Lakes & Rivers
Lake houses, riverfront cabins, and creekside retreats across Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
Blue Ridge, GA
Clear mountain lake surrounded by the Chattahoochee National Forest.
Hiawassee, NC
Iconic mountain lake spanning the NC/GA line at Hiawassee and Hayesville.
Blue Ridge, GA
North Georgia's marquee mountain lake just outside downtown Blue Ridge.
Blue Ridge, GA
Blue Ridge's signature river — fly fishing, tubing, and the famous swinging bridge.
AnchorFontana Dam, NC
Large mountain lake popular for boating, fishing, paddling, scenic drives, and secluded getaways.
Clayton, GA
Wild & Scenic river forming the GA/SC border — premier whitewater of the Southeast.
Fontana Dam, NC
Deep mountain reservoir on the edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, popular for boating, fishing, and scenic views.
Lake Lure, NC
Mountain-ringed resort lake beside Chimney Rock and Hickory Nut Gorge.
Blue Ridge / Aska Adventure Area
North Georgia · GA
Ellijay
North Georgia · GA
Dahlonega
North Georgia · GA
Helen
North Georgia · GA
Hiawassee / Lake Chatuge
North Georgia · GA
Blairsville / Vogel State Park
North Georgia · GA
Clayton / Rabun County
North Georgia · GA
Dawsonville / Amicalola Falls
North Georgia · GA
Match scores below are tuned to Lakes & Rivers — open a different category to see how each stay re-ranks.
Real listingStay Near Score™How well this stay fits your trip
Good Fit
Book direct · no Stay Near guest booking fee
You'll complete availability checks or booking on the property's website. Stay Near does not add a guest service fee.
Real listingStay Near Score™How well this stay fits your trip
Good Fit
Book direct · no Stay Near guest booking fee
You'll complete availability checks or booking on the property's website. Stay Near does not add a guest service fee.
Real listingStay Near Score™How well this stay fits your trip
Good Fit
Book direct · no Stay Near guest booking fee
You'll complete availability checks or booking on the property's website. Stay Near does not add a guest service fee.
Real listingStay Near Score™How well this stay fits your trip
Good Fit
Book direct · no Stay Near guest booking fee
You'll complete availability checks or booking on the property's website. Stay Near does not add a guest service fee.
Real listingStay Near Score™How well this stay fits your trip
Good Fit
Book direct · no Stay Near guest booking fee
You'll complete availability checks or booking on the property's website. Stay Near does not add a guest service fee.
⭐ PartnerReal listingStay Near Score™How well this stay fits your trip
Good Fit
Book direct · no Stay Near guest booking fee
You'll complete availability checks or booking on the property's website. Stay Near does not add a guest service fee.
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Travel guide
Mountain lakes and rivers bring boating, paddling, tubing, fishing and swimming to the region all summer long.
Late May through September for swimming and tubing. Spring and fall are quiet and great for paddling and fishing.
Blue Ridge and Hiawassee (GA), Bryson City (NC) and the Ocoee area (TN) are popular water bases.
| Name | Town | Best time | Difficulty | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Blue Ridge | Blue Ridge, GA | Memorial Day through October | — | Yes |
| Chattanooga Riverwalk | Chattanooga, TN | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Lake Lure | Lake Lure, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Lake Lure Beach and Water Park | Lake Lure, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Deep Creek Tubing | Bryson City, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Fontana Lake | Fontana Dam, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Lake Junaluska | Lake Junaluska, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Lake James State Park | Nebo, NC | Year-round | — | Yes |
| Fontana Lake | Fontana Dam, NC | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Lake Santeetlah | Robbinsville, NC | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Cheoah Lake | Tapoco, NC | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Calderwood Lake | Tapoco, NC | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Lake Chatuge | Hiawassee, NC | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Lake James | Nebo, NC | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Lake Lure | Lake Lure, NC | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Julian Price Lake | Blowing Rock, NC | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| W. Kerr Scott Reservoir | Wilkesboro, NC | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Lake Glenville | Glenville, NC | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Lake Toxaway | Lake Toxaway, NC | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Nantahala Lake | Topton, NC | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Tuckasegee River | Dillsboro, NC | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Davidson River | Pisgah Forest, NC | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Nantahala River | Bryson City, NC | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Raven Fork | Cherokee, NC | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Wilson Creek | Mortimer, NC | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Whitewater River | Sapphire, NC | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Panthertown Creek | Cashiers, NC | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Caney Fork (Cullowhee) | Cullowhee, NC | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| French Broad River | Asheville, NC | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Lake Blue Ridge | Blue Ridge, GA | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Carters Lake | Chatsworth, GA | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Lake Burton | Clarkesville, GA | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Lake Rabun | Lakemont, GA | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Lake Nottely | Blairsville, GA | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Lake Trahlyta | Blairsville, GA | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Lake Lanier | Gainesville, GA | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Toccoa River | Blue Ridge, GA | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Chattooga River | Clayton, GA | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Chattahoochee River (Helen) | Helen, GA | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Tallulah River | Clayton, GA | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Soque River | Clarkesville, GA | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Coopers Creek | Suches, GA | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Rock Creek (North Georgia) | Suches, GA | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Amicalola Creek | Dawsonville, GA | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Chickamauga Lake | Dayton, TN | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Nickajack Lake | Jasper, TN | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Parksville Lake (Lake Ocoee) | Benton, TN | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Tims Ford Lake | Winchester, TN | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Normandy Lake | Normandy, TN | Late spring through early fall | — | Yes |
| Hiwassee River | Reliance, TN | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Ocoee River | Ducktown, TN | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Tellico River | Tellico Plains, TN | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Citico Creek | Tellico Plains, TN | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Little River (Smokies) | Townsend, TN | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Abrams Creek | Cades Cove, TN | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| North Chickamauga Creek | Soddy-Daisy, TN | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Elk River | Tullahoma, TN | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
| Duck River | Columbia, TN | Spring through fall; cool tailwaters fish well year-round | — | Yes |
Yes, many lakes have marinas with boat and kayak rentals in season.
Yes. Stays on this page are ranked for how well they fit a lake or river trip.
