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 | Jan 1, 2024 | Sep 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 | Mar 4, 2024 | Oct 28, 2024 |
New Hope Overlook Access
| Area | Opens On | Closes On |
|---|---|---|
| Trail and boat ramp | Open year-round | |
| Camping areas A and B* | Mar 4, 2024 | Dec 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 | Mar 4, 2024 | Nov 12, 2024 |
| Picnic shelters #3 to #6 | Mar 4, 2024 | Nov 12, 2024 |
| Group camp | Mar 4, 2024 | Dec 2, 2024 |
| Camping loop 1 | Apr 1, 2024 | Oct 28, 2024 |
| Camping loop 2 | Mar 25, 2024 | Oct 28, 2024 |
| Camping loop 3* | Mar 18, 2024 | Oct 28, 2024 |
| Camping loop 4 north* | Mar 11, 2024 | Oct 28, 2024 |
| Camping loop 4 south* | Mar 4, 2024 | Oct 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 | Apr 22, 2024 | Sep 30, 2024 |
| Camping loop C | Apr 8, 2024 | Dec 31, 2024 |
| Camping loop E* | Mar 25, 2024 | Dec 31, 2024 |
| Camping loop F | Apr 15, 2024 | Dec 31, 2024 |
| Camping loop G | Apr 29, 2024 | Sep 30, 2024 |
| Camping loop H | May 6, 2024 | Sep 9, 2024 |
| Camping loop J | May 13, 2024 | Sep 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 | Mar 4, 2024 | Dec 2, 2024 |
| RV group camp | Mar 4, 2024 | Dec 2, 2024 |
| Boat ramp | Mar 4, 2024 | Dec 2, 2024 |
| Picnic shelters #7 and #10 | Mar 4, 2024 | Dec 2, 2024 |
White Oak Area
| Area | Opens On | Closes On |
|---|---|---|
| Day-use area^ | Apr 6, 2024 | Sep 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.
Crosswinds Campground
| Area | Opens On | Closes On |
|---|---|---|
| Camping areas A to C | April 7, 2025 | Dec. 31, 2025 |
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 10, 2025 | Oct. 27, 2025 |
New Hope Overlook Access
| Area | Opens On | Closes On |
|---|---|---|
| Trail and boat ramp | Open year-round | |
| Camping areas A and B* | March 3, 2025 | Dec. 1, 2025 |
*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 10, 2025 | Nov. 17, 2025 |
| Picnic shelters #3 to #6 | March 10, 2025 | Nov. 17, 2025 |
| Group camp | March 3, 2025 | Dec. 1, 2025 |
| Camping loop 1 | March 24, 2025 | Nov. 17, 2025 |
| Camping loop 2 | March 17, 2025 | Nov. 17, 2025 |
| Camping loop 3* | May 19, 2025 | Nov. 17, 2025 |
| Camping loop 4 north* | March 10, 2025 | Nov. 17, 2025 |
| Camping loop 4 south* | March 3, 2025 | Nov. 17, 2025 |
*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 | March 24, 2025 | Sept. 2, 2025 |
| Camping loop C | Jan. 1, 2025 | Sept. 29, 2025 |
| Camping loop E* | Jan. 1, 2025 | Sept. 29, 2025 |
| Camping loop F | Jan. 1, 2025 | Sept. 29, 2025 |
| Camping loop G | May 5, 2025 | Sept. 2, 2025 |
| Camping loop H | May 12, 2025 | Sept. 2, 2025 |
| Camping loop J | May 19, 2025 | Sept. 2, 2025 |
*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 3, 2025 | Dec. 1, 2025 |
| RV group camp | March 3, 2025 | Dec. 1, 2025 |
| Boat ramp | March 10, 2025 | Nov. 17, 2025 |
| Picnic shelters #7 and #10 | March 10, 2025 | Nov. 17, 2025 |
White Oak Area
| Area | Opens On | Closes On |
|---|---|---|
| Day-use area^ | April 5, 2025 | Sept. 28, 2025 |
| 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.
Crosswinds and Poplar Point campground gates have 24-hour access.
Parkers Creek, Vista Point, and New Hope Overlook campground gates lock at the posted times below:
| 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 camping areas are open year-round. Please check the park's operating season schedule for dates.
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