The Complete Guide to Boating on Old Hickory Lake

Old Hickory Lake is the big one. At 22,000 acres with nearly 450 miles of shoreline winding through Hendersonville, Gallatin, Old Hickory, and Lebanon, it's significantly larger than Percy Priest and draws serious boaters from across the region. Bill's Used Boats in Hermitage is about 30 minutes from most Old Hickory marinas — making us the go-to dealer for boats for Old Hickory Lake.

The Basics

• Surface area: 22,000 acres
• Shoreline: approximately 450 miles
• Maximum depth: approximately 60 feet
• Formed by Old Hickory Dam on the Cumberland River
• Managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers Nashville District

Marinas on Old Hickory Lake

Blue Turtle Bay Marina (Old Hickory, TN) — Full-service marina with slip rentals, fuel dock, boat rentals, and ship's store on the western end.

Cedar Creek Marina (Mt. Juliet, TN) — Full-service, 25 minutes from Nashville. Wet slips up to 80 ft, fuel, boat rentals, restaurant and bar, lodging. Extremely popular on weekends.

Gallatin Marina (Gallatin, TN) — Slip rentals, fuel, ship's store, watersports rentals. Strong reputation for service on the northern lake.

Cherokee Marina and Campground (Lebanon, TN) — Full marina with covered docks, fuel, restaurant, RV campground, and launch facilities on the east end.

Best Spots on Old Hickory Lake

Cedar Creek Cove — Protected anchorage near Cedar Creek Marina. Great for family days and swimming off the boat.

Main channel between Gallatin and Lebanon — Wide open water, excellent for wake sports and high-speed cruising.

Old Hickory Beach — A real sandy beach on the lake. One of the most unique spots in Middle Tennessee.

Best Boats for Old Hickory Lake

Old Hickory's size and occasional chop means you want a boat with more capability than you'd need on a smaller lake.

• Tritoons — Our top recommendation for Old Hickory. The third tube makes a significant difference when the main channel builds a chop.
• Wake and surf boats — Old Hickory is one of Middle Tennessee's premier wake sports destinations.
• Bowriders — A 21 ft or larger bowrider works well on Old Hickory. Stay away from smaller boats on rough days.

Have questions about which boat is right for Old Hickory? Call us at (629) 245-2628.

Tips for Boating Old Hickory

• The lake is long and narrow in sections — use a navigation app, especially on the east end near Lebanon
• Wind builds quickly on the main channel — morning is best for watersports
• Old Hickory Beach gets extremely crowded on holiday weekends
• The lake has significant residential development — watch your wake near docks and shoreline homes