looking for a lake with a beach (Memphis, Collierville: moving, swimming)

[sea697]

This will be my first full summer here after moving from Florida, and I am dying to go to the beach! I am hoping you all can offer some suggestions of lakes or springs that have a beach area that is clean, safe, etc. where we can go swimming and lay out this summer. I just don't want to have to drive all the way to the Gulf Coast for a few hours of sun, I'm just looking for a place where we can go for the day. Also, are there any places that allow dogs?
Thanks!

[tigergal]

Originally Posted by sea697

This will be my first full summer here after moving from Florida, and I am dying to go to the beach! I am hoping you all can offer some suggestions of lakes or springs that have a beach area that is clean, safe, etc. where we can go swimming and lay out this summer. I just don't want to have to drive all the way to the Gulf Coast for a few hours of sun, I'm just looking for a place where we can go for the day. Also, are there any places that allow dogs?
Thanks!

Sardis Lake has a beach on the lower lake near the dam (John Kyle State Park). It's only about an hour drive from Memphis.

DIRECTIONS TO MAIN PARK:
From I-55, Exit #252. Travel south on Highway 315. 6.2 miles turning left at John Kyle Park sign. Follow road to top of hill and turn left at next stop. Cross bridge and continue following road to next 3 way stop.

[UofMGrad92]

Pickwick has a public swimming area near the dam and the state park. It's a couple of hours or less east of Collierville out Highway 57. You can also go out Highway 72 and Highway 64 and cut south (from 64) or north (from 72) and hit 57. I haven't been in years, but as memory serves it was an okay place to spend the day swimming.

[Deck]

Norfork Lake. Approx 3 hours west. Its larger, clearer, and more access points I think than the two mentioned above, though it is an hour longer than Pickwick, and two hours further than Sardis.

[tigergal]

Originally Posted by Deck

Norfork Lake. Approx 3 hours west. Its larger, clearer, and more access points I think than the two mentioned above, though it is an hour longer than Pickwick, and two hours further than Sardis.

Norfork is nice (though I prefer Greers Ferry if going that distance). However, a 6 hour round trip of driving wouldn't make it a very good day trip.

If looking for something of a longer distance, Land Between the Lakes is also nice.

[mzloolue]

You might like Chickasaw.
It a nice fairly quiet pretty place.
Henderson |*Chester County Chamber of Commerce > Henderson, TN

It is not as far as some of the other places mentioned.
The water is clean, but it does have sediments that color the water.

[strumpeace]

Beech Lake in Lexington is a little over an hour from Memphis. It's ok.

Growing up, I always liked the beach at Natchez Trace State Park. We went there frequently when I was little. It's about an hour-and-a-half from Memphis.

Greers Ferry is excellent. And the beach at Woolly Hollow is small but nice. However, both are quite a drive from Memphis.