Nashville has numerous RV resorts, but Safe Harbor RV Resort stands out as a premier lakefront destination located on Percy Priest Lake, just a 25-minute drive east of Music City.
The resort, open since 2016, is situated on a peninsula, so amazingly scenic because it is virtually surrounded by the lake. Most sites have water views, and there’s a sand beach and there are benches and picnic tables throughout to enjoy the vistas.For additional water recreation, the resort has a boat ramp and dock, pool, and for those who want to be on the water, kayaks, paddleboards, and boats available for rent. In addition to the lake, the park offers many amenities including a roster of weekly activities. Gina Sasser, an official with the resort noted, “We have live music Saturdays at the pool and we sometimes have food trucks come in.”
Safe Harbor RV Resort offers 131 full hookup sites with 30/50 amp electric service, water, WiFi, and cable. Sites are 22-feet wide with level concrete pads. Class A, B, C travel trailers and 5th wheels up to 50-feet can be accommodated in primarily pull-in or back-in spaces. Bathhouses, laundry facilities, and propane refilling are available to guests.
The park’s season runs March 1 to November 30. Short- and long-term leases are available and Ms. Sasser mentioned they sometimes offer discounted rates at the beginning or end of prime vacation time. Ms. Sasser also said they are also looking to grow the park, possibly adding 80 additional sites, which includes building a few cabins for those without RVs.
Safe Harbor RV Resort is situated on a peninsula with pristine views of Percy Priest Lake in Tennessee [Photo/Safe Harbor RV Resort]
The resort sits on the western shore of Percy Priest Lake, a 42-mile long Corps of Engineers lake covering 14,000 acres. The lake is considered a national tourist attraction and one of Nashville’s best swimming locations, attracting over one-million visitors per year.
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the lake was created by the J. Percy Priest Dam project completed in 1968. The lakebed holds a secret - the town of Old Jefferson was demolished and flooded over when the lake was formed.
There are plenty of designated swimming areas at Percy Priest Lake, including those off Anderson Rd and at the Cook Recreation Area. Entry fees are $5 per vehicle. There are also popular cliff jumping spots including Hole-in-the-Wall Island and Elm Hill Marina, but most require a boat to reach them.
Of course, fishing is popular whether by shore or boat. Favorite catches include striped bass, large-mouth bass, catfish, and trout. A valid Tennessee State fishing license is required to fish the lake.
There are several marinas serving the lake providing everything from boat ramps to bait. If you don’t own a boat but want to spend some time on the water, daily and hourly watercraft rentals are available at most marinas. Everything from jet skis to fishing boats, ski boats, and pontoon boats are available. Renters will also find water skis, wakeboards, and tubes available at many facilities.
Safe Harbor RV Resort is located on the western shore adjacent to the Safe Harbor Marina at Elm Hill. The marina is a full-service facility with a public boat launch, open and covered slips, boat rentals, bait & tackle, boat registration, fishing license registration, and a marine store stocked with boater’s sundries.
At the marina is the family-owned Shipwreck Cove restaurant. It’s a great place to grab a meal or cocktail while watching the sunset and listening to live music in a lakefront setting.
Parklands Near Percy Priest Lake
Part of the lake’s draw are the miles of unspoiled shoreline with thousands of acres of grassland and woodland providing plenty of opportunities to spot wildlife, fish, and enjoy the lake from shore. In the recreation areas surrounding the lake are twelve public boat ramps, eleven picnic areas, and three additional campgrounds. Within a short radius, there are several major parks to enjoy. Two of the more significant picks are:
Cedars of Lebanon State Park - East of the lake, this park is filled with Eastern Red Cedar trees in natural rock gardens known as cedar glades. The park features equestrian trails, has horses available for rent, and offers overnight boarding in the park. The park has eight miles of trails winding through the glades. Among the other amenities are a swimming pool, butterfly garden, and cave.
Long Hunter State Park - This 2,600-acre park has two boat launches, numerous spots for fishing, and a well-developed trail system with more than 20 miles of trails ranging from casual to challenging. Of note is a self-guided arboretum trail and a 5.5-mile shoreline trail.
Of course, you can’t forget that Safe Harbor RV Resort is close enough to Nashville for an easy day trip.
Nashville is best known as the home of country music and visitors naturally flock to Music Row near Vanderbilt University, where notables like the Everly Brothers, Eddy Arnold, Dolly Parton, and even Elvis recorded scores of hits. Elsewhere, Honky Tonk Row, the Ryman Auditorium, and the Grand Ole Opry provide plenty of opportunities to enjoy contemporary or classic country music and the vibes that go along.
Vanderbilt University itself is a draw. The picturesque university is ranked among the top schools in the country and serves over 12,000 students. The entire campus is designated as an arboretum and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Surrounding the university are hip neighborhoods, which are known for their shopping boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants, and nightlife.
The Gaylord Opryland Hotel is a destination unto itself, and enjoying it doesn’t require booking a room. What can you say about a hotel so large that it has its own indoor boat ride and indoor laser/fountain shows? Step inside and you embark into a wonderland of atriums, meandering gardens, and water features all surrounding scores of shops and dining options. As a side benefit, the hotel is adjacent to the Grand Ole Opry, so you can plan a two-for-one experience.