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

Clarks Hill Lake/J. Strom Thurmond Lake – McDuffie County

Classic South
Clarks Hill Lake
Thomson, GA 30680
706-359-7970

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Clarks Hill Lake/J. Strom Thurmond Lake-Warren County

Classic South
46 S. Norwood St.
Warrenton, GA 30828
706-465-9604

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Clarks Hill Lake/J. Strom Thurmond Lake-Wilkes

Classic South
29 W. Square
Washington, GA 30673
706-678-2013

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Clover Reach Park

Atlanta Metro
151 Sweetgum Rd.
Peachtree City, GA 30269
770-631-2542

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Club at Shoal Creek

West Georgia
430 Country Club Dr.
Griffin, GA 30223
770-228-4744

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Coast Guard/East Beach

Georgia Coast
4100 First St.
St. Simons Island, GA 31522
912-554-7780

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Coastal Georgia RV Resort

Georgia Coast
287 South Port Pkwy.
Brunswick, GA 31523
912-264-3869

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Collins Hill Aquatic Center

Atlanta Metro
2000 Collins Hill Rd.
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
770-814-6054

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Collins Hill Park

Atlanta Metro
2000 Collins Hill Rd.
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
770-814-6054

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Cordele KOA

West Georgia
373 Rockhouse Road East
Cordele, GA 31015
229-273-5454

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Cotton Hill Campground – Lake Walter F. George

Plantation Trace
427 Eufaula Rd.
Fort Gaines, GA 39851
877-444-6777

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Crisp County Recreation Center

West Georgia
1205 North 5th St. Ext.
Cordele, GA 31015
229-276-2797

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Cumberland Island National Seashore

Georgia Coast

Cumberland Island, GA 31558
912-882-4336

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Dacula Park

Atlanta Metro
205 Dacula Rd.
Dacula, GA 30019
770-814-6054

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Dahlonega-Lumpkin County Visitors Center

Northwest Georgia Mountains
13 S. Park St.
Dahlonega, GA 30533
800-231-5543

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Dallas Landing Park

Atlanta Metro
5120 Allatoona Dr.
Acworth, GA 30101
770-917-1234

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Delores A Brooks Recreation Center

Historic Heartland
3326 Ocmulgee E Blvd.
Macon, GA 31217
478-751-9271

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Double Churches Park

West Georgia
2300 Double Churches Rd.
Columbus, GA 31904
706-494-7775

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Doyle Street Pool

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

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Duckett Mill Campground- Lake Lanier

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

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