Mountain Lake Marina Campground and RV Resort is a veritable family playground!  Nestled in the ridges of East Tennessee between the Appalachian mountain range and the Cumberland mountain range are some of the best play areas for families.  The Mountain Lake Marina Campground and RV resort is situated in a perfect setting to accommodate families who love boating, fishing, tubing, hiking, as well as shopping, sightseeing, and more urban fun such as theme parks.

The Norris Lake Reservoir created by the Norris Dam Project in 1936 brought to East Tennessee a multiplicity of experiences to be enjoyed by those who love nature.  RV’ers will settle into the relaxed atmosphere of the resort as they discover plenty of full amenity pull-through and back-in sites.  To suite all ages within the family – you’ll find playground, swimming pool, game room, shuffle board, horse shoes, as well as the necessities such as laundry and campground store.  For the family who needs to get out of the RV for awhile and live in a more spacious setting, the Mountain Lake Marina and Campground resort have cabins, condos, house boats, and floating cabins which can be rented during the week.  These rooms come with full service and can be an enjoyable part of your vacation.

Norris Lake has been touted as the “ultimate waterway.”   Here the mountains meet the water and the vacationer will find their match in trying to land those trophy fish.  Many anglers consider the Clinch River to be one of the finest trout fisheries in the United States.  If you’re not a trout lover, then wait a moment and you’ll hook a striper or muskie!  The Clinch tail water is thirteen miles in length and flows from Norris Dam to the Eagle Bend Hatchery, a 100 area complex operated by the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency.

After settling down into your selected site, pull out the map and plan to discover the hiking trails, or wander down to the lake and try your hand at fishing for those Tennessee trout.  Later you can catch a starry night as you sit around a camp fire and plan for the next day’s excursions.  Area recreational sites include:  enjoying the vantage view points at Norris Dam – here you can overlook the mountains and valley surrounding the dam and view the nature trails as they wind around through the valley and mountain side; the Clinch river sports tubing and day float trips; Norris Dam State Park occupies more than 4,000 acres surrounding Norris Lake and Norris Dam – here you’ll discover caves, scenic valleys, sparkling streams and virgin forest as the county’s natural wonders- the park has a recreation center including pool, playgrounds, a marina, and the Lenoir Museum Historical Complex which houses artifacts from the early 1800’s to early 1900’s of the Tennessean life and culture.  One such collection is a fascinating array of mouse traps.  Funny how everyday things we use in the twenty-first century may have had a historical beginning and to see this evidenced in the mouse traps is fascinating. 

Other area activities include horseback riding, canoeing, mountain biking, Nordic skiing, competitive rowing on Melton lake in Oak Ridge – “known as the best 2,000 meter rowing course in the U.S.;” 250 miles of trails for ATV’s, motorcycles, mountain bikes, horseback riding, four wheeling in jeeps and rail buggies can be found on Windrock mountain – Windrock is where you’ll find the TVA’s (Tennessee Valley Authority) windmill farm – maps, guides, and ATV’s are available for rental; One Life Outfitters can hook you up with rappelling equipment and let you tackle their 35 foot wall – camping and kayaking is also available – call them at 1-865-494-8016; don’t forget that within a one to two hour drive you can visit the Knoxville Zoo, Great Smoky Mountain National Park, Dollywood Theme Park in Pigeon Forge, Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg, Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville, and much more.

RV’ing doesn’t mean only traveling on the major highways.  It is a way of life in which you can experience the riches of each region you visit.  Here in the Oak Ridge, Tennessee region, there is so much to see and experience.  You’ll want to make this one of those sixty or ninety day stops.  Anything less won’t let you acquire the full impact of this historical region of the United States.  Happy Traveling! 

(Photos courtesy of Oak Ridge and Anderson County Tourism Council)

From I-75 north or south bound, take exit #128, at the bottom of the ramp, turn left. You will be on US-441 traveling east. Follow the Mountain Lake Marina & Campground signs.
(Go East on US 441. Turn left onto Oak Grove road. Turn right on second Lindsey Mill Circle.)