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Lake Jocassee

Salem, South Carolina — Oconee County.

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7,703Surface acres
4Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 105913767).

Location & fast facts

Where Lake Jocassee is in South Carolina

The red circle marks Lake Jocassee.

Fast facts

About Lake Jocassee

  • Counties: Oconee, Pickens
  • Nearest city: Salem (about 3.3 mi from the lake)
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 31 mi from Greenville and 128 mi from Columbia, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (South Carolina: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in South Carolina

Official SCDNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 4 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Swimming. 1 public beach or swim spot on the map (details)
  • Camping. 50 campgrounds within 15 mi, 6 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.
  • No lifeguard listed. None of our sources lists a staffed lifeguard. Swim at your own risk and watch children closely.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Lake map

Lake Jocassee shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Devils Fork Campground (campground)Rock Creek Campsite (campground)Rock Creek Campsite (campground)Toxaway Creek Campsites (campground)Devils Fork State Park Boat-In Campsite (campground)Laurel Fork Campsite (campground)Laurel forks camp site (campground)Boat ramp (Boat launch)1Boat ramp (Boat launch)2Boat ramp (Boat launch)3Boat ramp (Boat launch)4Sandstone Beach (Beach)51 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launchBeach Campground
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  2. 2Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  3. 3Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  4. 4Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  5. 5Sandstone Beach
    Beach

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 105913767), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Lake Jocassee

We found 50 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lake Jocassee, 20 of them within 5 miles. 6 are right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

14 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in South Carolina

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Lake Jocassee, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Car rental links go to our partner Discover Cars; LakeRipple may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (35.0117, -82.9105). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake Jocassee. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Lake Jocassee

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in ET (America/New_York), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    4 public access sites listed, 4 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating34.9675, -82.9531
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating34.9632, -82.9496
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating34.9538, -82.9473
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating34.9555, -82.9459

    OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Public beaches

    On OpenStreetMap: 1 beach or swimming spot on the shore of Lake Jocassee not marked private, residents-only or members-only.

    BeachTypeAccessDirections
    Sandstone BeachBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions

    Beaches: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), within about 150 m (500 ft) of the lake outline. A mapped beach is not a guarantee that swimming is allowed, supervised or safe; some town beaches need a resident sticker even when the map doesn't say so. Check posted rules and water-quality advisories before you swim.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Lake Jocassee

    How big is Lake Jocassee?

    Lake Jocassee covers about 7,703 acres in Salem, South Carolina (Oconee County).

    Is there a public boat launch on Lake Jocassee?

    Yes. 4 public trailer launches are listed: Boat ramp, Boat ramp and Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Can you swim in Lake Jocassee?

    OpenStreetMap shows 1 public beach or swimming spot on the shore. None of our sources lists a lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and follow posted rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Lake Jocassee?

    Yes. We list 50 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 20 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Lake Jocassee?

    Lake Jocassee touches Salem in Oconee County and Pickens County, South Carolina.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Lake Jocassee? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All South Carolina lakes & ponds · All waters in Salem