CountiesElbert County
South CarolinaReservoirElbert County
Lake Russell
Lake Russell covers about 26,650 acres in South Carolina. The lake is in Elbert County. Management is in the hands of USACE Savannah District. The gauge last read 474.25 ft.
Water level today: 474.25 ft · see the full record
Coordinates34.0667, -82.7014
Surface area26,650 acres
Managed byUSACE Savannah District
Swimming beaches on Lake Russell
No named swimming beach is mapped yet for this lake. Access is through agency day-use areas and boat ramps listed below. We add beach pages only when we can confirm a name, coordinates and an operating agency.
Lake Russell on the map
Lake center, swimming spots and access points.
Weather and water temperature
Air temperature and wind from Open-Meteo. Water temperature only when the lake has a public sensor.
Weather data by Open-Meteo · water temperature from USGS
Water level today
The level comes from gauge 02188100, RUSSELL LAKE ABOVE CALHOUN FALLS, SC, and carries the time it was taken. Over the record shown on the level page the gauge has moved between 471.89 ft and 475.63 ft (low on 2025-11-22, high on 2026-03-16). The last value stored here, 474.25 ft, is from 2026-09-09. Check the reading the morning you go if your plan depends on a specific ramp.
474.25 ft +0.04 ft in 7 days
Lake Russell: access and conditions
Public access at Lake Russell covers 8 public recreation areas and 1 boat ramp. Launch points include Elbert Ramp.. Recreation areas nearby include Heardmont, Pearl Mill and Dry Fork Creek. Parking is the usual limit on busy summer weekends.
The closest lakes in this guide are Lake Hartwell (South Carolina, 29 mi), J. Strom Thurmond Lake (Georgia, 40 mi) and Lake Greenwood (South Carolina, 43 mi). In all, 15 lakes in South Carolina are covered here.
Swimming season in South Carolina runs through the warm months, and day-use areas set their own opening dates. The same station reports water temperature, last read at 82.9 °F. Freshwater advisories are issued locally, so check the state health department before you swim.
The level comes from gauge 02188100, RUSSELL LAKE ABOVE CALHOUN FALLS, SC, and carries the time it was taken. Over the record shown on the level page the gauge has moved between 471.89 ft and 475.63 ft (low on 2025-11-22, high on 2026-03-16). The last value stored here, 474.25 ft, is from 2026-09-09. Check the reading the morning you go if your plan depends on a specific ramp.
Recreation areas on Lake Russell
8 public recreation areas mapped around the lake by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Facilities vary by area; check the managing office for opening dates and fees.
Heardmont Pearl Mill Dry Fork Creek Middleton Shuck Pen Eddy Abbeville Blue Hole Calhoun Falls State Park
Source: USACE Recreation Areas
Boat ramps and access points
Public launch points recorded around the lake. Low water can close shallow ramps, so check the level before hauling a trailer.
| Name | Operated by | Distance | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elbert Ramp | State Agency (Other Than Military) | 2.3 mi | source |
Ramp data: USACE Recreation Areas
Questions about Lake Russell
Is there a beach at Lake Russell?
No named swimming beach appears in the federal and state datasets this guide reads. Check the operating agency for day-use areas on the ground.
How big is Lake Russell?
About 26,650 acres.
What is the water temperature at Lake Russell?
The sensor last read 82.9 °F. The page refreshes it from the gauge when you load it.
What other lakes are near Lake Russell?
The closest in this guide is Lake Hartwell, about 29 miles away in South Carolina.
Lakes near Lake Russell
Other lakes in this guide, ordered by distance.
Lake Hartwell
Lake Hartwell is a reservoir of some 56,000 acres on the Savannah River, in South Carolina. It is managed by USACE Savannah…
Reservoir
J. Strom Thurmond Lake
J. Strom Thurmond Lake covers about 71,100 acres of the Savannah River in Georgia. The lake is in Lincoln County. It is managed…
Reservoir
Lake Greenwood
Lake Greenwood is a reservoir of some 11,400 acres on the Saluda River, in South Carolina. You will find it in Laurens County.…
Reservoir
Lake Keowee
Lake Keowee is a 18,500-acre reservoir on the Keowee River in South Carolina. The lake is in Oconee County. Management is in the…
Reservoir1 beach
Lake Oconee
Lake Oconee is a 19,071-acre reservoir on the Oconee River in Georgia. It lies in Putnam County. Georgia Power (FERC-licensed)…
Reservoir
Lake Jocassee
Lake Jocassee is a reservoir of some 7,500 acres on the Keowee River, in South Carolina. It lies in Oconee County. It is managed…
Reservoir
Explore around South Carolina
All lakes in South Carolina Lakes near Anderson Lakes near Clemson
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from one of these public sources.