Chattanooga Area Beaches

Summer break is in full swing, and I have one thing on my mind: the beach! Summertime and the beach go hand in hand, but we all know sometimes it’s just not possible to make it all the way to the coast during the warmer months. Don’t fret! Chattanooga has some local beaches where you can stick your toes in the sand and enjoy the view of our beautiful lakes!

Chattanooga Area Beaches

Chickamauga Dam: The Chickamauga Dam has a great beach area on the lakeside for your family to enjoy! Along with the small beach, there’s a great playground, picnic tables, a large bathroom, grills, river walk, and more! The lake area is roped off several yards out to keep little ones from getting too far.

Chester Frost Park: Perhaps the most well-known beach in Chattanooga, Chester Frost Park is the perfect spot to enjoy your summer break! It has a large beach at its swimming area, along with a playground, campgrounds, pavilions, docks, and more! This area is known to be crowded, so plan accordingly.

Harrison Bay State Park: While there isn’t a large beach at Harrison Bay, you can find nice spots to lounge along the Chickamauga Lake at this beautiful park.

Booker T. Washington State Park: This is another beautiful state park on the Chickamauga Lake where you can find a small beach area to set up your chairs for the day.

Watts Bar Dam: If you’re in the Dayton, TN area, Watts Bar Dam has a great beach for relaxing and swimming!

Nickajack Lake: If you’re in South Pittsburg, you can enjoy the beach located on Nickajack Lake! There is camping, fishing, and fun to be had here.

Red Clay Resort: While it’s not a sandy beach, Red Clay Resort does have a nice, graduated slope you can enjoy around the spring-fed swimming pool. This is another summer hot spot, so expect crowds when you visit.

If you’re up for a day trip, here are some other great beach options within driving distance:

Lake Lanier: Located just outside of Atlanta, Lake Lanier has a Margaritaville Resort you can spend the day at! Along with a large beach, there are tons of activities your family can enjoy.

Lake Allatoona at Red Top Mountain State Park: Also located just outside of Atlanta, this popular Georgia state park has become an ideal place for families to enjoy a beach day. Enjoy fishing, swimming, kayaking, and water-skiing galore along this 12,000-acre lake.

Acworth Beach at Cauble Park: Cauble Park is home to a public beach and recreation area on the north shore of Lake Acworth. The beach area of the park features a white sand beach as well as a roped off area for swimming. There is no lifeguard on duty and there is no charge for swimming. The surrounding park offers boating, fishing, public restrooms, rental facilities, a volleyball net, playgrounds, picnic areas, and more.

While you may not have the ocean waves lapping at your feet, the beauty of the lakeshore is the next best thing! Check out all our water adventures below!