Tennessee National vs Lake Lanier: How Do They Compare?

If you live in metro Atlanta, Lake Lanier is the lake you already know. Tennessee National is a different kind of choice: one private, gated lake and golf community on Watts Bar Lake in Loudon, Tennessee, about 30 minutes from Knoxville.

So the real question is not which lake is better. It is which plan is yours. Weekends close to home, or a place you could live.

What is the main difference between Lake Lanier and Tennessee National?

Lake Lanier is a whole lake you shop, and Tennessee National is one community on a lake. Around Lanier you pick a house or lot from many separate neighborhoods, then decide where the boat lives and where you play golf. At Tennessee National the golf course, the marina and the social calendar are already inside the gates.

Details about Lake Lanier change. Confirm current lake levels, dock rules and listings with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a local agent before you decide.

How far is each one from Atlanta?

Lake Lanier is the close one. It sits on the north side of the metro area, which makes it a natural weekend lake for Atlanta.

Tennessee National is about three hours from Atlanta, nearly all of it on I-75. The gate is about 10 minutes from the interstate. That is too far for a Tuesday evening boat ride. It works for a long weekend, and it is a simple route if you are relocating or splitting your year. The Atlanta buyer's guide covers the drive.

If you would rather fly in for a first look, McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) is about 35 minutes from the gate.

How do the two lakes compare on the water?

Both are large freshwater reservoirs with marinas, coves and open water. The difference is who runs them and what surrounds them.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built Lake Lanier on the Chattahoochee River and still runs it. The Corps manages the lake level and sets the rules for docks and shoreline. Ask the Corps office for the lake how both work before you fall for a listing.

Watts Bar Lake is a TVA reservoir on the Tennessee River, with more than 39,000 acres of water and 722 miles of shoreline. It is a 72-mile navigable reservoir, and locks connect it to the rest of the Tennessee River system. The level changes about 5 to 6 feet between summer and winter. TVA posts current levels on its lake level page.

At Tennessee National the marina is inside the gates: full service, with 140+ boat slips. Ask the marina what is open now. If a private dock matters to you, ask what is possible on a specific waterfront homesite and what TVA requires. Do not assume, on either lake.

What about golf and neighbors?

Tennessee National has one golf course, a Greg Norman Signature design inside the gates: 18 holes, 7,393 yards, par 72. It is a golf cart community, so people get around by cart. Golf membership questions go to the club. Start with the golf page.

The social side is the part photos miss. There are 22 social clubs and 180+ events a year, from trivia and live music to wine tastings and holiday parties. You do not have to build a social life from scratch.

Around Lake Lanier, golf and social life depend on the neighborhood you choose. Some buyers like choosing each piece themselves. Ask each neighborhood what it includes.

What drives the cost at each?

On any open lake, price follows the water. Does the lot touch it? Is a dock in place or allowed? How old is the house, and how close is it to the city? A local agent can show you how those pieces price out around Lanier today.

At Tennessee National, cost depends on what you buy. There are five ways to own: a wooded homesite in The Timbers, a lake homesite, a waterfront homesite, a Land & Home package or a townhome. Finished homes are listed on the properties page. Homes are custom built and go through design review, and there is no deadline to build after you buy a homesite. Pricing is in the info pack.

Then there is the state line. Tennessee has no state income tax. Georgia's rules are different. Ask each county about property tax, and ask a CPA to run your numbers both ways.

Who should look at Lake Lanier?

Look at Lake Lanier if your plan keeps you in Atlanta. For example:

• You will use the place mostly on weekends and want a short drive.
• You plan to keep working in the metro area for years.
• You want to choose from many existing homes and neighborhoods.
• Your friends already spend their summers there.

If a mountain lake is more your speed, we also compare Tennessee National and Lake Burton.

Who should look at Tennessee National?

Look at Tennessee National if you want the lake to come with a community. For example:

• You want golf, a marina and a clubhouse inside one gate.
• You are planning a move or a split year more than a weekend routine.
• You want Knoxville, an airport and I-75 close by.
• You would rather build a custom home on your own schedule.

Tennessee National is not age restricted. It is open to buyers of any age.

What should you check in person?

Check the things a listing cannot show you. Spend a day at each place and do the same five things.

1. Drive it at the hour you would really drive it. Friday evening for a weekend place. A weekday morning for a commute.
2. Ask who controls the shoreline. On Lanier that is the Corps. On Watts Bar it is TVA. Ask what a dock would take.
3. Ask where the boat will live and what is open right now.
4. Ask what is included and what you would drive to: golf, pool, fitness, dining.
5. Get the costs in writing: price, HOA or club fees, slip or dock costs, property tax and insurance.

Then go back on a plain weekday in the off-season. That is what most of your year will look like.

The honest trade-off

Tennessee National cannot beat Lake Lanier on distance from Atlanta. If the plan is Saturday mornings on the water and Monday mornings at an office in Georgia, Lanier fits that plan better.

Tennessee National fits a different plan. It is 1,492 gated acres where the course, the marina and the neighbors are already in place, about 30 minutes from Knoxville. Make the drive once and see which plan feels like yours.

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.