What Is There to Do in Kingston, TN on Watts Bar Lake?

Most people looking at Tennessee National learn Loudon, Lenoir City and Farragut first. Those are the towns you pass on the way in from Knoxville. Kingston is the one in the other direction, and it shares the lake with you.

Tennessee National is a private, gated lake and golf community on Watts Bar Lake in Loudon, Tennessee. Kingston is the next lake town to the north-west. Here is what it is and what it is good for.

Where is Kingston, and how far is it from Tennessee National?

Kingston is in Roane County, roughly half an hour north-west of Tennessee National by road. It is the county seat, and it sits where the Clinch River meets the Tennessee River on Watts Bar Lake. I-40 passes the town.

By water, Kingston is down the lake from Tennessee National. Watts Bar is a 72-mile navigable reservoir, and Kingston is one of the towns on its shore.

Clock the Kingston drive yourself. Your route and your starting point inside the community both change it.

What is there to do in Kingston?

Three things, mainly: the waterfront, the fort and the old downtown.

• The waterfront. Kingston has a city park on the water, with room to walk, picnic and watch boats go by. It is a simple, pleasant stop.
• Fort Southwest Point. A reconstructed frontier fort on a hill south of downtown, overlooking the place where the rivers meet. The original fort was a federal outpost on the edge of the frontier in the years after the Revolution.
• The old courthouse and downtown. A few blocks of a county seat. The historic Roane County Courthouse is kept as a local history site.

One piece of trivia the town enjoys: Kingston was Tennessee's state capital for a single day, early in the nineteenth century.

A note on the fort. Fort Southwest Point is a Tennessee state historic park. Hours and programs change with the season, so check with Tennessee State Parks before you go.

Can you get to Kingston by boat?

Yes. Kingston is on the same lake, down the main channel from the Tennessee National marina. There is no dam or lock between the two. It is a real run and not a short hop, so treat it as a half-day outing.

Before you go:

• Ask the marina staff. They can tell you the route, the distance, the fuel you need and what to watch for.
• Confirm where visiting boats can tie up. Do not assume there is open dock space. Call ahead.
• Check the lake level. Watts Bar changes by about 5 to 6 feet between summer and winter. TVA posts current levels. See Watts Bar Lake levels.
• Carry a chart and stay in the marked channel. Water outside the channel is not always deep.
• Make the first trip with someone who knows the way.

Tennessee National has a full-service marina with 140+ boat slips. See marina and lake life.

Is Kingston where you would run errands?

Not usually. Daily errands from Tennessee National run the other way, toward Loudon, Lenoir City and Farragut. Kingston is a lake neighbor more than a home base.

It is useful for a change of scene. A different downtown and a different stretch of water, without a long drive. The everyday errands guide covers the regular weekly loop.

What does an afternoon in Kingston look like?

A slow one. Here is an example, not a schedule.

1. Late morning. Drive over, or leave the marina by boat.
2. Midday. Walk the waterfront park. Eat lunch in town.
3. Early afternoon. Go up to Fort Southwest Point for the view and the history.
4. Mid-afternoon. Head home. If you came by boat, leave enough daylight for the run back.

Restaurants and shops in a small town change. Look up what is open now, and confirm hours for the fort.

How does Kingston fit with the other towns around the lake?

It rounds out the map. Tennessee National is in Loudon County, so Loudon is the home town and the errands run toward Knoxville. Kingston sits the other way, and it is a lake town you can reach by boat.

Together the small towns are a big part of why living here does not feel cut off. Knoxville is about 30 minutes away for hospitals and big shopping, and the airport is about 35. The towns cover what falls in between.

More in the same spirit:

• The Roane County side of Watts Bar covers Kingston's neighbors, Harriman and Rockwood.
• The Fort Loudoun and Sequoyah history day trip visits an older fort, south of Loudon County.
• The area guide maps restaurants, wineries and trails around Loudon and Knoxville.

The honest trade-off

Kingston is a small town, and the visit is an afternoon, not a weekend. Check what is open before you go, especially in winter.

What it offers is quiet. A walk by the water, a fort with a view, and a destination for the boat that is not your own marina. For a lot of lake days, that is plenty.

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.