Norris Lake Insider Q&A — Answers Travelers Actually Ask

Getting there & around

Logistics

How big is Norris Lake, Tennessee?: Over 800 miles of shoreline across five East Tennessee counties — Union, Campbell, Claiborne, Anderson, and Grainger — about 25 miles north of Knoxville. It was the TVA's first hydroelectric reservoir, built on the Clinch River between 1933 and 1936.
What's the closest airport to Norris Lake?: McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in Knoxville is the nearest with regular commercial service, about forty-five minutes from the lake's south end.

Groceries, gas, urgent care

Where's the closest grocery store to Norris Lake?: Food City, on North Broad Street in New Tazewell, open daily until midnight — the main grocery stop on the lake's northeast side. Given the lake's size, exactly which town is closest depends on which shore you're staying on.
Where's the closest emergency room to Norris Lake?: LaFollette Medical Center's emergency department, on East Central Avenue in LaFollette, part of Tennova Healthcare — a 24-hour ER on the lake's southwest side.

Where to eat

What's the best marina restaurant at Norris Lake?: The BoatHouse at 33, at Beach Island Resort in Maynardville, is a local favorite for live music and lakefront dining. Jimmy's Place at Norris Landing Marina and the dining room at Sequoyah Marina are two more of the lake's marina-restaurant staples.

What's worth doing

What is Norris Dam?: The Tennessee Valley Authority's first hydroelectric project, built 1933-1936 on the Clinch River — a 1,860-foot concrete gravity dam listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The lake it created spans five counties and remains the largest reservoir in the TVA system.

On the water & on the trail

Where can I rent a boat at Norris Lake?: More than a dozen marinas ring the lake. Sequoyah Marina in Andersonville and Twin Cove Marina in Caryville are two of the largest, both renting pontoons, ski boats, and houseboats. Norris Dam Marina, inside the state park, is the option closest to the dam itself.
Is there a public beach at Norris Lake?: Yes — Big Ridge State Park, on the lake's south shore about 25 miles north of Knoxville, has a sandy public swimming beach, a seasonal boat dock, and a boat ramp near the park entrance.

Seasons & weather

When's the best time to visit Norris Lake?: Late spring through Labor Day for full houseboat and marina rental availability across the lake. Several marina restaurants, including The BoatHouse at 33, scale back their weekly hours once the summer crowd thins out.