Did you know that Middle Tennessee has a beach?

“But Tennessee has no ocean coastline!” you say.

At the end of Anderson Road in Antioch, just a few miles off of I-24, Anderson Beach offers about the closest thing that the Volunteer State has to a true beach.

When Middle Tennessee temperatures climb into the 90s, many dream of heading to the Gulf or one of Florida’s famous beaches, or an even more distant tropical paradise. But for those looking to cool off with a quick swim without the long road trip and the complexities of planning for an extended stay, Anderson Beach makes for a sandy local alternative, just 30 minutes from Murfreesboro.

Situated along the western shore of Percy Priest Lake, this popular swimming area draws families and groups of friends who’d like to spend an hour, or the majority of a day, in the water, the sun, or the shade. There’s plenty of all three at Anderson—lots of room to splash and swim in the water in the roped-off, shallow designated swimming area here (this just a miniscule segment of the giant Priest Lake), plenty of room to spread out on the shore and get some sun, and ample shady areas under the cover of large trees lining the area nearby the lake.

While many lake access points offer little more than a boat ramp or rocky shoreline, Anderson Beach provides a broad stretch of sand, sparsely dotted with bits of gravel, rather than seashells.

The atmosphere feels like a cross between a breezy beach vacation and a bustling city park. The area has two playgrounds, a few covered pavilions and lots of picnic tables and grills available for use.

The smells of smoked meats fill the air on a hot July day, while the sounds of “Macarena” and other upbeat Spanish-language music, mingled with children’s laughter and splashing, drift across the beach.

Out in the distance, boats and jet skis power their way through the lake, occasionally lapping a gentle wake that makes it to the beach area, the only movement of the water, generally much calmer than the crashing waves of an ocean beach.

Beach balls fly and some individuals float around lazily on inflatables.

Reportedly, the parking lot can fill up on summer weekends and the spot can draw large crowds of Middle Tennessee beachgoers, but even on many busy days, most groups can find a piece of ground to claim and head in for a swim. Those looking for a quiet escape from the crowds can roam the shoreline and find some solitude not far from the packed beach gathering spot.

For some exercise swimming or a time to relax in the shade, a cookout, a cooldown, or all of the above, now you know—Nashville has a beach. There are no waves to surf or ocean wildlife here, but Anderson Beach captures just a taste of that coastal water spirit.

Anderson Beach
4060 Anderson Rd., Antioch