Mountshannon is the main Clare-side village on Lough Derg, a planned estate village of wide streets and stone houses that retains much of its 18th-century character. The harbour is the departure point for boat trips to Inis Cealtra, and it has berths for visiting cruisers and a slipway for small boats. In summer the quayside is busy with day visitors and sailors calling in for supplies.
The village itself has a couple of pubs and a shop, and the walk along the lakeshore north and south of the harbour is pleasant in any season. It is also the trailhead for sections of the Lough Derg Way.