Corps Waives Day-Use Fees on Hartwell Lake for MLK Day

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced it will waive day use fees at its more than 2,850 Army Corps-operated recreation areas nationwide, and that includes Hartwell and J. Strom Thurmond Lakes, on January 15 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

The waiver covers fees for boat launch ramps and day-use areas but does not apply to camping and camping-related services, nor fees for specialized facilities and events.

Visitors are encouraged to contact the lake projects office before visiting to ensure recreation areas are open.

More information can be found at www.corpslakes.us or Hartwell Lake or J. Strom Thurmond Lake.

The MLK Day fee waiver began in 2023 to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King, a national leader of the 1950s-1960s Civil Rights movement who continues to inspire the pursuit of civil rights today.

Currently, MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a ‘day of service’ to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.

The Army Corps also offers other fee-free days throughout the year to mark days of celebration and commemoration, including the Army Corps’ birthday; Juneteenth National Independence Day; Veterans Day; and National Public Lands Day.