Percy Priest Lake and Nashville Shores: A Day-Trip Guide for Groups
Nashville doesn't have a beach, but it doesn't need one. Percy Priest Lake and Nashville Shores sit close enough to downtown to make a genuine day trip out of a group visit, and each one suits a slightly different kind of group, which makes the choice between them worth actually thinking through rather than defaulting to whichever one comes up first in a search.
© 2026 Music City Weekend Co., LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Percy Priest Lake, the Quiet Option
Percy Priest Lake is the more low-key choice, better suited to a group that wants open water, quiet coves, and room to spread out without a crowd pressing in on every side. It's a solid fit for kayaking, paddleboarding, or just anchoring somewhere calm for a few hours with a cooler and good conversation. There's no built-in entertainment here, which is exactly the appeal for groups who want the day to be about the water itself rather than a full slate of activities and lines.
The lake has multiple access points and marinas, so it's worth picking a spot based on which part of Nashville the group is staying in, since the drive time can vary meaningfully depending on which entrance you head toward.
Nashville Shores, the Built-Out Option
Nashville Shores is the opposite end of that spectrum, a full waterpark with slides, a lazy river, and enough built-in activity to fill a day without any planning on the group's part beyond getting there and picking a spot to set up. It's the better call for a family trip with kids, or a group that wants structure and amenities rather than open water and quiet. Between the two, the choice usually comes down to whether the group wants a built-out day with concessions and organized attractions, or a genuinely relaxed one where you bring everything yourselves.
What to Bring Either Way
Regardless of which spot the group picks, a few things make the day easier. Pool gear, floats, dry bags, and the basics, covers most of what a group needs beyond towels and sunscreen, and having it ready ahead of time means one less thing to track down or forget in the rush to leave. For Percy Priest specifically, kayaks or paddleboards open up the whole point of going, since the appeal of that location is genuinely being out on the water rather than sitting at the edge of it.
A portable speaker rounds things out for either location, since neither spot provides much in the way of ambient music once you're away from the main areas, and a shared playlist tends to be one of the small details that makes a group day feel more like an event than just an outing.
Stocking the Cooler Before You Leave the House
The best lake days start with a cooler that's already packed, not one assembled in a rush before everyone piles into the car with half the group still looking for sunscreen. A stocked YETI-style cooler delivered and ready before the trip means nobody's making a last-minute stop for ice and drinks on the way out, which tends to add thirty minutes or more to a departure that was already running late.
It travels well for either destination and keeps drinks cold through a full day in the sun, with alcohol included in the order if that's part of the plan, delivered and stocked ahead of time with proper age verification handled at the delivery window.
Choosing Between the Two for a Multi-Activity Weekend
If the lake day is just one piece of a longer Nashville weekend rather than the main event, it's worth weighing how much recovery time the group needs afterward. Nashville Shores tends to be a more physically tiring day given the walking, lines, and higher activity level, which can make it a tougher fit right before a big night out on Broadway the same evening. Percy Priest Lake's more relaxed pace tends to leave the group with more energy for whatever's planned later that night, which makes it the better pick if the lake day is meant to be a calm middle point in a busier weekend rather than the primary activity the whole trip is built around.
Getting There From Popular Neighborhoods
Both spots sit roughly twenty to thirty minutes from downtown and most of the popular short-term rental neighborhoods, close enough to make a same-day trip without eating into the whole day on the drive. Percy Priest sits slightly further east, while Nashville Shores is more directly accessible from most downtown-adjacent stays. Either way, planning to leave by mid-morning gets the most out of the day before traffic picks up on the way back, particularly on weekends during peak summer months when both destinations see heavier crowds.
Making the Most of a Half-Day Trip
Not every group has a full day to spare for a lake trip, especially on a shorter weekend visit. Both destinations work well as a half-day option too, arriving late morning and heading back by mid-afternoon still gives a solid few hours of actual time on the water without consuming an entire day of a trip that might only be two or three days long to begin with.
Quick Questions About Nashville Lake Days
Which spot is better for a group with kids? Nashville Shores, since the built-in waterpark structure gives kids things to do without requiring constant supervision the way open water does.
Do I need my own gear for Percy Priest Lake? Not necessarily. Kayaks, paddleboards, and pool gear can all be delivered to your rental ahead of the trip.
How far in advance should cooler stocking be scheduled for a lake day? Scheduling it the day before, alongside your regular fridge stocking order if you're doing one, keeps everything fresh and ready to go.
Is alcohol allowed at either location? Rules vary by location and season, so it's worth checking current guidelines before the trip, but a stocked cooler travels well regardless of where the day ends up.
Which location is better for a group without a car? Nashville Shores tends to be a bit easier to coordinate rideshare access to, given its more defined entrance and drop-off area, compared to Percy Priest's multiple, more spread-out access points.
Is either location free to enter? Nashville Shores charges admission as a waterpark, while Percy Priest Lake access varies by entry point, with some free public access areas and some fee-based marinas and boat ramps.
Can a group bring their own boat to Percy Priest Lake? Yes, and several marinas around the lake offer boat ramp access, though it's worth checking specific marina rules and any launch fees ahead of time.
What's the best time of day to arrive to avoid crowds? Arriving by mid-morning, before the late-morning rush, tends to secure better parking and a calmer experience at either location, especially on summer weekends.
Planning a lake day with the group? Get the cooler stocked and ready before you head out.