happyly approved

Cook Day Use Area at Percy Priest Lake

12230 Old Hickory Blvd., Hermitage, TN. 37076

Dawn-Dusk

$$

water-activities, swim, playground

Family-friendly Beach on Percy Priest Lake

Percy Priest Lake helps us water-lovers cope with the fact that Tennessee is landlocked and the nearest ocean view is a seven-hour drive away. Located 10 miles east of Downtown Nashville, the Cook Day Use Area is a great spot to go for a short or long day trip.

The area is open April through September, during which the day-use campsites are released on a 12-month rolling reservable basis.  There is a buoy denoting where to swim, ensuring everyone stays in close in, though I recommend bringing a life vest for kids who are still learning to swim as the water is a bit murky and can get dark. Large floats and life rafts are also allowed. And if the kids get tired of the water, a really nice playground in a grassy area is located right by the beach.

Two large group shelters for day use are available, by reservation, for large parties and family functions.

Features

Good for All Ages Beach Lake
Thoughtfully captured by:
Emily O'Grady
Emily O'Grady lives with her daughters Eloise (5) and Charlie (3.5), husband Mick, and their two senior dogs Porter and Francie, in Nashville. They’ve called Music City home for 7 years this September. After Emily and Mick met in New Zealand over 15 years ago, they’ve hiked and backpacked extensively across the globe for months at a time. In their new roles as parents, they’ve hit pause on their most extreme adventures for now, but they are consciously raising their daughters to love and appreciate nature, getting outside and exploring as much as they can in the hills of Tennessee and beyond. During the weekdays, you can find Emily leading teams across Asurion’s Product Development team, bringing the company’s service strategy to life across carrier clients. Before joining Asurion, Emily was an Engagement Manager for McKinsey & Company for 4 years, as well as held Analyst roles with Telephia (Nielsen) and Bank of America Global Corporate and Investment Bank. Emily holds a BBA in Finance, French and European Studies from Southern Methodist University and an MBA from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management.
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