwell page for current fishing reports.

Choosing the Right Georgia Lake

If you want the most amenities and the shortest drive from Atlanta, Lake Lanier or Lake Allatoona are the easiest choices. If you want mountain scenery and a quieter atmosphere, Carters Lake, Lake Burton, and Lake Rabun are better picks. For golf and resort communities alongside the water, Lake Oconee has the most developed shoreline.

Looking for a natural swimming spot instead of a lake beach? See our Best Summer Swimming Holes in Georgia guide, or browse every Georgia lake we cover.