Fontana-Lake
has the highest dam in the Tennessee Valley Authority System, and ranks among the most beautiful in the world. It's located 35 miles west of Bryson City and is surrounded by the Great Smoky Mountains, national forests and deep river gorges. Part of the Appalachian Trail crosses the top of Fontana Dam, which wasn't designed as an overflow dam, so it has a distinct appearance, with no water spilling over the top of it. Water is, instead, released through spillways downstream from the base of the dam. Fontana Lake is 29 miles long and has more than 240 miles of shoreline - most of which has not been developed, with more than 90 percent of it being owned by either the National Park Service or the U.S. Forest Service. Fishing is excellent in Fontana Lake, due to its' deep, cold waters that provide the ideal habitat for many species of fish. Boat docks and launching ramps are located at various sites around Fontana Lake, and other activities in the area include swimming, water skiing, hiking and horseback riding. History buffs also love Fontana Lake. When it was built, communities like Hazel Creek and Sugar Fork were cut off from the outside world because the lake covered their only access road. Today, some of the old cemeteries, chimneys and roads of the towns still remain. Also, "The Road to Nowhere" is a six-mile scenic drive that provides spectacular views of Fontana Lake and the Appalachian Mountains. It was originally meant to be a road for the residents who had to give up their homes when the dam was built to have access to their ancestral gravesites, but the government never completed it.
Surrounding areas: Stecoah, North Carolina (8.6 mi), Robbinsville, North Carolina (9.0 mi), Nantahala, North Carolina (13.8 mi), Almond, North Carolina (14.7 mi), Nantahala Gorge, North Carolina (15.2 mi), Topton, North Carolina (15.4 mi), Andrews, North Carolina (17.4 mi)
|
|
Fontana Lake Vacation Rentals
|
|
|
|
|
Fontana Lake Weather & Climate
|
|
|
|
The Mountains of North Carolina range from 800 feet to over 6,600 feet and topography affects the local weather. Expect temperatures to be 10 to 20 degrees cooler on the mountaintops. Spring is unpredictable, particularly at the higher elevations. Snow may fall in March, but by May, things warm up with daytime highs in the 80s. Summer is warm and humid, but more pleasant at the higher elevations. Afternoon showers and thunderstorms are common in the summertime. Winter is generally moderate, but extreme conditions can occur in the mountains. It's not unusual to have warm temperatures in the valleys and snow in the higher areas. In the lowlands, snows of one inch or more occur just 1-5 times per year. More frequent and deeper snows fall at the higher elevations.
|
| Month |
High Temp |
Low Temp |
Rainfall |
Ocean Temp |
| January |
50°F |
29°F |
5.82 in. |
- |
| February |
54°F |
31°F |
5.21 in. |
- |
| March |
63°F |
38°F |
6.28 in. |
- |
| April |
72°F |
44°F |
4.76 in. |
- |
| May |
78°F |
52°F |
5.63 in. |
- |
| June |
84°F |
59°F |
5.56 in. |
- |
| July |
87°F |
62°F |
5.61 in. |
- |
| August |
86°F |
62°F |
4.10 in. |
- |
| September |
80°F |
57°F |
4.15 in. |
- |
| October |
71°F |
46°F |
3.23 in. |
- |
| November |
61°F |
38°F |
4.58 in. |
- |
| December |
53°F |
32°F |
5.10 in. |
- |
|
Fontana Lake Map & Transportation
|
|
|
 |
|
| Click each thumbnail image to enlarge. |
 |
|
 |
 |
The closest airports in the area are the Mc Ghee Tyson airport (TYS) located about 26 miles northwest of Fontana Lake in Knoxville, Tennessee, the Gatlinburg Pigeon Forge airport (GKT) located approximately 32 miles northeast of Fontana Lake in Sevierville, Tennessee, the Moore Murrell airport (MOR) located roughly 55 miles northeast of Fontana Lake in Morristown, Tennessee, the Asheville Regional airport (AVL) located around 71 miles east of Fontana Lake in Asheville, North Carolina, and finally the Greeneville Greene County Municipal airport (GCY) located about 75 miles northeast of Fontana Lake in Greeneville, Tennessee.
|
|
Fontana Lake Attractions
|
|
|
| | | Amusement and Theme Parks |
| Dollywood | Pigeon Forge | TN | 27.2 mi. | | | Rockin' Raceway | Pigeon Forge | TN | 27.2 mi. | | | Cherokee Fun Park | Cherokee | NC | 27.6 mi. | | | Santa's Land | Cherokee | NC | 27.6 mi. | | | NASCAR SpeedPark | Sevierville | TN | 31.8 mi. | | | Ghost Town in the Sky | Maggie Valley | NC | 40.1 mi. | | | Lake Winnepesaukah | Rossville | GA | 89.8 mi. | |
| | | Water Parks |
| Lake Lanier Island Beach & Water Park | Lake Lanier Island | GA | 89.1 mi. | | | White Water Park | Marietta | GA | 112.1 mi. | |
| | | Golf Courses |
| Laurel Valley Country Club | Townsend | TN | 15.7 mi. | | | Golf Club | Maryville | TN | 22.6 mi. | | | Lambert Acres Golf Club | Maryville | TN | 22.6 mi. | | | Royal Oaks Country Club | Maryville | TN | 22.6 mi. | | | Smoky Mountain Country Club | Whittier | NC | 25.1 mi. | | | Rarity Bay on Lake Tellico | Vonore | TN | 26.3 mi. | | | Egwani Farms Golf Course | Rockford | TN | 26.5 mi. | | | Pine Lakes Golf Club | Rockford | TN | 26.5 mi. | | | Gatlinburg Municipal Golf Course | Pigeon Forge | TN | 27.2 mi. | | | Chatuge Shores Golf Course | Hayesville | NC | 28.1 mi. | | | Cherokee Hills Golf & Country Club | Murphy | NC | 28.1 mi. | | | Mountain Harbour Golf & Yacht Club | Hayesville | NC | 28.1 mi. | |
| | | Ski Areas |
| Cataloochee | Maggie Valley | NC | 40.1 mi. | | | Scaly Mountain | Scaly Mountain | NC | 41.1 mi. | | | Ski Wolf Laurel | Mars Hill | NC | 75.2 mi. | | | Ski Beech | Banner Elk | NC | 119.1 mi. | | | Sugar Mountain Ski Area | Banner Elk | NC | 119.1 mi. | |
| | | State Parks |
| Chatuge State Park | | GA | 34.1 mi. | |
| | | Museums |
| Sequoyah Birthplace Museum | Vonore | TN | 26.4 mi. | (History) | | East Tennessee Discovery Center | Knoxville | TN | 35.7 mi. | (Science) | | Ewing Gallery of Art & Architecture | Knoxville | TN | 35.7 mi. | (Art) | | Knoxville Museum of Art | Knoxville | TN | 35.7 mi. | (Art) | | East Tennessee Historical Society Museum | Knoxville | TN | 35.7 mi. | (History) | | Farragut Folklife Museum | Farragut | TN | 35.7 mi. | (History) | | American Museum of Science and Energy | Oak Ridge | TN | 46.6 mi. | (Science) |
| | | Zoos and Aquariums |
| Knoxville Zoological Gardens | Knoxville | TN | 35.7 mi. | | | Western North Carolina Nature Center | Asheville | NC | 71.2 mi. | | | Tennessee Aquarium | Chattanooga | TN | 89.5 mi. | | | Warner Park Zoo | Chattanooga | TN | 89.5 mi. | | | Greenville Zoo | Greenville | SC | 89.9 mi. | |
Notice a problem with the information on this page? Please notify us.
|
Disclaimer: We recommend you conduct your own research regarding all accomodations and attractions found on this website. The distances shown on this website are straight-line distances as the crow flies. The road distance may be considerably longer. You assume all liability for use of any information found on this website. No information is confirmed or warranted in any way. By using our services you agree to the terms and conditions of this disclaimer.
|
| We are the #1 site for your North Carolina Vacation presenting North Carolina vacation rentals, hotels, weather and map for each city. |
North Carolina Vacation .com
©1997-2010 All Rights Reserved.
|
|
