West Dam
USACEU.S. Army Corps of Engineers — APPLING · Georgia · J. Strom Thurmond Lake
| Agency | USACEU.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
|---|---|
| Area | J. Strom Thurmond Lake |
| Location | APPLING · Georgia · J. Strom Thurmond Lake · 33.66083, -82.19972 · Map |
| Sites | 11 public sites counted from the federal listing — 10 group shelter nonelectric; 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 1 of 11 sites (up to 20 amp where reported) Water hookups at 1 of 11 sites Sewer hookups at 0 of 11 sites Full hookups (all three at one site) at 0 of 11 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 8:00 AM · Out 8:30 PM (most common in the listing) |
| Accessibility | N |
| Phone | 800-533-3478 |
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 2026-04-22.
From the official listing
Overview West Dam Recreation Area is one of the most popular parks on J. Strom Thurmond Lake. With 70,000 acres of surface-area and 1,000+ miles of shoreline, J. Strom Thurmond Lake provides excellent boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing, hiking and picnicking opportunities. Recreation Thurmond Lake provides some of the best fishing, hunting, and water sports in the southeastern US. Anglers fish for largemouth bass, bream, crappie, catfish and striped bass. The large lake offers endless boating, water skiing, jet skiing, canoeing and swimming opportunities.
Hikers have access to many miles of trails in the area. The 1.8-mile Lake Springs Loop and the 27-mile Bartram Trail, which meanders along the scenic shoreline and through Wildwood Park, are nearby. Shorter sections can be hiked from several intersecting trailheads. Facilities West Dam Recreation Area is a wooded day-use area with several mini picnic shelters accommodating up to six people each. One large shelter for up to 68 people is available as well. Amenities include flush toilets, drinking water, a playground, beach and hiking trail. Natural Features Hot, humid summers and mild, pleasant winters characterize this heavily wooded area on the shore of Thurmond Lake. A mixed pine and hardwood forest covers the site, providing summer shade and fall color. Elevation is 335' above sea level.
Wildlife is abundant around the lake. Visitors regularly see southern bald eagles, migratory waterfowl, wild turkeys and whitetail deer. Nearby Attractions Numerous parks and recreation areas lie around Thurmond Lake, providing additional boating, swimming, hunting and hiking opportunities. Nearby cities house museums, art galleries, zoos, restaurants and shopping areas.
The Augusta National Golf Club hosts the Masters Golf Tournament annually the first week of April.
Directions, from the listing
From Clarks Hill, SC, west on US 221, go across Thurmond Dam; area is on the Georgia side of the dam.
Nearest federal campgrounds
2 mi straight-line · APPLING GeorgiaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersPetersburg
4 mi straight-line · APPLING GeorgiaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersRidge Road
4 mi straight-line · APPLING GeorgiaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersWinfield
13 mi straight-line · APPLING GeorgiaUSACEU.S. Army Corps of EngineersAmity Recreation Area
16 mi straight-line · LINCOLNTON Georgia
Trip Card — West Dam
APPLING · Georgia · J. Strom Thurmond Lake
| Agency | USACE · U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
|---|---|
| Location | APPLING · Georgia · J. Strom Thurmond Lake |
| Fees | Not reported in the federal data |
| Getting a site | Reservable |
| Hookups | Electric at 1 |
| Max RV | Not reported |
| Months open | Not in federal data |
| Sites | 11 sites |
Book: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232739 · 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.