Lake Tuscaloosa does not have one ZIP code. The reservoir winds for miles through the countryside north of Tuscaloosa and Northport, so the Lake Tuscaloosa ZIP codes you will see depend on which shoreline an address sits on. The verified public places on the lake use three: 35406 (Tuscaloosa) at Rock Quarry Landing, 35473 (Northport) at Sharpes Landing, and 35475 (Northport) at Binion Creek Landing and PARA’s Carrolls Creek Island.
This guide explains what the lake is, who manages it, which ZIP codes appear along its shoreline, and why a lakeshore mailing address says little about city limits or school zones.
What Lake Tuscaloosa is and who manages it
Lake Tuscaloosa is a water-supply reservoir created by damming the North River, a tributary of the Black Warrior River. The City of Tuscaloosa’s Lakes Division says the lake was completed in 1970 and is “the primary source of drinking water for Tuscaloosa.” The state’s fisheries agency describes it as built to supply domestic and industrial water for the city and lists 1971 as the year it was impounded, so “about 1970” is the safest summary.
Key figures from the City and other references:
- Surface area: about 5,885 acres (City of Tuscaloosa).
- Storage: about 40 billion gallons (City of Tuscaloosa).
- Shoreline: about 177 miles, as reported in general reference sources.
- Location: reference sources place the lake roughly five miles north of Tuscaloosa and Northport.
The Lakes Division, based at 3650 Lake Nicol Road, Tuscaloosa, AL 35406, maintains all three city reservoirs: Lake Tuscaloosa, Lake Nicol and Harris Lake. Its stated duties include keeping the lakes usable for recreation while protecting them as drinking-water sources, maintaining shorelines and intake structures, and issuing and inspecting permits for dredging, tree removal and structures on City property along the lakes. If you own or rent lakefront property, a dock or similar structure on City land needs that permit. The City posts its permit application and related forms on the Lakes Division page; read those documents directly for current rules rather than relying on summaries.
Lake Tuscaloosa ZIP codes by shoreline
A ZIP code is a set of mail delivery routes, not a shape drawn around a lake. When you look at the Census Bureau’s ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs), which are statistical approximations of ZIP areas, the lake falls in the northern part of the region where the large 35475 area meets the 35406 area, with 35473 just to the southwest. Our ZIP code map guide shows those approximate shapes and explains their limits.
Rather than guess at boundaries, the table below lists places on the lake whose addresses were checked against the operator’s own listing or the Tuscaloosa County unified 911 address points layer.
| Place | Type and operator | Address | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Quarry Landing | Public boat launch; City of Tuscaloosa (municipal) | 2230 New Watermelon Rd, Tuscaloosa | 35406 |
| Sharpes Landing | Public boat launch; City of Tuscaloosa (municipal) | End of Sharpes Lake Rd (publicized as 13750 Sharpes Lake Rd), Northport mailing area | 35473 |
| Binion Creek Landing | Public boat launch; state launch | 16553 Binion Creek Heights, Northport (one listing uses 16577 US-43) | 35475 |
| Carrolls Creek Island | Island park; Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Authority (PARA) | Lake Tuscaloosa, Northport (no street number) | 35475 |
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources names the same three public launches: Binion Creek (state) and Rock Quarry and Sharps Landing (municipal). The spelling “Sharps” and “Sharpes” both appear in official material.
Notes on each access point
Rock Quarry Landing (35406). This City-run launch sits on the Tuscaloosa side, near PARA’s Rock Quarry Park at 2200 Rock Quarry Drive. County address data places 2230 New Watermelon Road inside Tuscaloosa city limits. For other 35406 places, see the parks and landmarks in ZIP code 35406.
Sharpes Landing (35473). This launch is operated by the City of Tuscaloosa even though the road mails as Northport. Every Sharpes Lake Road address point in the county 911 layer uses Northport 35473. One tourism listing gives 35406, but no address record supports that, so 35473 is the better-supported ZIP. More on this area appears in the guide to community places in Northport ZIP code 35473.
Binion Creek Landing (35475). Sources disagree on the street number, but both versions use Northport 35475. County data shows a useful wrinkle: the 16553 Binion Creek Heights point is coded inside Northport, while the 16577 Highway 43 North point is coded unincorporated. Two addresses for the same launch, one ZIP, two different municipal codes. The 35475 landmarks and outdoor places guide covers the rest of this large postal area.
Carrolls Creek Island (35475). PARA lists this island park only as “Lake Tuscaloosa, Northport, AL 35475.” Its page does not describe amenities or access, so call PARA before planning a visit.
The dam
The structure that holds back the lake is listed in the National Inventory of Dams as the Lake Tuscaloosa Dam, also called the North River Water Supply Dam (NID AL01137). Its spillway lies along Tuscaloosa County Road 87. No street address or ZIP code for the dam was found in official sources, so this guide does not assign one.
Lakeshore addresses: ZIP, city limits and school zones
People searching for Lake Tuscaloosa ZIP codes are often looking at a lake house or lot. Three separate questions apply, and the ZIP code answers only the first.
- Mailing address. The ZIP and city name USPS uses for delivery. Confirm it with the USPS ZIP Code Lookup.
- Municipality. Whether the parcel is inside Tuscaloosa, inside Northport, or in unincorporated Tuscaloosa County. County address data shows that some lakeside points are outside both cities; the 16577 Highway 43 North point near Binion Creek, for example, is coded unincorporated. A “Northport” or “Tuscaloosa” mailing address does not settle this; the explainer on mailing addresses versus city limits walks through why. Check the county Planning and City Limits map or the City of Tuscaloosa’s Zone Lookup.
- Public school assignment. Tuscaloosa City Schools and the Tuscaloosa County School System are separate districts, and attendance depends on the specific address. Use the Tuscaloosa City Schools zoning map or TCSS student services, and see our guide to why ZIP codes are not enough for school zones.
Ownership adds a fourth wrinkle. The City of Tuscaloosa owns and manages the reservoir even where the surrounding land mails as Northport or sits in the county. That is why Sharpes Landing can be a City of Tuscaloosa launch with a Northport 35473 mailing area.
Tuscaloosa’s other reservoirs: Lake Nicol and Harris Lake
The City’s two older reservoirs are much smaller. Neither the City nor Visit Tuscaloosa publishes a street address or ZIP for either lake. Some third-party listings place them in 35406, but that is not USPS-verified, so this guide describes them only as City of Tuscaloosa reservoirs in north Tuscaloosa.
| Reservoir | Completed | Size | Address and ZIP status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Tuscaloosa | 1970 | About 5,885 acres; about 40 billion gallons | No single address; shoreline addresses in 35406, 35473 and 35475 |
| Lake Nicol | 1954 | 384 acres; about 3.3 billion gallons | No official street address or ZIP; listed by some sources in 35406 (one shows 35405), not USPS-verified |
| Harris Lake | 1929 | 220 acres; about 1 billion gallons | No official street address or ZIP; listed by some sources in 35406, not USPS-verified |
The City describes Lake Nicol as a backup to Lake Tuscaloosa. It says the entire property around Harris Lake is protected park land and that the lake is part of the Alabama Birding Trail.
Lake Lurleen is a different lake
Lake Lurleen is not part of Lake Tuscaloosa. It is a separate, much smaller lake inside Lake Lurleen State Park, run by Alabama State Parks. The park’s address is 13226 Lake Lurleen Road, Coker, AL 35452, and county address data places it inside the Town of Coker. The state park covers about 1,625 acres around a lake of about 250 acres. For how Coker’s ZIP relates to the Northport postal area, read the Coker 35452 guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ZIP code for Lake Tuscaloosa?
There is no single one. Public access points use 35406, 35473 and 35475, and private shoreline addresses can use any ZIP whose delivery routes reach that part of the lake. Look up the specific address.
Is Lake Tuscaloosa in Tuscaloosa or Northport?
The City of Tuscaloosa owns and manages the reservoir, but the shoreline crosses Tuscaloosa, Northport and unincorporated county land, and many addresses mail as Northport.
Facts in this guide were checked against the sources below on October 10, 2026. Addresses, programs and boundaries can change; confirm with the official source before relying on them.
Sources
- City of Tuscaloosa — Lakes Division (Lake Tuscaloosa, Lake Nicol, Harris Lake) (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources — Lake Tuscaloosa reservoir page (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Authority — Parks list (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Authority — Carrolls Creek Island (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Tuscaloosa City and County Unified Address Points (county 911 GIS) (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Tuscaloosa County Public Works — Planning and City Limits map (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Alabama State Parks — Lake Lurleen State Park (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Geoconnex reference (National Inventory of Dams record) — Lake Tuscaloosa Dam (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Visit Tuscaloosa — Lake Tuscaloosa (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Visit Tuscaloosa — Best places to kayak near Tuscaloosa (launch addresses) (accessed October 10, 2026)
- ABC 33/40 — Tuscaloosa marks National Lakes Appreciation Month (accessed October 10, 2026)
- Wikipedia — Lake Tuscaloosa (accessed October 10, 2026)
- USPS — ZIP Code Lookup by address (accessed October 10, 2026)
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