10 Reasons to Dock Your Pontoon Boat on Charles Mill Lake
You can click here to see the seasonal, monthly and daily docking rates at Charles Mill Marina.
Great Events and Activities
Let's get this out of the way early - there's a LOT of things to do on Charles Mill Lake every summer. The fireworks night for 4th of July is the premier event of the summer, bringing hundreds of boats out on to the lake and thousands more people in the campgrounds. The night sky lights up with all the colors of the rainbow and the booms of the fireworks echo out across the water. It's one of our favorite nights of the year!
But it's not just fireworks, Charles Mill Lake has something going on nearly every weekend of the summer. There are bands rocking on the lake, poker runs and scavenger hunts, fishing events and much, much more.
Check out the up-to-date calendar of events here:
Charles Mill Marina Events
Charles Mill Lake Park Events
Amazing Campgrounds
Charles Mill Lake Park is run by the Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District and features two campgrounds (Main Camp and Eagle Point) with a combined total of 457 campsites and three patio cabins.
Other amenities include:
- Full size basketball court located by beach
- Public Swimming Beach; beach hours are 11am-7pm Monday- Thursday and 10am-7pm Friday-Sunday. (Pets are not permitted at the swim beach area or in the water at the swimming area.)
- Swimming Pool at Eagle Point Campground
- Horse-shoe pits by our beach and in both parks
- Bocce ball court
- Shuffleboard court
- 9 hole Frisbee golf course located just beyond beach
- Donaldson Hiking Trail located off Crider Rd.
- Fishing (Must have Ohio Fishing License)
- Playgrounds / swings located in both parks and beach area
- Weekend Activities planned by park staff
Full-Service Marina
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Charles Mill Marina is a full-service marina and offers Ohio's best selection of new pontoon boats from Starcraft, SunChaser and Qwest along with high quality Yamaha and Suzuki outboard motors. We also have the best pontoon boat rentals you'll find anywhere. Our fleet is the finest you'll find anywhere and is the perfect way to get outside and relax on Charles Mill Lake.
Charles Mill Marina has over 300 docking slips available for pontoons and houseboats and our in-house parts and service department is staffed with factory-certified technicians. We provide pontoon parts and accessories, fuel, live bait, fishing tackle, ice, snacks, beer, drinks, clothing and Wi-Fi.
See for yourself why Charles Mill Marina was named a 2021 Top 100 Dealer by Boating Industry. Our over 200 years of combined experience and unequaled customer service mean that you get the best boating experience, period.
You can click here to see the seasonal, monthly and daily docking rates at Charles Mill Marina.
Peaceful Nature
One thing that makes Charles Mill Lake unique is the 10 horsepower engine restriction, meaning you won't have speed boats and jet skis flying around you and rocking your boat. Just enjoy your cruise, take your time and let nature wash over you.
Charles Mill Lake is also home to a resurgent population of eagles that glide silently over the lake, while the lake itself is abundant with a variety of fish species like hybrid striped-bass, saugeye, catfish, crappie and bluegill. It's a nature-lovers paradise.
Unique Lake Culture
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Here's a fact you probably didn't know - Charles Mill Lake is home to more houseboats than any other lake in the state of Ohio. With over 60 houseboats docked at the marina and more around the lake, Charles Mill Lake has a unique culture that you won't find anywhere else. No matter what's happening in the world, people have always bonded out on the water on Charles Mill Lake.
Charles Mill Lake is home to the world-famous Redneck Yot Club, which hosts a variety of events throughout the year that go towards the benefit of some great charities.
Swimming Areas
It's a 90 degree day, the sun is beating down, and that water is looking pretty good. On Charles Mill Lake, go ahead and take the plunge! There are three designated swim zones on Charles Mill Lake and a great way to cool off on a hot summer day.
Great Fishing
Charles Mill Lake is famous for it's population of hybrid-striped bass "a.k.a Wipers", a hard-fighting game fish that feed on shad and minnows. We've also got massive channel catfish, bullhead catfish and flathead catfish that offer up a challenge to even the most seasoned angler. Bluegill and crappie also hit throughout the year and offer a fun opportunity to get little ones into fishing.
No matter your skill or your experience, Charles Mill Lake is a great place to cast a line.
Charles Mill Marina also offers a full selection of live bait and all the gear and tackle you'll need for a day on the lake.
A Huge Lake To Explore
There are 34 miles of shoreline and 1,350 acres of water to cover on Charles Mill Lake, including hidden coves, shadowy islands and a man-made dam. It can take the entire day to see the entire lake.
There's also a lot of history on Charles Mill Lake. Can you find the submerged foundations of the houses that used to be where the lake now exists? How about try to sight the "Charles Mill Lake Monster" that's rumored to haunt the depths of the lake?
Fantastic Food Options
We can't explain it, but food just tastes better when you're on a boat. Luckily for us, there's no shortage of great options on and around Charles Mill Lake.
Dine in or pick up from some of our favorites:
The Endzone
Oak Park Tavern
Skyway East
Chuy's Taco and Margaritas
Ole Mill Lake Co
Mifflin Dairy Bar
Countryside Grocery and Pizza
Munchie's Ice Cream
Wayside Inn
The Cabin Restaurant (private events and catering only)
New Docks
Charles Mill Marina recently replaced all of the docks with brand-new docks from American Tower, including the walkways and fingers. The new docks are incredibly stable and easy to walk on. Our dockers love them and we think you will too.
You can click here to see the seasonal, monthly and daily docking rates at Charles Mill Marina.