Reviews: Pickwick Landing State Park Marina

Reviews Summary

The reviews for the Pickwick Lake State Park Marina highlight a mix of positive experiences and some areas for improvement.

**Positive Aspects:**
- **Affordable Fuel and Docking:** Many reviewers noted the marina offers cheaper fuel prices compared to nearby marinas, and the dockage fees are reasonable.
- **Friendly and Helpful Staff:** The staff received high praise for their friendliness and willingness to assist guests, including offering rides to nearby restaurants and helping with docking.
- **Good Facilities:** The marina features well-marked channels, secure docks, and amenities like laundry and pump-out services. The surrounding state park is described as beautiful, with walking trails, a dog park, and a lodge with a restaurant that offers great views.
- **Convenient Location:** The marina is conveniently located near the Pickwick Lock and Dam, making it a good stop for boaters. Reviewers appreciated the easy access to the lodge and the option for a ride to dinner.

**Areas for Improvement:**
- **Restroom and Shower Facilities:** Several reviews pointed out issues with the cleanliness and maintenance of the restrooms and showers, particularly the women's facilities, which were described as dirty and lacking hot water.
- **Distance to Amenities:** While the lodge and restaurant are nearby, some guests mentioned that it requires a bit of a walk, which may not be ideal after a long day of boating.
- **No Reservations:** The marina operates on a first-come, first-served basis, which may be inconvenient for some visitors.

Overall, while the marina offers a pleasant experience with friendly staff and beautiful surroundings, improvements in restroom cleanliness and facility maintenance are needed to enhance guest satisfaction.

Reviewed by: Stradtner , Lime Time, on Oct 15, 2025
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Cheap fuel, very friendly staff. We came out of the dam thinking we were going to stop around the corner. We decided to look at fuel prices and the state park was over $1.00 per gallon less than 2 other close by marina's. We pulled in and was greeted by what we assumed was the manger, as he was the only staff on a Monday in October. He was so helpful, offered to call us a ride to the restaurant, offered bath and laundry facilities ,and more. Well worth the stop.

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Reviewed by: Anne Hartley , Nautical Gypsy, on Nov 25, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 36'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 4

Arrived after office closed, directions to slip clear and easy to follow. The dock was in very good shape. WiFi worked well. Pretty location. I didn't use the facility restroom.

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Reviewed by: JOHN HIGHSMITH , CAT O' MINE, on Oct 12, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 26'
Draft: 2.5'

Rating: 4

Nice free state park with a great Lodge. Bath house is a long walk from transient slips, no hot water in women's shower. Lodge restaurant has great views and large servings for the price.

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Reviewed by: Michael-Anne Ashford , Escape Plan, on Oct 5, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 5

Fantastic stop! Well marked channel. Nice secure/gated docks, ethanol free and diesel at fuel dock, free Pumpout when working, and laundry. Amazing staff! Great walking and hiking trails, disc golf, swimming areas, large community fire pit. Dog friendly with a large dog park and partial agility course on site. There is even a storybook trail to take kids on. Lodge with restaurant and great views. Apparently there is a car that will pick you up, but we walked. Another restaurant "shipwrecked" with great wings about 10-15 min walk up the road.
Highly highly recommend especially if you have been cooped up aboard for a while and want to stretch your legs. Easily got 20k steps roaming every nook and cranny they offered.

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Reviewed by: Kevin King , High Tide, on Nov 1, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.0'

Rating: 4

Wonderful stop after the lock. Helpful staff . beautiful grounds. Only wish it were warmer to have enjoyed more things outside.

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Reviewed by: Michael Smith on Oct 12, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 33'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 5

Super convenient coming out of the lock. Well marked channel to enter the marina. Very clean state park and marina. A little bit of a walk to the lodge and restaurant. (We needed a nice walk after a long day on our trawler.) A ride was offered. Good food and friendly staff.

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Reviewed by: Robert Rice , Slow Dancing, on May 14, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 5

Pickwick Lake State Park Marina
Spent one night here in May 2023, on a trip to move my boat down the rivers.

The marina is next to Pickwick Lock and Dam. The channel into the marina is well marked, with plenty of water depth for my boat's 4 foot draft. I called ahead and asked about transient space. They put me into two slips just down from the fuel dock. Even though I was taking up two slips with my power catamaran, they only charged me for one slip. Since this is a state park, there are no BoatUS or AGLCA discounts.

Once I cleared through the Pickwick Lock, I called the marina, A couple guys came down to catch dock lines and generally give me a hand getting sorted out. Water and 50Amp power at the slip. Showers are a short walk up the hill.

The nearby state park lodge has a restaurant, which will send a car over to pick you up from the marina. We called the lodge, and went over for dinner. Nothing fancy, but tasty. We both had a fried catfish/ship dinner and some ice cream. Hit the spot.

If you need groceries, stuff from Walmart the like, the marina staff recommended "The Happy Hippy" who will go run those errands for you, and deliver to the marina. Brian Riley – 731-727-5077.

Gas and Diesel and pumpout are available at the fuel dock. I took advantage of both while I was there.

If you have been cruising for a while, you might want to look into a hotel room at the lodge.

No loaner car, but the lodge will send a car over to pick you up to eat in the restaurant. No groceries on site. The marina office only has sodas and a few snacks.

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Reviewed by: Jon Blacklock on Nov 7, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 42'
Draft: 3.5'

Rating: 4

Nice stay particularly if you lock through late at Pickwick. Newer 40' finger docks. We didn't have water because they had winterized. If you need a ride or anything delivered call The Happy Hippy 731-727-5077. He's a nice guy that is eager to please

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Reviewed by: Captain Wes , Toscana, on Oct 24, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 44'
Draft: 5.0'

Rating: 4

Very friendly staff, $1.10/ft dockage (no reservations FCFS) and typically cheaper fuel than the rest of the Pickwick Lake marinas. The Inn will pick you up for dinner, or there is a courtesy dock near it for a quick meal stop.
2-3 bars of Verizon, good speeds.

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Reviewed by: David Merchberger , Slo Pace, on Oct 22, 2021
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 40'
Draft: 3.8'

Rating: 5

What a gem! Beautifully maintained state park. Simple and clean restrooms and laundry, but no showers on site. A recently remodeled park lodge and restaurant is about a 1 mile walk away with stunning views. They will send a van to the marina if requested.

Staff (Connie was on duty) is a first class guy and attentive to your needs. The marina is first-come-first-served, so no reservations. Slips, while plenty wide for a typical cruiser, are likely too narrow to fit two cruisers in. We are 14.5 ft wide and there is no way two of us would fit between a pair of finger piers.

All of that said, get off the boat and enjoy the numerous trails throughout this beautiful park.

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Reviewed by: betty on Jun 2, 2018
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 34'
Draft: 4.0'

Rating: 1

If you're looking for a place to take a shower after a day of cruising, fishing, or sailing on Pickwick Lake, have I got a place for you. You can't go wrong with the marina showers located far away from the sailboat dock at the dry storage building. There are 2 choices - men and women. In the entrance there were 2 light switches but no light.
That's ok, then you won't see the dirty floor and spider webs and yes there is an electrical outlet. If you choose the womens, expect the floor to be dirty, the wastecan to be filthy, more spider webs, and dirty showers. One of the showers has the shower head laying in the dirty soap dish and the other which has wheelchair access has a broken rusty seat and handrail that is compromised. We stayed several weeks and got to shower with a huge dead spider and dirty floors. In the mens look for the red washcloth and bar soap left in the filthy soap dish. Perhaps you could use that old washcloth and do a little scrubbing yourself. Need to dry your hair? As stated, go to the entrance hall, use that plug in the dark space with the spiders and oh, there is no mirror.

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