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Cordell Hull Reservoir

Gainesboro, Tennessee — Jackson County.

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11,632Surface acres
20Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 136980770).

Location & fast facts

Where Cordell Hull Reservoir is in Tennessee

The red circle marks Cordell Hull Reservoir.

Fast facts

About Cordell Hull Reservoir

  • Counties: Jackson, Smith, Clay
  • City or town on the shore: Gainesboro
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 63 mi from Nashville and 94 mi from Chattanooga, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (Tennessee: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in Tennessee

Official TWRA pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 20 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Camping. 14 campgrounds within 15 mi, 5 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Eurasian watermilfoil recorded. Clean, drain and dry your boat and gear.
  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Lake map

Cordell Hull Reservoir shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Defeated Creek Campground (campground)Salt Lick Creek Campground (campground)Salt Lick Campground (campground)Granville Recreation Area / Indian Creek Campground (campground)Two Prong Backcountry Campground (campground)Boat ramp (Boat launch)1Boat ramp (Boat launch)2Boat ramp (Boat launch)3Boat ramp (Boat launch)4Buffalo Ramp (Boat launch)5Defeated Creek Campground Boat Ramp (Boat launch)6Defeated Creek Marina Boat Ramp (Boat launch)7Defeated Creek Recreation Area Boat Ramp (Boat launch)8High School Ramp (Boat launch)9Hollemans Bend Boat Ramp (Boat launch)10Horseshoe Bend Ramp (Boat launch)11Indian Creek Campground (Boat launch)12Martins Creek Boat Ramp (Boat launch)13Roaring River Park (Boat launch)14Salt Lick Park (Boat launch)15Smith's Bend Boat Ramp (Boat launch)16Sullivans Bend Boat Ramp (Boat launch)17Sullivans Bend Ramp 2 (Boat launch)18Wartrace Park (Boat launch)19Whites Bend Boat Ramp (Boat launch)201 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch Campground
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  2. 2Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Gainesboro
  3. 3Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  4. 4Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  5. 5Buffalo Ramp
    Boat launch · Gainesboro
  6. 6Defeated Creek Campground Boat Ramp
    Boat launch
  7. 7Defeated Creek Marina Boat Ramp
    Boat launch
  8. 8Defeated Creek Recreation Area Boat Ramp
    Boat launch
  9. 9High School Ramp
    Boat launch · Gainesboro
  10. 10Hollemans Bend Boat Ramp
    Boat launch · Gainesboro
  11. 11Horseshoe Bend Ramp
    Boat launch · Gainesboro
  12. 12Indian Creek Campground
    Boat launch · Gainesboro
  13. 13Martins Creek Boat Ramp
    Boat launch · Gainesboro
  14. 14Roaring River Park
    Boat launch · Gainesboro
  15. 15Salt Lick Park
    Boat launch · Gainesboro
  16. 16Smith's Bend Boat Ramp
    Boat launch · Gainesboro
  17. 17Sullivans Bend Boat Ramp
    Boat launch · Gainesboro
  18. 18Sullivans Bend Ramp 2
    Boat launch · Gainesboro
  19. 19Wartrace Park
    Boat launch · Gainesboro
  20. 20Whites Bend Boat Ramp
    Boat launch · Gainesboro

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 136980770), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: TWRA boating and fishing access sites and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Campgrounds near Cordell Hull Reservoir

We found 14 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Cordell Hull Reservoir, 5 of them within 5 miles. 5 are right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

8 more within 15 miles

All campgrounds & RV parks in Tennessee

Green tent icons on the lake map mark campgrounds near the shore, and the interactive map shows the closest 12. Amenities are listed only where a source records them; call or check the campground's website before you go, since seasons and rates change every year.

Campground data: Recreation.gov (RIDB) · OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Pulled Oct 12, 2026.

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Cordell Hull Reservoir, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

Car rental links go to our partner Discover Cars; LakeRipple may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (36.3670, -85.6844). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Cordell Hull Reservoir. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Cordell Hull Reservoir

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    20 public access sites listed, 20 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating36.3038, -85.9268
    Boat rampGainesboro—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating36.3768, -85.6323
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating36.2946, -85.9436
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating36.2555, -85.8006
    Buffalo RampGainesboroUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—No feeBoating36.3106, -85.8751
    Defeated Creek Campground Boat Ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating36.3006, -85.9071
    Defeated Creek Marina Boat Ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating36.3038, -85.9078
    Defeated Creek Recreation Area Boat Ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating36.3139, -85.9070
    High School RampGainesboroUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—No feeBoating36.3799, -85.6657
    Hollemans Bend Boat RampGainesboroUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—No feeBoating36.3166, -85.7927
    Horseshoe Bend RampGainesboroUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—No feeBoating36.2963, -85.9433
    Indian Creek CampgroundGainesboroUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—FeeBoating36.2416, -85.7976
    Martins Creek Boat RampGainesboroUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—No feeBoating36.2509, -85.7810
    Roaring River ParkGainesboroUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—No feeBoating36.3743, -85.6414
    Salt Lick ParkGainesboroUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—FeeBoating36.3227, -85.7852
    Smith's Bend Boat RampGainesboroUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—No feeBoating36.3237, -85.7827
    Sullivans Bend Boat RampGainesboroUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—No feeBoating36.2956, -85.8688
    Sullivans Bend Ramp 2GainesboroUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—No feeBoating36.2987, -85.8715
    Wartrace ParkGainesboroUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—FeeBoating36.3602, -85.7724
    Whites Bend Boat RampGainesboroUSACEBoat ramp · Yes ramp—No feeBoating36.3499, -85.7347

    TWRA boating and fishing access sites and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Cordell Hull Reservoir

    Clean, Drain, Dry. Remove plants and mud, drain all water, and dry your boat, trailer and gear before moving to another water.

    USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database

    USGS records matched to this water by location (within about 150 m of the outline) or by the place name in the record. A record shows a sighting was reported; it doesn't prove the species is still there. As of Oct 10, 2026.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Cordell Hull Reservoir

    How big is Cordell Hull Reservoir?

    Cordell Hull Reservoir covers about 11,632 acres in Gainesboro, Tennessee (Jackson County).

    Is there a public boat launch on Cordell Hull Reservoir?

    Yes. 20 public trailer launches are listed: Whites Bend Boat Ramp, Smith's Bend Boat Ramp and Martins Creek Boat Ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Cordell Hull Reservoir?

    Yes. We list 14 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 5 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Cordell Hull Reservoir?

    Cordell Hull Reservoir touches Gainesboro in Jackson County, Smith County and Clay County, Tennessee.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Cordell Hull Reservoir? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All Tennessee lakes & ponds · All waters in Gainesboro