Within an hour of the door
A trip's worth of trips
Most guests come for the lake and end up doing more than they planned. These are the day trips we recommend most.
The Appalachian Trail at Watauga Lake
15 minhiking
The AT crosses on top of Watauga Dam — a 15-minute drive from the door, with one of the most photographed views on the entire 2,200-mile trail.
Cherokee National Forest from Watauga Lake
5 minhiking
Watauga Lake sits inside the Cherokee National Forest, which is most of why the shoreline is undeveloped and the water is so clear.
Fishing on Watauga Lake
5 minwater
A 6,430-acre reservoir with bass, walleye, trout, and crappie, and the kind of clean cold water that holds them through summer.
Wineries near Watauga Lake
5 minfood
Two genuine vineyards within ten minutes — Villa Nove Vineyards (5 min) and Watauga Lake Winery (10 min). Both pour, both have lake-adjacent patios, both are worth an afternoon.
Skiing 35 minutes from Watauga Lake
35 minski
Beech Mountain Resort (35 min) is the highest ski area in the eastern US. Sugar Mountain Resort (40 min) is the biggest in North Carolina. Both are an easy day from the lake.
Bristol Motor Speedway from Watauga Lake
50 minracing
Bristol Motor Speedway is about an hour by car. On race weekends, every hotel within 50 miles sells out — but the lake stays civil and you can still get to the gate by warm-ups.
Going deeper
Trails, places, and towns
The six guides above are the broad day-trip categories. If you want specific trails, specific places, or a town's-eye view, the rest of the site goes deeper.