I'm likely going to be transfered to the Nashville area within the next year. My family and I look to get back into boating and we're trying to think ahead. I know that we have several choices, so I'm happy about that, however, I'm looking for that perfect lake.

Unlike most when boating, my family loves to be around people...we love people watching...and we love going to restaurants by water and have a beer with lunch/dinner, and we really enjoy watching live music. It appears that many of the lakes shoreline in KY and TN are owned by the DNR and Army Corps which limits the amount of commercialism. It also appears that some of the lakes in KY and TN are dry (alcohol dry that is), a drawback to us.

My question is based on the criteria above which lake would be the best choice for us. We've been looking at Percy Priest, Old Hickory, Center Hill, Dale Hollow, KY Lake, Lake Norris, Lake Cumberland, but we're open to any other suggestions too. Any lake closer to Nashville is a bonus, but would be willing to drive some distance if its worth it to us. The size of the lake isn't as important to us.

All suggestions welcome.

Well PHII, I think you'll enjoy Nashville, it's a fun city except for the traffic but you're probably used to that. I've not boated on any of the lakes you mentioned, I tend to stay further south of Nashville. I've heard norris is nice and cumberland is in pretty country. One place I go that a lot of Nashville folk go to is Tim's Ford. Great lake, clean and pretty deep. You'll find things different around here, you aren't going to find the crowds like up there, even in the Nashville area I wouldn't think.

We've been looking at visiting Dale Hollow the last couple of summers, haven't quite made it down. I've done a bit of research, however, and it gets a LOT of good press. Clean lake, lots of coves to hide in.

Parts of Dale Hollow are dry. All of Lake Norris is wet, but only Anderson County has Sunday sales. As for the other I don't know. Our Condo is located at Lake Norris so let me know when you want a tour and We will take you out.

We have been to Kentucky lake and one thing we liked was all the marina's & restaurants available. Very big lake. Have not been on any of the others.

Parrot Head,

I live in Clarksville, TN (about 40 minutes north of Nashville) but currently deployed to Afghanistan. I expect to be home around Christmas-time.

I've boated all over the Nashville area, and if you want to people watch and drink your frosty adult beverages, there's no better place than Party Cove on J. Percy Priest Reservoir. The video from the song "Redneck Yacht Club" was filmed there. There's a web-site for the cove. If you google it, it should pop up. It requires a registration, though and has lots of pictures of the people and boaters in the cove. I've been there a handful of times and have never been disappointed with the crowd. I always launch at Elm Hill Marina and it's about a 20-minute ride to the cove.

Land Between the Lakes Nat'l Rec. Area is another good one. I recommend Kentucky Lake over Lake Barkley. If you can get up to the north end of the area around Grand Rivers, KY, that's where I would recommend you hang out. The weekends can get crowded, but it's a HUGE lake. Make reservations at Patty's Settlement while there for dinner after you're done.

There's also the Cumberland River with its numerous locks that you can explore. That's my local (quick) launch up in Clarksville.

Happy Hunting...

Well, I'm thinkin about getting another cruiser, so towing will be out of the question. Unfortunately that means I have to pick just one lake.

After further investigation, I'm thinkin that we want to stay close to the Nashville area, perhaps within an hours drive. That means take Dale Hollow, KY Lake, Lake Norris, and Lake Cumberland out of the equation. Not to mention that KY Lake, Cumberland are dry.

That leaves...Percy Priest, Old Hickory (Cumberland River), Center Hill, and perhaps Tims Ford.

Blackhawk Pilot...A lot of good info, thanks. I've read that there is alot of "riff-raff" on Percy Priest Lake that comes in from local Antioch (I think?), any validity to this? Of course I'm coming from the Chain O'Lakes in Northern Illinois which also has a lot of "riff-raff". Also, it appears that Old Hickory is fed by the Cumberland River which I beleive goes through Downtown Nashville. How boater friendly is the downtown area of Nashville, any public docks? Any boater friendly restaurants on the river?

Andyk2...Any more info on Tim's Ford? We hope to move to Franklin, TN which is south of Nashville which makes Tim's Ford closer.

After doing some searching on this forum I'm hoping that Familyman stops by too, he seems to have alot of knowledge on the area.

Anyone with any other information on the Middle Tennessee Lakes, specifically comparing/contrasting them? Great info thus far...keep it coming.

http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/TimsFord/

I've camped at Tim's Ford and it's great. They have lots of hiking, decent facilities and of course the lake. There are tons of cabins to be rented up there also.

You may also want to search around on TVA.com, they govern much of the waterways around here.

If you are going to not be trailering, I would recommend one of the lakes that you can access the Tn river. Then your possibilities are endless. I think I read somewhere once you can get to the Tn from Tim's Ford. Frankiln is about 80 miles N/NW of me, your closest access to the river directly is probably about 70 mi or so, around Athens, AL.


I'm not sure about river entertainment access in Nashville. I've always thought it would be cool to cruise around up there but never paid much attention what is on the river.

One of my boating magazines had a thing on Tennessee Vols games in Nashville, I thought, and how people boat to and 'tailgate' on the river. If I find it, I'll give you more specifics.

The vols play (poorly) in knoxville. Vanderbilt plays in nashville. The Tn river does go to knoxville and it is quite a party. Our company owner used to take his 110 foot yacht full of bama fans up river for the bama/tn game.

Blackhawk, I hate to be the giver of bad news... But I saw a few weeks ago that the old party cove is gone. The camp that owns the land has built docks in the cove. The good news is that as far as I could tell, the part just moved to a cove across the lake, just north of the rock face that folks dive off of.

We usually go to Priest as it is convenient. We really like Center Hill and Tims Ford, but it is a 2xd drive for us. I want to try out Dale Hollow as well.

Party cove is GONE?!?!?! I wouldn't know. I was there back at the end of July and it was still going strong. Nashville Party Cove web-site is here and there's no information on its closing, but I'm not sure how often they update the site.

Parrott Head...not sure about the Riff-Raff that you mentioned in your last post. It always seemed to be a pretty good time and the last time I was there, I actually took my wife and kids with me.

Regarding Nashville's "boater-friendly" Cumberland, I've never been on the Cumberland down in Nashville. I have a friend that used to take his boat from Clarksville to Nashville, so there are places to gas up on the way down. There is a river front park where they do a lot of concerts and activities, but, I'm not sure on the amenities for boaters downtown. The only time I was on the Cumberland in Nashville was while on the dinner cruise on the General Jackson Riverboat this past summer while I was on my R&R leave. Once you get to Nashville, I HIGHLY recommend going to the Opryland Hotel . Once you step inside, you feel like you've walked into the Garden of Eden. Spectacular gardens and walkways throughout. I take the wife to see the Rockettes every year around Christmas-time then we go eat at one of the restaurants in the hotel. I'm hoping to make it back in time for that again this year.

Not to hijack this post, but we're probably going to be moving to the Columbus, GA area next summer. Anybody have any information on locations and activities for boating in that area?

It looks like it still exists, just in a different cove.

I don't think there are many boater amenities downtown except a courtesy dock at the end of RiverFront Park. I see the occasional Cruiser moored there.

Have read lots of online journal entries from a website called My Cabin Skiff. I don't know all the waterways, but he's traveled lots of them doing 2 or 3 overnights on Tenn. river. Even if you're stuck to one lake majority of time, you might could make some longer river trips. That would be pretty cool!

West Point Lake is our hangout. Nothing in way of party coves but a nice lake with little boat traffic. Lake Harding is between Columbus and West Point. Someone recently posted a website for Harding. South of Columbus is Lake Eufaula. A big fishing lake. Not sure about recreational stuff. And, not too terribly far is Lake Martin in AL. Of these, I've only been to West Point and Eufaula. Have 2 friends that went to Martin and they really enjoyed it.

I just saw this thread and am happy to help with the area if I can...realtors, areas, schools, etc. We live south of Nashville and have a cabin about an hour and 15 min away on Center Hill. From what you are describing, it sounds like you may prefer Old Hickory or even a marina on the river like Rock Harbor or the Commodore Yacht Club. That way you could navigate the Cumberland River. Center Hill, Tim's Ford, Percy Priest, & Dale Hollow are not navigable outside the lake.

Many folks from south of Nashville go to Center Hill and Tim's Ford. Both are nice lakes. Center Hill is a deep clean water lake, although it will be lower than normal the next few years as repairs are made to the dam. Dale Hollow is 2+ hrs from Franklin.

Andy, while you are right about my Vols (I am headed to Knoxville tomorrow--hope it is respectable Saturday.....and Vandy is undefeated and number 1 in the SEC east for at least 2 more days, can you believe it), you will need a trailer to get from Tim's Ford to the Tennessee River. Tim's Ford is on the Elk River. While I have not been to the lake, I have put in at the dam on a 4 day canoe trip on the Elk with my son's scout troop.

I meant to post a couple of links, but work interfered and I hit the submit button early.

Corp Lake info link

Commodore Yacht Club

Thanks for all the information.

The wife and I will be headed down the week of Nov 16 to check out both the Nashville Area as well as the Chattanooga area.

In Nashville we intend to look at housing in the Franklin/Brentwood area. In Chattanooga we intend to look at housing in Signal Mountain and also around East Brainerd. Any other areas we should consider looking at (schools are priority no.1)?

Any recommendations on relocation Realtors, Restaurants, etc???

PM sent with info

Thanks, great info...PM reply sent.

The elk river runs to the the Tn via richland creek. I don't think it is navigable by much more than a canoe in spots though.

I am sure you have figured this out by now but the Cumberland River is a TVA managed navigable waterway east from Nashville all the way up to Celina, TN which is right below Dale Hollow dam. This includes Old Hickory and Cordell Hull Reservoirs. It is navigable west from Nashville to Lake Barkley, Kentucky Lake to the Ohio River, the Ten-Tom water way on to the world.