Lake Norman is the largest man-made body of fresh water in North Carolina, 32 miles long and with more than 500 miles of shoreline. The east shore presses up against Mooresville and is lined with houses, marinas, and the occasional public access point.
Lake Norman State Park, about 10 miles north of town on the northern lobe of the lake, has the best public access for swimming and short hikes. Wakeboarders, fishing boats, and pontoon parties cover the main body of the lake on weekends in summer. The lake is also Mooresville's local backdrop — driving along Brawley School Road in the evening, with the water on both sides, is one of the simple pleasures of the area.