The short answer
Tennessee National is about half a day from Charlotte by car, across the mountains on I-40 through Asheville, or a flight into McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), about 35 minutes from the gate. The private, gated lake and golf community sits on Watts Bar Lake in Loudon, Tennessee, about 30 minutes from Knoxville. Check road conditions before you drive.
Key facts
- Charlotte to Tennessee National: about half a day by car.
- The usual route is I-40 west through Asheville to Knoxville, then I-75 south.
- McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) is about 35 minutes from the gate.
- Knoxville is about 30 minutes from Tennessee National.
- Watts Bar Lake is a TVA reservoir with more than 39,000 acres of water and 722 miles of shoreline.
- Tennessee has no state income tax.
From Charlotte, a lake and golf search usually starts close to home. Lake Norman, Lake Wylie, then the mountains.
There is another option on the far side of those mountains. About an hour past the Great Smoky Mountains is Watts Bar Lake. Tennessee National is a private, gated lake and golf community on that lake, in Loudon, Tennessee, about 30 minutes from Knoxville. Here is how far it really is and how to size it up from Charlotte.
How long is the drive from Charlotte to Tennessee National?
About half a day. You cross the mountains on I-40 through Asheville, come down into Knoxville, then take I-75 south. Tennessee National is about 10 minutes from I-75.
The trip has three legs: Charlotte to Asheville, Asheville to Knoxville on I-40, and about 30 minutes from Knoxville to the gate.
Know one thing about the middle leg. I-40 between Asheville and the Tennessee line is a mountain interstate, with curves and weather. Check road conditions with the North Carolina and Tennessee transportation departments before you drive.
Map the trip from your own address, and drive it once before you buy anything.
Can you fly from Charlotte instead?
Yes. You fly into McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), about 35 minutes from the gate. Check current nonstop routes on the airport's site.
That gives you two ways to use the place. Drive when you are staying a while and want your own car and clubs. Fly when it is a quick trip. See flying to Tennessee National.
How does Watts Bar Lake compare with Lake Norman and Lake Wylie?
Watts Bar Lake is a TVA reservoir on the Tennessee River, and its nearest city is Knoxville. Lake Norman and Lake Wylie are lakes you may already know, so this section sticks to Watts Bar.
TVA lists more than 39,000 acres of water and 722 miles of shoreline. Watts Bar is a 72-mile navigable reservoir, with locks that connect to the rest of the Tennessee River system.
TVA lakes move with the seasons. On Watts Bar, summer pool runs about 740 to 741 feet and the winter minimum is 735 feet, a change of about 5 to 6 feet. Ask how that looks from any waterfront homesite. Our guide to Watts Bar lake levels explains it.
Confirm current details for Lake Norman or Lake Wylie with Duke Energy, or with the community you are considering. For a longer look, see Tennessee National vs. Lake Norman.
What should you compare, side by side?
The same questions, in the same order, at every community on your list. A fair comparison beats a favorite by default.
| What to compare | Tennessee National | Ask the other community |
|---|---|---|
| Travel from Charlotte | About half a day by car, or a flight | What is the real door-to-door time on a Friday? |
| Golf | One Greg Norman Signature course inside the gates. 18 holes, 7,393 yards, par 72 | Is the course inside the community? |
| Boating | A full-service marina with 140+ boat slips | Where does the boat live? |
| Social life | 22 social clubs and 180+ events a year | What is on the calendar, and who runs it? |
| Build timing | No deadline to build after you buy a homesite | Is there a build deadline? |
| State income tax | Tennessee has none | Check your own return |
| Fees and rules | Ask for the HOA documents and current fees in writing | Ask for the same |
| Pricing | In the info pack | Ask for a current price sheet |
Get the answers in writing. Golf membership terms come from the club, so ask the club directly.
What should a first visit cover?
Homesites, the marina, the course and a few conversations with residents. Two days is enough for a first look.
On day one, walk homesites and stand at the marina. On day two, see the course and talk with people who live here. Ask how often they play, how often they boat, and what they wish they had known before they bought. Residents can answer questions an article cannot.
Start with the homesite, not the floor plan. There are five ways to own at Tennessee National: The Timbers (wooded homesites), lake homesites, waterfront homesites, Land & Home packages, and townhomes. Homes are custom built. Pick the setting first. The house follows. Pricing is in the info pack.
What changes on taxes?
That depends on where your primary home is, so it is a question for a CPA. Tennessee has no state income tax, and that matters most when Tennessee becomes your primary home.
Owning a second home is not the same as changing your residency. Look at the state income tax line on your own North Carolina return, and ask a CPA about your case.
The honest trade-offs
- It is a mountain drive or a flight. Half a day in the car is not a quick Friday escape. Plan for full weekends or longer stays.
- Knoxville is your city, and it is smaller than Charlotte. It is a university town with hospitals and restaurants, about 30 minutes away. There is no NFL or NBA team down the road.
- The lake level moves. About 5 to 6 feet between summer and winter.
- You have to want this life. Golf, water, a busy club calendar and a gate. The 1,492 acres are built around those things. See golf and marina and lake life.
Tennessee National is not age restricted, and it is open to buyers of any age. Whether it fits comes down to how you want to spend an ordinary week.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Charlotte to Tennessee National?
Tennessee National is about half a day from Charlotte by car. The usual route is I-40 west through Asheville to Knoxville, then I-75 south to Loudon, Tennessee. Tennessee National is about 10 minutes from I-75.
Can you fly from Charlotte to Tennessee National?
Yes. The airport for Tennessee National is McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) in the Knoxville area, about 35 minutes from the gate. Check current nonstop routes from Charlotte on the airport's site before you plan around a flight.
Is the drive from Charlotte to Tennessee National a mountain drive?
Part of it is. I-40 crosses the mountains between Asheville and the Tennessee line. The rest of the trip to Tennessee National, in Loudon, Tennessee, is ordinary interstate. Check road conditions with the state transportation departments before you drive.
What city is Tennessee National near?
Tennessee National is about 30 minutes from Knoxville, Tennessee. The community is on Watts Bar Lake in Loudon, Tennessee, about 10 minutes from I-75. The Great Smoky Mountains are about an hour away.
Does a second home at Tennessee National change my North Carolina taxes?
Ask a CPA, because the answer turns on where your primary home is. Tennessee has no state income tax. Owning a second home at Tennessee National is not the same as changing your residency, so have a CPA look at your own North Carolina return.
Facts about Tennessee National come from the community. Lake facts come from TVA. Rules, taxes, loans and insurance change, so confirm anything that affects a purchase with the right office or professional before you buy.