Lynnhurst Family Resort
Marinas
What would you like to search?
Explore Categories
Popular Destinations
No search results found.
What would you like to search?
No search results found.
Dover is the Stewart County seat and the primary community serving the southern end of Lake Barkley. The town sits along the Cumberland River near Fort Donelson National Battlefield, Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge, and the southern entrance to Land Between the Lakes. Its role in the region is shaped by two things that remain closely connected here: the river and the history that unfolded along its banks.
Use the interactive map below to explore what Dover has to offer. Browse places to stay, restaurants, attractions, and more, then filter the results to quickly find exactly what you're looking for.
Dover developed along the Cumberland River long before the creation of Lake Barkley. By the middle of the 19th century, it had become an active river-trade center and one of the Cumberland’s leading steamboat ports. The river later placed Dover at the center of one of the Civil War’s earliest major Union victories.
Fort Donelson National Battlefield preserves the ground where Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant defeated the Confederate garrison in February 1862. Visitors can follow a self-guided driving route through the battlefield, see the river batteries and surviving earthworks, visit Fort Donelson National Cemetery, and stop at the Dover Hotel, also known as the Surrender House. The Confederate surrender there helped establish Grant’s national reputation and gave the Union control of an important route into Tennessee.
Dover’s connection to the water extends beyond the battlefield. The Cumberland River is impounded here as Lake Barkley, with marinas, boat ramps, fishing areas and lakeside accommodations located throughout Stewart County. A few miles east of town, Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge protects 8,862 acres of river-bottom habitat and was established primarily as a sanctuary for migratory waterfowl. Public access varies by season, but the refuge supports birding, fishing, wildlife observation and environmental education.
Dover also provides the southern approach to Land Between the Lakes. The South Welcome Station is located on Woodlands Trace north of town, where visitors can obtain maps and information before continuing into the recreation area.
The result is a community whose identity cannot be separated from the surrounding landscape. Dover serves Lake Barkley visitors, anchors the southern end of Land Between the Lakes, and preserves a nationally significant chapter of Civil War history.
Dover, along with Grand Rivers, has the rare distinction of having access to both Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake, with a handful of visitor-friendly places along Kentucky Lake in western Stewart County.
Dover is best known as the home of Fort Donelson National Battlefield, where Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant won a major victory in February 1862. The town is also associated with Lake Barkley, Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge and the southern entrance to Land Between the Lakes.
Visitors can tour battlefield roads, view the original earthworks and river batteries, visit Fort Donelson National Cemetery, and see the Dover Hotel where the Confederate surrender took place. Interpretive signs are placed throughout the park, and the route can be explored by vehicle and on foot.
Dover sits along the Cumberland River, which forms Lake Barkley in this part of Tennessee. The town and surrounding Stewart County provide access to fishing, boating, marinas, boat ramps and lakeside lodging on the southern portion of the lake.
Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge is an 8,862-acre protected area located a few miles east of Dover along the Cumberland River and Lake Barkley. It was established in 1962 to provide habitat and sanctuary for migratory birds, particularly wintering waterfowl. Parts of the refuge close seasonally to reduce disturbance, so visitors should review current access information before arriving.
Dover is just south of Land Between the Lakes. The South Welcome Station is located north of town on Woodlands Trace, the main north-south road through the recreation area. From there, visitors can continue toward trails, campgrounds, scenic areas and other attractions throughout Land Between the Lakes.
