The short answer
Tennessee National is a private, gated lake and golf community on 1,492 acres on Watts Bar Lake in Loudon, Tennessee, about 30 minutes from Knoxville. It has one Greg Norman Signature golf course, a full-service marina with 140+ boat slips and 22 social clubs. Tennessee National is not age restricted, and there is no deadline to build after you buy a homesite.
Key facts
- Tennessee National is 1,492 gated acres on Watts Bar Lake in Loudon, Tennessee.
- Knoxville is about 30 minutes away. McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) is about 35 minutes away.
- One Greg Norman Signature golf course: 18 holes, 7,393 yards, par 72.
- A full-service marina with 140+ boat slips.
- Not age restricted. Open to buyers of any age.
- No deadline to build after you buy a homesite. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Most buyers ask the same questions on the first phone call. This page answers them in one place, in order, with facts you can check. Read it before you visit, so the visit can be about the land and the people instead of the basics.
Where a number changes often, such as a price or a fee, this page tells you where to get the current one.
Where is Tennessee National?
Tennessee National is in Loudon, Tennessee, in Loudon County, East Tennessee. The community is on Watts Bar Lake. The address is 8301 Tennessee National Drive, Loudon, TN 37774.
The nearest city is Knoxville. Nashville is about two and a half hours west, in a different part of the state.
How far is Tennessee National from Knoxville and the airport?
Tennessee National is about 30 minutes from Knoxville. McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) is about 35 minutes away.
| Place | About how far |
|---|---|
| Loudon | 5 minutes |
| I-75 | 10 minutes |
| Lenoir City | 15 minutes |
| Farragut and Turkey Creek shopping | 20 minutes |
| Knoxville | 30 minutes |
| McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) | 35 minutes |
| Great Smoky Mountains | About an hour |
| Chattanooga | About an hour and a quarter |
How far is Tennessee National from Knoxville? breaks down the drive.
What lake is Tennessee National on?
Watts Bar Lake. It is a TVA reservoir on the Tennessee River, freshwater, with more than 39,000 acres of water and 722 miles of shoreline. It is a 72-mile navigable reservoir, with locks that connect to the rest of the Tennessee River system.
The lake level changes 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. TVA posts current levels.
Is there a marina, and can you have your own dock?
Yes, there is a full-service marina inside the gates, with 140+ boat slips. Ask the marina about current slip availability. The boat slips page has details.
A private dock is a different question. Watts Bar Lake is a TVA lake, and TVA requires a permit for docks and other shoreline construction. Whether a dock is possible at a specific homesite is a question for TVA and the land consultant. Get the answer in writing before you buy.
What is inside the gates?
1,492 gated acres, and a lot to do on them:
- A Greg Norman Signature golf course. 18 holes, 7,393 yards, par 72. There is one course.
- A full-service marina with 140+ boat slips.
- A clubhouse with Kendall's restaurant.
- A pool, a fitness center, pickleball, tennis and walking trails.
- A lakefront boardwalk in the Marina District.
- 22 social clubs and 180+ events a year. Trivia, live music and wine tastings are examples.
It is also a golf cart community. Residents use carts to get around inside the gates.
Is Tennessee National age restricted?
No. Tennessee National is not age restricted. It is open to buyers of any age.
Do you have to golf to live at Tennessee National?
No, nobody has to play golf. The lake, the marina, the trails, the courts and the social calendar are there for people who never pick up a club.
Membership is a separate question. Golf membership questions go to the club, so ask the club what is offered, what is required and what, if anything, comes with owning property. The golf page has the course details.
What can you buy at Tennessee National?
There are five ways to own.
| Way to own | What it is |
|---|---|
| The Timbers | Wooded homesites |
| Lake homesites | Homesites named for their lake setting |
| Waterfront homesites | Homesites named for the waterfront. Ask where the property line sits |
| Land & Home packages | A homesite and a home offered as a package. Ask what is included |
| Townhomes | Attached homes |
Homes are custom built. Finished homes are listed on the properties page.
Is there a deadline to build?
No. There is no deadline to build after you buy a homesite. You can hold the land and build when you are ready.
When you do build, plans go through design review. Ask for the current design guidelines before you hire a designer.
Is there an HOA?
Yes. Tennessee National has an HOA, and homes go through design review. The dues, what they cover and the rules are in the current HOA documents. Ask the land consultant for the current set. How to review HOA documents and CC&Rs shows what to read.
What does it cost?
It depends on what you buy and where it sits. Setting, view, slope and distance from the water all move the price of a homesite. A finished home is priced as a whole. Ask how a Land & Home package is priced and what the price includes.
We do not print prices or fees here because they change. Pricing is in the info pack. For dues, ask for the current HOA budget. For property taxes, ask the county. Tennessee has no state income tax.
What this page cannot tell you
A page of answers gets you the basics. It cannot tell you whether the place fits.
Three things only a visit answers. How the drive feels at the hour you would make it. Which homesite you keep walking back to. Whether the people you meet at the clubhouse or the marina feel like neighbors.
The honest trade-off is the one every lake community has. You will drive about 30 minutes for a city night out, a flight or a specialist. If that sounds fine, bring the questions this page did not answer and ask for the current documents in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tennessee National near Nashville?
No. Tennessee National is in East Tennessee, about 30 minutes from Knoxville. Nashville is about two and a half hours west of Tennessee National, in a different region of the state.
Can you buy at Tennessee National from out of state?
Yes. You do not have to live in Tennessee to buy at Tennessee National. Ask the land consultant and the closing attorney or title company which steps can be handled remotely and which are better done in person, such as walking the homesite.
Are there finished homes for sale at Tennessee National?
Finished homes at Tennessee National are listed on the properties page. Availability changes, so check the page or ask the land consultant. Homesites, Land & Home packages and townhomes are the other ways to own at Tennessee National.
How do you contact Tennessee National?
Tennessee National is at 8301 Tennessee National Drive, Loudon, TN 37774. The phone number is (865) 408-9992. You can also request the info pack or schedule a visit through the Tennessee National website.
Does Tennessee have a state income tax?
No. Tennessee has no state income tax. Property taxes are set locally, so ask Loudon County for current figures on a Tennessee National property, and ask a CPA how a move would change your own taxes.
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.