With summer here, chances are, you’ve already searched “best lakes near me,” right? Plus, we bet you have invested in an awesome swimsuit and have headed out to the cooling lakes in Tennessee. The Volunteer State has some pretty magnificent weather in the summer for you to get out, take a stroll, or a run followed by a dip in the sparkling blue waters. We’ve put together a list of twenty of the best lakes in Tennessee that will keep you coming back ’til it cools off in late autumn. Then the crisp fall air will change the leaves into brightly-colored ornaments dripping in gold and crimson, a great backdrop to these gorgeous Tennessee lakes. Hope you try one of these out while the sun is still blazing.

20. Boone Lake
Boone Lake, Tennessee, USA
BellaEastBooks/Flickr
Northeast Tennessee is rounded out by Boone Lake, a reservoir formed by the Boone Dam and the Holston River. It is one of the best lakes in Tennessee.
19. Center Hill Lake
Center Hill Lake, Tennessee, USA
Steven Conry/Flickr
If you're close to Smithville, you don't want to miss out on this beautiful place. You can even look into renting a home for that prolonged vacation you KNOW you need.
18. Cheatham Lake
Cheatham Lake, Tennessee, USA
Wayne Hsieh/Flickr
Located in Ashland City, you can't ask for a better place to fish and enjoy the sunset. This Tennessee lake is positively stunning.
17. Cherokee Lake
Cherokee Reservoir, Tennessee, USA
richardgriscom/Flickr
Tennessee is a prettier place with Cherokee Lake gracing the east side of the state. Take a look at that view!
16. Chickamauga Lake
Chickamauga Lake, Tennessee, USA
riverharbor/Flickr
This man-made lake was completed in 1940 and has become a teeming ground for vacationers and fans of fishing. It's opportune for swimmers and city folk looking for a day to themselves at one of the best lakes in Tennessee.
15. Cordell Hull Lake
Cordell Hull Lake, Tennessee 37030, USA
Brent Moore/Flickr
Nashville lies just forty scant miles south of this oasis, one that sits right on the Cumberland River.
14. Douglas Lake
Douglas Lake, Tennessee, USA
Brian McConnell/Flickr
Another eastside gem, the reservoir named Douglas Lake is a product of the French Broad River. You can rent a place to stay or stick it out for the whole of the summer with this beautiful getaway.
13. Fort Loudon
best lakes in Tennessee
Fort Loudon, Vonore, TN 37885, USA
FLORENTIN Marius/Flickr
A popular spot for lake dwellers, the real estate on Fort Loudon can't be beat. Plus, that VIEW.
12. Herb Parsons Lake
Herb Parsons Lake, Tennessee 38017, USA
cambiodia/Flickr
Named after the exhibition shooter Herb Parsons, you can bike, fish, or hike throughout the whole of the summer here.
11. Kentucky Lake
Kentucky Lake Drive, Kentucky Lake Dr, Tennessee 38222, USA
Wayne Hsieh/Flickr
Kentucky Lake — yep, part of it is in its namesake. But if you're prone to stick to the Tennessee side (which, why wouldn't you?) make sure to bring a fishing pole!

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10. Lake Barkley
Lake Barkley, Tennessee 37050, USA
George Pankewytch/Flickr
This pretty place is sister to Kentucky Lake and is every fisherman's dream. It lies in Stewart + Houston counties in the state of Tennessee and also straddles Kentucky.
9. Nickajack Lake
Nickajack Lake, Tennessee, USA
Bryce Edwards/Flickr
This reservoir passes through Chattanooga and is a great spot for lake rentals and summer home real estate. Also, Chattanooga is totally cool - you definitely want to visit.
8. Norris Lake
Norris Lake, Tennessee, USA
Warren LeMay/Flickr
Andersonville is precisely where you'll find this gorgeous lake, but yes — that's the river that feeds it up there. It's way too good of a view to give away. Go visit one of the best lakes in Tennessee.
7. Old Hickory Lake
Old Hickory Lake, Tennessee, USA
Nashville Lake Cottage/TripAdvisor
Take a break from Music City for a long walk around Old Hickory. Named after President Jackson, this is a trip that will make it into your scrapbooks.
6. Reelfoot Lake
Reelfoot Lake Watershed, Tennessee 38260, USA
Charles Skip Martin, CC BY 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
That sunset. This lake. Reelfoot is known for great fishing and is a shallow and completely NATURAL lake. Beautiful.
5. Radnor Lake
Radnor Lake, Oak Hill, TN 37220, USA
Alexander B/TripAdvisor
Radnor Lake has neat walking trails and nature center if you're ever wandering Middle Tennessee.
4. Watts Bar Lake
Watts Bar Lake, Tennessee, USA
circulating/Flickr
The Tennessee River feeds Watts Bar, and you can find it on the east side of the state.
3. Tims Ford Lake
Tims Ford Lake, Tennessee, USA
Alltrails.com
Right outside Lynchburg you can find this neat spot - bring the kids and a picnic and you're all set for a relaxing afternoon.
2. Watauga Lake
Watauga Lake, Tennessee, USA
nottheonlymaxm/Flickr
Head to Elizabethton with that love of yours and share a romantic day at the highest lake in Tennessee. With over 100 miles of shoreline, you sure won't run out of space!
1. Percy Priest Lake
Percy Priest Lake, Nashville, TN 37214, USA
Denise Mattox/Flickr
Nashville lucked out with this beauty. Beware of the cliff jumpers and take in the stunning sunset vistas that happen nightly.

Wanna discover more about some of the best Tennessee lakes? Watch this short YouTube video by Wiki Peaks highlighting these gorgeous lakes.

So, have you decided which of the best lakes in Tennessee to visit? Plan it out where you can take in more than one, find a bed and breakfast to stay in, and a restaurant or shopping along the way. But more importantly, don’t forget to enjoy your summer on a Tennessee lake in this picturesque southern state.

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More to Explore

Lakes In Tennessee

Carolyn Harmon | July 13, 2022

Where is another gorgeous lake in Tennessee?

The shallow, 10-mile Chilhowee Lake is located 40 miles south of Knoxville, Tennessee, bordering the southern entrance to the Foothills Parkway and Abrams Creek. It provides a partial boundary between the ever-beautiful Cherokee National Forest and the majestic Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The narrow route twists upstream near the state line to Calderwood Dam. Because of its remote setting, it is a favorite spot for kayaking and fishing. Some common fish you'll find at the end of your fishing poles are trout, yellow perch, large- and smallmouth bass, and walleye, making it one of the best lakes in Tennessee. Here are some more of the best lakes in Tennessee that we recommend:

  • Indian Boundary Lake, Tellico Plains
  • Dale Hollow Lake, North of Cookeville
  • Davy Crockett Lake, South of Greeneville
  • South Holston Lake, Bristol
  • Coy Gaithers/Bedford Lake, Bedford County


Be sure to check out our previous article with some of the best lakes in Tennessee according to our readers.

Where is the best waterfall road trip in Tennessee?

Put a day on reserve and take this fun road trip to visit five of Tennessee's breathtaking waterfalls. The drive takes about four hours, and you will return revitalized by the natural beauty the state offers. The waterfalls include southern Jackson County's Cummins Falls on the Blackburn Fork State Scenic River, Burgess Falls in Putnam County, the tallest waterfall in the state Fall Creek Falls straddling Van Buren and White counties, Twin Falls in Warren County, and Ozone Falls in Cumberland County. Many of these are inside state parks or beside trails so you may find yourself staying longer. Pack a lunch, take it slow, and enjoy some of the best waterfalls in Tennessee.

Where is one of the best restaurants in Tennessee?

Get dressed up and make a reservation at the Barn at Blackberry Farm. This James Beard Award-winning restaurant and wine program in Walland, Tennessee sits in a turn-of-the-century bank-style barn. The Foothills Cuisine is crafted from Appalachian-regional ingredients sourced from local farmers. Try the crispy pig ears and grilled onions appetizer with buttermilk aioli; the Carolina gold rice dumplings filled with lobster; or the brown butter poached trout with smoked, whipped pecans. And the ambiance here is nothing to sneeze at, created with antique-style linens and custom chairs.

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