Closest first
Every public access within reach of Nashville
From TWRA’s own access database, with a directions link on each one. Distances are straight-line from Nashville, so the drive is always a bit longer.
Tap a pin for the spot page and directions. Open the full Tennessee fishing map.
Cheatham Lake
Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesShelby Park Boat Ramp3 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.1 ramp, 2 lanesDirections and detail →36.16517, -86.72782Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesCheatham Lake Boat Launch6 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.Directions and detail →36.14327, -86.89092Free3 out of 5facilitiesLock Two Park Boat Ramp7 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.I-40 to Briley Pkwy North, to McGavock pike exit, then to Pennington Bend River1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.24392, -86.70346Free3 out of 5facilitiesNeely’s Bend Boat Ramp7 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.I-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to Neely’s Bend Rd1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.19458, -86.66078Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesOld Hickory Dam Boat Ramp11 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.I-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to OH Dam1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.29828, -86.66279Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesOld Hickory Dam11 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.I-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to OH Damrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.29657, -86.65942
Whites Creek
Cumberland River
Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesRock Harbor Marina6 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.Directions and detail →36.15840, -86.88540Free3 out of 5facilitiesCleece’s Ferry Annex Road6 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.Charlotte Pike to Annex Rd (on left)1 ramp, 1 laneaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.14318, -86.89036Free3 out of 5facilitiesCleece’s Ferry Old Hickory Blvd6 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.Briley Pkwy to Hwy 12 ashland City exit. Head toward Ashland City, take left on Old Hickory Blvd to1 ramp, 1 laneDirections and detail →36.14416, -86.89268Fee not listed1.5 out of 5facilitiesCommodore Yacht Club8 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.Directions and detail →36.13390, -86.92510
Stones River
Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesHeartland Ramp7 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.From I40, take exit 215B for TN 155 N/Briley Pkwy. Take exit 10 for Two Rivers Pkwy. Turn right at Two Rivers Pkwy. Turn left at McGavock Pike. Take 2nd right onto Fernbrook…1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.18539, -86.66500Fee not listed1.5 out of 5facilitiesStones River Greenway, Hermitage8 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.Directions and detail →36.18533, -86.63434Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesMetro Park side below Percy Priest Dam9 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.I-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to Bell Rd, right to damrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.15760, -86.62084Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesBelow Percy Priest East Side9 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.I-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to Bell Rd, right to Dodson ChapelDirections and detail →36.15854, -86.61891
Cedar Hill Park Pond
J. Percy Priest Lake
Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesJ. Percy Priest Resource Center9 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.I-40 to Stewart’s Ferry exit, Bell Rdaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.15383, -86.62129Launch fee5 out of 5facilitiesElm Hill Marina9 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.I-40 to Stewarts Ferry, proceed to marina2 ramps, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.13370, -86.62230Launch fee2 out of 5facilitiesElm Hill Recreation Area9 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.I-40 to Stewart’s Ferry Rd, Stewart’s Ferry to Elm Hill Rec ArearestroomsDirections and detail →36.12636, -86.62458Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesElm Hill Park Access9 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.13030, -86.62080Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesHamilton Creek Marina9 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.12750, -86.62140Free1.5 out of 5facilitiesNashville Shores side Percy Priest Dam9 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.I-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to Bell Rd, right to Damaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.15892, -86.61488Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesPercy Priest Marina and Yacht Club10 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.1 ramp, 3 lanesrestroomsDirections and detail →36.11160, -86.62270Free2.5 out of 5facilitiesHamilton Creek10 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.I-40 to Stewart’s Ferry Rd, then to Hamilton Creekrestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.10471, -86.62426Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesJ. Percy Priest Lake Boat Launch10 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.Directions and detail →36.16101, -86.60821Free4 out of 5facilitiesNashville Shores Yacht Club and Marina10 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.I-40 to exit 221,OH Blvd to Bell Rd, right to entrance1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.16110, -86.60820Free3 out of 5facilitiesHamilton Creek Boat Ramp10 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.Off of Bell Rd turn onto Hamilton Creek Rd, go straight to very back1 ramp, 2 lanesDirections and detail →36.11039, -86.61809Launch fee3 out of 5facilitiesNashville Shores Water Park10 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.I-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to Bell rd, right to entrancecanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.15754, -86.60596Free3.5 out of 5facilitiesSmith’s Spring Park10 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.10970, -86.60940Free4 out of 5facilitiesCook Recreation Area11 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.I-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to Bell Rd, Bell Rd to South New Hope Rd1 ramp, 2 lanesfishing pieraccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.13189, -86.59539Launch fee3 out of 5facilitiesAnderson Boat Ramp11 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.1 ramp, 1 lanecanoe / kayak landingaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.10610, -86.59500Launch fee4 out of 5facilitiesSeven Points Rec. Area Campground12 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.I-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to Bell Rd to South New Hope Road1 ramp, 2 lanesrestroomsDirections and detail →36.13080, -86.57460
Old Hickory Lake
Free5 out of 5facilitiesBlackjack Cove Marina10 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.Riverside Drive1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pierrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.25110, -86.64095Launch fee4.5 out of 5facilitiesOld Hickory Marina10 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.1 ramp, 2 lanescanoe / kayak landingrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.25140, -86.63920Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesWalton’s Ferry Boat Ramp11 mi from Nashville · Sumner Co.Directions and detail →36.25869, -86.62874Launch fee1.5 out of 5facilitiesMetro Beach Swim Area11 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.I-40 to exit 221. OH Blvd to OH damaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.28747, -86.66070Free2 out of 5facilitiesMetro Beach Boat Ramp11 mi from Nashville · Davidson Co.3 ramps, More Than 3 lanescanoe / kayak landingDirections and detail →36.28767, -86.65732Free4.5 out of 5facilitiesLock 3 Access12 mi from Nashville · Sumner Co.1 ramp, 1 lanerestroomsaccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.27680, -86.63160Free5 out of 5facilitiesSanders Ferry Park12 mi from Nashville · Sumner Co.1 ramp, 3 lanesfishing pierrestroomsDirections and detail →36.24960, -86.60430Fee not listed1 out of 5facilitiesDrakes Creek Marine Works12 mi from Nashville · Sumner Co.Directions and detail →36.26068, -86.60876
What to bring
What to bring fishing near Nashville
Three picks from the largemouth bass checklist that work for the fish here. Affiliate links: buying through them pays this site a small commission at no extra cost to you.
RodUgly Stik GX2 7 ft medium-heavy casting rodStiff enough to set a hook in grass, tough enough to live in a truck bed.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
ReelAbu Garcia Black Max baitcasting reelAn inexpensive baitcaster that casts cleanly once the brakes are set.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
Soft plasticZoom Trick WormThe Tennessee standard on a Texas rig or weightless along docks and grass edges.Shop on Amazon →Why it is on the list
Spending more? The bigger purchases, compared side by side:
What it looks like
The water around Nashville
Photographs of the lakes and rivers on this page. Drag or swipe for more. Every picture opens that water’s own page.
J. Percy Priest LakeOpen the J. Percy Priest Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Old Hickory LakeOpen the Old Hickory Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Cumberland RiverOpen the Cumberland River page →U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not s / Public domain
Stones RiverOpen the Stones River page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
J. Percy Priest LakeOpen the J. Percy Priest Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0
Old Hickory LakeOpen the Old Hickory Lake page →Brian Stansberry / CC BY 3.0No boat
Bank fishing near Nashville
3 public fishing piers within reach of Nashville. No boat needed for any of them.
Free5 out of 5facilitiesBlackjack Cove MarinaOld Hickory Lake · 10 mi from NashvilleRiverside Drive1 ramp, 1 lanefishing pierrestroomsrentalsDirections and detail →36.25110, -86.64095Free4 out of 5facilitiesCook Recreation AreaJ. Percy Priest Lake · 11 mi from NashvilleI-40 to exit 221, OH Blvd to Bell Rd, Bell Rd to South New Hope Rd1 ramp, 2 lanesfishing pieraccessible parkingDirections and detail →36.13189, -86.59539Free5 out of 5facilitiesSanders Ferry ParkOld Hickory Lake · 12 mi from Nashville1 ramp, 3 lanesfishing pierrestroomsDirections and detail →36.24960, -86.60430
Shoreline access in Davidson County
Stewart Creek enhanced bank fishing site (Smyrna, Rutherford Co. but the flagship Percy Priest shore site, full-size pier plus five large fishing platforms linked by paved greenway); Vivrette Creek enhanced bank fishing site (Davidson Co., full-size pier, a fishing jetty and four smaller platforms on a paved path); the Percy Priest dam tailwater bank; the Old Hickory dam tailwater bank; Shelby Park and Shelby Bottoms Greenway along the Cumberland; Peeler Park; Cumberland River Greenway and Riverfront Park downtown; Two Rivers Park at the Stones/Cumberland confluence; Cedar Hill Park pond; Centennial Park’s Lake Watauga; Willow Pond at Percy Warner Park; Little Harpeth River in Edwin Warner Park; Marrowbone Lake pier
21 public boat launches in Davidson County, counted from TWRA’s own access database.
Towns near here
Towns near Nashville
The nearest towns to Nashville with pages of their own. If nothing near Nashville suits, one of these usually does.
Fishing near BrentwoodJ. Percy Priest Lake, Cumberland RiverSee the spots →Fishing near HendersonvilleOld Hickory Lake, Cheatham LakeSee the spots →Fishing near Mount JulietOld Hickory Lake, J. Percy Priest LakeSee the spots →Fishing near FranklinHarpeth River, J. Percy Priest LakeSee the spots →Fishing near SmyrnaJ. Percy Priest Lake, West Fork Stones RiverSee the spots →
Nashville water holds largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill.