Woodlake is located in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Situated in the mountains of East Tennessee, the community fronts on Norris Lake, a 34,000-acre reservoir of pure water that is part of the TVA system built in the 1930s. Norris Lake offers both boating and fishing activities for the water enthusiast.

Shopping and dining are easily found nearby. The small town of Tazewell offers basic grocery and discount chain store shopping within a 10-minute drive, plus several national chain restaurants. The bigger community of Morristown, only 30 minutes away, offers a wider variety of mall shopping and restaurants. Knoxville's metropolitan area, only 45 minutes away, provides nearly every imaginable shopping and dining experience.

Many recreational opportunities for the whole family can be found nearby, including Cumberland Gap National Historic Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, both within an hour's drive. In the nearby Cumberland Gap region are the Lost Squadron/P-38 Museum at Middlesboro, KY, the Abraham Lincoln Museum on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University at Harrogate, TN, and the newly established Wilderness Road State Park at Ewing, VA. The Dollywood theme park, the Bristol Motor Speedway's NASCAR series, and UT football and basketball games also make great local family funtime destinations. An added attraction is Thompson-Bowling Arena in Knoxville, host to top-name performers to suit any and every musical taste.

Several institutions of higher learning have their homes in this area, including Walters State Community College, Lincoln Memorial University, Tusculum College, and Southeast Community College, all within an hour's drive.

The region is served by interstate highways 81, 75, and 40. Private planes can be flown into the New Tazewell Airport, adjacent to the Woodlake Community. Commercial airline service is available from McGhee-Tyson Airport south of Knoxville.

Cultural opportunities can be found regionally at the Clarence Brown Theatre and Knoxville Symphony Orchestra in Knoxville; the Oak Ridge Playhouse in Oak Ridge, TN; the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, VA; and the Trail of the Lonesome Pine Outdoor Theatre in Big Stone Gap, VA.