Lake Lanier Marinas
Slips, dry storage, fuel and dockside dining — the local guide to where boats actually live on Lanier.
About ten marinas, and each has its own crowd
Lake Lanier's marinas are spread across the lake — most on the busier south end near Buford and Cumming, a few quieter ones up toward Gainesville. Some are run by national operators like Safe Harbor, Suntex and TEI Marinas; others are independent and have been here since the lake was young.
For a lot of lake homeowners, the marina matters as much as the house: it's where the boat lives, where you fuel up, and often where you end up for dinner. Here's the lay of the land.
Safe Harbor Aqualand
Flowery Branch · Mid-lake
One of the largest inland marinas in the country, with wet slips, dry storage, fuel, service and boat rentals. Home to Pig Tales restaurant, so it's a destination even if you don't keep a boat here.
On-site dining: Pig Tales
Safe Harbor Hideaway Bay
Flowery Branch · Mid-lake
A quieter, calmer-water marina with wet slips and dry storage. The courtesy docks for Fish Tales make it a popular lunch stop, and the protected cove makes docking easy for newer boaters.
On-site dining: Fish Tales Lakeside Grille
Holiday on Lake Lanier
Buford · South end
The oldest and one of the largest marinas on the lake, just outside Lanier Islands. Wet slips, fuel, rentals and The Twisted Oar restaurant right on the dock.
On-site dining: The Twisted Oar
Lazy Days
Buford · South end
A full-service marina tucked into a quiet cove on the south end, a short drive north of Atlanta off I-985. Wet slips, dry storage, fuel and a service department.
Sunrise Cove
Gainesville · North end
A quiet marina on 62 acres of timberland on the north side — the pick if you want slips and storage away from the busy south-end traffic.
Gainesville Marina
Gainesville · North end
The northern-most marina on the lake and the only public marina north of Browns Bridge. Wet and dry slips, boat sales, service, and Skogie's restaurant on site.
On-site dining: Skogie's Lakefront
Port Royale Marina
Gainesville · North end
Formerly Lan Mar Marina, one of the lake's originals and one of its biggest — hundreds of wet slips, most of them covered, plus a large dry-stack operation, the lake's largest floating gas island, two private launch ramps and 24/7 gated security. It sits off Browns Bridge Road at the gateway to the north lake, in calm, deep water. Paradise Rental Boats runs the lake's biggest rental fleet here, and Park Marine handles boat sales on site. It's also a restaurant: Pelican Pete's floating tiki bar and grill is on the docks, so plenty of people come here just to eat.
On-site dining: Pelican Pete's
Bald Ridge Marina
Cumming · South end
Serving boaters since 1958, with covered and uncovered slips, fuel, a full service department and 24/7 gated security. Convenient to Cumming and the Forsyth side of the lake.
Habersham Marina
Cumming · South end
The closest marina to downtown Atlanta, focused on dry-stack storage with repair and detailing services. A practical choice for Forsyth and south-lake boaters.
Harbor Landing at Lanier Islands
Buford · South end
The houseboat marina inside Margaritaville at Lanier Islands, with the resort's restaurants, water park and amenities right there.
On-site dining: LandShark Bar & Grill
What locals know about Lake Lanier marinas
Slip waitlists are normal
Popular marinas — especially on the south end — often have waitlists for covered wet slips. If a boat is part of your lake plan, get on a list early, even before you buy the house.
Dry stack vs. wet slip
Dry stack storage keeps your boat on a rack indoors and the marina launches it when you call ahead — cheaper and easier on the boat. A wet slip means you're on the water in minutes. Many lake homeowners skip a private dock entirely and keep the boat at a marina instead.
Fuel and pump-out matter
Not every marina sells fuel, and the ones that do get busy on summer weekends. Knowing your nearest fuel dock and pump-out station is part of picking which end of the lake to live on.
Your marina shapes your lake life
Where you keep the boat decides which restaurants, coves and islands are an easy ride away. When we help buyers choose a lake home, marina access is part of the conversation from day one.
Want a home near your favorite marina?
Whether you want a private dock, a neighborhood with a shared slip, or a house five minutes from your marina, we'll help you find the right spot on the lake.