Boat Ramps Nearby
Illustration Ramp etiquette
12 rules regulars expect you to know
Staging, courtesy docks and the Clean, Drain, Dry laws that can bring a fine.
Ramp etiquetteBoat ramps in Tennessee
214 launches in 76 cities.
The cities with the most launches are Chattanooga (21), Dover (8) and East Chattanooga (8). See them on the map
Boating in Tennessee: who to ask
- Public access sites: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA)
- Boater education: Anyone born after Jan 1, 1989 needs a TWRA Boating Safety Certification card (or NASBLA card for visitors) to operate a boat over 8.5 hp, unless a qualifying adult is aboard. Tennessee details
We checked these Tennessee rules on official pages in October 2026. Rules change, so confirm before you go. More: boating license by state.
Lakes and rivers in Tennessee
Launching in Tennessee at a glance
| Boat ramps | 154 |
|---|---|
| Kayak and canoe launches | 57 |
| Fishing piers and access | 6 |
| Marked free | 58 |
Water you can reach from here: River, Harrison Bay, Defeated Creek, Stones River, South Chickamauga Creek, Bennett Lake, Cumberland River, Rogers Springs Lake.
All launches on Harrison Bay, Defeated Creek, Stones River.
Tennessee rules to know
- Anyone born after Jan 1, 1989 needs a TWRA Boating Safety Certification card (or NASBLA card for visitors) to operate a boat over 8.5 hp, unless a qualifying adult is aboard.
For closures and rules check Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA).
Heading out in Tennessee? launching a boat, ramp etiquette and launch fees.
Illustration 
Illustration Life jackets
The life jacket rule for every paddler
What the Coast Guard requires on kayaks and canoes, and kids' vests with head support.
Life jacket rulesBoat ramps by city
- Chattanooga21
- Dover8
- East Chattanooga8
- Carthage7
- La Vergne7
- Celina6
- Harrison6
- Nashville6
- Smyrna6
- Jasper5
- Memphis5
- New Hope5
- Knoxville4
- Lafayette4
- Lynchburg4
- Murfreesboro4
- Sale Creek4
- Tullahoma4
- Whitwell4
- Dunlap3
- Estill Springs3
- Gallatin3
- Gordonsville3
- Greenback3
- Hunter3
- Smithville3
- South Pittsburg3
- Spencer3
- Vonore3
- Ardmore2
- Ashland City2
- Central2
- Chapel Hill2
- Elizabethton2
- Etowah2
- Farragut2
- Fincastle2
- Graysville2
- Kingston2
- Loudon2
- Manchester2
- Mount Juliet2
- Munford2
- Norris2
- Oak Ridge2
- Signal Mountain2
- Surgoinsville2
- Tiptonville2
- Bluff City1
- Bolivar1
- Bristol1
- Church Hill1
- Clarksville1
- Clinton1
- Columbia1
- Cookeville1
- Crossville1
- Dyersburg1
- Fayetteville1
- Franklin1
- Greeneville1
- Harriman1
- Jacksboro1
- Johnson City1
- Kingsport1
- Lakesite1
- Lawrenceburg1
- Lenoir City1
- McMinnville1
- Morristown1
- Newport1
- Olivet1
- Pine Crest1
- Rutledge1
- Tusculum1
- Winchester1
Boat ramps in Tennessee: questions and answers
How many public boat ramps and launches are in Tennessee?
We list 214 launches in 76 cities across Tennessee.
Which lakes and rivers in Tennessee have the most boat ramps?
On our map: River (10), Harrison Bay (4), Defeated Creek (3), Stones River (3), South Chickamauga Creek (2) and Bennett Lake (2). Smaller lakes in Tennessee often have just one ramp.
Are boat ramps in Tennessee free?
58 of the 214 launches in Tennessee are marked free in the map data. Expect day-use fees at Tennessee state parks and federal lakes.
Where can you launch a kayak in Tennessee?
We list 57 kayak and canoe launches in Tennessee, for example Henry Horton Canoe / Kayak Ramp in Chapel Hill, Booker T State Park Ramp in Chattanooga, Camp Jordan (South Chick) in Chattanooga and Camp Jordan (West Chick) in Chattanooga.
Where are the fishing piers in Tennessee?
6 fishing piers and fishing access sites, including Booker T Washington State Park Fishing Pier in Chattanooga, Y's Men Fishing Access in Elizabethton, Fayetteville Old Stone Bridge in Fayetteville and Rutherford lot pond in Murfreesboro.
Do you need a boating license in Tennessee?
Anyone born after Jan 1, 1989 needs a TWRA Boating Safety Certification card (or NASBLA card for visitors) to operate a boat over 8.5 hp, unless a qualifying adult is aboard. There is no national boating license; states issue boater education cards instead.
Who manages public boat ramps in Tennessee?
Many ramps belong to cities, counties and parks, while the state's network of public access sites is run by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA). Check there for closures and current rules.