Tims Ford Lake Questions Answered  

Can You Swim in Tims Ford Lake?

Absolutely, you can swim in Tims Ford Lake. Tims Ford Lake is a popular and picturesque boating, fishing, and water sports location in south central Tennessee.  The lake temperature rises to a warm ~86 degrees (approx) during the height of summer.

Can you swim in Tims Ford Lake?

What is the Tims Ford Lake Level?

The Tims Ford Lake Level is    MSL.  

This is a daily feed for the Tims Ford Lake Level.  The number represents the number of feet above mean sea level (MSL).  The summer level is typically 888 MSL while the winter level is approximately 15 feet lower at 873.  This goes up and down a bit based on rains.

Learn more about the Tims Ford Lake Level .

Beautiful Tims Ford Lake at Summer Pool
photo: Amanda Herring

What Cities Are Close to Tims Ford Lake?

There are a handful of cities that are close to Tims Ford Lake.  These cities include Winchester TN, Lynchburg TN, Tullahoma, Estill Springs, and Decherd which all border the lake.

Is Tim Ford Lake the Same as Tims Ford Lake?

Tim Ford Lake is often used in place of Tims Ford Lake but they are one in the same. Though the official term is Tims Ford Lake since it is named after Tim's Ford.

How Deep Is Tims Ford Lake in Tennessee?

Tims Ford Lake has varying depths from just a few inches to much more.  The deepest portion of the lake is by the Tims Ford Dam at approximately 150 feet deep at summer pool.

How Deep Is Tims Ford Lake in Tennessee -- 150' by the dam

How Long is Tims Ford Lake?

Tims Ford Lake is 34 miles long from the Dam to the northeast.  It also is approximately 250 miles of shoreline and 10,700 acres or about 16.7 square miles.

When Was Tims Ford State Park Built?

Tims Ford State Park was built in 1978 after the Tims Ford Lake was completed. The park opened with only 478 acres a visitors center and 20 cabins. Since that time, it has expanded to approximately 3,500 acres, camping sites, a golf course, and many more amenities. See the article on Tims Ford State Park History for more details.

When Was Tims Ford State Park Built?

Is There a Town Under Tims Ford Lake?

The town of Awalt TN was submerged as Tims Ford Lake was filled.  It is located primarily where the Holiday Landing resort is current located.  Towns people moved to the surrounding communities.  Some of the boat ramps by the area were actually roads leading into Awalt.  See our article on Awalt TN here.

Awalt TN Was A Town Buried By Tims Ford Lake

Is Tims Ford Lake Clean?

The answer is that "it depends" how you look at it.  TVA rates the lake "poor" due to low dissolved oxygen for bottom life and "fair" for chlorophyll and sediment quality.  You can read more here.   However if you're looking at if the lake has lots of trash and floating debris, the quantity of that is low.   

People swim in the lake regularly during the warmer weather.

What is the Tims Ford Lake Location?

Tims Ford Lake is located in south central Tennessee just north of the Alabama border.

Tims Ford Lake Location is south central Tennessee

Can You Build A Dock On Tims Ford Lake?

Can you build a dock on Tims Ford Lake?  It depends.  Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) must approve all permits for building docks on the lake.  Often times if your neighbors already have docks, then you would be grandfathered to have a dock.  Though in other places, docks are not allowed.  The best thing to do is contact TVA.

What Is The Tims Ford Lake Water Temperature?

The Tims Ford Lake Water Temperature ranges from the mid-50's during the winter to the high 80's and maybe even 90 degrees during the summer months.  The hottest time is around late July and early August usually -- but this is highly dependent on both the day and night temperatures.

Tims Ford Lake Water Temperature

Where Are The Tims Ford Boat Ramps?

Thei Tims Ford Boat Ramps are located around the lake.  Check out the link we have that lists all of the boat ramps and locations.  

Dry Creek Boat Ramp on Tims Ford Lake

Why Was Tims Ford Lake Built?

Tims Ford Lake was built by the Tennessee Valley Authority between 1966 and 1970 by damming up the Elk River. The lake was filled by mid-1971. The lake was built to control flooding downstream of the dam as well as provide both electricity and a regional recreational area.

Why Was Tims Ford Lake Built?
Tims Ford Lake Dam

What Is The Deepest Part of Tims Ford Lake?

What is the deepest part of the Tims Ford Lake?  The deepest part of Tims Ford Lake is 150 feet by the Dam (see photo above).

Why is Tims Ford Lake So Low?

Why is Tims Ford Lake so low?  Tims Ford Lake varies in depth between the summer and winter months.  During the summer months, the summer pool level is 888 feet above sea level.  During the winter months the lake is reduced by approximately 15 feet to 873 feet above sea level.  During the winter months, you can get a better idea of how the Elk River winds its way through the area.

The Tims Ford Lake operating guide is below showing target levels and balancing.  The level can increase / decrease below the targets as well.  Disregard the red and gray lines as this graph is not currently updated (but can give you an idea of the balancing.

Why is Tims Ford Lake So Low? 
Tims Ford Lake Operating Guide

Why is it Called Tims Ford?

Before the Tims Ford Lake was built, the Elk River wound its way through the region (see the map on the next question below).  The area that the lake is now on, was primarily farms.  Though a small city called Awalt was also adjacent to the river.  A river "ford" was built (a ford is a shallow area on a river that allows crossing) by a man named "Abner Tims" back in the 1800's. The lake eventually took Abner Tim's name to be called Tim's Ford Lake.

What Phone Area Code Covers The Local Area?

The 931 Area Code covers all of the cities surrounding the lake

What Town Is Under Tims Ford Lake?

What town is under Tims Ford Lake? The town of Awalt is under Tims Ford Lake.  Awalt was a small farming community located close to what is now the Holiday Landing Marina.   We wrote a historical article on Awalt here so you can learn more about this town under Tims Ford Lake.

The town of Awalt us buried under Tims Ford Lake

Is Tims Ford Lake Man Made?

Tims Ford Lake is man made.  It was built by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) between 1966 and 1970 by damming up the Elk River.  It is 10,700 acres and almost 250 miles of shoreline.  Dam was built mainly to control flooding but also does power generation and provides recreation for south central Tennessee.

If you zoom into the map, you can see the winding Elk River, and the highlighted area will be the reservoir.

Map of the Elk River and expected Tims Ford Lake location (c1960)

Is Tims Ford Lake Good Fishing?

Tims Ford Lake is considered a great fishing lake for smallmouth bass, though there are quite a few other fish in the lake as well including largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, white crappie, walleye, bluegill, redear sunfish, rock bass, warmouth, white bass, yellow bass, striped bass and hybrid striped bass .  Also there is trout fishing just below the dam.

Is Tims Ford Lake Good for Fishing?

What Is Tims Ford Lake Known For?

Tims Ford Lake is known for its great Bass fishing and amazing beauty and recreation along its approximately 250 miles of shoreline.  There are 3 marinas, state parks with camping, 6 islands and more on the lake.

What Is Tims Ford Lake Known For?
photo: Amanda Herring

Where can I fish in Tims Ford Lake?

Fishing in Tims Ford Lake is good throughout the lake.  Though mainly in the fingers.  Consider Hurricaine Creek, Lost Creek, and Dry Creek to start.  For deeper water fish, we'll see people fishing by the dam.   And just below the dam for trout. 

Can You Water Ski on Tims Ford Lake?

You can water ski on Tims Ford Lake.  In face, there are a variety of water sports that can be done on Tims Ford Lake including water skiing, wake boarding, wake surfing, paddle boarding, kayaking, etc.  The list goes on.  And of course swimming!

Can you water ski on Tims Ford Lake?

Is Tims Ford in a Dry County?

Tims Ford is not in a dry county (the Tims Ford Lake is in both Franklin and Moore Counties).  However, you may be thinking of Lynchburg TN, which is in Moore County.  The Jack Daniels Distillery is located there which is a dry county.  Visiting the distillery is one of the many things to do in Lynchburg TN.  If you are by the Tims Ford Lake, Lynchburg is no more than 25 minutes away.

Jack Daniels Distillery is in Lynchburg, TN

Can you Drink on Tims Ford Lake?

Can you drink on Tims Ford Lake?   It is illegal to drive a boat while under the influence of alcohol.  There is a term BUI which is boating while intoxicated.   Beginning July 1, 2023, BUI penalties align with DUI penalties in Tennessee.  Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in recreational boater deaths. 

Are There Tims Ford Lake Boat Rentals?

Yes, Tims Ford Lake boat rentals are at the four marinas along with some individual companies offer boat rentals as well.  The four marinas are Tims Ford Marina, Holiday Landing Marina, Twin Creeks Marina, and Lakeview Marina.  The marina boat rentals are pontoons.  Some also rent kayaks, and stand up paddleboards as well.

Tims Ford Lake Boat Rentals

Does Tims Ford have a beach?

Yes, Tims Ford Lake does have a beach which is called Dry Creek Beach.  It is located adjacent to Twin Creeks Marina.  

Dry Creek Beach on Tims Ford Lake

Where is Tims Ford Lake?

Where is Tim's Ford Lake?  Tims Ford Lake is in the south central part of Tennessee. It is about 20 - 30 minutes west of highway 24 (which goes between Chattanooga and Nashville. The below map shows all of Tennessee. The red arrow (and circle) highlight Tims Ford Lake. The cities surrounding Tims Ford Lake include Winchester TN, Tullahoma, Lynchburg TN, Estill Springs, and Decherd.

Map of Tims Ford Lake

Why Can't You Swim in Tims Ford Lake?

You can swim in Tims Ford Lake.  Though there is a small lake in Tims Ford State Park that you are not allowed to swim in.  Also the Pool at Tims Ford State Park recently closed due to lake of use and maintenance issues.

How Big is Tims Ford Lake?

Tims Ford Lake is 10,700 acres (16.72 square miles) and has approximately 250 miles of shoreline and approximately 34 miles long.  The lake also comprises 6 different islands (that were hills before the lake was created).  The Tims Ford Lake Map below shows the size.

Tims Ford Lake Map

What Is The Tims Ford Weather?

Tims Ford Weather is generally the same as the weather in the surrounding areas.  Of course you don't want to be on the lake when a storm approaches due to the danger of this.  See the Tims Ford Lake Area Weather page for more details.

Is There A Tims Ford Lake Map?

See the interactive Tims Ford Lake map that shows boat ramps, fishing spots, and marinas.  This map shows all aspects of the lake.  Though keep in mind, that the lake level goes down 15 feet during the winter and it also exposes many more shallow spots.  The map is best to use during the summer months at full summer pool level.

What To Do At Tims Ford Lake?

There are many things to do at Tims Ford Lake including boating, hiking, kayaking, visiting some of the sites in the area including distilleries and civil-war era sites. And of course the restaurants.

Things To Do At Tims Ford Lake

Who Owns Tims Ford Lake?

Who owns Tims Ford Lake?  We do...sort of. Tims Ford Lake was developed and currently maintained by TVA which stands for Tennessee Valley Authority.

Who Owns Tims Ford Lake
photo: Amanda Herring