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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 (15.3 mi), Andrews, North Carolina (17.4 mi)

Fontana Lake Vacation Rentals




Fontana Lake Hotels and Resorts

 
Hotels & Motels
Microtel Inn & Suites Robbinsville107 Rodney Orr By-PassRobbinsville, NC9.0 mi.(828) 479-6772
San-ran MotelRobbinsville, NC9.0 mi.(828) 479-3256
Docks Motel8219 State Hwy 73Townsend, TN15.6 mi.(865) 448-2234
Highland Manor Inn7766 E Lamar Alexander PkwyTownsend, TN15.7 mi.(800) 213-9462
Family Inns Of America7239 E Lamar Alexander PkwyTownsend, TN15.8 mi.(423) 488-9100
Comfort Inn Parkside7824 E Lamar Alexander PkwyTownsend, TN15.9 mi.(865) 448-9000
Hampton Inn7829 E Lamar Alexander PkwyTownsend, TN15.9 mi.(865) 448-9000
Andrews Valley InnBeavercreek RdAndrews, NC17.4 mi.(888) 777-7901
Charleston Inn208 Arlington AveBryson City, NC20.1 mi.(828) 488-4644
Nantahala Village Mountain Resort9400 Hwy 19 WestBryson City, NC20.2 mi.(828) 488-2826
Sleep Inn500 SPG StBryson City, NC20.2 mi.(828) 488-0326
Budget Inn218 Washington StMaryville, TN23.0 mi.(865) 984-2300
American Classic Suites805 Foothills Mall DrMaryville, TN23.3 mi.(865) 983-9839
Executive Lodge Motel215 S Hall RdAlcoa, TN23.5 mi.(865) 984-9958
Ela Motor Court5280 Ela RdBryson City, NC23.8 mi.(828) 488-2284
Gazebo Inn417 Airport RdGatlinburg, TN23.8 mi.(865) 436-2222
Quality Inn Creekside125 Leconte Creek DrGatlinburg, TN23.8 mi.(865) 436-4865
Shoney's Inn & Suites515 Airport RdGatlinburg, TN23.8 mi.(865) 436-5883
Lloyd's On The River5370 Ela RdBryson City, NC23.9 mi.(828) 488-3767
Fairfield Inn Gatlinburg680 River RdGatlinburg, TN23.9 mi.(800) 228-2800
Jack Huff's Motor Lodge204 Cherokee Orchard RdGatlinburg, TN23.9 mi.(865) 436-5171
Park Vista Resort Hotel705 Cherokee Orchard RdGatlinburg, TN23.9 mi.(865) 436-9211
Microtel211 Airport RdGatlinburg, TN24.0 mi.(865) 436-0107
Econo Lodge Inn & Suites135 Reagan DrGatlinburg, TN24.1 mi.(865) 436-7991
Econolodge Downtown247 Newton LnGatlinburg, TN24.2 mi.(865) 436-6626
Clarion Inn & Suites1100 PkwyGatlinburg, TN24.5 mi.(865) 436-5656
Comfort Inn293 PkwyGatlinburg, TN24.5 mi.(865) 436-5047
Econo Lodge Belle Aire405 Historic Nature TrlGatlinburg, TN24.5 mi.(865) 436-5836
Fairfield Inn And Suites Gatlinburg North168 PkwyGatlinburg, TN24.5 mi.(800) 228-2800
Family Inn Suites-gatlinburg218 Ski MT RdGatlinburg, TN24.5 mi.(865) 436-3300
Howard Johnsons1109 PkwyGatlinburg, TN24.5 mi.(865) 436-5811
MT Heritage Inn575 Riv RdGatlinburg, TN24.5 mi.(800) 343-7953
Quality Inn938 PkwyGatlinburg, TN24.5 mi.(865) 436-5607
Red Oak Lodge436 East PkwyGatlinburg, TN24.5 mi.(865) 430-3228
River Terrace Resort And Convention Center240 Riv RdGatlinburg, TN24.5 mi.(865) 436-5161
Rodeway Inn Skyland223 East PkwyGatlinburg, TN24.5 mi.(865) 436-5821
Sleep Inn & Suites335 E PkwyGatlinburg, TN24.7 mi.(865) 436-9945
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites130 Associates BlvdAlcoa, TN25.1 mi.(865) 981-9008
Jameson Inn206 Corporate PlAlcoa, TN25.1 mi.(865) 984-6800
Mainstay Suites361 Fountain View CirAlcoa, TN25.1 mi.(865) 379-7799
 
Bed & Breakfast
Angels Landing Inn94 Campbell StMurphy, NC28.3 mi.(828) 835-8877

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

Main viewing image.
 
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
DollywoodPigeon ForgeTN27.1 mi.
Rockin' RacewayPigeon ForgeTN27.1 mi.
Cherokee Fun ParkCherokeeNC27.6 mi.
Santa's LandCherokeeNC27.6 mi.
NASCAR SpeedParkSeviervilleTN31.8 mi.
Ghost Town in the SkyMaggie ValleyNC40.0 mi.
Lake WinnepesaukahRossvilleGA89.7 mi.
 
Water Parks
Lake Lanier Island Beach & Water ParkLake Lanier IslandGA89.0 mi.
White Water ParkMariettaGA112.0 mi.
 
Golf Courses
Laurel Valley Country ClubTownsendTN15.6 mi.
Golf ClubMaryvilleTN22.5 mi.
Lambert Acres Golf ClubMaryvilleTN22.5 mi.
Royal Oaks Country ClubMaryvilleTN22.5 mi.
Smoky Mountain Country ClubWhittierNC25.1 mi.
Rarity Bay on Lake TellicoVonoreTN26.2 mi.
Egwani Farms Golf CourseRockfordTN26.5 mi.
Pine Lakes Golf ClubRockfordTN26.5 mi.
Gatlinburg Municipal Golf CoursePigeon ForgeTN27.2 mi.
Chatuge Shores Golf CourseHayesvilleNC28.1 mi.
Cherokee Hills Golf & Country ClubMurphyNC28.1 mi.
Mountain Harbour Golf & Yacht ClubHayesvilleNC28.1 mi.
 
Ski Areas
CataloocheeMaggie ValleyNC40.0 mi.
Scaly MountainScaly MountainNC41.1 mi.
Ski Wolf LaurelMars HillNC75.1 mi.
Ski BeechBanner ElkNC118.9 mi.
Sugar Mountain Ski AreaBanner ElkNC118.9 mi.
 
State Parks
Chatuge State ParkGA34.0 mi. 
 
Museums
Sequoyah Birthplace MuseumVonoreTN26.3 mi.(History)
East Tennessee Discovery CenterKnoxvilleTN35.7 mi.(Science)
Ewing Gallery of Art & ArchitectureKnoxvilleTN35.7 mi.(Art)
Knoxville Museum of ArtKnoxvilleTN35.7 mi.(Art)
East Tennessee Historical Society MuseumKnoxvilleTN35.7 mi.(History)
Farragut Folklife MuseumFarragutTN35.7 mi.(History)
American Museum of Science and EnergyOak RidgeTN46.5 mi.(Science)
 
Zoos and Aquariums
Knoxville Zoological GardensKnoxvilleTN35.7 mi.
Western North Carolina Nature CenterAshevilleNC71.1 mi.
Tennessee AquariumChattanoogaTN89.5 mi.
Warner Park ZooChattanoogaTN89.5 mi.
Greenville ZooGreenvilleSC89.8 mi.


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