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

Places › Jordan Lake State Recreation Area

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area is a North Carolina state recreation area in Apex, Chatham 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 Jordan Lake State Recreation Area

Seven access areas on a large lake west of Raleigh give campers more than 1,000 campsites at five of them. The lake is one of the biggest summer homes of the bald eagle, and an observation platform helps with spotting.

Jordan Lake State Recreation Area Hours

At the Hours for All 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:

• Visitor Center: 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. The visitor center is closed during the following state-designated holidays:
• 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.

This park prints 2 hour tables because its accesses keep different gates; the first one is used for the tiles above.

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 (919-372-6000) before you go.

Directions and Contact

• Address: 280 State Park Road, Apex, NC 27523
• Phone: 919-372-6000
• Map point: 35.73550,-79.01650. 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/jordan-lake-state-recreation-area

State Parks Near Jordan Lake State Recreation Area

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

1. Jordan Lake State Recreation Area on NC State Parks (read 2026-10-27)
2. NC State Parks: park list and fees (read 2026-10-27)
3. OpenStreetMap (map point check)

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 Spot something out of date?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