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 |
History
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
History highlights
The Occoneechee Indians once lived in the Kerr Lake area until they were dispersed by Nathanial Bacon in 1676. Until that date, the Roanoke River was the main transportation and supply route for both Native Americans and early settlers. Constant, regular flooding of the river provided rich and productive farmland that sustained the area for generations.
The development of cities and homes along the river and the increased demand for flood control and electricity led to the construction of the John H. Kerr Reservoir, named after the North Carolina congressman instrumental in the reservoir's development. Construction of this reservoir that straddles Virginia and North Carolina began in 1946 and was completed in 1952.
The Kerr Reservoir Commission was then created to govern the North Carolina parks bordering the lake. The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation eventually took control of the seven recreation areas of the reservoir in 1975. In addition to water resource management, the reservoir provides fish and wildlife conservation, forest management and recreation.
Park Maps and Brochures:
