Pool season · State index
Tennessee Pool Season 2026: Opening & Closing Dates by City
Last updated: July 25, 2026 · 14 cities covered
Both halves of the pool year for all 14 covered Tennessee cities. The median calendar runs April 8 to October 22. Every row links to a one-page season overview with the live water-temperature model; the opening and closing hubs carry the full checklists.
Tennessee: a long-season pool state| City | Open by | Close by | 80°F+ days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol | Apr 18 | Oct 16 | 113 |
| Chattanooga | Mar 30 | Oct 30 | 142 |
| Clarksville | Apr 7 | Oct 23 | 131 |
| Cleveland | Apr 7 | Oct 23 | 131 |
| Franklin | Apr 9 | Oct 24 | 135 |
| Jackson | Apr 5 | Oct 22 | 139 |
| Johnson City | Apr 20 | Oct 15 | 108 |
| Kingsport | Apr 13 | Oct 19 | 118 |
| Knoxville | Apr 14 | Oct 21 | 126 |
| Memphis | Mar 25 | Nov 3 | 147 |
| Morristown | Apr 15 | Oct 19 | 111 |
| Murfreesboro | Apr 11 | Oct 20 | 131 |
| Nashville | Apr 6 | Oct 23 | 134 |
| Spring Hill | Apr 8 | Oct 25 | 132 |
What the columns mean
"Open by" is the recommended spring date — two weeks before the city's 7-day mean temperature crosses 61°F, the model's proxy for water approaching the 65°F algae-growth zone. "Close by" is the fall deadline — ten days after the water leaves that zone, capped a week ahead of the local 50% first-freeze date. "80°F+ days" counts days whose normal high reaches 80°F: the length of the true warm-swim season, and the fairest single number for comparing Tennessee cities against each other.
Every figure comes from each city's own NOAA 1991–2020 normals station (named in its guide's footer), so neighboring cities can legitimately differ by a few days. The season overview linked from each row adds the live water-temperature model and the full-year season bar; the state hubs above carry the step-by-step checklists.
Swim-season length across Tennessee
The fairest way to compare Tennessee cities is the number of days with 80°F+ normal highs — the practical warm-swim season. Every bar links to that city's one-page season overview with the live water model.
Tennessee pool climate at a glance
Humid Southern summers give Memphis and Nashville long seasons from late April into early October, while East Tennessee's mountains run cooler at both ends of the season. In model terms that makes Tennessee a long-season state. The spread shows up clearly on the local pages: compare Memphis's pool season with Cleveland's and the difference is measured in weeks, not days. Neighbors in the index run on their own normals too — see South Dakota and Texas for the adjacent calendars.
Tennessee pool season FAQ
When do pools open in Tennessee?
Model openings in Tennessee run from March 25 in Memphis to April 20 in Johnson City, with the statewide median on April 9. Each date is two weeks before that city's 7-day mean temperature crosses 61°F — early enough to start up in algae-cold water.
When should you close a pool in Tennessee?
The median Tennessee closing deadline is October 23, and every city's own deadline is capped a week ahead of its NOAA 50% first-freeze date. Closing late and cold beats closing early and warm — cool water holds its winter chemistry far better.
Which Tennessee city has the longest swim season?
Memphis leads with 147 days of 80°F+ highs per year, while Johnson City brings up the rear at 108 days. The chart above ranks every covered city by the same metric.