Norris Lake is a top vacation destination offering a wide range of water sports, great fishing, relaxing and a wonderful place to make memories with family and friends. With over 800 miles of shoreline and spanning across five East Tennessee counties, planning a trip to Norris Lake can feel a bit overwhelming. We’ve made a list of things to know to help make planning your Norris Lake vacation a little easier.

THINGS TO DO

Whether you enjoy soaking up the sun and relaxing or you like a little more adventure, Norris Lake is the perfect vacation destination. Watersports range from skiing and wakeboarding to wake surfing, tubing and a variety of paddle sports. Clean, clear water makes Norris Lake perfect for paddle boarding and kayaking. The smooth, open channels allow wakeboarders to try their hand at new stunts and numerous private coves make Norris a great place to tie up with friends and float the day away! Norris Paddling Adventures, located at Norris Dam Marina is a great way to try your hand at numerous water activities. They offer paddleboard, kayak, canoe, hydro-bike and paddleboat rentals. If you’re looking for boat rentals, check out our blog here for everything you need to know.

FISHING

Norris Lake is home to 14 different species of fish, but its most popular is bass. Fishing seems to be best during April, May and June, but you’ll still have luck all year round. Fishing Tip: During the summer especially, bass tend to be shallow in the mornings and evenings, but move deeper as the sun rises. If you’ve never fished on Norris Lake, we recommend using a fishing guide. Guides will know all the hot spots and guarantee an unforgettable fishing trip. To see a list of fishing guides, click here. Keep in mind, a Tennessee fishing license is required to fish on Norris Lake. Find out all the information you need about getting a fishing license from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Website.

PLACES TO STAY

Norris Lake offers cabins, houses, condos, floating cottages, houseboats and more. Whether you are looking for a place to accommodate a large group or a quaint couple’s get-a-way, you’re sure to find something to suit your needs. For a full list of rentals in Anderson County, you can visit our website here.

MARINAS

There are numerous marinas on Norris Lake, but we’re going to tell you about Stardust and Sequoyah. Both are located in Anderson County and they just happen to be two of the best marinas on the lake! Sequoyah Marina is known for Wing Night which takes place every Friday night throughout the summer months. They serve up some of the best wings and coldest Corona on the lake! They also have a delicious breakfast buffet on the weekend. Stardust Marina has live music every Saturday evening in the summer from 6:00 – 10:00 pm. Not only will their dock be rocking, but you can get one of the best meals on Norris Lake! Our recommendation is the bang, bang shrimp, it is so good! Both marinas offer boat and jet-ski rentals, so you can still enjoy a vacation on Norris without owning a boat. For a full list of marinas on Norris Lake, visit http://www.norrislakemarinas.org/.

THINGS TO DO IN THE AREA

There is plenty to do to keep you busy whether you want a day away from the sun or some rainy day fun. Windrock Park, the largest privately owned off-road park in the country, is a popular destination for lake-goers and provides you with quite the adventure! Just a short drive from Norris Lake, you can spend a day hitting the trails and taking in the breathtaking scenery. Don’t worry, side by side rentals are available. Norris Dam State Park is a great place to mountain bike, hike or walk the trails. If you visit the park, be sure to stop by Clinch River Brewing and enjoy a craft beer and delicious meal.

The Museum of Appalachia has historic log cabins, display barns filled with authentic artifacts, gardens and farm animals and a great restaurant that serves lunch every day from 11 am to 2 pm. Historic Downtown Clinton is another great place to explore for a day. There are over 20 antique and specialty shops, coffee shops and unique eateries. For more information about Anderson County, please visit www.adventureanderson.com.