I would say Lake Wateree State Park is a hidden gem, except I think the secret is out!
The park is full of energy and friendly smiles, yet the lake is still less crowded than many other parks. In other words, the park has just enough people to feel festive but not enough people to feel overly crowded.
This site may contain affiliate links. (Read full disclosure here).
Things to Do at Lake Wateree State Park
Paddleboarding, Kayaking, Boating, Jet Skiing (i.e. all things water sports)
This state park is known for the lake. It has a dock, a boat access point, and a boat refueling station.
If you are going paddleboarding or kayaking, I recommend staying along the shoreline because this lake is becoming more and more popular among boaters.
It’s just safer for paddlers to stay close to the shore and out of the way of boats. If they are going fast, they may have difficulty seeing you.
We paddled out to our “own” little beach while there.
(Btw, we use the iRocker paddle boards. If you are looking for an inflatable paddleboard that lasts, you should look into the iRockers.)
Then, we stayed at “our” beach and just relaxed, swam, and paddled around our area for a couple of hours.
We had a blast! It looked like others found their own little “beaches” to swim and play along the shoreline as well.
Swimming at the Lake Wateree State Park
Plenty of people were swimming and lounging on floats, especially around the main hub of the park.
The main hub consisted of the boat docks and access points, a playground, and the little state park shop. Along the shore, many people congregated in lounge chairs, hammocks, and picnic tables. It was such a fun and festive vibe.
Playing on the Playground
You could also hear lots of giggles and laughter coming from the nearby playground. My children also spent a little time on the playground while we pumped up our inflatable paddle boards.
The playground was also home to a cute “Little Free Library.” This “little library” was shaped like a camper!
Shopping in the Lake Wateree State Park Gift Shop and Bait Store
Something we have noticed when we visit State Park Gift shops is how unique the merchandise is. The Lake Wateree State Park Gift Shop has classic items like bait, tackle, and firewood, but they also have unique beach and water toys as well as fun water bottles, cups, and such.
My kids loved the slushy station and ice cream cooler.
They even had a dip-n-dots cooler.
If you go to minute mark 1:19 in the video below, you will see some footage of our favorite items in the store. Of course, these items may change but it will give you a good example of some of the stuff you might find.
Picnicking
Picnic tables are sprinkled all around the main hub of the park and the shoreline.
When we were there many families were taking advantage of the well-placed picnic tables. We sat at one of the tables located right beside the water. It was perfectly shaded by the surrounding trees.
We brought our lunch, but if you hadn’t;t brought anything, people could still buy food at the Highway 55 Food Truck parked outside of the store. Highway 55 is known for its burgers, hotdogs, and fries. Of course, you could also buy snacks, slushies, or ice cream inside the park store.
Hike the Trail
Most of the people seemed to be using the lake, but if you weren’t in the mood to play on the water, you could also hike. This park actually only has one trail. This easy trail is about 2.3 miles long. It meanders along the lakeshore peninsula.
Camping
I love the campsites located beside the water (There are 23 waterfront campsites). Many of them have their own boat tie-off spots.
I haven’t had the opportunity to camp here yet, but next time I do, I want to tent camp at one of these lakeshore sites. We will be able to put our paddle boards right in front of our campsite.
At each campsite you will find:
- Paved area for your RV or tent
- Water and electrical hookups
- A picnic table
Twenty-eight sites also have sewer hookups. Restrooms with hot showers are located near the sites. Fifty sites accommodate 40-foot RVs.
Ultimate Outsider
You could pick up the Ultimate Outsiders Stamp book for free inside the store.
They were sitting at the checkout counter. The Ultimate Outsiders Stamp Box was located on a wall outside of the park store building.
What is Ultimate Outsiders, you ask? South Carolina State Parks have a challenge called “The Ultimate Outsiders Challenge. If you visit all the South Carolina Parks, you get an Ultimate Outsiders T-shirt. To participate in the challenge, you simply go to any state park office and ask for the stamp book.