COVID-19 information for parks (Updated 5/28/2021)
Posted on: Friday, May 28, 2021 - 10:04am |
New URL for the webstore
Posted on: Wednesday, June 23, 2021 - 10:58am |
Ecology
There are no fireworks scheduled for the 4th of July weekend at Kerr Lake State Recreation Area.
Last updated on: Saturday, July 3, 2021All Kerr Lake State Recreation Area facilities are open.
We strongly encourage those who have not yet been vaccinated for COVID-19 to continue wearing masks and practicing social distancing guidelines while visiting. In addition, we strongly encourage both vaccinated and unvaccinated visitors to wear a face covering in areas with large volume of children or while taking part in child-focused activities.
The visitor center is open daily, but hours vary depending on staff availability. Please call the park to confirm the hours.
Day-use entrance fees are charged 7-days-a-week through Labor Day and then on weekends through the end of September. This includes customers who are visiting registered campers and customers who are going to a rented community building or shelter. The entrance fees are:
- Motor vehicles: $7 per day
- Senior Citizen (62 or older)/Military: $5 per day
- Bus: $20 per day
Open areas will close if capacity is reached. Cleaning bathrooms will take longer than normal due to disinfecting procedures. Trash cans are not available at family campsites to reduce exposure, so campers will take their own trash to the dumpsters.
Reservations for available campsites may be on the day of arrival up to 9 p.m. Campers may make reservations by calling toll-free 1-877-722-6762 or through the reservations website https://northcarolinastateparks.reserveamerica.com/camping/kerr-lake-state-recreation-area/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NC&parkId=552904
Please check with our partner agencies about the status of their access areas on Kerr Lake:
US Army Corps of Engineers https://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Locations/District-Lakes-and-Dams/John-H-Kerr/
NC Wildlife Resources Commission https://www.ncwildlife.org/
Virginia State Parks https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/
Last updated on: Wednesday, June 9, 2021
Contact
252-438-7791
kerr.lake@ncparks.gov
Addresses and hours
Click each access below to view its address and its operating schedule and hours for day-use, boat ramp and/or campground facilities.
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Address
6254 Satterwhite Point Road
Henderson, NC 27537
GPS: 36.4411, -78.3688
Day-use area
- open year-round
- November to February:
8:00am to 6:00pm
- March to April:
8:00am to 8:00pm
- May to August:
8:00am to 9:00pm
- September to October:
8:00am to 8:00pm
- Closed Christmas Day
Visitor center
- Open daily:
8:00am to 5:00pm*
- *The visitor center may be closed some weekends due to staffing. Please call ahead before your weekend visit to make sure the visitor is open.
- In 2021, the visitor center is closed November 25 to 26 and December 23 through 27.
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Address
20 Shoreline Lane
Henderson, NC 27537
GPS: 36.4411, -78.3688
Campground
- open year-round with 24-hour gate access
- Closed Christmas Day
►
Address
3050 Bullocksville Park Rd
Manson, NC 27553
GPS: 36.4577, -78.3631
Day-use area
- open year-round
- November to February:
8:00am to 6:00pm
- March to April:
8:00am to 8:00pm
- May to August:
8:00am to 9:00pm
- September to October:
8:00am to 8:00pm
- Closed Christmas Day
Boat ramp
- open year-round and follow day-use hours listed above
Campground
- Operating season schedule »
- March to April:
7:00am to 9:00pm
- May to September:
7:00am to 10:00pm
- Please note: Campground gates open and lock promptly at the posted times. No entry or exit is permitted before or after posted gate hours, except for law enforcement or medical emergencies.
►
Address
200 County Line Park Road
Manson, NC 27553
GPS: 36.5247, -78.3163
Boat ramp
- open year-round with 24-hour access
Campground
- Operating season schedule »
- March to April:
7:00am to 9:00pm
- May to September:
7:00am to 10:00pm
- Please note: Campground gates open and lock promptly at the posted times. No entry or exit is permitted before or after posted gate hours, except for law enforcement or medical emergencies.
►
Address
1427 Reverend Henderson Rd
Henderson, NC 27537
GPS: 36.5312, -78.3461
Shelter 1
- open year-round
- November to February:
8:00am to 6:00pm
- March to April:
8:00am to 8:00pm
- May to August:
8:00am to 9:00pm
- September to October:
8:00am to 8:00pm
- Closed Christmas Day
Shelter 2 and 3 and
community building
- open late March to early October and follow day-use hours listed above
- year-round access for rentals
- Closed Christmas Day
Boat ramp
- open year-round with 24-hour access
Campground
- Operating season schedule »
- March to April:
7:00am to 9:00pm
- May to September:
7:00am to 10:00pm
- Please note: Campground gates open and lock promptly at the posted times. No entry or exit is permitted before or after posted gate hours, except for law enforcement or medical emergencies.
►
Address
2041 Hibernia Road
Henderson, NC 27537
GPS: 36.5047, -78.3761
Day-use area
- open late March to early October
- March to April:
8:00am to 8:00pm
- May to August:
8:00am to 9:00pm
- September to October:
8:00am to 8:00pm
Boat ramp
- open year-round with 24-hour access
Campground
- Operating season schedule »
- March to April:
7:00am to 9:00pm
- May to September:
7:00am to 10:00pm
- October:
7:00am to 9:00pm
- November:
7:00am to 8:00pm
- Please note: Campground gates open and lock promptly at the posted times. No entry or exit is permitted before or after posted gate hours, except for law enforcement or medical emergencies.
►
Address
460 Kimball Point Road
Manson, NC 27553
GPS: 36.5367, -78.3099
Day-use area
- open late March to early October
- March to April:
8:00am to 8:00pm
- May to August:
8:00am to 9:00pm
- September to October:
8:00am to 8:00pm
Boat ramp
- open late March to early October and follow day-use hours listed above.
Campground
- Operating season schedule »
- March to April:
7:00am to 9:00pm
- May to September:
7:00am to 10:00pm
- October:
7:00am to 9:00pm
- Please note: Campground gates open and lock promptly at the posted times. No entry or exit is permitted before or after posted gate hours, except for law enforcement or medical emergencies.
►
Addresses
North entrance
115 Jack Wade Farm Lane
Henderson, NC 27537
South entrance
135 Jack Wade Farm Lane
Henderson, NC 27537
GPS: 36.4100, -78.3991
Day-use area
- open late March to early October
- March to April:
8:00am to 8:00pm
- May to August:
8:00am to 9:00pm
- September to October:
8:00am to 8:00pm
Boat ramp
- open year-round with 24-hour access
Campground
- open year-round with 24-hour gate access
- Closed on Christmas Day
Natural resources
Get plant and animal checklists at the park office.
Much of the land that makes up Kerr Lake State Recreation Area is covered by forests in various stages of regrowth that follow the farming and timbering practices of the past. The forests found at Kerr Lake are typical of those found elsewhere in the Piedmont of North Carolina. Pine stands are dominated by loblolly pines. In hardwood forest areas, various oak and hickory species, tulip poplars, sweetgums, maples, American beech and dogwoods are commonly found.
In drainage areas and along the shoreline, willows, river birch and alder are found. Also found in these areas are buttonbush and rose mallow.
Many types of mammals live around Kerr Lake. Mammals such as white-tailed deer, raccoons, Virginia opossums, gray foxes, red foxes, cottontail rabbits and gray squirrels are common in the woods and along the shore. Beavers, muskrats and a few river otters make their homes at Kerr Lake as well. Many of these creatures are secretive and not often seen by park visitors.
There are several species of amphibians and reptiles in the area. Frogs, toads, turtles, lizards and snakes are all found here. Most snakes found at Kerr Lake State Recreation Area are harmless. Generally, snakes found in the water are non-venomous water snakes. There is one species, the copperhead, which is venomous and lives on parkland.
Bird species are too numerous to list completely, but representative species are typical of the Carolina Piedmont. Songbirds include indigo buntings, red-eyed vireos, northern cardinals, prairie warblers, eastern kingbirds and Carolina chickadees. Many birds of prey also reside here. Red-tailed hawks, red-shoulder hawks, ospreys and eagles are all seen soaring overhead. Barred owls, great-horned owls and screech owls are often heard under the cover of darkness. Wading birds such as great blue herons and egrets can be found along the shoreline as they hunt for fish in the shallows. Other "fishermen" found above and on the lake include the belted kingfisher and double crested cormorant. In the winter, the common loon and pied billed grebe can also be observed at the lake. Additionally, Canada geese and mallard ducks are frequently seen on the water and along the shore.
Park Maps and Brochures:
