Reelfoot Lake
Reelfoot Lake is a shallow natural lake located in the northwest portion of the U.S. state of Tennessee, in Lake and Obion Counties. Its address puts it 2 mi west of Samburg. Worth the trip, Discovery Park of America is 18 mi off.
A lake, 2 mi west of Samburg
Samburg is the nearest base
Samburg is 2 miles east, with 10 places to stay. Where to stay ↓
A day trip from Memphis
Memphis is about 93 miles south (straight-line). Where to stay ↓
Best months: Apr, May, Sep and Oct
April, May, September and October are the mild months, with highs of 70–83°. When to go ↓
Written from NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Overture places to stay, Census town figures, Wikidata and Wikipedia.
Warm months and cold ones
Pick a month for Reelfoot Lake from the weather below.
Reelfoot Lake
Reelfoot Lake is a shallow natural lake located in the northwest portion of the U.S. state of Tennessee, in Lake and Obion Counties. Much of it is swamp-like, with bayou-like ditches (some natural, some man-made) connecting more open bodies of water called basins, the largest of which is called Blue Basin. Reelfoot Lake is noted for its bald cypress trees and its nesting pairs of bald eagles.
Public use of the lake and grounds has been preserved since it was acquired by the state of Tennessee in the early 20th century and the area was established as Reelfoot Lake State Park. Lake Isom, a similar, smaller lake to the immediate south, has been designated as a National Wildlife Refuge area. In 1966, Reelfoot Lake was designated as a national natural landmark by the National Park Service.
- Type
- Lake
- Listed
- National Natural Landmark (1966)
- Wikipedia readers
- 34K a year
Where to base yourself for Reelfoot Lake
The first towns with rooms are Samburg (10) and Tiptonville (3).
Compare 8 towns
| Town | From Reelfoot Lake | Drive | Places to stay | People | Typical home | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samburg | 2 mi east | 5 min | 10 5 hotels · 5 lodges & cabins | 198 | $205K | — |
| Tiptonville | 5 mi west | 5 min | 3 1 hotel · 1 motel · 1 inn or B&B | 3,333 | $107K | B− |
| Union City | 20 mi east | 30 min | 12 8 hotels · 2 motels · 2 RV parks | 10,814 | $146K | D |
| Dyersburg | 23 mi south | 35 min | 10 9 hotels · 1 motel | 15,906 | $168K | D− |
| Caruthersville | 20 mi southwest | 30 min | 4 3 hotels · 1 motel | 5,211 | $108K | D− |
| Hayti | 22 mi southwest | 35 min | 5 3 hotels · 2 motels | 2,277 | $70K | — |
| Hayward | 15 mi west | 25 min | 1 1 motel | 83 | $31K | — |
| Fulton | 30 mi east | 45 min | 3 1 hotel · 1 motel · 1 lodge or cabins | 2,252 | $56K | C− |
Getting there
Nearest airports with airline service
While you are near Reelfoot Lake
More places people know lie within 70 miles.
45 mi MuseumMagnolia Manor
70 mi Ancient siteKincaid Mounds State Historic Site
31 mi MuseumColumbus-Belmont State Park61 mi Theme parkHydro AdventuresPhoto credits
Magnolia Manor: MuZemike, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Kincaid Mounds State Historic Site: Herb Roe, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Columbus-Belmont State Park: Knowledgeum at en.wikipedia, Public domain
Reelfoot Lake in questions
What town is Reelfoot Lake near?
Samburg, TN, about 2 miles east.
When is the best time to visit Reelfoot Lake?
April, May, September and October, with highs of 70–83°.
How far is Reelfoot Lake from Memphis?
About 93 miles south of Memphis, as the crow flies.
What is the closest airport to Reelfoot Lake?
Barkley Regional (PAH), about 59 miles away. The nearest big hub is Frederick W. Smith (MEM), about 98 miles.
Where should I stay near Reelfoot Lake?
Samburg (2 mi, 10 places to stay), Tiptonville (5 mi, 3 places to stay) and Union City (20 mi, 12 places to stay).
Tips for visiting, from Samburg
Share what you know in Samburg’s Town Square.
Sources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · NOAA climate normals · U.S. Census.