The Underrated Tennessee Lake That’s Perfect For A Summer Day
Tennessee is filled from one end to the other with gorgeous lakes and rivers and ponds, swimming holes and waterfalls galore. You could spend years and not fully exhume the stunning reality of our great state’s expansive wilderness. Dale Hollow Lake, stuck hard on the Tennessee/Kentucky border, is one of the prettiest places to spend your Saturday. Or Sunday. Or any day of the week, really. Let’s take a trip to the border and fall in love with our state all over again…
Dale Hollow Lake lies about one hour North of Cookeville on the Tennessee/Kentucky border. Though that makes it a two-hour drive from both Knoxville and Nashville, Dale Hollow Lake is still the perfect summer destination for all Tennesseans.
The lake was originally built in the late 30's and early 40's as a part of the Flood Control Act of 1938, which created dams along the Cumberland River watershed to control downstream flooding. The dam and power plant have been supplying the local area with power since the late 40's.
The lake is the perfect, secluded spot to take the family boating. Water skiing, wakeboarding, and tubing are just some of the things that you will see on the lake on any given summer day.
One of the things that makes Dale Hollow Lake so perfect for a summer getaway is the fact that its 620-mile shoreline is entirely undeveloped. No need to worry about boating in someone's backyard -- there's not a single house on the lakeshore.
Don't have a boat? No worries -- boats are available for rent at each of the 3 marinas on the lake. You can even rent houseboats, which we recommend, since Dale Hollow Lake was voted "#1 Houseboating Lake in North America" by Pick A Slip magazine.
The Lake is pretty large, offering campers plenty of options for places to stay. There are over 10 campsites on the lake between Kentucky and Tennessee, making every style of camping available.
Fun Fact: Dale Hollow is renowned in the fishing world as a premier lake for smallmouth bass. The 3 heaviest smallmouth ever caught in the world have been caught at Dale Hollow. Grab your poles and go set a new record! We dare you.
We have a way for you to continue the fun – This Map Shows The Shortest Route To 7 Of Tennessee’s Most Incredible Caves!
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