US lakes & ponds
Tennessee › Hamilton County › Chattanooga › Dallas Lake

Dallas Lake

Chattanooga · Soddy-Daisy · Dayton · Lakesite · Decatur, Tennessee — Hamilton County.

Share:TextEmailFacebookX
27,237Surface acres
19Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 139293038).

Location & fast facts

Where Dallas Lake is in Tennessee

The red circle marks Dallas Lake.

Fast facts

About Dallas Lake

  • Counties: Hamilton, Meigs, Rhea
  • Cities & towns on the shore: Chattanooga, Soddy-Daisy, Dayton, Lakesite, Decatur
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 26 mi from Chattanooga and 76 mi from Knoxville, 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. 19 public trailer launches listed (see access)
  • Swimming. 4 public beach or swim spots on the map (details)
  • Camping. 52 campgrounds within 15 mi, 6 on the shore (list)

Watch for

  • Non-native/invasive species. Zebra mussel, Eurasian watermilfoil and Whorled hydrilla 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.
  • No lifeguard listed. None of our sources lists a staffed lifeguard. Swim at your own risk and watch children closely.

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

Dallas Lake shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Skull Island Recreation Area (campground)Buffalo Run Area (campground)Eagles Point Area (campground)Smokemont Area (campground)Windy Hills Area (campground)Colonial RV Park (campground)Grasshopper Creek Campground (campground)Boat ramp (Boat launch)1Boat ramp (Boat launch)2Boat ramp (Boat launch)3Boat ramp (Boat launch)4Boat ramp (Boat launch)5Boat ramp (Boat launch)6Boat ramp (Boat launch)7Boat ramp (Boat launch)8Boat ramp (Boat launch)9Boat ramp (Boat launch)10Boat ramp (Boat launch)11Boat ramp (Boat launch)12Boat ramp (Boat launch)13Boat ramp (Boat launch)14Boat ramp (Boat launch)15Chickamauga Dam Marina (Boat launch)16Chickamauga Dam North Shore (Boat launch)17Harrison Bay, Intersection Harrison Bay Rd/Lasata Ln (Boat launch)18U.S. Coast Guard (Boat launch)19Chester Frost Park Beach (Beach)20Chickamauga Dam Beach (Beach)21Harrison Bay Park Beach (Beach)22Booker T. Washington Park Beach (Beach)231 mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launchBeach Campground
  1. 1Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  2. 2Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  3. 3Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  4. 4Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  5. 5Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  6. 6Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  7. 7Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  8. 8Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  9. 9Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  10. 10Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  11. 11Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Chattanooga
  12. 12Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  13. 13Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Chattanooga
  14. 14Boat ramp
    Boat launch · Soddy-Daisy
  15. 15Boat ramp
    Boat launch
  16. 16Chickamauga Dam Marina
    Boat launch · Chattanooga
  17. 17Chickamauga Dam North Shore
    Boat launch · Chattanooga
  18. 18Harrison Bay, Intersection Harrison Bay Rd/Lasata Ln
    Boat launch
  19. 19U.S. Coast Guard
    Boat launch · Chattanooga
  20. 20Chester Frost Park Beach
    Beach
  21. 21Chickamauga Dam Beach
    Beach
  22. 22Harrison Bay Park Beach
    Beach
  23. 23Booker T. Washington Park Beach
    Beach

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 139293038), 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 Dallas Lake

We found 52 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles of Dallas Lake, 23 of them within 5 miles. 6 are right on the shore. Distances are straight-line from the nearest point on the shoreline, so driving distance is longer.

14 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 Dallas Lake, 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 (35.3576, -85.0484). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Dallas Lake. 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 Dallas Lake

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 ET (America/New_York), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    19 public access sites listed, 19 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating35.4791, -84.9746
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating35.5461, -84.8012
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating35.2828, -85.1242
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating35.1829, -85.1506
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating35.4096, -84.9856
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating35.2161, -85.0755
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating35.4890, -84.9007
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating35.1366, -85.1228
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating35.1312, -85.1443
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp—No feeBoating35.1407, -85.1746
    Boat rampChattanooga—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating35.1078, -85.2166
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating35.1218, -85.1468
    Boat rampChattanooga—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating35.1191, -85.1950
    Boat rampSoddy-Daisy—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating35.2762, -85.1313
    Boat ramp——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating35.4768, -84.9499
    Chickamauga Dam MarinaChattanooga—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp—No feeBoating35.0976, -85.2197
    Chickamauga Dam North ShoreChattanooga—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp—No feeBoating35.1072, -85.2240
    Harrison Bay, Intersection Harrison Bay Rd/Lasata Ln——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp—No feeBoating35.1621, -85.1073
    U.S. Coast GuardChattanooga—Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating35.0967, -85.2090

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

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

    Public beaches

    On OpenStreetMap: 4 beaches and swimming spots on the shore of Dallas Lake not marked private, residents-only or members-only.

    BeachTypeAccessDirections
    Chester Frost Park BeachBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions
    Chickamauga Dam BeachBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions
    Harrison Bay Park BeachBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions
    Booker T. Washington Park BeachBeachAccess not tagged; check posted rulesGet directions

    Beaches: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), within about 150 m (500 ft) of the lake outline. A mapped beach is not a guarantee that swimming is allowed, supervised or safe; some town beaches need a resident sticker even when the map doesn't say so. Check posted rules and water-quality advisories before you swim.

    Non-native/invasive species

    Reported on or near Dallas Lake

    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 Dallas Lake

    How big is Dallas Lake?

    Dallas Lake covers about 27,237 acres in Chattanooga, Soddy-Daisy, Dayton and Lakesite, Tennessee (Hamilton County).

    Is there a public boat launch on Dallas Lake?

    Yes. 19 public trailer launches are listed: Boat ramp, Boat ramp and Boat ramp. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    Can you swim in Dallas Lake?

    OpenStreetMap shows 4 public beach or swimming spots on the shore. None of our sources lists a lifeguard, so swim at your own risk and follow posted rules.

    Are there campgrounds near Dallas Lake?

    Yes. We list 52 campgrounds and RV parks within 15 miles, 23 of them within 5 miles.

    What towns are on Dallas Lake?

    Dallas Lake touches Chattanooga, Soddy-Daisy, Dayton, Lakesite and Decatur in Hamilton County, Meigs County and Rhea County, Tennessee.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Dallas Lake? 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 Chattanooga