16 Best Lakes In Tennessee For A Relaxing Getaway

Norris Lake

Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Grainger, and Union counties

Norris Lake was formed by the first dam TVA ever built, which was completed in 1936. The dam and lake get their name from Nebraska Senator George Norris, who wrote the legislation to create TVA. This 33,840-acre lake has 809 miles of shoreline, which includes many hiking trails. The 3.1-mile River Bluff Trail is a perfect option for wildflower lovers, and mountain bikers will love the Loyston Point trail system. The lake is known for being the cleanest and most clear lake in the state. Rent a boat for the day from one of the lake’s many marinas and resorts, and don’t forget to bring your fishing pole to catch one of its 14 species of fish.

tnstateparks.com/parks/info/norris-dam, Anderson, Campbell, Claiborne, Grainger, and Union counties in Tennessee

Douglas Lake

Jefferson, Cocke, Sevier, and Hamblen counties

Douglas Lake is situated in the foothills outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Douglas Dam forms this popular reservoir on the French Broad River. TVA began construction on the dam in 1942 and set a world record for projects of equivalent size by completing it in just 12 months and 17 days. While visiting the lake, make sure to stop by the Douglas Dam Overlook for panoramic views and an exhibit on TVA’s history in the region. The lake’s 513 miles of shoreline are ideal for birdwatchers. When the reservoir is lowered for winter flood control, it becomes a hotspot for migratory birds that enjoy the lake’s muddy edges. The lake is also a popular fishing spot, especially for largemouth bass and crappie. You can rent a pontoon for the day from Mountain Cove Marina.

tva.com/energy/our-power-system/hydroelectric/douglas, Jefferson, Cocke, Sevier, and Hamblen counties in Tennessee

Dale Hollow Lake

Celina

The US Army Corps of Engineers began dam construction on the Obey River in 1943, which formed Dale Hollow Lake. This 27,700-acre reservoir stretches through Clay, Pickett, and Overton counties in Tennessee, and Cumberland and Clinton counties in Kentucky, and offers several campgrounds and group picnic areas along its 620 miles of shoreline. It’s a popular spot for scuba divers, who enjoy exploring the sunken foundation of the historic Willow Grove Schoolhouse and Diver’s Rock at the outlet of Sulphur Creek. 

dalehollow.com, 540 Dale Hollow Dam Road, Celina, TN 38551

Cordell Hull Lake

Carthage

Cordell Hull Lake is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project, which dammed the Cumberland River. It was named for a Tennessee statesman born in the Cumberland Mountain foothills who received a Nobel Prize in 1945. The lake spans three counties—Smith, Jackson, and Clay—and has three day-use areas with swimming beaches, picnic shelters, playgrounds, and more, as well as campgrounds and trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. About 40 miles east of Nashville, the lake covers around 12,000 acres and is great for canoes, kayaks, sailboats, fishing boats, stand-up paddleboards, and other watercraft.

recreation.gov/camping/gateways/385, 71 Corps Lane, Carthage, TN 37030

Reelfoot Lake

Tiptonville

Located in northwest Tennessee in Lake and Obion counties, Reelfoot Lake is the only large natural lake in Tennessee. It was formed by strong earthquakes in 1811 and 1812. It covers around 15,000 acres, with a maximum depth of 18 feet. Given how shallow most of the lake is, much of the area is marshy and includes flooded forests with impressive cypress trees. The lake and grounds are part of Reelfoot Lake State Park and the National Park Service designated it as a National Natural Landmark in 1966.

February is a great time to visit for the annual Reelfoot Eagle Festival, as the park is home to thousands of American bald eagles, and autumn brings hundreds of migrating white pelicans to the lake. The park also offers deep swamp canoe trips and pontoon boat tours at different times of the year.

tnstateparks.com/parks/reelfoot-lake, 2595 Highway 21 E, Tiptonville, TN 38079

Nickajack Lake

New Hope

TVA constructed Nickajack Dam on the Tennessee River in 1967 in Marion and Hamilton counties in the southeastern part of the state. The reservoir is 10,370 acres with 179 miles of shoreline, just downstream from downtown Chattanooga. It holds the world record for the largest freshwater drum, caught in 1972 by Benny Hull. Visitors will find boat ramps and fishing berms on both sides of the river below the dam. There is also a concrete fishing pier with footbridges and a wheelchair-accessible ramp, as well as campgrounds and picnic areas.

The lake is home to the partially flooded Nickajack Cave. Access into the cave is prohibited to protect its colony of endangered gray bats from a deadly disease called white-nose syndrome. However, from late April into early October, visitors can watch from a viewing platform as thousands of bats emerge from the cave to feed. Plan to stay a while and book a floating cabin on the lake at Hales Bar Marina & Resort.

outdoorchattanooga.com/nickajack-lake, Mapleview Road, New Hope, TN 37380

Pin Oak Lake

Wildersville

Pin Oak Lake is in Henderson County in west Tennessee and part of a TVA cluster of eight reservoirs on the Beech River created to reduce flood damage, offer outdoor recreation to the area, and support water supply to the region. Each of the other lakes in this group also take their names from trees (with the exception of Lost Creek, a detention-only reservoir with no permanent pool): Cedar, Dogwood, Beech, Pine, Redbud, and Sycamore. The 690-acre Pin Oak Lake falls entirely within Natchez Trace State Park and is popular for catching bass, bluegill, and catfish.

tnstateparks.com/parks/natchez-trace, 24845 Natchez Trace Road, Wildersville, TN 38351

Chilhowee Lake

Blount and Monroe counties

The 1,743-acre Chilhowee Lake impounds the Little Tennessee River and has Great Smoky Mountains National Park on one side and Cherokee National Forest on the other, making for endless Appalachian scenery. US 129, also known as the Tail of the Dragon, runs alongside the lake and is a popular drive for motorcyclists and sports car enthusiasts. Chilhowee Lake’s dam and powerhouse are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s a great spot for some quieter paddling, fishing, or camping in the mountains.

visitknoxville.com/listing/chilhowee-lake/1028, Blount and Monroe counties in Tennessee

Fall Creek Falls Lake

Spencer

Fall Creek Falls State Park is best known for its beautiful waterfalls, but it also offers opportunities for lakeside lounging and fishing. Its 345-acre lake is home to state record catches for channel catfish and bluegill. Park visitors can rent paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes from April through October. Aluminum jon boats can be rented year-round, but you need to bring your own trolling motor and battery. No personal boats or gasoline motors are allowed on the lake, but you can bring your own kayak or canoe. There are also seasonal guided pontoon boat tours. If you need a little land time but want to stay close to the water, enjoy a lakeside hiking trail before resting your head at The Lodge at Fall Creek Falls.

tnstateparks.com/parks/info/fall-creek-falls, 2009 Village Camp Road, Spencer, TN 38585

Bays Mountain Lake

Kingston

Bays Mountain Lake is a quaint 44-acre pool located within Bays Mountain Park, the largest city-owned park in Tennessee. Visitors can take a 45-minute barge ride on the lily pad–laden lake with a naturalist to learn about the park’s history and catch some wildlife sightings, such as deer, turtles, herons, and beavers. In addition to this kid-friendly excursion, families can enjoy the 3,750-acre nature preserve’s planetarium and animal habitats. The park also boasts an adventure course with low ropes, high ropes, and zip line options, as well as more than 40 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails, including some around the lake.

baysmountain.com, 853 Bays Mountain Park Road, Kingston, TN 37660 

Fort Loudoun Lake

Lenoir City

TVA operates nine reservoirs throughout the Tennessee River's 652 miles from Knoxville to Paducah, Kentucky, to create a navigable channel. Fort Loudoun Lake is the first reservoir along this water trail and has 379 miles of shoreline along its 14,600-acre water surface. You can rent a kayak from Knoxville Adventure Collective to enjoy Knoxville’s downtown skyline or Ijams Nature Center’s urban wilderness from the water. Further downstream from the city, you’ll find multiple marinas and excellent opportunities for camping, fishing, and various watersports.

tva.com/energy/our-power-system/hydroelectric/fort-loudoun, 1280 City Park Drive, Lenoir City, TN 37920

Percy Priest Lake

Nashville

Just over 10 miles east of downtown Nashville, the US Army Corps of Engineers dammed the Stones River in 1968, which created the 42-mile-long, 14,000-acre Percy Priest Lake. Given its close proximity to Music City, Percy Priest Lake offers an easy lakeside rest day during your girls’ trip or bachelor party weekend. The lake extends through Davidson, Rutherford, and Wilson counties, and land around the lake is home to multiple campgrounds if you choose to stay a while. This lake is perfect for boating, fishing, and swimming on a long summer day.

percypriestlake.org, 3737 Bell Road, Nashville, TN 37214

Center Hill Lake

Lancaster

Center Hill Lake is managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers just west of Cookeville on the Caney Fork River. The area has a temperate climate, giving the lake a long recreation season. The lake is 64 miles long and covers 18,220 acres throughout DeKalb, Putnam, White, and Warren counties. Three state parks fall along the reservoir’s shoreline: Edgar Evins, Burgess Falls, and Rock Island. This makes it the perfect lake to visit for travelers looking to check off all of Tennessee’s 57 state parks.

recreation.gov/camping/gateways/383, 158 Resource Lane, Lancaster, TN 38569

South Holston Lake

Sullivan County, Tennessee, and Washington County, Virginia

South Holston Lake is the outdoor playground for Bristol residents. TVA completed its dam on the South Fork Holston River in 1950, creating this 7,580-acre reservoir, which stretches 24 miles east into Virginia. Over half the lake’s shoreline borders Cherokee National Forest, providing stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Fishing is a top activity on the lake, especially for smallmouth bass. The tailwater side of the dam is a fly fishing paradise, with an abundance of native brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout. Visitors can also walk across a footbridge from the parking lot below the dam for a 1.8-mile wildlife loop trail on Osceola Island.

discoverbristol.org/attractions/south-holston-lake-river-and-dam, Sullivan County, Tennessee, and Washington County, Virginia

Radnor Lake

Nashville

Radnor Lake State Park lies within the Nashville metropolitan area, close to all the happenings of downtown Music City and the charming town of Franklin. Before becoming the wildlife sanctuary that it is today, Radnor Lake was originally created in 1914 by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company for watering steam trains and providing water for shipped livestock. Now, city dwellers flock to the lake’s 1,368-acre park to enjoy ranger-led programs like canoe tours, wildflower walks, and astronomy night hikes. The park’s Lake Trail is also accessible to people with all-terrain wheelchairs.

tnstateparks.com/parks/radnor-lake, 1160 Otter Creek Road, Nashville, TN 37220

Watauga Lake

Johnson and Carter counties

This Elizabethton lake was created in 1948 by the TVA by damming the Watauga and Elk rivers to generate hydropower and for flood control. The 6,430-acre lake has 104.9 miles of shoreline, more than half of which cannot be developed because it lies in the Cherokee National Forest. The original town of Butler sits at the bottom of the lake and a new relocated town sits at higher ground. Visitors can head to the one of the lake's recreation areas to fish, swim, waterski, sail, and camp. Hike to area waterfalls, or rent a pontoon boat from one of the area marinas for a more relaxing afternoon. 

wataugalaketennessee.com, Johnson and Carter counties