Jordan Lake State Recreation Area
Trails Status
Open
About the Park
Located in Chatham County 30 miles west of downtown Raleigh, Jordan Lake State Recreation Area includes seven access areas that provide plenty of camping, boating, and swimming opportunities. Campers have more than 1,000 campsites at five accesses to choose from, whether they use a tent, trailer, or RV, and whether they camp with family, friends, or a group. The beautiful lake is one of the largest summertime homes of the bald eagle, and an observation platform makes for easy spotting of our national bird.
Not every access has all the listed facilities. Please check the General Information page to view a table of the facilities at each access.
Camping
- Tent sites (including backpacking sites)
- Trailer and RV sites (some with electric and water hookups)
- Group tent sites (including backpacking sites)
- Group RV sites
- Dump stations
- Showers
- Firewood
Activities
- Hiking (15 miles)
- Paddling
- Swimming
- Fishing
- Picnicking
Amenities
- Boat ramps
- Amphitheater
- Auditorium and classroom
- Picnic shelters
- Visitor center and exhibits
- Beach accesses (lake)
- Bathhouses
A privately owned marina near Crosswinds campground provides slips and storage, and fishing boat, kayak, and paddleboard rentals.
Plan Your Visit
Operating Season and Park Hours
Crosswinds Campground
| Area | Opens On | Closes On |
|---|---|---|
| Camping areas A to C | April 3, 2023 | December 31, 2023 |
Ebenezer Church Access
| Area/Facility | Opens On | Closes On |
|---|---|---|
| Day-use area | open year-round | |
| Picnic shelter #1 | open year-round | |
| Picnic shelter #2 and #8 | March 6, 2023 | October 29, 2023 |
New Hope Overlook Access
| Area | Opens On | Closes On |
|---|---|---|
| Trail and boat ramp | Open year-round | |
| Camping areas A and B* | March 6, 2023 | November 26, 2023 |
*All walk-up sites, reserved onsite at the campground and available on a first-come, first-served basis only
Parkers Creek Access
| Area/Facility/Loop | Opens On | Closes On |
|---|---|---|
| Day-use area | March 6, 2023 | November 12, 2023 |
| Picnic shelters #3 to #6 | March 6, 2023 | November 12, 2023 |
| Group camp | March 6, 2023 | November 26, 2023 |
| Camping loop 1 | March 27, 2023 | November 12, 2023 |
| Camping loop 2 | March 20, 2023 | November 12, 2023 |
| Camping loop 3* | May 15, 2023 | November 12, 2023 |
| Camping loop 4 north* | March 13, 2023 | November 12, 2023 |
| Camping loop 4 south* | March 6, 2023 | November 12, 2023 |
*All walk-up sites, reserved onsite at the campground and available on a first-come, first-served basis only
Poplar Point Access
| Loop | Opens On | Closes On |
|---|---|---|
| Camping loop B | April 10, 2023 | September 10, 2023 |
| Camping loop C | January 1, 2023 | October 1, 2023 |
| Camping loop E* | January 1, 2023 | October 1, 2023 |
| Camping loop F | January 1, 2023 | October 1, 2023 |
| Camping loop G | April 24, 2023 | September 4, 2023 |
| Camping loop H | May 1, 2023 | September 4, 2023 |
| Camping loop J | May 8, 2023 | September 4, 2023 |
*All walk-up sites, reserved onsite at the campground and available on a first-come, first-served basis only
Seaforth Access
| Area/Facility | Opens On | Closes On |
|---|---|---|
| Day-use area | open year-round | |
| Picnic shelter #9 | open year-round | |
Vista Point Access
| Area/Facility | Opens On | Closes On |
|---|---|---|
| Group camp | March 6, 2023 | November 26, 2023 |
| RV group camp | March 6, 2023 | November 26, 2023 |
| Boat ramp | March 6, 2023 | November 26, 2023 |
| Picnic shelters #7 and #10 | March 6, 2023 | November 26, 2023 |
White Oak Area
| Area | Opens On | Closes On |
|---|---|---|
| Day-use area^ | April 1, 2023 | September 24, 2023 |
| Rental | open year-round | |
^Note: White Oak is open for day-use during these dates only on weekends and holidays, and when the area is not reserved.
Crosswinds Campground
| Area | Opens On | Closes On |
|---|---|---|
| Camping areas A to C | January 1, 2024 | September 9, 2024 |
Ebenezer Church Access
| Area/Facility | Opens On | Closes On |
|---|---|---|
| Day-use area | open year-round | |
| Picnic shelter #1 | open year-round | |
| Picnic shelter #2 and #8 | March 4, 2024 | October 28, 2024 |
New Hope Overlook Access
| Area | Opens On | Closes On |
|---|---|---|
| Trail and boat ramp | Open year-round | |
| Camping areas A and B* | March 4, 2024 | December 2, 2024 |
*All walk-up sites, reserved onsite at the campground and available on a first-come, first-served basis only
Parkers Creek Access
| Area/Facility/Loop | Opens On | Closes On |
|---|---|---|
| Day-use area | March 4, 2024 | November 12, 2024 |
| Picnic shelters #3 to #6 | March 4, 2024 | November 12, 2024 |
| Group camp | March 4, 2024 | December 2, 2024 |
| Camping loop 1 | April 1, 2024 | October 28, 2024 |
| Camping loop 2 | March 25, 2024 | October 28, 2024 |
| Camping loop 3* | March 18, 2024 | October 28, 2024 |
| Camping loop 4 north* | March 11, 2024 | October 28, 2024 |
| Camping loop 4 south* | March 4, 2024 | October 28, 2024 |
*All walk-up sites, reserved onsite at the campground and available on a first-come, first-served basis only
Poplar Point Access
| Loop | Opens On | Closes On |
|---|---|---|
| Camping loop B | April 22, 2024 | September 30, 2024 |
| Camping loop C | April 8, 2024 | December 31, 2024 |
| Camping loop E* | March 25, 2024 | December 31, 2024 |
| Camping loop F | April 15, 2024 | December 31, 2024 |
| Camping loop G | April 29, 2024 | September 30, 2024 |
| Camping loop H | May 6, 2024 | September 9, 2024 |
| Camping loop J | May 13, 2024 | September 9, 2024 |
*All walk-up sites, reserved onsite at the campground and available on a first-come, first-served basis only
Seaforth Access
| Area/Facility | Opens On | Closes On |
|---|---|---|
| Day-use area | open year-round | |
| Picnic shelter #9 | open year-round | |
Vista Point Access
| Area/Facility | Opens On | Closes On |
|---|---|---|
| Group camp | March 4, 2024 | December 2, 2024 |
| RV group camp | March 4, 2024 | December 2, 2024 |
| Boat ramp | March 4, 2024 | December 2, 2024 |
| Picnic shelters #7 and #10 | March 4, 2024 | December 2, 2024 |
White Oak Area
| Area | Opens On | Closes On |
|---|---|---|
| Day-use area^ | April 6, 2024 | September 29, 2024 |
| Rental | open year-round | |
^Note: White Oak is open for day-use during these dates only on weekends and holidays, and when the area is not reserved.
|
Month |
Hours |
|---|---|
| January | 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| February | 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| March | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| April | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| May | 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| June | 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| July | 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| August | 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| September | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| October | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| November | 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| December | 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
Not all day-use areas are open year-round. Please check the park's operating season schedule for dates.
Jordan Lake's day-use area gates and campground gates open and lock promptly at the posted times. No entry or exit is permitted when the gates are closed, except for law enforcement or medical emergencies.
|
Month |
Hours |
|---|---|
| January | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| February | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| March | 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| April | 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| May | 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| June | 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| July | 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| August | 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| September | 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| October | 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| November | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| December | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
Not all day-use areas are open year-round. Please check the park's operating season schedule for dates.
Jordan Lake's day-use area gates and campground gates open and lock promptly at the posted times. No entry or exit is permitted when the gates are closed, except for law enforcement or medical emergencies.
From November to February, open Monday to Friday only, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
From March to October, open daily, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Photo Gallery
Top: Rainbow over Jordan, E. Gifford.
Gallery: Boating at sunset, K. Welch | Summer beachside scene, staff photo | Poplar Point campsite, S. McMurray | Boat ramps at New Hope Overlook access, K. Bonifacio | Sailboats at Jordan Lake, staff photo