Big Oaks
USACEU.S. Army Corps of Engineers — HARTWELL · Georgia · Hartwell Lake
| Agency | USACEU.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
|---|---|
| Area | Hartwell Lake |
| Location | HARTWELL · Georgia · Hartwell Lake · 34.34028, -82.83278 · Map |
| Sites | 1 public sites counted from the federal listing — 1 group shelter electric |
| Getting a site | Reservable — the federal listing marks this campground as taking reservations. Some sites or seasons may still be first-come; the listing’s own words are below. |
| Hookups | Electric at 0 of 1 sites Water hookups at 0 of 1 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 1 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 1 sites Counted site by site from affirmative reports in the federal record. A site with no report is not counted either way. |
| Max RV length | Not reported in the federal data |
| Months open | Not in federal data — the federal listing does not publish a season for this campground. Check the official description below or Recreation.gov. |
| Fees | Not reported — the federal listing carries no fee description for this campground. |
| Check-in / out | In 6:00 AM · Out 10:00 PM (most common in the listing) |
| Accessibility | N |
| Phone | 888-893-0678 HARTWELL PROJECT OFFICE |
Check availability & book on Recreation.gov →
This site takes no reservations and shows no live availability. Source: Recreation.gov (RIDB export pulled November 5, 2026); this listing was last updated in the federal record on 2026-02-25.
From the official listing
Overview Big Oaks Recreation Area is a 12 acre gently sloping site with good grass cover and scattered pine and hardwood trees throughout.. . . The area experiences high levels of intense public use during peak recreation season and serves to host numerous large special events annually, e.g. Hartwell Dam Run, Pre-Fourth Fireworks, etc. The site presently offers day use and boat launching facilities to include a large picnic shelter (with water and electric service), 26 picnic sites, a two lane boat ramp, 1 courtesy dock, 1 comfort station, 1 playground, and associated paved roads and parking areas throughout. The area is also the access point to the paved walking trail located atop the Georgia earthen embankment of Hartwell Dam. Recreation Boating and water sports top the list of popular activities. A two-lane boat ramp with a courtesy dock is provided for easy lake access. Facilities The site presently offers day use and boat launching facilities to include a large picnic shelter (with water and electric service), 26 picnic sites, a two lane boat ramp, 1 courtesy dock, 1 comfort station, 1 playground, and associated paved roads and parking areas throughout. Natural Features Hartwell Lake is a man-made lake bordering Georgia and South Carolina on the Savannah, Tugaloo and Seneca Rivers. The dam and lake area boasts 8 campgrounds and 11 day-use facilities that are operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
The Hartwell Project was originally authorized for hydropower, flood control, and navigation. Later, recreation, water quality, water supply, and fish and wildlife management were added.
Surrounding vegetation allows for plenty of shade, and the 962 miles of shoreline provide numerous swimming beaches, picnic areas and boat ramps. Nearby Attractions A 2.75 mile (rountrip) paved, walking, and bicycling path is located at the entrance to Big Oaks. Charges & Cancellations A $10 service fee will apply if you change or cancel your reservation more than 14 days in advance of the arrival. If you cancel a resrvation within 14 days of your scheduled arrival date, you will forfeit the reservation fee.
Directions, from the listing
From Hartwell, GA, take Highway 29 North towards Anderson, SC for about 5 miles. Big Oaks is located on the left next to the Hartwell Visitor Center and Manager's Office. 5823 DAM ROAD HARTWELL, GA 30643
Nearest federal campgrounds
1 mi straight-line · HARTWELL GeorgiaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersElrod Ferry
2 mi straight-line · HARTWELL GeorgiaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersSpringfield
7 mi straight-line · HARTWELL GeorgiaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersBroyles
12 mi straight-line · HARTWELL GeorgiaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersOconee Point
18 mi straight-line · HARTWELL Georgia
Trip Card — Big Oaks
HARTWELL · Georgia · Hartwell Lake
| Agency | USACE · U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
|---|---|
| Location | HARTWELL · Georgia · Hartwell Lake |
| Fees | Not reported in the federal data |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | None reported |
| Max RV | Not reported |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 1 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232527 · Source: Recreation.gov, pulled November 5, 2026. Facility details come from federal recreation data and may be out of date — this site takes no reservations and shows no live availability; confirm details and book through Recreation.gov or the managing agency.