Verified September 26, 2026 against SCDNR, SC State Parks, Recreation.gov, and Santee Cooper. Ramp conditions change. Check before you tow.
There are two kinds of people at a boat ramp: the ones who back a trailer in one smooth, confident motion, and the rest of us. This page is for the rest of us too.
Here’s where to launch on South Carolina’s big lakes, what it costs, and how to be the person everyone at the ramp is happy to see.
Find any public ramp in the state
Start with the SCDNR Public Boat Ramps map. It covers public ramps from the coast to the mountains, and each listing notes things like how many lanes the ramp has and the parking. SCDNR updates it from staff site visits and welcomes corrections, so if you find a ramp that’s changed, report it. Open the SCDNR boat ramp map.
Lake Jocassee: Devils Fork State Park
Devils Fork is the only public access to Lake Jocassee, and it has four boat ramps. A few rules to know before you go:
- Boaters pay the daily park admission to launch, whether it’s your own boat, a rental, or a private tour.
- You can’t leave your boat docked for more than one hour.
- From May through December, on Fridays through Mondays and holidays, the lots by the main ramp and park store are for vehicles with trailers only. Single vehicles park in the day-use and picnic area.
- There’s no restriction on the type of boat allowed on the lake.
Summer weekends get busy, so arrive early. Pair it with our Lake Jocassee Kayak and Waterfall Tour.
Lake Hartwell: Army Corps campgrounds
The Corps campgrounds on Hartwell are some of the easiest launches on the lake, especially if you’re camping there. Coneross Park, Springfield, and Oconee Point each have one boat ramp and a courtesy dock. Crescent Group Campground has no ramp or dock. Call the Hartwell Lake office at 888-893-0678 about day-use launching and fees.
The Santee Cooper lakes
Lakes Marion and Moultrie are huge, so you’ve got options, with 21 public boat landings across the system. Santee Cooper manages the lakes, and their lake maps show ramp locations. Santee State Park on Lake Marion has boat ramps too. See our Santee State Park page.
Paddlers welcome
Kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards can use most public ramps. Launch off to the side so trailers can keep moving, and load your gear before you pull onto the ramp. Our SC Paddling Trails list has plenty of paddle-friendly put-ins.
Boater education
If you were born after July 1, 2007, you must pass an approved boater education course to operate a boat, personal watercraft, or specialty propcraft with a motor of 10 horsepower or more. Exceptions include renters with a temporary rental safety certificate and operators accompanied by a qualified adult 18 or older.
Ramp etiquette
- Get your boat ready in the staging area, not on the ramp. Straps off, plug in, gear loaded.
- Launch, then move your truck and trailer to parking right away.
- Keep the courtesy dock clear for loading and unloading only.
- Offer a hand to the first-timer. We all started somewhere.
- Pack out trash and fish scraps, and don’t release your bait bucket or move fish between lakes.
Accessible launches
Many larger ramps have courtesy docks and paved parking, which help with boarding. Check the SCDNR map listing for details, and see our Accessibility Guide for more.
Then fill the cooler at the local bait shop, and go outside and play.