William B. Umstead State Park: Hours, Fees and Dog Rules

Places › William B. Umstead State Park

William B. Umstead State Park is a North Carolina state park in Raleigh, Wake County, in our Triangle region. Day-use admission is free. 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 day usesome services cost extra
HoursCloses 6 to 9 p.m.Opens 8 a.m., by month
ClosedChristmas Dayother holidays: open
DogsOn a 6 ft leashmore rules below

About William B. Umstead State Park

A retreat near downtown Raleigh, the park has a broad network of hiking and multiuse trails and three manmade lakes for fishing. Both entrances have picnic shelters, and group camps and the historic Maple Hill Lodge offer rustic overnight stays.

Plan It in Three Lines

Getting In
Day-use admission is free.
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
Falls Lake State Recreation Area is about 9 miles away (straight line).
5 units within 30 miles

William B. Umstead State Park Hours

At the Crabtree Creek Entrance 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 Crabtree Creek Entrance, p.m.

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

Crabtree Creek Entrance

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.

Reedy Creek Entrance

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.

Campground Gates

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 and Exhibit Hall: Open daily, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The park is closed on Christmas Day.
The park is open during all other holidays.

This park prints 3 hour tables because its accesses keep different gates; the first one is used for the tiles above.

Admission and Fees

There are no fees required to access William B. Umstead State Park for day use, except for boat rentals. Fees are charged for camping, certain event permits, and facility reservations.

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 inside buildings or in cabins. 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 (984-867-8240) before you go.

Directions and Contact

Address: 8801 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh, NC 27617
Phone: 984-867-8240
Map point: 35.89050,-78.75020. Latitude and longitude printed on the park's own ncparks.gov page, checked within 25 miles of the Raleigh town point (U.S. Census) and of the OpenStreetMap match. Directions in Google Maps
Official page: www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/william-b-umstead-state-park

State Parks Near William B. Umstead State Park

Around William B. Umstead State Park within 60 miles

1Falls Lake State Recreation AreaState Recreation Areaabout 9 mi
2Jordan Lake State Recreation AreaState Recreation Areaabout 18 mi
3Eno River State ParkState Parkabout 19 mi
4Lower Haw River State Natural AreaState Natural Areaabout 23 mi
5Occoneechee Mountain State Natural AreaState Natural Areaabout 24 mi
6Raven Rock State ParkState Parkabout 31 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 William B. Umstead State Park?

Day-use admission is free, per the park page. Camping, boat rentals, swim passes, event permits and reservations can cost extra where the park offers them.

Are dogs allowed at William B. Umstead State Park?

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

What time does William B. Umstead State Park 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 William B. Umstead State Park open on Christmas?

The park is closed on Christmas Day.

Are strollers allowed at William B. Umstead State Park?

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.

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, “William B. Umstead State Park: Hours, Fees and Dog Rules”, itsnorthcarolina.com/places/william-b-umstead-state-park/ (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.