Lake Marion, South Carolina, USA

The largest lake in South Carolina at 172 square miles, Lake Marion straddles five counties: Berkeley, Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg, and Sumter. It is located in the Santee Cooper Country Tourism Region. Created in 1942 in tandem with its sister reservoir, Lake Moultrie, the two lakes cover 174,000 acres and contain more than 875 billion gallons of water. Connected by the 6.5-mile Diversion Channel, these lakes were created…
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    • All About Lake Marion, SC

    Lake Locations: USA - US South Region - South Carolina - Santee Cooper Country, SC -

    The largest lake in South Carolina at 172 square miles, Lake Marion straddles five counties: Berkeley, Calhoun, Clarendon, Orangeburg, and Sumter. It is located in the Santee Cooper Country Tourism Region. Created in 1942 in tandem with its sister reservoir, Lake Moultrie, the two lakes cover 174,000 acres and contain more than 875 billion gallons of water. Connected by the 6.5-mile Diversion Channel, these lakes were created from 1939-1942.

    Built as part of the Santee Cooper Hydroelectric & Navigation Project, Lake Marion was named after Revolutionary War hero General Francis Marion. It was designed to create electricity for the Santee Cooper area by damming up the Santee River. The resulting lake not only provides power, but it created an exceptional recreation area. Lake Marion boasts 315 miles of tree-dotted shoreline, combining with Lake Moultrie’s 135 miles to give visitors and area residents a 450 mile lakeside playground to enjoy.

    Activities on Lake Marion include boating, sailing, jet skiing, swimming, fishing, hunting, kayaking/canoeing, and wildlife viewing. The lake is home to osprey, deer, fox, squirrel, alligator, turkey, dove, hawk, eagle, and egret. Towns close to Lake Marion include Santee, Summerton, Vance, and Eutawville. Santee, located just minutes from the lake, is known as a golfers’ paradise – with three courses for its 800 residents. Lake Marion is halfway between Columbia and Charleston making it the perfect stopping-off point between the two large South Carolina cities.

    Fishing on Lake Marion is an experience some anglers dream of. The lake’s shallow swamps and blackwater ponds provide ideal homes for many fish. Year-round opportunities abound to catch challengers to some of the lake’s record-breakers: a 58-pound Channel Catfish, 2.2-pound Warmouth, 55-pound Striped Bass, 16.2-pound Largemouth Bass, 5-pound Black Crappie, and more have all been prizes of happy fishermen.

    Public access to the lake is available through several boat ramps at Santee State Park and the Santee National Wildlife Refuge. Anglers should follow the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control guidelines for the consumption of fish.

    The perfect visit for nature lovers, Santee State Park offers cabins and camping sites to provide a roof over your head after an enjoyable day at the lake. Situated on the banks of Lake Marion, the park sweeps out over 2,500 acres and boasts hiking trails, picnic facilities, fishing piers, a marina, and public access to Lake Marion’s cool, blue waters.

    The 15,000 acre Santee National Wildlife Refuge includes one of the largest wetlands in the eastern USA to support migratory birds. It is also home to the Santee Native American Mound, which is the farthest eastern evidence of the Mississippian culture. There are walking trails, a visitor center, an auto tour, fishing, hunting, and photography opportunities at the refuge.

    Vacation rentals and homes for sale are readily available on the shores of Lake Marion. Visitors can enjoy a week or a long weekend in a lake house on one of the most beautiful lakes in the deep south. So grab your beach towel and head to the lake to dip your toes and cast your fishing line into South Carolina’s largest lake.

    Things to Do at Lake Marion

    These are some activities in the Lake Marion, SC area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Sailing
    • Swimming
    • Beach
    • Canoeing
    • Kayaking
    • Jet Skiing
    • Golf
    • Camping
    • Picnicking
    • Cabin Rentals
    • Hiking
    • Hunting
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding
    • National Wildlife Refuge
    • State Park
    • Playground

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Marion?

    Lake Marion has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Bass
    • Black Bass
    • Black Crappie
    • Catfish
    • Channel Catfish
    • Crappie
    • Largemouth Bass
    • Striped Bass
    • Sunfish
    • Warmouth
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Marion

    If you’re considering a Lake Marion lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

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    More Sites to Book a Lake Marion Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Marion lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Lake Marion Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Not Known

    Water Level Control: South Carolina Public Service Authority

    Surface Area: 110,600 acres

    Shoreline Length: 315 miles

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 75 feet

    Average Depth: 13 feet

    Maximum Depth: 50 feet

    Water Volume: 1,437,800 acre-feet

    Completion Year: 1942

    Water Residence Time: 44 days

    Drainage Area: 14,300 sq. miles

    Lake Marion Map
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