The Best Places to Go Boating in Tennessee

Going boating in Tennessee? Tennessee’s boating and paddling opportunities do not disappoint!

Boaters can go kayaking on the Olympic whitewater course in Ocoee. You can also go houseboat cruising on a calm lake or navigate down the meandering Mississippi River. Additionally, boaters can take in the Tennessee landscapes from the water while also dangling a fishing line! 

Maybe you’re visiting a bigger city like Nashville, Knoxville, or Memphis or sightseeing in a cozy, historic town like Gatlinburg or Old Sweetwater Villiage near the spectacular “Lost Sea.” Regardless, there will surely be a boating opportunity to enjoy in your area.

So, if you’re wondering where to start your planning, check out some of our favorite spots for boating in Tennessee. 

You’ll find great boating opportunities all over the state of Tennessee. The state has over 50 rivers, countless lakes, and boater-friendly weather.

Dale Hollow Lake consists of 27,700 acres of lake surface area. It also has 24,842 acres of surrounding land, totalling 52,542 acres. It is one of the cleanest lakes in the United States, with 620 miles of shoreline.

Discovering Dale Hollow Lake from a boat won’t disappoint. Use one of the boat launches or rent a houseboat from one of the many marinas. You can also rent a chalet or cabin along the shore with beautiful lake views or use one of the campgrounds.

The lake holds the world’s record for smallmouth bass. It also has the largest federal trout hatchery each of the Mississippi which produces 1.5 million trout per year.

The area attracts millions of visitors per year and offers many activities. These include fishing, boating, skiing, camping, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, and much more. The mild climate and long recreation season make this and other Tennessee Lakes popular vacation spots.

Reelfoot Lake is a 15,000-acre lake created by a series of earthquakes in 1811-1812. These caused the Mississippi River to flow backward, creating the lake.

This State Park is noted for its fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing, and the ecosystem is unlike any other area of Tennessee. This is due to how the area was created, causing submerged Cypress stumps.

One of the best ways to experience Reelfoot Lake is by boat. With the lake being a flooded forest, it is shallow, with many submerged stumps and standing trees. Boaters have to navigate slowly and cautiously. Due to this, there are very few large boats around, making it a haven for smaller vessels, canoes, and kayaks.

The Tennessee River is the fifth-largest river system in the world and a major waterway in the Southeastern United States. The river begins with the Holston and French Broad Rivers joining east of Knoxville. From there, it follows a U-shaped course of 652 miles (1,049 kilometers) until it enters the Ohio River at Paducah, Kentucky.

Boating is an immensely popular recreational activity in this area — one that might require you to move from one lake to another and is, therefore, largely used as a transportation mechanism. That means using the Tennessee Valley’s waterway system of navigation locks.

It is a free service used by thousands of recreational users each year. The process takes 45 to 60 minutes, though it may take longer if traffic is heavy.

You may expect the most popular U.S. National Park to be Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon. However, the #1 most visited U.S. National Park is Tennessee’s Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Make sure to check out this outdoor playground while you’re in Tennessee.

Several of Tennessee’s state parks offer “clean certified” marinas, boat launches, boat rentals, and guided boat tours on lakes. You’ll also find reservoirs, rivers, and streams.

Some of the more popular parks for boating include Cove Lake State Park, Tims Ford State Park, and Long Hunter State Park. So hook up your boat trailer and find the boat access to check out one of Tennessee’s beautiful state parks from the water.

Anglers will enjoy Tennessee’s well-stocked Pay Lakes. You’ll also enjoy the thousands of ponds, lakes, and rivers where you can catch bass, catfish, crappie, and sunfish at any time of year.

Find the best places to go fishing in Tennessee by visiting the official Tennessee Tourism website. Before heading out on your fishing boat, learn about Tennessee’s fishing regulations, species information, fishing license, and boating license requirements and restrictions.

Put Safety First When Boating in Tennessee

We hope you’re excited to head out and try some of these lakes and parks for fishing and boating in Tennessee! Just make sure you put safety first before hitting the water. 

Through one of BOATsmart!’s online boater education courses, you’ll learn everything you need to know about boating safely. So, whether you boat in Tennessee or another U.S. state, learn first, then boat and enjoy your time on the water!

Originally published in May 2019. Content most recently reviewed and updated for accuracy and relevancy September 26, 2024.