Corps waives Hartwell day use fees for MLK Day

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will waive day use fees at Lake Hartwell recreation areas in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day next Monday, Jan. 15. Day Use fees at J. Strom Thurmond recreation areas will also be waived, as the Corps is instituting the fee-free day at more than 2,850 Army Corps-operated recreation areas nationwide.

The waiver covers fees for boat launch ramps and day use areas. The waiver does not apply to camping and camping-related services, or fees for specialized facilities and events. Other agencies that manage recreation areas on Army Corps of Engineers’ lands are encouraged, but not required, to offer the waiver in the areas they manage.

Visitors are encouraged to contact the lake projects office before visiting to ensure recreation areas are open. A list of Corp-managed Hartwell and J. Strom Thurmond recreational areas and their, visit this link. 

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.