US lakes & pondsUS lakes & pondsGainesville · Cumming · Buford · Flowery Branch · Oakwood, Georgia — Hall County.
Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 34974901).
The red circle marks Lake Sidney Lanier.
Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Georgia: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).
Official Georgia DNR pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.
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.
Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.
Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 34974901), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: Georgia DNR WRD water access points and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Dashed trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.
OpenStreetMap shows about 20.5 mi of public hiking and walking trail within about 100 m (330 ft) of the Lake Sidney Lanier shoreline, mostly along the east, south and west shores. About 7.1 mi of it is on islands, which you can reach only by boat.
No trailhead is mapped for these trails. The closest public access site is Mary Alice Park, right on a shoreline trail (Georgia DNR water access data).
The dashed brown line on the lake map shows these trails. We include paths, footways and marked trails that OpenStreetMap doesn't mark as private, and leave out roads, sidewalks and snowmobile corridors. Mapped trails can still cross private land or close for the season, and not every trail is mapped, so follow posted signs.
Trails: © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License (ODbL). Map data as of Oct 9, 2026. Trail lengths count only the parts within about 100 m of the USGS NHD lake outline.
We found 20 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Lake Sidney Lanier, 16 of them within 5 miles. 15 are right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.
Electric hookups · RVs welcome · Dogs allowed
Tent sites · Toilets · Drinking water · Dogs allowed
Electric hookups · RVs welcome · Tent sites · Dogs allowed
Electric hookups · RVs welcome · Tent sites · Dogs allowed
Electric hookups · RVs welcome · Tent sites · Dogs allowed
Electric hookups · RVs welcome · Tent sites · Dogs allowed
All campgrounds & RV parks in Georgia
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.
Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (34.2931, -83.9382). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Lake Sidney Lanier. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.
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.
72 public access sites listed, 70 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.
| Site | Town | Owner | Type | Parking | Fee | Uses | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aqualand Marina | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.2029, -83.9704 |
| Aquamarina Lazy Days | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.1674, -83.9990 |
| Bald Ridge Creek | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.2088, -84.0847 |
| Bald Ridge Marina | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.2089, -84.0993 |
| Balus Creek Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.2527, -83.9166 |
| Bethel Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.2282, -83.9913 |
| Big Creek | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.1662, -83.9933 |
| Boat ramp | — | — | Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 34.3625, -83.9862 |
| Boat ramp | — | — | Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 34.3071, -83.9310 |
| Boat ramp | — | — | Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 34.3344, -83.9631 |
| Boat ramp | — | — | Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 34.3948, -83.9799 |
| Boat ramp | — | — | Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 34.2011, -83.9640 |
| Boat ramp | — | — | Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 34.2000, -83.9568 |
| Boat ramp | — | — | Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 34.2037, -83.9685 |
| Boat ramp | — | — | Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 34.2183, -83.9500 |
| Boat ramp | — | — | Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 34.2201, -83.9478 |
| Boat ramp | — | — | Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 34.3160, -83.8727 |
| Boat ramp | Cumming | — | Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 34.1975, -84.0986 |
| Boat ramp | — | — | Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 34.1509, -84.0581 |
| Boat ramp | — | — | Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 34.1573, -84.0677 |
| Boat ramp | — | — | Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 34.2077, -84.1032 |
| Boat ramp | — | — | Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 34.2445, -83.9636 |
| Bolding Mill Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.3385, -83.9542 |
| Burton Mill | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.1679, -83.9764 |
| Charleston Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.2432, -84.0461 |
| Clarks Bridge Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.3519, -83.7937 |
| Don Carter SP #1 | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.3903, -83.7394 |
| Don Carter SP #2 | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.3831, -83.7379 |
| Duckett Mill Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.3055, -83.9325 |
| Gainesville Marina | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 34.3165, -83.8757 |
| Habersham Marina | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.1922, -84.1033 |
| Hideaway Bay Marina | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.1833, -83.9388 |
| Holiday Marina On Lake Lanier | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.1723, -84.0031 |
| Holly Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.3344, -83.8533 |
| Keith's Bridge | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.2824, -83.9440 |
| Lanier Harbor | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 34.1521, -84.0254 |
| Lanier Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.1518, -84.0597 |
| Lanier Point Pk | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.2971, -83.8703 |
| Laurel Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.3551, -83.8139 |
| Little Hall Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.3105, -83.9423 |
| Little Ridge Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.1926, -84.0900 |
| Little River Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.3589, -83.8289 |
| Long Hollow Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.2818, -83.9733 |
| Lula Bridge WMA South | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | — | Boating | 34.4150, -83.7078 |
| Mary Alice Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.2010, -84.0972 |
| Mountain View Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.2549, -83.9460 |
| Nix Bridge Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.3622, -83.9845 |
| Old Federal | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.2227, -83.9504 |
| Old Federal Day Use | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.2276, -83.9363 |
| Port Royale Marina | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.2508, -83.9582 |
| River Forks | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.2879, -83.9059 |
| Robinson Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.3032, -83.8970 |
| Sardis Creek Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.3358, -83.8865 |
| Sawnee Campground | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.1771, -84.0747 |
| Shady Grove Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.2029, -84.0363 |
| Shoal Creek Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.1591, -84.0078 |
| Simpson Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.3198, -83.8905 |
| Six Mile Creek Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.2465, -84.0402 |
| Sunrise Cove Marina | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.2375, -83.9362 |
| Thompson Bridge Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.3521, -83.8464 |
| Thompson Creek Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.3518, -84.0202 |
| Tidwell Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.1949, -84.0643 |
| Toto Creek Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.3928, -83.9842 |
| Two Mile Creek Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.2216, -84.0009 |
| Van Pugh North | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.1864, -83.9800 |
| Van Pugh South | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.1842, -83.9872 |
| Vanns Tavern | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.2345, -83.9809 |
| Wahoo Creek Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.3886, -83.8592 |
| War Hill Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.3311, -83.9617 |
| Young Deer Park | Gainesville | — | Boat ramp · Yes ramp | — | Fee | Boating | 34.2215, -84.0578 |
| Flowery Branch Bay Park | Gainesville | — | Carry-in (hand launch) | — | No fee | Boating | 34.1806, -83.9339 |
| Harbor Landing Marina | Gainesville | — | Carry-in (hand launch) | — | — | Boating | 34.1798, -84.0295 |
Georgia DNR WRD water access points and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)
Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.
Reported on or near Lake Sidney Lanier
USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database
USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.
Lake Sidney Lanier covers about 38,293 acres in Gainesville, Cumming, Buford and Flowery Branch, Georgia (Hall County).
Yes. 70 public trailer launches are listed: Bald Ridge Creek, Balus Creek Park and Bethel Park. Check posted fees and parking rules.
Yes. We list 20 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 16 of them within 5 miles.
Lake Sidney Lanier touches Gainesville, Cumming, Buford, Flowery Branch and Oakwood in Hall County, Forsyth County, Dawson County and Gwinnett County, Georgia.
Know Lake Sidney Lanier? 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).
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