Starting point & rig parking for Cumberland River TN.

Pura Vida

Hi,
We hope to take an impromptu trip to get on the Cumberland River &(maybe some of the TN River) in the next couple of weeks. We have never been on the water there and will trailer our boat up from St. Augustine, Fl. We will only have time for 5 or 6 days on the water since school starts back soon. Thanks to this forum I have found a lot of useful information about this area from previous trips taken by Thataway and many others. We definitely would like to visit Nashville, but looking for advice on where a good starting point would be as I noticed many started at Grandville Marina in years past. I could not find them and it looks like they have been bought out by a franchise. I don't mind paying to park the truck & trailer, but hope to not spend a large amount on just parking. Thank you!
Bo Strange

thataway · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2021 3:33 pm Post subject:

Bo,
The Granville marina (Now Wildwood Marina) was the launching point. There was a guide who has a farm only a couple of miles who stored our rigs.

I am not up to date on how the dock is at Nashville. We moored at the City Dock right by the Titian Football field. There are locked gates with different codes to get in and out. You would want to call the facility to see if the docks are currently usable. (I have heard that there has been more damage due to flooding.)
Most recent reviews suggest that this dock is good and available:
Here is some recent info on the downtown dock.

Here is the link to the Cumberland/Tennessee river trip

gulfcoast john · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2021 4:52 pm Post subject:

We launched from Defeated Creek Marina, which had a larger ramp (for houseboats on trailers) and very reasonable on-site rig storage. Always call to confirm current services.

http://www.defeatedcreekmarina.com/

We took out at Ditto Landing Marina, which had a good ramp, free rig parking, good security and is close to Huntsville, AL.

https://www.dittolanding.org/

On a rain day, see the Space and Rocket Museum.

https://www.rocketcenter.com/

Whatever you decide, best of luck and safe travels!

John

thataway · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2021 4:58 pm Post subject:

5 or 6 days on the water will not get you onto the Tennessee River. I would put in on Old Hickory lake, and run down the Nashville--then you can decide where you want to go in that area.

colbysmith · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2021 6:51 pm Post subject:

You can launch at either Kentucky Lake Dam State Resort Park, or at the Clarksville Marina. If at Clarksville, you'll need to call Tim, the marina harbor master to setup parking. The State Park says no overnight parking, but if you leave your rig in the top parking lot, I don't think you'll have any problem for only a week. Another possibility would be to speak with the owners at Lighthouse Marina on Barkley Lake and see if you could launch and leave your vehicle there. Cumberland River comes off Lake Barkley, so you could look for any marinas along that lake to see if they would allow long term parking. Colby

thataway · Posted: Sat Jul 31, 2021 7:27 pm Post subject:

Kentucky Lake or Barkley Lake are too far to be of value on a 5 day trip including Nashville.