Falls Lake State Recreation Area: Hours, Fees and Dog Rules

Places › Falls Lake State Recreation Area

Falls Lake State Recreation Area is a North Carolina state recreation area in Wake Forest, Wake County, in our Triangle region. Day use is free most of the year, with a per-vehicle fee on some days. The gate closes between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., depending on the month. It is closed on Christmas Day. Facts read from the official page on October 27, 2026.

AdmissionFree most of the yearper-vehicle fee on some days
HoursCloses 6 to 9 p.m.Opens 8 a.m., by month
ClosedChristmas Dayother holidays: open
DogsOn a 6 ft leashmore rules below

About Falls Lake State Recreation Area

Seven access areas on the reservoir east of downtown Durham offer more than 300 campsites. Trails include part of the Mountains-to-Sea State Trail and a mountain bike system at the Beaverdam access, and monarch butterflies pass through in spring and fall.

Plan It in Three Lines

Getting In
Free most of the year; a per-vehicle fee applies on some days (the amount is not on the park page).
Closes 6 to 9 p.m.
Bring the Dog?
Dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than 6 feet, with limits indoors and in some areas.
Full rules below
Make It a Trip
William B. Umstead State Park is about 9 miles away (straight line).
4 units within 30 miles

Falls Lake State Recreation Area Hours

At the Hours for Day-Use Areas table, the gate closes between 6 p.m. (Nov to Feb) and 9 p.m. (May to Aug). It opens 8 a.m. Month by month, as the park prints it:

Closing Time by Month Hours for Day-Use Areas, p.m.

Bars show the hour the gate closes, drawn from the month table below it. Taller means later.

Hours for Day-Use Areas

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.

Visitor Center: Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
All park facilities are closed on Christmas Day.
The park is open during all other holidays.
The park is closed on Christmas Day.
Campgrounds are closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Campgrounds open during all other holidays.
The visitor center is closed on all state holidays.

Admission and Fees

Entrance fees are charged per vehicle on weekends and holidays in April, May, and September, and daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The park is free to access for day use during the rest of the year. Fees are also charged for camping, certain event permits, and facility reservations.

Not published: the per-vehicle amount. The park page lists the days but not the price; ask the park office.

Planning several parks? Our State Parks Passport guide sets every park’s fees and dog rules side by side.

Dogs and Strollers

Dogs: Pets are allowed at the park and at campsites. They are not permitted on swim beaches or inside buildings. Pets must be on an attended leash of no longer than 6 feet at all times.
Strollers: Not published. The park page does not say whether strollers are allowed; call the park office (984-867-8000) before you go.

Directions and Contact

Address: 13304 Creedmoor Road, Wake Forest, NC 27587
Phone: 984-867-8000
Map point: 36.01160,-78.68880. Latitude and longitude printed on the park's own ncparks.gov page, checked within 25 miles of the OpenStreetMap match. Directions in Google Maps
Official page: www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/falls-lake-state-recreation-area

State Parks Near Falls Lake State Recreation Area

Around Falls Lake State Recreation Area within 60 miles

1William B. Umstead State ParkState Parkabout 9 mi
2Eno River State ParkState Parkabout 18 mi
3Occoneechee Mountain State Natural AreaState Natural Areaabout 24 mi
4Jordan Lake State Recreation AreaState Recreation Areaabout 26 mi
5Lower Haw River State Natural AreaState Natural Areaabout 31 mi
6Kerr Lake State Recreation AreaState Recreation Areaabout 35 mi

Straight-line distances between map points, not driving miles. Dots sit in their true compass direction; distance is stretched near the middle so close neighbors stay readable.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to visit Falls Lake State Recreation Area?

Day use is free most of the year; a per-vehicle fee applies on weekends and holidays in April, May and September and daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The amount is not published on the park page.

Are dogs allowed at Falls Lake State Recreation Area?

Pets are allowed at the park and at campsites. They are not permitted on swim beaches or inside buildings. Pets must be on an attended leash of no longer than 6 feet at all times.

What time does Falls Lake State Recreation Area close?

It depends on the month: the gate closes between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the first table the park prints. See the month table above for your date.

Is Falls Lake State Recreation Area open on Christmas?

All park facilities are closed on Christmas Day.

Are strollers allowed at Falls Lake State Recreation Area?

Not published. The park page does not mention strollers, so call the park office before you go.

What We Could Not Verify

Hours and closures change at short notice for weather and staffing; check the official page the day you go.
Stroller rules are not stated on the official page.
Some admission amounts are not on the park page (see Admission and Fees).

Sources

Last checked October 27, 2026 by the It’s North Carolina editor. Spot something out of date? Tell us.

Cite this page: It's North Carolina, “Falls Lake State Recreation Area: Hours, Fees and Dog Rules”, itsnorthcarolina.com/places/falls-lake-state-recreation-area/ (updated 2026-10-27). By the It's North Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.