What makes Bear Creek Marina on Jackson Lake unique is the combination of a sheltered creek-arm setting, waterfront RV camping, dry boat storage, kayak rentals, and a public boat launch—all on one of Georgia’s oldest reservoirs, just an hour southeast of Atlanta. Founded in 1973 as Factory Shoals Marina, Bear Creek has grown into a year-round destination for boaters, campers, anglers, and families looking for a relaxed day on the water near Covington and Mansfield, GA. Here is an insider look at what sets it apart.
A Sheltered Creek-Arm Setting on Jackson Lake
Bear Creek Marina sits on a quiet creek arm of Jackson Lake, tucked back from the main open water. That sheltered position keeps the water calmer here, which makes the marina a comfortable base for paddling, fishing, and easygoing days on the lake.
The setting is the foundation of the whole experience. Wooded shorelines and protected coves give the area a settled, natural feel, and the calmer water is a real plus for families and anyone who would rather skip the chop of the open lake.
A Full-Service Marina, Not Just a Boat Ramp
Bear Creek is a complete lake stop rather than a single dock. It brings dining, water access, overnight stays, and storage together in one waterfront location, so a visit can be as simple as lunch by the water or as full as a weekend on the lake.
- Lakeside Restaurant & Bar (temporarily closed): fresh catch, burgers, cocktails, and local brews right on the water, with live music on the schedule. (Temporarily closed for tornado repairs — call (770) 787-9621 to confirm current hours.)
- Kayak Rentals: head out and explore Jackson Lake’s coves and shoreline at your own pace.
- Public Boat Launch: a ramp for putting your own boat in the water.
- Waterfront Campground: RV and camper sites with 30- and 50-amp hookups, water, sewer, and electric, for short or long stays.
- Dry Boat Storage: covered and uncovered storage that keeps boats of all sizes out of the water between trips, short or long term.
- Live Music & Events: regular live entertainment and a waterfront venue for private gatherings.
Having everything in one place matters most when you leave a boat here between outings or pull together a weekend for a group. Instead of stitching together separate stops for food, launching, and lodging, you get them all at a single marina.
Calm Water for Paddling and Fishing
The sheltered creek arm is ideal for kayaking. Calm, protected water lets you glide into the quieter coves and along the wooded banks, and the early morning hours before the lake gets busy are some of the best times to be out.
The same calm coves make for good fishing. Anglers find largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, and sunfish around Bear Creek, and you can fish from a rented kayak or launch your own boat at the public ramp.
In short, Bear Creek Marina pairs a calm, scenic creek-arm setting with a full lineup of lake-day essentials in one spot just southeast of Atlanta. Plan your trip on our visit page or call (770) 787-9621 to ask about kayak rentals, camping, and boat storage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bear Creek Marina located?
Bear Creek Marina sits on Jackson Lake at 60 Bear Creek Marina Road, Mansfield, GA 30055, in Jasper County, Central Georgia. It is roughly one hour southeast of Atlanta and about 20 minutes south of Covington, which makes it an easy day trip or weekend escape from the metro area.
What can you do at Bear Creek Marina?
Visitors can dine at the lakeside restaurant and bar when it reopens (temporarily closed for tornado repairs), launch a boat at the public ramp, rent a kayak to explore the coves, camp at the waterfront RV and camper sites, store a boat in dry storage, and enjoy live music and private events. The sheltered creek arm is especially popular for calm-water paddling and fishing.
Does Bear Creek Marina rent boats?
Bear Creek offers kayak rentals for exploring Jackson Lake’s coves and shoreline. It does not rent powerboats, pontoons, or jet skis. Boaters with their own vessels can use the public boat launch and dry boat storage.
What kind of camping is available at Bear Creek Marina?
Bear Creek’s campground offers waterfront RV and camper sites with 30- and 50-amp hookups, water, sewer, and electricity, for both short and long stays. It is set up for RV and camper hookups rather than tent or primitive camping, so guests enjoy lake views with the convenience of full hookups.
What kind of fishing is there at Bear Creek on Jackson Lake?
The sheltered creek arms around Bear Creek are known for largemouth bass, crappie, catfish, and sunfish, and calm early mornings are often the best time to fish. Anglers can launch from the public boat ramp or paddle a rented kayak into the quieter coves.
What Is Near Bear Creek Marina?
Bear Creek makes a practical home base for the wider Jackson Lake area. A few places worth knowing about, all within a short drive:
- Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center (Mansfield) — a Georgia DNR site with hiking trails, public fishing lakes, and a visitors’ center.
- Dauset Trails Nature Center (near Jackson) — hiking and biking trails plus rescued native animals.
- Indian Springs State Park (near Jackson and Flovilla, Butts County) — a historic state park known for its mineral springs.
- High Falls State Park (near Jackson) — a waterfall park with hiking, fishing, and picnicking.
Hours, fees, and seasonal access vary at each of these, so check with the park or center directly before you plan around them.
Planning Your Visit to Bear Creek Marina
A little planning makes for a smoother lake day:
- Reserve ahead in peak season. Call (770) 787-9621 about kayak rentals or a campsite rather than counting on availability when you arrive.
- Check the weather. Conditions on the lake can change quickly, so look at the forecast before heading out.
- Pack the essentials. Sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, water, and bug spray in the warmer months, plus your own snacks and drinks if you plan a long day on the water.
- Consider the shoulder seasons. Late spring and early fall tend to be quieter on the lake than midsummer.
- Leave no trace. Pack out what you bring in and help keep Jackson Lake clean.
A Half-Century of History on One of Georgia’s Oldest Reservoirs
Part of what makes Bear Creek Marina on Jackson Lake unique is its deep roots: it opened back in 1973 as Factory Shoals Marina, on a Georgia Power reservoir that is itself one of the oldest lakes in the state. That kind of longevity is rare for a working marina, and it means generations of Central Georgia families have launched boats, eaten lakeside, and tied up here over the decades. Today, operating as Bear Creek Marina and Restaurant at 60 Bear Creek Marina Road in Mansfield, it carries that heritage into a modern, full-service destination rather than a brand-new development. You feel the difference in the settled, mature shoreline and the easygoing, been-here-forever atmosphere.
Because Lake Jackson was formed where the Alcovy, Yellow, and South rivers meet in the Georgia Piedmont, its creek arms and coves have had decades to develop the wooded banks and quiet fishing pockets that paddlers and anglers love. You can explore that scenery for yourself with a kayak rental, put your own boat in at the public boat launch, or simply settle in at the campground and take in a marina that has been welcoming visitors since 1973.
Everything for a Lake Day in One Stop, Just Southeast of Atlanta
Another thing that makes Bear Creek Marina on Jackson Lake unique is how much you can do without ever leaving the property. About an hour southeast of Atlanta via I-20 and GA-11 toward Mansfield, it pulls dining, paddling, boat access, overnight stays, storage, and live music together in one waterfront spot, so a single visit can cover an entire weekend instead of just an afternoon. For families and groups juggling different interests, that all-in-one setup removes a lot of the planning and driving that other lake outings require.
Here is how a typical visit can come together in one place:
- Eat and unwind: grab a meal or a drink at the waterfront restaurant and bar, often with live music on the schedule.
- Get on the water: launch your own boat at the public ramp or reserve a kayak to explore the sheltered coves.
- Stay the weekend: book a waterfront site at the RV and camper hookups with water, sewer, and electric, for a short visit or a long one.
- Leave the boat behind: keep your vessel close to the water with on-site dry boat storage between trips.
