Welcome aboard:
If you can play a little more to the North end of the lake. It's busier, but I think a little nicer. That said, I typically launch outta' the South end and spend more time that way. I'm not sure exactly how the camping works on the lake - we've never done it. However, there are several islands on the lake and people regularly camp on them. You don't so much "beach" a boat in TN. You figure out a way to tie it up, and anchor it down. There are a few spots where you can actually beach, but we're a pretty rocky bottom. Most of the shallow areas are marked, and be advised that the bulk of them are rock ... you can chew up a prop fast. Nothing to worry too much about, there's plenty of open deep water ... just when they have markers out, they're serious about it.
Contact the TWRA about camping out there. They'd know the answers.
I ran across
THIS SITE when looking something up for this post. It shows all of the launches, so all the options are there. Here's some details about the one's I know about:
Fate Sanders Marina - (#10 on the map) - okay parking. Busy most of the time, but not horrible. South end of the lake, so you have a little bit of a ride North to get to the pretty stuff. Gas, food and supplies at the marina.
Pooles Knob (#27), Lamar Hill (#19), Cook Recreation Area (#3) - all are public ramps, pretty basic stuff. Lamar and Pooles are South End and I wouldn't mess with 'em. Cooks is okay if you need a North end spot from the East side of the lake. Probably can't park at these overnight.
Hurricane Creek didn't make the map in my link, and is one of my favorite launches. I doubt you can park here overnight, but you're easy access to the bulk of the lake and it doesn't cost anything. It'll get busy at times, but the parking is pretty good.
Four Corners (#12) and Elm Hill (#6) were both pay to launch sites - both very nice marinas. But starting last year they say they're closed to the public now. I'd give 'em a call if you're interested and see what that's about. It's not been an issue for me (Hurricane Creek is just across the inlet from Four Corners), so I haven't looked into it. Those two probably have the nicest restaurants on the lake - Elm Hill probably edging out for the win.
Nashville Shores (#24) is HUGE ... big marina attached to the park, campground and waterpark. I've pulled into it from the lake, but never got outta' the boat and haven't put in from there. It's pretty though
We typically find a cove or an island and toss out an anchor to swim. I have 3 kids and 2 retrievers in the water most of the time, so I look for fairly out of the way places ... and there's plenty of those.
Dunno' where I'll be that weekend. This coming weekend we'll be around Four Corners or Fate Sanders area to watch fireworks.