Broyles Recreation Area
Townville, South Carolina · Hartwell Recreation Area
Verified · 4 independent sources · top-verified
- WATER
- lake
- ACCESS
- Designated swim area
- FEE
- $7
- SEASON
- Best in summer
About Broyles Recreation Area
Broyles Recreation Area is a 24-acre U.S. Army Corps of Engineers day-use site on Hartwell Lake near Townville, South Carolina, with an officially designated swim area/beach. It sits alongside a boat ramp, courtesy dock, fishing pier, and picnic shelter, and charges a $7 per-vehicle fee. It is a developed, drive-up lake access point rather than a backcountry swimming hole.
The site is a 24-acre developed day-use area on the South Carolina shoreline of Hartwell Lake, a Savannah River reservoir, described by the Corps of Engineers as having pine vegetation and gentle to moderate slopes around its picnic and beach areas.
Swimming at Broyles Recreation Area
Swimming happens at an official designated swim area/beach on the reservoir, within the same developed footprint as a 3-lane boat ramp, courtesy dock, and fishing pier. This is a supervised, family-oriented lake beach rather than a secluded natural hole, suited to picnicking families and casual lake swimmers who want restrooms, a playground, and parking nearby.
How to get to this swimming hole
Located at 900 Smyzer Road, Townville, SC 29689, on the South Carolina shore of Hartwell Lake.
Parking: On-site paved parking including expanded trailer parking (added in a 2018 upgrade) for roughly 30 boat trailers plus standard vehicle spaces; a $7 per-vehicle user fee applies.
The walk in
No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. This is a drive-up USACE day-use site: the designated swim beach is part of the same small, paved developed footprint as the parking lot, boat ramp, and picnic shelter. No formal trail or hike is required; exact walk distance from a parking space to the beach was not stated in any source found, but the whole site is only 24 acres.
Plan your visit
Bringing kids
OK with supervision
Designated swim beach with a playground and (per search-indexed source) free loaner life jackets makes it welcoming for kids, but the beach sits within the same small developed footprint as a 3-lane boat ramp and courtesy dock, so boat trailer traffic and launching activity is close by. No lifeguard is mentioned anywhere in official or third-party sources, so supervise children closely.
Parking
Paid, $7 per vehicle
Paved on-site lot; a 2018 expansion added roughly 30 boat-trailer spaces plus 8 standard single-car spaces.
Restrooms
Yes
One on-site comfort station (per Recreation.gov and CamperWatch listings); type not specified as vault vs. flush.
Water clarity
Mostly clear
General Lake Hartwell water-quality sources rate it favorably: lakequality.org ranks Lake Hartwell as the clearest lake in Georgia with a Secchi depth of 13.5 ft, and a Georgia Outdoor News (GON) fishing report listed lake clarity as 'Clear' in a recent conditions update. No source specific to the Broyles swim beach itself was found, and one lower-quality aggregator page (via search snippet, source unclear/unverified) characterized the lake's water informally as 'dark, murky, and unpleasant for swimming' in general, clarity likely varies by cove, rainfall, and season, so 'mostly_clear' reflects the stronger official/ranking sources rather than a site-specific reading.
Hours
Day-use area open year-round, day-use only (no overnight camping); USACE's Hartwell Lake day-use-area page (found via search) lists general day-use hours of 6 a.m.-10 p.m.
On the water
Broyles has its own 3-lane boat ramp and courtesy dock right next to the swim beach, and Lake Hartwell is a large multi-use reservoir where boating, fishing, and swimming are all listed as standard activities (per CamperWatch and Wikipedia). No craft-specific restriction (e.g., electric-only, no-wake zone) specific to this site was found in official sources, though normal lake-wide boating/no-wake rules near swim areas would be expected to apply.
Rentals nearby
Single-seat and tandem kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards; delivers gear to your location around the lake rather than operating from a single storefront.
Prices: Day trip: solo kayak $65, tandem/SUP/canoe $75; overnight (2 day/1 night): solo $120, tandem/SUP/canoe $140; multi-day rates also listed up to a 4-day/3-night 'halfweek' package ($200 solo / $240 tandem).
Based at 84 Capri Dr, Hartwell, GA, roughly 12-15 miles (straight-line) from Broyles Recreation Area, on the Georgia side of the lake near the dam. Free delivery is advertised only within 5 miles of downtown Hartwell, GA, and the site notes 'daytrips might not be available for all locations,' so call ahead to confirm delivery to Townville/Broyles. · Day-trip rental window roughly 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; booking via FareHarbor online or by phone/text.
Kayaks (Azul Expedition 100 single sit-inside, 275 lb capacity; Azul Sun 12 tandem sit-on-top, 550 lb capacity), pontoon boat rentals, hydrobikes, paddleboards, and a 'Splash Island' inflatable water park (Wibit) with tickets; kayak rentals include paddle, whistle, and PFD.
320 Big Water Road, Starr, SC 29684, roughly 13-15 miles (straight-line) from Broyles Recreation Area, elsewhere on the Lake Hartwell shoreline.
What regulars say
Swimmers and locals describe Lake Hartwell (not Broyles specifically) as a popular informal swimming and hangout lake for the Clemson/Greenville area: regulars mention rowing-club docks used for laying out and swimming and a weekly open-water swim meetup; other visitors actively look for quieter, less populated spots on Hartwell because the popular beaches get crowded; and there is steady demand for accessible shoreline hangout spots. Takeaway per these visitor reports: official and popular beach areas on Hartwell (a category Broyles' designated swim beach falls into) tend to draw weekend crowds, so arriving early or visiting on weekdays is likely to mean a quieter visit.
Broyles Recreation Area: FAQ
Does Broyles Recreation Area charge a fee?
$7 user fee per vehicle. Day-use only (no overnight camping). Picnic shelter reservations available April 1 through September 30, up to 365 days in advance, with a $10 change fee outside 14 days of arrival and forfeiture of the fee within 14 days.
Is Broyles Recreation Area kid friendly?
Designated swim beach with a playground and (per search-indexed source) free loaner life jackets makes it welcoming for kids, but the beach sits within the same small developed footprint as a 3-lane boat ramp and courtesy dock, so boat trailer traffic and launching activity is close by. No lifeguard is mentioned anywhere in official or third-party sources, so supervise children closely.
Do I need to hike to reach Broyles Recreation Area?
No significant hike is required. The swimming area is close to parking and access.
Where do I park for Broyles Recreation Area?
Paved on-site lot; a 2018 expansion added roughly 30 boat-trailer spaces plus 8 standard single-car spaces.
Can I bring a kayak or paddleboard to Broyles Recreation Area?
Broyles has its own 3-lane boat ramp and courtesy dock right next to the swim beach, and Lake Hartwell is a large multi-use reservoir where boating, fishing, and swimming are all listed as standard activities (per CamperWatch and Wikipedia). No craft-specific restriction (e.g., electric-only, no-wake zone) specific to this site was found in official sources, though normal lake-wide boating/no-wake rules near swim areas would be expected to apply.
When is the best time to visit Broyles Recreation Area?
Open year-round; spring and summer are the peak season, when the area is described as a favorite location for large fishing tournaments.
What are the rules at Broyles Recreation Area?
Day-use only, no overnight camping. Pets must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet. No amplified sound systems.
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