Lake Murray
Lake Murray Neighborhoods, Side by Side
Lake Murray's 650 miles of shoreline break into four sides, each with its own price range and personality. The south side (Lexington & Gilbert) has the most infrastructure and the shortest commute to Columbia. The north side (Chapin & Prosperity) has deeper water and larger lots. The east side (Irmo & Ballentine) is the closest-in and most convenient. The west side (Saluda & Leesville) is the most private and least expensive. Below, every named community worth knowing on each side.
Written by Lauren Lux, REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker Realty. Last updated August 2026.
Most of the communities below are governed by an HOA. Before you write an offer in a gated or amenity community, ask for the reserve study. If reserves aren't funded to at least 70%, a special assessment for a six-figure project (a clubhouse roof, a marina rebuild) is a real possibility, not a hypothetical one. More on the home buying process here.
South Side | Lexington & Gilbert
$600K-$4M+. Fastest commute to Columbia at 15-20 minutes. The most developed side of the lake, with the district's top-rated schools.
Spence Plantation
The most established gated address in Lexington. Multi-acre estate lots, a private community boat ramp, tennis courts. Architecture runs from traditional brick to Mediterranean-style. If you want privacy and space with lake access, this is the benchmark.
Kingston Harbour
Off Old Cherokee Road. A social, golf-cart-friendly community built around a lakefront amenity center with a resort-style pool, tennis, and a community marina. A mix of high-end custom homes and more approachable interior lots.
Turners Pointe
A peninsula surrounded by water on three sides, so most homes get big, open-water views. Custom-built only, gated, with a community pool and private ramp.
Pilgrim Point & Cherokee Shores
Two of the more traditional, "old Lake Murray" communities. Pilgrim Point has deep-water lots and mature trees; Cherokee Shores is laid-back, with permanent homes mixed among weekend places.
Hammock Bay
A newer, gated, boutique community with modern high-end homes maximizing cove and channel views.
Lands End & Spence's Point
Maintenance-free condo living. Lands End is wooded and quiet with sunset views; Spence's Point sits near the dam with big-water views. Both fit second-home owners and downsizers well.
The Landings & Pintail Point
Well-maintained, community-boat-ramp neighborhoods popular with professionals who need quick access to Columbia or Irmo.
For buyers who want lake access without an HOA
Power Point, Counts Ferry Road, Yachting Road, Old Chapin Road, and Pilgrim Church Road are the closest thing to a "gold coast" of unrestricted Lexington lake frontage.
North Side | Chapin & Prosperity
$600K-$3.5M+. Known locally as the "capital of Lake Murray." Deeper water, wider coves, larger lots, and Lexington-Richland 5, the #1-ranked school district in the Columbia area.
Timberlake
The only community on Lake Murray with its own golf course, home to Timberlake Country Club. An 18-hole championship course, a full-service marina, tennis and pickleball, and an Olympic-size pool. Homes run from 2,000 to over 6,000 square feet.
Forty Love
A peninsula off Old Lexington Highway. Custom homes on large wooded lots, many with private docks on open water.
Palmetto Shores
Family-friendly, with a mix of custom lakefront estates and newer construction, a community dock, and boat and kayak storage.
Lakeport
A manicured, upscale community near I-26 with both estate homes and smaller carriage homes, a five-acre green space, and a courtesy dock.
Whitewater Landing
One of Chapin's newest developments, built to preserve mature hardwoods. Deep-water dockable lots next to the Timberlake golf course.
Stewart Landing (Prosperity)
The newest high-end development on this side, built on an old family estate with a restored 1800s-style clubhouse, a private marina, and walking trails.
Plantation Pointe & Woodside Shores (Prosperity)
Large, quiet peninsula lots with big-water views; Woodside Shores is gated and focused on preserving mature hardwoods.
For unrestricted lake frontage
Amicks Ferry Road, Old Forge Road (home to the Lake Murray Sailing Club), Peninsula Drive, and Sunview Road (some of the best sunset lots in the county).
East Side | Irmo & Ballentine
$500K-$2.5M. The closest-in side of the lake: quick access to I-26, Harbison shopping, and downtown Columbia. Good fit for commuters and first-time lakefront buyers.
Yacht Cove
A gated community just off the dam, home to the largest private marina on the lake. A mix of condos, townhomes, and single-family homes with 24/7 security.
Regatta Shores & Wexford
Two of the shortest commutes on the lake. Regatta Shores has a diverse mix of custom homes; Wexford is established, wooded, with a pool and clubhouse.
Beacon Point & Lakeside at Ballentine
Beacon Point is a gated enclave with big-water views; Lakeside is newer construction popular with families, with a community pool and dock.
For privacy without an HOA
Johnson Marina Road and Salem Church Road have some of the few remaining large lakefront tracts on this side, suited to private compounds.
West Side | Saluda & Leesville
$400K-$1.8M. The most secluded, most private side of the lake, and the most affordable. Lower Saluda County taxes. Good fit for retirees, remote workers, and buyers who want acreage.
River Bend & Palmetto Pointe
The Saluda side's answer to Lexington-level luxury, with more privacy. River Bend has rolling topography and large custom homes; Palmetto Pointe is gated with consistent deep water.
Buffalo Creek & Wyses Ferry
The area for real acreage, several acres between neighbors, near Buffalo Creek Marina. Mostly outside any HOA.
Lake Murray Estates & Windwood Acres
The quintessential "old Lake Murray" feel: a mix of vintage cottages and updated homes on mature, wide lots.
For deep water and acreage
Holley Ferry Road (high-elevation, tiered "mountain lake" views), Wyses Ferry Road (5+ acre mini-farms), and Denny Highway (some of the deepest water on the lake).
Not sure which side fits how you actually live? Tell me your must-haves and I'll narrow it down. Call or text (803) 569-7595.
Not sure which side fits how you actually live?
Tell me your must-haves and I'll narrow it down.