The questions travelers actually Google before they arrive — and the answers you'd get from a friend who lives on Lake Martin.
Getting there & around
Logistics
How was Lake Martin created?
Alabama Power built Martin Dam on the Tallapoosa River, starting construction in 1923 and completing it in 1926 — at the time, the largest human-made lake in the world. It covers roughly 41,000 acres with more than 700 miles of shoreline, named for Alabama Power president Thomas W. Martin.
What's the closest airport to Lake Martin?
Montgomery Regional (MGM) is the nearest with regular commercial service, about 45 minutes from the lake. Birmingham-Shuttlesworth (BHM) is the next closest, roughly an hour and a half away.
Groceries, gas, urgent care
Essentials
Where's the closest grocery store to Lake Martin?
Renfroe's Market on Mill Square in Alexander City — a family-owned Alabama grocery chain with a full-service butcher counter, the main provisioning stop for the lake.
Where's the closest emergency room to Lake Martin?
Russell Medical Center's emergency room, on Highway 280 in Alexander City — the Tallapoosa County hospital, open 24 hours.
Where to eat
Food & drink
Where can I eat at Lake Martin?
Kowaliga Restaurant, a longtime family-friendly lake institution, covers casual dining near Alexander City. The Landing at Harbor Pointe, at Stillwaters Resort in Dadeville, adds a lakeside bar with over thirty boat slips for patrons arriving by water.
What's worth doing
Things to do
Was Lake Martin really the biggest lake in the world?
When Martin Dam was completed in 1926, the reservoir it created was the largest human-made lake in the world at the time. It was originally called Cherokee Bluffs for the rock formation the dam was built on, renamed in 1936 for Alabama Power president Thomas W. Martin.
On the water & on the trail
Outdoors
Where can I rent a boat at Lake Martin?
Lakeside Marina runs two locations, in Dadeville and at Bay Pines in Jackson's Gap, renting ski boats, pontoons, kayaks, and paddleboards from four hours to a full week.
Is there camping at Lake Martin?
Yes — Wind Creek State Park has the largest state-operated campground in the United States, with 626 sites, 157 of them waterfront, plus a swimming beach and boat ramp.
Seasons & weather
When to come
When's the best time to visit Lake Martin?
Late spring through Labor Day for full marina hours, both waterfront restaurants open, and Wind Creek State Park's beach and campground at capacity.