No Kayak? No Worries. Check Out The Best Places To Kayak in Knoxville With Waterfront Kayak and Paddleboard Rentals
From downtown paddles on the Tennessee River to quiet coves on nearby lakes, these are the best and most accessible places to kayak in Knoxville.
And to make it even easier for families to get out on the water, you can rent kayaks and paddleboards at these spots as well.
It’s one thing to admire the beauty of Knoxville’s waterways from shore, but nothing beats actually being on the water taking it all in. For those of you who don’t have access to your own watercraft, no worries.
You’ll find several waterfront locations around town that rent boats, kayaks, canoes, and SUPs (Stand Up Paddleboards). You can even rent something for the day from a few outdoor outfitters in town, strap it on your car, and go wherever you’d like.
P.S. If you’re looking to purchase the best affordable stand up paddle board, here’s the one we own and love! Read our review here.
Places To Canoe, Kayak, and Paddleboard in Knoxville, TN With Waterfront Boat Rentals
We’ve spent lots of hot summer days at each of the places listed below. For an in-town water excursion, renting SUPs at Meads Quarry is definitely a favorite. If you’re willing to drive an hour and a half, floating the Hiwassee River is a treat.
Read on for our favorite places to kayak in Knoxville and beyond!
P.S. River Sports Outfitters is the main player in town for convenient onsite waterfront rentals of SUPs, canoes, and kayaks. They have several locations around Knoxville that are open seasonally (we list those below).
Tip: Make sure to check River Sports’s website or call to confirm hours at their seasonal locations, especially if the weather looks iffy- they will close if thunder is heard.
You can also rent directly from their store on Sutherland Avenue, although you will then need to transport your kayak or SUP to your destination of choice.
A couple of marinas on the bigger lakes (Fort Loudon, Norris, Tellico) will rent pontoon boats if you would rather steer than paddle, and we mention those too.
Meads Quarry At Ijams Nature Center
Located in South Knoxville, just a few minutes off of the James White Parkway and only 10 minutes from downtown, Ijams Nature Center is a large nature preserve with lots of activities to fill an entire day of fun.
One of our very favorite summer activities is renting a standup paddleboard (SUP) at Mead’s Quarry where RiverSports Outfitters has a rental kiosk for kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards.
The calm, small lake is ideal for beginners and it’s a beautiful spot to spend an hour.
If you have young children, you can tote them around on the front of your board which also serves as the perfect platform to jump in the water.
Note that you can’t bring your own boat here, so plan on renting. $14 hour for a canoe, kayak, or SUP and that includes life jacket.
See our post The Ultimate Guide to Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness for more pictures and detailed information.
The River Landing at Ijams Nature Center
Note: If you’re interested in paddling on the Tennessee River, Ijams River Landing, a public canoe/kayak/paddleboard launch, offers easy access if you have your own boat.
To get to the River Landing, drive down the gravel road opposite Mead’s Quarry, following the signs for the River Landing.
There is a small parking area at the end of the road plus an unloading area closer to the dock, but you will have to carry your boat approximately 100 feet down the River Trail from the unloading area to the dock.
Keep in mind that the wind on the river can turn a pleasant paddle downriver with the wind into an arduous workout coming back so be aware before you paddle too far downriver. If it is quite windy, you might want to go upriver first.
Downtown Knoxville’s Riverfront
Located at Volunteer Landing on Neyland Drive, Knoxville Adventure Collective offers unique paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, or hydro-biking adventures. Enjoy the views of downtown Knoxville and Neyland Stadium from a new perspective!
Tip: Their full moon paddle and night time paddle with the city’s lights is a bucket list-worthy experience. I have taken kids and beginner paddlers on this and they did great. Downtown Knoxville is not super busy with boat traffic surprisingly.
Each trip from their downtown location starts from their private dock on the Tennessee River. You are provided with a life jacket, a kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddleboard and paddle. ($20).
They also offer an exploratory tour of the Forks of the River where you’ll be shuttled up the river to Holston River Park for a downriver float back to their downtown location. The kids will love trying to spy river otters and blue herons on the way (guided and self-guided options).
The storefront for Knoxville Adventure Collective is next to Ruth’s Chris at Volunteer Landing, and you will find gear, snacks, and bathrooms there.
Once you check in (it is best to reserve online ahead of time, especially for the night paddles), they will take you down to the dock to start your paddle.
The Cove At Concord Park
The Cove at Concord Park located in West Knoxville is a great local park to pack a picnic and spend a day.
Along with walking trails, playgrounds, and a swimming beach, the park hosts River Sports At The Cove during the warmer months.
They offer 1/2 day, full day, and two-hour SUP, canoe, and kayak rentals on this quiet cove of Fort Loudon Lake. Two hour rentals are $25.
The park can get busy on summer weekends so earlier is better.
Seven Islands State Park
Located just 25 minutes east of downtown Knoxville, this relatively new and lovely Tennessee State Park hugs the shore of the beautiful French Broad River.
If you have your own boat, Seven Islands State Park has a small boat launch where you can put in and float down the French Broad River to Cruz Landing.
It’s about a 2 hour paddle, and you will need a shuttle system. In past seasons, they have had a shuttle operator on the premises, so check the park website to see if it is still offered.
See our post Have You Visited Seven Islands State Birding Park Yet? to learn more about this fantastic state park.
Places To Kayak With Waterfront Boat Rentals Just Beyond Knoxville
These wonderful waterfront rental spots are just outside of Knoxville but within an hour of downtown Knoxville.
River Tubing in Townsend, TN
No summer trip to the Smokies is complete without a day tubing on the river. Floating down the cold Little River on a hot summer day is a tradition here.
You’ll find several outfitters on the main drag in Townsend, TN that provide tubes and shuttles, but we have always used Smoky Mountain River Rat.
They offer two routes and you can go as many times as you’d like in a day. Plan on about two hours to float depending on water levels.
Tip: Reserve online and save a couple of dollars.
Also, be sure to call to confirm water levels. It’s no fun to have to stand up and portage your tube through shallow water. Conversely, water levels could be high and fast, especially in spring and early summer or if it has rained a lot recently.
Find out more fun things to do in Townsend from Our Local’s Guide To Townsend, TN.
Norris Dam State Park
You can rent paddleboards, kayaks, and nifty hydrobikes from River Run Outfitters located at Norris Marina next to the dam.
If you want an engine-powered boat, Norris Marina also rents pontoon and ski boats for the day ($185-$225).
If you brought your own canoe or kayak, you can put in at the marina ($10 launch fee). If you would rather be on a river instead of a lake, you can use the public canoe launch on the Clinch River just a two minute drive downriver from the dam.
Norris Lake is considered one of the cleanest and clearest lakes in our area.
Fort Loudoun State Park on Tellico Lake
You can also find kayak and SUP rentals at Ft. Loudoun State Historic Park which is located on the shores of Tellico Lake, one of our area’s most beautiful lakes.
Stop by the Visitor Center for rentals. $30 for 3 hour kayak and SUP rentals. Tandem kayaks are available for $30.
This state park is a great place to visit even if you’re not paddling. The kids will love the opportunity to run about the re-created walls of an actual fort while pretend firing a musket, picnicking by the lake, and learning a bit of history along the way.
Melton Hill State Park on Melton Hill Lake
A trip out to Oak Ridge’s beautiful Melton Hill Lake is definitely worth checking out. River Run Outfitters rents several different types of water toys- kayaks, SUPs, water bikes, and pontoon pedal boats.
Rent a boat for a few hours and paddle (or pedal) down to nearby Calhoun’s Restaurant for an afternoon the kids will love.
Hiwassee River
This one is the furthest from Knoxville but is definitely worth the drive. One of my personal favorites things to do is kayaking or rafting the Hiwassee River in Reliance, TN, just 90 minutes from Knoxville.
Easy enough for beginning paddlers to handle (you can also just tube down it), it is a beautiful 5.5 mile float through undeveloped forest.
See our Guide To Rafting The Hiwassee River in East Tennessee for everything you need to know.
Happy Trails! Hope you can now find the perfect place for a day of fun on the water in East Tennessee! If you’re interested in finding an affordable inflatable paddleboard for your own water adventures, here’s the one we use and love! P.S. See more fun ideas of things to do below! – Amanda
