Largest Lakes in Kentucky: Biggest by Size & Depth

Kentucky is one of the best lake states in the South, with huge Tennessee and Cumberland River reservoirs, sprawling Corps flood-control lakes, and clear mountain impoundments. This guide ranks the largest lakes in Kentucky by surface area, with how big and how deep each one is, and links to a full guide for every lake. It’s part of our Kentucky Lakes Database.

The largest lakes in Kentucky, by size

1. Kentucky Lake – about 160,000 acres (the Kentucky portion) on the Tennessee River; the largest lake in Kentucky and one of the largest man-made lakes in the eastern U.S.
2. Lake Cumberland – about 65,500 acres on the Cumberland River; famous for houseboating and striped bass, and one of the deepest lakes in the region.
3. Lake Barkley – about 57,900 acres on the Cumberland River, joined to Kentucky Lake across the Land Between the Lakes.
4. Barren River Lake – about 10,000 acres in south-central Kentucky.
5. Cave Run Lake – about 8,270 acres, a muskie mecca near Morehead.
6. Green River Lake – about 8,210 acres near Campbellsville.
7. Nolin River Lake and Laurel River Lake – roughly 5,600-5,800 acres each.
8. Rough River Lake, Dale Hollow (KY portion) and Taylorsville Lake round out the big-water list.

The largest vs. the deepest

Kentucky Lake is the largest by area, but it’s relatively shallow. For depth, Lake Cumberland is the giant – more than 190 feet deep near Wolf Creek Dam – while Dale Hollow and eastern Kentucky’s Fishtrap Lake (84 ft) and Wood Creek Lake (127 ft) are among the deepest.

Where the big lakes are

Most of Kentucky’s largest lakes are Corps of Engineers reservoirs built for flood control on the state’s rivers – the Tennessee, Cumberland, Green, Barren, Nolin, Rough, Laurel and others. The biggest cluster is in the west at the Land Between the Lakes, where Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley meet; the Cumberland and Green River lakes anchor the south-central region; and Cave Run, Grayson, Paintsville and Fishtrap serve the east.

Frequently asked questions

What is the largest lake in Kentucky?

Kentucky Lake, at about 160,000 acres (the Kentucky portion) on the Tennessee River – the largest lake in Kentucky and one of the largest man-made lakes in the eastern United States.

What is the deepest lake in Kentucky?

Lake Cumberland is the deepest, exceeding 190 feet near Wolf Creek Dam.

What are the three biggest lakes in Kentucky?

Kentucky Lake, Lake Cumberland and Lake Barkley – all huge river reservoirs in the western and south-central parts of the state.

Browse the full database by Largest Lakes and Small Lakes, see our best lakes roundup, or head back to the Kentucky Lakes Database.

Quick answers about Kentucky lakes

What is the largest lake in Kentucky?

Kentucky Lake is the largest lake in Kentucky by surface area (about 160,000 acres, shared with Tennessee). Lake Cumberland is the largest by water volume and shoreline.

What are the biggest lakes in Kentucky?

The biggest are Kentucky Lake and neighboring Lake Barkley in the Land Between the Lakes, plus Lake Cumberland, Barren River Lake, Green River Lake and Dale Hollow.