The short answer
Roane County is the next county down Watts Bar Lake from Tennessee National, the private, gated lake and golf community in Loudon, Tennessee. Its three towns are Kingston, the county seat where the Clinch River meets the Tennessee River; Harriman, on the Emory River; and Rockwood, at the foot of Walden Ridge. All three are within an hour by road.
Key facts
- Watts Bar Lake runs through Loudon, Roane, Rhea and Meigs counties.
- Kingston is the Roane County seat, where the Clinch River meets the Tennessee River.
- Harriman sits on the Emory River and was founded as a temperance town.
- Rockwood sits at the foot of Walden Ridge, with Watts Bar Lake along its south side.
- Tennessee National has a full-service marina with 140+ boat slips on Watts Bar Lake.
Most guides to Tennessee National point toward Farragut and Knoxville. That is fair. The airport, the hospitals and the big stores are that way.
But Watts Bar Lake runs the other direction too. Follow the water downstream from Loudon County and you reach Roane County and its three river towns: Kingston, Harriman and Rockwood. This is a guide to that side, by road and by boat.
Where is Roane County from Tennessee National?
It is the next county downstream, to the northwest. Watts Bar Lake is a long TVA reservoir on the Tennessee River that runs through Loudon, Roane, Rhea and Meigs counties. Tennessee National sits on the Loudon County stretch.
By road, Kingston is the closest of the three, roughly half an hour from the gate. Harriman and Rockwood are a little farther, and all three are within an hour. Check a map for your route.
| Town | Where it sits | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Kingston | Where the Clinch River meets the Tennessee River | County seat, lakefront parks, Fort Southwest Point |
| Harriman | On the Emory River, north of Kingston | Its start as a planned temperance town |
| Rockwood | At the foot of Walden Ridge, with the lake to the south | Iron-town roots and ridge views |
What is Kingston like?
Kingston is the practical county seat and the town with the most lake in it. It sits at the meeting of the Clinch and Tennessee rivers, and Watts Bar Lake wraps around it. The city park sits right on the water.
On land, Kingston has the courthouse, county offices, groceries and a small downtown. It also has history. Fort Southwest Point, a rebuilt frontier fort, overlooks the rivers. And Kingston likes to remind visitors that it served as Tennessee's state capital for a single day.
Our Kingston guide goes deeper.
What is Harriman like?
Harriman is the most unusual of the three. It was founded in the late 1800s as a planned temperance town, a place meant to prosper without alcohol. The old downtown still shows that ambition, and the nearby Cornstalk Heights neighborhood is lined with Victorian-era homes.
The Emory River bends around the old part of town. For an owner at Tennessee National, Harriman is a slow-afternoon trip. Drive over for lunch, walk the main street and look at the architecture.
What is Rockwood like?
Rockwood sits against Walden Ridge, the long escarpment that walls the Tennessee Valley off from the high plateau to the west. The town grew up around an iron company and keeps a working, unpretentious feel. Watts Bar Lake forms much of its southern edge.
The reason to go is the ridge. The highway west from Rockwood climbs it, and the Mount Roosevelt overlook above town looks back across the valley and the lake. One practical note: the Central time zone begins just west of Rockwood, so your phone may change the hour on top of the ridge.
Can you boat from Tennessee National to Kingston?
Yes. It is the same lake, with no dam or lock in between. Kingston is downstream on the main channel, where the Clinch River comes in.
How long the run takes depends on your boat and the conditions, so treat it as a real outing, not a quick hop. Before a first trip:
- Ask the marina staff about the route, fuel and where visiting boats can tie up.
- Carry a current chart and stay in the marked channel.
- Check the lake level. Summer pool runs about 740 to 741 feet and the winter minimum is 735 feet, a change of about 5 to 6 feet. TVA posts current levels. See Watts Bar Lake levels.
The Clinch and Emory arms are narrower than the main channel. They are a different kind of Watts Bar Lake, with closer banks and usually less boat traffic.
Tennessee National's full-service marina has 140+ boat slips. See marina and lake life and boat slips.
Why does the Roane side matter to a buyer?
Three reasons.
Boating range. A lake is only as good as the places you can go on it. Watts Bar Lake is a 72-mile navigable reservoir with more than 39,000 acres of water. Towns and river arms downstream are the difference between a lake you circle and a lake you explore.
Services in two directions. Farragut and Knoxville are the main draw. A county seat with groceries and hardware the other way is useful backup when you live at the lake full time.
Perspective. Driving the downstream towns is a good way to understand how big Watts Bar Lake is. It has 722 miles of shoreline, and the Tennessee National stretch is one small part of it.
What does a day on the Roane side look like?
A good first look is a day by car. It is an example, not a schedule.
- Kingston in the morning. Walk the waterfront and see the fort.
- Lunch in Harriman and a walk down the main street.
- Home by way of Rockwood and the ridge.
You will have seen the downstream side of your lake in one day. Oak Ridge is next door if you want to add a second trip. See the Oak Ridge day trip.
The honest trade-off
These are small towns. Shop hours can be short, and none of the three replaces Knoxville for hospitals, flights or big shopping. Confirm hours for the fort, the overlook and anything else you plan around.
A boat trip to Kingston also takes planning. Weather, lake level and daylight all matter, and it is a longer run than a sunset cruise. If you are new to the lake, make the first trip with someone who knows the channel.
Frequently asked questions
What counties does Watts Bar Lake touch?
Watts Bar Lake runs through Loudon, Roane, Rhea and Meigs counties in East Tennessee. Tennessee National sits on the Loudon County stretch of Watts Bar Lake. Roane County, with Kingston, Harriman and Rockwood, is the next county downstream.
How far is Kingston, Tennessee from Tennessee National?
Kingston is roughly half an hour by road from Tennessee National. Kingston is the Roane County seat and sits where the Clinch River meets the Tennessee River on Watts Bar Lake. Check a map for the best route from the gate.
Can you boat from Tennessee National to Kingston?
Yes. Tennessee National and Kingston are on the same lake, Watts Bar Lake, with no dam or lock between them. Ask the Tennessee National marina staff about the route, fuel and tie-up options, and check TVA's lake level page before a first trip.
What is Harriman, Tennessee known for?
Harriman, Tennessee is known for its founding as a planned temperance town in the late 1800s. Harriman sits on the Emory River in Roane County, and its old downtown and the Cornstalk Heights neighborhood still show buildings from that era. Harriman is within an hour of Tennessee National by road.
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.