The 10 Biggest Lakes in Tennessee

Between award-winning fishing, hidden gems for chasing waterfalls, and water sports galore, these are the biggest lakes in Tennessee.
Written by Macy Fouse
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Tennessee
is known for its sprawling green hills and natural amenities—from hiking, waterfalls, and 500,000 acres of lakes. Offering some of the South’s best fishing and endless water activities, Tennessee lakes are ideal for getting in touch with nature.
With around 93% of Tennessee’s land area being rural, the state is full of opportunities to enjoy Mother Earth—including the myriad of lakes and reservoirs. Whether you’re in the mood for a boat ride, an afternoon swim, or the most epic fishing trip, there’s a Tennessee lake (or ten!) worth visiting. 
If you don’t have time for all of them, don’t sweat it. That’s why the
car insurance
super app
Jerry
is here to narrow it down for you. We’ll lay out the ten biggest Tennessee lakes, where to find them, and what adventures await you when you get there. 

Pickwick Lake (43,098 acres)

Location: Counce, TN
Pickwick Lake is ideal if you’re an angler looking for the best lake for big-mouth bass fishing—or just to enjoy some peace and quiet on the largest lake in Tennessee. This lake snakes over the southern Tennessee border into
Mississippi
and
Alabama
and is considered to be “three lakes in one.” Good news for fishermen: this lake offers 12 full months of bass fishing, so you don’t have to wait until spring to get your reels ready. 
For non-fishermen, Pickwick Lake has a host of water recreation to take advantage of, like swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. When you’re ready to make use of your land legs again, you can golf, hike, and play tennis around the park. 

Watts Bar Lake (39,091 acres)

Location: Kingston, TN
Situated right in the middle of the Tennessee River Valley, Watts Bar Lake stretches an impressive 72 miles between two dams and 700 miles of shoreline. Watts Bar Lake is a hotspot for water recreation, so get your lifejackets ready to enjoy jet skiing, kneeboarding, water skiing, tubing, and more! You can rent a boat if you don’t have one of your own. 
After a long day of tubing, pop in at one of the many waterside restaurants to replenish your energy. Or make a trip out of it by staying in one of the area’s campgrounds or resorts!

Chickamauga Lake (36,237 acres)

Location:Soddy-Daisy, TN
Chickamauga Lake is another must-see for any angler. With 810 miles of shoreline, its 36,000+ acres are home to Tennessee fishing tournaments and record-setting bass. The lake reaches full pool around May 15, when the water and current are ideal for throwing in your lines. 
Chickamauga Lake is right outside of
Chattanooga
, so it’s the perfect weekend getaway for relaxing on a rented pontoon or catching your own bass supply for an epic fish fry—whatever floats your boat. 
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Norris Dam Lake (33,856 acres)

Location: Andersonville, TN
The
Knoxville
area has a few lakes worth visiting, and Norris Dam Lake is a solid option. With plentiful opportunities for boating, skiing, and—of course—fishing, Norris Dam also serves as a hydroelectric facility and flood control for Anderson and Campbell counties. The state park is also a great place to hit the trails—mountain biking trails, equestrian trails, and hiking trails.
The surrounding state park contains 19 historic cabins constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. While they’re listed on the National Register of Historic Places, they’re equipped with electrical appliances, cooking utensils, and necessary linens, so you don’t have to rough it to enjoy the peaceful woods. If you do want to rough it, though, the park also has 25 regular campsites and 10 tent-only spots. 

Cherokee Lake (28,781 acres)

Location: Talbott, TN
Website:
Cherokee Lake
Cherokee Lake is another Knoxville-area haven. What sets it apart from the others? The clear blue water and surrounding hills.Cherokee Lake—named after the Native Americans who made their home in the area—has all the typical lake activities to offer, from resorts, parks, and picnicking to boat rentals, swimming, and campgrounds. 
What would a Tennessee lake be without top-notch fishing opportunities? Cherokee Lake offers excellent fishing for several bass species—like smallmouth bass, striped bass, black bass, largemouth bass, and spotted bass—along with walleye, black crappie, and channel catfish.

Dale Hollow Lake (27,520 acres)

Location: Celina, TN 
Spanning the Tennessee-
Kentucky
state line, Dale Hollow Lake and Dam were created in 1943 for flood control and electricity generation. Today, more than three million visitors flock to the area each year to take advantage of the crystal waters, rolling hills, and serene forest scenes of Dale Hollow. You can spend your time boating, skiing, or kayaking on the water, or hang out on dry ground by hiking, biking, or horseback riding on one of the many trails. 
With high-quality water and a national fish hatchery, Dale Hollow is another major fishing hotspot, hosting major fishing tournaments throughout the year. In fact, the world’s biggest smallmouth bass was caught in the Dale Hollow Reservoir. 

Old Hickory Lake (22,490 acres)

Location: Gallatin, TN
Created and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Old Hickory Lake was completed in 1954. With President Andrew Jackson as its namesake, Old Hickory Lake is one of middle Tennessee’s most popular recreation lakes. Located in north-central Tennessee just a short jaunt from
Nashville
, the lake spans across five counties: Davidson, Sumner, Wilson, Trousdale, and Smith. 
With all the best recreation activities, Old Hickory Lake attracts all sorts of visitors. With full-service marinas around the lake, campgrounds, waterside restaurants, boat rentals, sandy swimming spots, and parks, there’s something for everyone at Old Hickory Lake. 
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Center Hill Lake (18,221 acres)

Location: Silver Point, TN
Smack dab between Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga is the idyllic sanctuary of Center Hill Lake. With all of the essential lake activities, marinas, and lakeside restaurants, the area is the perfect location for an escape from city life. Reportedly the cleanest lake in Tennessee, Center Hill Lake experiences pretty mild temperatures year-round, making it an ideal spot for fishing any time of year. 
Not only is the lake a major hub for fishing—including species like walleye, sunfish, catfish, crappie, bluegill, and several types of bass—but the weaving waterways lead to some of the state’s best waterfalls like Burgess Falls, Rock Island, and Fancher Falls. There are even more waterfalls, scenic spots, and hiking trails around the lake accessible by land. 

Percy Priest Lake (14,202 acres)

Location: Hermitage, TN
Percy Priest is Middle Tennessee’s other lake, and needless to say, it’s ideal for fishing and boating. Percy Priest also has plenty of swimming spots, recreation areas, and boat rentals—including kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, ski boats, and sailboats. With its close proximity to Music City, you can expect to be entertained with live music at one of the area’s marina restaurants. 
If the lake’s nature-focused fun isn’t your vibe, pop over to
Nashville Shores
—a massive waterpark, lodging area, and Treetop Adventure Park. 

Reelfoot Lake (12,998 acres)

Location: Tiptonville, TN
As one of the only lakes in West Tennessee, Reelfoot Lake is the ultimate nature escape and the state’s only natural lake. The lake was created in the early 19th century by violent earthquakes that made the Mighty Mississippi briefly flow backwards, flooding the forested area now known as Reelfoot Lake. 
Reelfoot Lake’s scenery and ecosystem stand out against Tennessee’s lakes for other reasons, too—the lake is full of Majestic Cypress trees shooting out of the water along with submerged stumps across the lake. The water is shallow, creating a richer environment for the area’s flora and fauna to thrive—including the emblematic American bald eagle. While larger boats aren’t recommended for the shallow waters, jon boats, kayaks, and canoes are ideal for the plentiful fishing of the lake. 

Protecting yourself while you travel

With so many glittering lakes to choose from—and record-setting bass fishing—you may be ready for an epic
road trip
to the Volunteer State. Before heading out, you should double-check to make sure your vehicle is up for the drive with a solid car insurance policy. 
Luckily, using the
Jerry
app only takes a few minutes, so you could find a new policy on the go! After you download the app, you could have a brand new policy—sourced from over 50 top companies—in a matter of minutes. 
Jerry users save over $800 per year on average, which could cover quite a bit of gas for your trip!
Jerry
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