Elrod Ferry Recreation Area

Hartwell, Georgia · on Hartwell Lake · Hartwell Recreation Area

Verified · 4 independent sources · top-verified

WATER: reservoir
ACCESS: Designated swim area
FEE: $7 per vehicle
SEASON: May

About Elrod Ferry Recreation Area

Elrod Ferry Recreation Area is a 39-acre day-use facility operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers on Hartwell Lake, a large reservoir on the Savannah/Tugaloo/Seneca Rivers near Hartwell, Georgia. The site officially designates three swim areas/beaches alongside picnicking, boating, and fishing facilities, making it a dependable swimming hole for anyone after a lake to swim in near Hartwell Dam. It is one of several Corps-managed recreation sites ringing the reservoir.

The recreation area sits on a gently sloping point overlooking Hartwell Lake near Hartwell Dam, within the broader Hartwell Lake reservoir system that has 962 miles of shoreline. The Corps of Engineers describes ample shade from surrounding vegetation across the 39-acre site, with paved roads and parking areas serving the picnic, swim, and boat-launch areas.

Swimming at Elrod Ferry Recreation Area

Recreation.gov officially lists three designated swim areas/beaches at the site, suiting families and day visitors who also use the adjacent picnic shelters, playgrounds, and boat ramp. No official description of water clarity, depth, or bottom conditions at the swim beaches was found.

How to get to this swimming hole

From Hartwell, GA, travel about 2.5 miles north on Highway 29, turn left onto Elrod Ferry Road, and after about a mile follow the brown directional signs to the facility at 1387 Elrod Ferry Road, Hartwell, GA 30643.

Parking: Paved parking areas are provided throughout the site per the official Recreation.gov facility description; no separate parking capacity or fee detail found.

The walk in

No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. No trail or hike-in is described in any of this site's official information; the official facility description consistently frames Elrod Ferry as a drive-up day-use area with paved parking areas serving the picnic, swim-beach, and boat-launch zones directly. No trail listing, trip report, or land-manager page mentions a walk-in distance to any of the three swim beaches, so treat this as a short walk from the adjacent lot to the shoreline, not a hike.

Plan your visit

Bringing kids

OK with supervision

Official facility (Recreation.gov/USACE) designates 3 swim beaches at a family day-use site with 2 playgrounds and picnic shelters, suggesting a family-oriented setup. However, no lifeguard presence is confirmed at any beach, and a secondary source referenced in the prior dossier notes Hartwell Lake has had multiple drownings lake-wide, with Corps rangers promoting life-jacket use (Elrod Ferry reportedly has a life-jacket loaner station per that same secondary source). No official description of beach depth/slope or bottom conditions was found this session, so caution beyond 'shallow drop-off' assumptions is warranted.

Parking

Paid, $7 per vehicle (day-use fee)

Paved parking areas serve the picnic, swim, and boat-launch areas throughout the 39-acre site, per the official USACE/Recreation.gov description; parking itself is listed as an ADA-accessible amenity. No separate parking-only fee was found -- the $7/vehicle day-use fee is the access cost.

Restrooms

Yes

2 comfort stations (vault/flush restroom buildings) on-site, listed as accessible amenities, per the official Recreation.gov/USACE facility page and data feed. Exact placement relative to each of the 3 swim beaches was not specified.

Hours

Day-use area (including swim beaches, picnic areas, playgrounds) open May 1 - September 9 annually; the boat ramp is accessible year-round, per the official Recreation.gov/USACE facility listing.

Swim smart

Secondary source (Marginalia Search aggregation) indicates Hartwell Lake has experienced multiple drownings and that Corps Rangers promote life-jacket use lake-wide; Elrod Ferry itself is described as having a life-jacket loaner station, consistent with that safety emphasis. This has not been corroborated by a first-hand or official Elrod-Ferry-specific report and should be treated as general context rather than a site-specific hazard confirmation.

Rules: Day-use only, no camping. Pets allowed but must be leashed (6 ft or less) or otherwise physically restrained. No amplified sound systems. Picnic shelters reservable May 1 - September 9 (up to 365 days in advance). Day-use area operates May 1 - September 9; the boat ramp is available year-round.

This is an informational listing, not an invitation. Conditions and access change; verify locally before you go. Visiting any swimming hole is at your own risk. See our Terms of Use.

On the water

Motorboats

The site has an official boat ramp and courtesy dock, and 'Boating' is listed as an official activity in the Recreation.gov data feed, confirming motorized/trailerable boat launch access. No Elrod-Ferry-specific rule was found this session confirming or restricting hand-launched craft (kayak/canoe/paddleboard) at the swim beaches or ramp, so those are left out of the confirmed list rather than assumed. For context, kayak/paddleboard/pontoon rental is available on Hartwell Lake generally via Big Water Marina, about 4.6 miles from Elrod Ferry.

Rentals nearby

Big Water Marina

Single and tandem kayaks (Azul Expedition 100 Deluxe sit-inside singles; Azul Sun 12 tandem sit-on-top), stand-up paddleboards (11' GoPlus SUP), hydrobikes (water bikes), and 24' Bentley pontoon boats. Kayak/SUP rentals include paddle, whistle/fin, and a PFD; children 12 and under must wear a life jacket at all times.

320 Big Water Road, Starr, SC 29684 -- approx. 4.6 miles from Elrod Ferry Recreation Area on Hartwell Lake (per the site's own RIDB-listed nearby-facilities distance). · Spring/Summer: Mon-Thu 9am-5pm, Fri-Sun 9am-7pm. Fall/Winter: daily 9am-5pm. Seasonal floating Ship Store: Fri-Sun 9:30am-7pm.

Elrod Ferry Recreation Area: FAQ

Does Elrod Ferry Recreation Area charge a fee?

$7 per vehicle day-use fee (per Recreation.gov official notice).

Is Elrod Ferry Recreation Area kid friendly?

Do I need to hike to reach Elrod Ferry Recreation Area?

No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.

Where do I park for Elrod Ferry Recreation Area?

Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Elrod Ferry Recreation Area?

When is the best time to visit Elrod Ferry Recreation Area?

Day-use season runs May 1 through September 9, per the official Recreation.gov listing.

What are the rules at Elrod Ferry Recreation Area?

Day-use only, no camping. Pets allowed but must be leashed (6 ft or less) or otherwise physically restrained. No amplified sound systems. Picnic shelters reservable May 1 - September 9 (up to 365 days in advance). Day-use area operates May 1 - September 9; the boat ramp is available year-round.

What water body is Elrod Ferry Recreation Area on?

Elrod Ferry Recreation Area is on Hartwell Lake, a natural reservoir verified in USGS hydrography data.

Conditions right now

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Managed by

Hartwell Recreation Area

Official site · Army Corps of Engineers

At a glance

Land access: Open to the public
Facilities: restrooms (comfort stations); picnic shelters; picnic sites; boat ramp; courtesy dock; playgrounds; volleyball pit; gatehouse/entrance; paved parking
Highlights: 3 designated swim beaches at one site; courtesy dock adjacent to swim area; life-jacket loaner station (per secondary source)
Nearby towns: Oak Bower (historical) (1.7mi); Monteideo (historical) (1.8mi); Hartwell (4.9mi); Holland Store (4.9mi)
Coordinates: 34.3615, -82.8560