Lake Hartwell Homes for Sale
Lake Hartwell is the big lake of the Upstate. It covers about 56,000 acres with roughly 962 miles of shoreline along the South Carolina and Georgia line, which makes it one of the largest lakes in the Southeast. On the South Carolina side it touches Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties, with lake living in and around Clemson, Seneca, Anderson, Townville and Fair Play.
Buyers come to Hartwell for room to boat, a wide range of price points, and Clemson University minutes from the water. You'll find everything from older lake cabins and wooded lots to newer custom homes with deep-water docks.
How Lake Hartwell is different from Lake Keowee
Hartwell is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, not Duke Energy. The Corps controls the shoreline, so whether a lot can have a private dock, and what you can build or clear near the water, depends on the Corps' shoreline rules for that stretch. Lake levels on Hartwell also move more than on Keowee, especially in dry years. We check both before you make an offer. For a side-by-side look, read Lake Hartwell vs. Lake Keowee.
Where people live on the lake
- Clemson and Pendleton: close to campus, game days and the Clemson marina
- Seneca: south of town toward the Oconee side of the lake
- Anderson and Townville: larger lots and some of the lake's best value
- Fair Play: quiet coves near the Georgia line, with communities like Heritage Shores, Seminole Point and Cherokee Bay
Before you buy on Hartwell
- Confirm the dock permit or eligibility with the Corps for that exact lot.
- Check the water depth at the dock at low pool, not just in summer.
- Ask whether the lot is on septic and what the soil allows.
- Read any HOA covenants for rental, home-size and outbuilding rules.
Lake Hartwell community guides
Compare 25 Lake Hartwell neighborhoods on both the South Carolina and Georgia sides:
- Chickasaw Point (Westminster, SC)
- Foxwood Hills (Westminster, SC)
- Currahee Club (Toccoa, GA)
- Stone Creek Cove (Anderson, SC)
- Lakeside Lodge Clemson (Seneca, SC)
- Harbor Gate (Anderson, SC)
- Port Bass (Fair Play, SC)
- Portman Shoals (Anderson, SC)
- Watermarke (Anderson, SC)
- Smith Mill Landing (Anderson, SC)
- The Regatta (Anderson, SC)
- Heritage Shores (Fair Play, SC)
- Stonehaven (Seneca, SC)
- Holiday Shores (Clemson, SC)
- Teakwood Plantation (Anderson, SC)
- Royal Oak Shores (Anderson, SC)
- Plantation Pointe (Anderson, SC)
- Lakeshore Village (Fair Play, SC)
- Riverlake (Fair Play, SC)
- Landing at Clemson Marina (Seneca, SC)
- Tugaloo Bay (Lavonia, GA)
- Edgewater at Six and Twenty (Anderson, SC)
- The Gates (Fair Play, SC)
- Lake Place (Lavonia, GA)
- South Pointe (Hartwell, GA)
Looking at other lakes? See our Lake Keowee neighborhood guide, Lake Jocassee real estate and luxury homes from $800K. Want to run the numbers? Try our mortgage and closing cost calculators.
Search Lake Hartwell homes
See current Lake Hartwell listings or talk with our team about what's coming to market.
Lake Hartwell FAQ
How big is Lake Hartwell? About 56,000 acres with roughly 962 miles of shoreline, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
Who controls docks on Lake Hartwell? The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the shoreline and issues dock permits.
What towns are on Lake Hartwell in South Carolina? Clemson, Seneca, Anderson, Pendleton, Townville and Fair Play all have lake neighborhoods.
Is Lake Hartwell close to Clemson University? Yes. Parts of the lake run right past campus, and many Clemson families and faculty live on or near the water.
At JW Martin Real Estate we try to live by one idea: "Be the kind of Realtor you'd want your Mother to have." Call us at (864) 722-5558 or contact our team. Already own here? Start with a free home valuation.
