The short answer
The winter and the horizon change most when you move to Tennessee from Iowa. Tennessee National is a private, gated lake and golf community on Watts Bar Lake in Loudon, Tennessee, about 30 minutes from Knoxville. You trade open farmland for wooded ridges and a lake with 722 miles of shoreline, and long winters for mild ones. From most of Iowa it is a two-day drive or a connecting flight. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Key facts
- Tennessee National is on Watts Bar Lake in Loudon, Tennessee, about 30 minutes from Knoxville.
- From most of Iowa, Tennessee National is a two-day drive or a connecting flight.
- McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) is about 35 minutes from the gate.
- East Tennessee has four seasons and mild winters.
- Watts Bar Lake has more than 39,000 acres of water and 722 miles of shoreline.
- There is no deadline to build after you buy a homesite at Tennessee National.
Nobody leaves Iowa because they stopped loving it. They leave because January keeps coming back.
If East Tennessee is on your list, here is a straight look at what changes. Tennessee National is a private, gated lake and golf community on Watts Bar Lake in Loudon, Tennessee, about 30 minutes from Knoxville. It is a long way from Des Moines, and that is part of what you need to weigh.
What changes when you move from Iowa to Tennessee?
The winter, the view and the distance from home. Here is the short version.
| What changes | The short version |
|---|---|
| Winter | Short and mild instead of long and deep. You keep four seasons. |
| The trip home | Two days by car from most of Iowa, or a connecting flight. |
| The clock | Eastern time, one hour ahead of Iowa. |
| The lake | A TVA river reservoir with 722 miles of shoreline. |
| The view | Ridges, trees and water instead of an open horizon. |
| State income tax | Tennessee has none. Check your most recent Iowa return. |
What happens to winter when you move from Iowa?
It gets short. East Tennessee has four seasons and mild winters.
You will still own a coat. There are frosty mornings, cold snaps and now and then a little snow. What goes away is the long deep cold and the months of planning around it.
For golf and the lake, that means a longer year. Not every winter day is a golf day, and the lake has a quiet season. Ask the club and the marina how the cold months work. For more, see four seasons at Tennessee National.
You also keep a real fall. The ridges here are covered in hardwoods, and they turn.
How far is Tennessee National from Iowa?
From most of Iowa it is a two-day drive or a flight with a connection. That is far enough to plan for.
Driving. Most routes come down through Illinois and Kentucky and reach East Tennessee on I-40 or I-75. From Des Moines or Cedar Rapids, plan on two days. From the Quad Cities it can be done in one very long day. Tennessee National is about 10 minutes from I-75.
Flying. McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) is about 35 minutes from the gate. Check current nonstop routes on the airport's site. From Iowa airports you may need to connect through a hub. Our guide to flying to Tennessee National covers the airport.
The clock. East Tennessee is on Eastern time, one hour ahead of Iowa.
How is Watts Bar Lake different from Iowa lakes?
It is a river reservoir with a long season. Iowa has good water, and Okoboji, Rathbun and Red Rock are lakes you may already know. Watts Bar Lake is a TVA reservoir on the Tennessee River.
The numbers TVA lists for Watts Bar:
- More than 39,000 acres of water.
- 722 miles of shoreline.
- A 72-mile navigable reservoir, with locks that connect to the rest of the Tennessee River system.
Because it is part of a river system, you can spend a whole day moving through new water.
The level moves with the seasons. Summer pool runs about 740 to 741 feet and the winter minimum is 735 feet, a change of about 5 to 6 feet.
Tennessee National has a full-service marina with 140+ boat slips inside the gates. So bring the boat decision, not the boat. See the water first, talk to the marina about what is open, and then decide what belongs on it. See marina and lake life.
What changes on taxes when you move from Iowa?
The state income tax line is the one to check. Tennessee has no state income tax.
State tax rules change. So use your most recent Iowa return, not something you heard at coffee. Find the state income tax line, and ask a CPA what happens to it if Tennessee becomes your primary home.
The rest of the budget needs the same care. Property tax, insurance and sales tax work differently in every state. Get real quotes for a Tennessee address before you build a budget.
How do you time a move from Iowa?
Buy the place first and move when your Iowa timeline allows. That works because there is no deadline to build after you buy a homesite.
It matters if you are timing a farm sale, a business handoff or one last harvest. You can choose the homesite now and design the house without a closing date pushing you. Our 12-month relocation plan puts the steps in order.
There are five ways to own: The Timbers (wooded homesites), lake homesites, waterfront homesites, Land & Home packages, and townhomes. Homes are custom built. Pricing is in the info pack.
One more piece of timing. Visit in two seasons. Come in summer for the lake, then again in January. The second trip tells you more.
Do you trade neighbors for scenery?
No. That is a fair worry coming from a town where everybody knows your truck, but it is not how this place works.
Tennessee National has 22 social clubs and 180+ events a year. Trivia, live music, wine tastings, holiday parties. It is a golf cart community, so you see people on the way to everything. See social life.
Also inside the 1,492 gated acres:
- A Greg Norman Signature golf course. 18 holes, 7,393 yards, par 72.
- A clubhouse with Kendall's restaurant, a pool and a fitness center.
- Pickleball, tennis and walking trails.
Knoxville is about 30 minutes away for hospitals and restaurants. The Great Smoky Mountains are about an hour. Tennessee National is not age restricted.
The honest trade-offs
- You will be far from your people. Two days by car or a connecting flight from the people you know best. That is the real cost of this move.
- You give up the horizon. Here the view is ridges, trees and water. Some people miss the big sky and the long sunsets.
- Summer lasts longer. It stays warm and humid into September.
- Mild winter is not no winter. It is shorter and easier. It is still winter.
The way to know is to stand on the shoreline yourself, in the season you are most unsure about.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Tennessee National from Iowa?
From most of Iowa, Tennessee National is a two-day drive or a flight with a connection. Tennessee National is in Loudon, Tennessee, about 10 minutes from I-75 and about 35 minutes from McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS).
Are winters in East Tennessee milder than in Iowa?
Yes. East Tennessee has four seasons and mild winters. At Tennessee National on Watts Bar Lake that means a longer golf and lake year, though there are still cold snaps and the lake has a quiet season.
How big is Watts Bar Lake?
Watts Bar Lake has more than 39,000 acres of water and 722 miles of shoreline, according to TVA. Watts Bar Lake is a 72-mile navigable reservoir on the Tennessee River, with locks that connect to the rest of the river system.
Does Tennessee have a state income tax?
No. Tennessee has no state income tax. What that means for a household moving from Iowa depends on your most recent return and on where your primary home is, so ask a CPA before you count on a figure.
Do you have to build right away at Tennessee National?
No. There is no deadline to build after you buy a homesite at Tennessee National. You can buy first and build after a farm sale, a business handoff or whatever your Iowa timeline requires.
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.