The Best Lakes To Visit Near Memphis Tennessee

If you’re struggling with the heat and dust of the city (at its worst in July), visit the springs and lakes near Memphis to cool off in the water or just enjoy nature. There’s the opportunity to camp, too. Here, Culture Trip lists the best lakes near the second-largest city in Tennessee.

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Sardis Lake

If you’re looking for some adventure on the water, this vast 98,520-acre (39,870ha) reservoir is the place for you. Sardis has waterskiing, swimming, fishing, kayaking and canoeing in abundance year-round. It’s particularly popular with those fishing for bass. Easily accessible, it sits on the Little Tallahatchie River in Lafayette County, Mississippi, and is just an hour from Memphis. Take the whole family and spend the weekend camping.

Hugely popular with families, this peaceful lake is the perfect place to enjoy the sunrise or sunset and is situated on the Coldwater River, 37mi (60km) south of Memphis. It’s also known for its excellent sailing conditions. But if you’d prefer to stay out of the water, it has great wildlife viewing, hiking and horseback riding. There are also picturesque camping spots dotted along the banks.

Pickwick Lake

Part of Pickwick Landing Dam, this lake stretches all the way across to Wilson Dam and is slightly farther out from Memphis, following a 150mi (241km) drive. If you’re into waterskiing or wakeboarding, the lake is usually calm in the mornings and evenings. The stunning scenery also makes this area the perfect place to drop anchor and enjoy a party with family and friends. If you’re into fishing, it’s also a great spot to land some bass.

Tunica Lake

Located across Lee County, Arkansas, and Tunica County, Mississippi, Tunica Lake, also known as Tunica Cutoff, is an old oxbow lake. To get there, drive down the famous Highway 61 for about 1.5hr hours. The lake makes for good sailing but is more popular for fishing, with plenty of carp, crappie, bream, flathead catfish and more in its waters.

Horseshoe Lake

With its shape resembling a horseshoe, this lake is a short 40-minute drive from Downtown Memphis, making it an ideal day trip. It’s popular with swimmers and sunbathers and is great for families because of the smooth waters. It’s also an excellent spot for boating, swimming and fishing. You might struggle with wakeboarding, though, as the shape of the lake isn’t ideal for it.

Greers Ferry Lake

Often rated one of the cleanest and clearest lakes in the US, Greers Ferry Lake is a good 150mi (241km) from Memphis, but it’s worth a visit. The views are stunning, and on a clear day, you can see Sugarloaf Mountain. It’s perfect for kayaking, boating, scuba diving and fishing. If you want to stay out of the water, bring your hiking boots and enjoy one of the many trails. You’ll spot plenty of wildlife.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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