John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir
Ivy Hill Park is located on John H. Kerr Reservoir, a 50,000-acre lake that extends 39 miles up the wooded, cove-studded shoreline of the Roanoke River in Virginia and North Carolina. Kerr Reservoir, also known as Buggs Island Lake, was created with the construction of the John H. Kerr Dam in 1952. Its 800 miles of wooded shoreline stretch across six counties and two states and offer countless recreation opportunities for visitors.
Visitors to Ivy Hill Park will enjoy the lakeside view. A swimming beach with a life jacket tree and picnic shelter make the park ideal for families.
If you have reserved the shelter and it is already occupied the day of your reservation, please call Longwood Campground at 434.374.2711.
Vehicle parking is first come first served. Shelter reservation holders are reserving the shelter only and are not guaranteed parking due to the area being open to the public.
All vehicles entering the day use area are required to pay the $7 day use fee including those who have rented the shelter for the day. You can purchase a day use pass by using the fee machine. If you would like to purchase in advance, please speak to the gatehouse or call the Visitor Assistance Center at 434.738.6143. Please see rules below if you have an America the Beautiful, Golden Age/Access, or Corps Annual Pass.
Shelter does not have electricity.
Off-road vehicles and golf carts are prohibited.
Alcoholic beverages, camping and hunting are prohibited in the park.
Dogs are allowed but must stay on a maximum 6-foot leash and are prohibited in the designated swimming area.
Golden Age/Access, America the Beautiful Interagency Senior and Access Passes and the Corps Annual Pass are accepted at this park and cardholders receive free entrance to the day use area only. Passes must be displayed correctly.
Vehicles should remain on paved roads only.
For a full list of rules and regulations please visit Title 36.
Please read through the fees and cancelation policy for Recreation.gov
Ivy Hill Park is shaded and semi-wooded location. This location offers great scenic views as well as great photography opprotunites of wildlife and sunsets/sunrises.
Ivy Hill Park is located approximately 20 minutes from Clarksville, Virginia. Shopping, gas, and groceries are available. Clarksville Marina is about 20 minutes away by highway; approximately 15 minutes by water. Oxford, North Carolina is approximately a 30 minute drive from Ivy Hill Park.
Public lands around the lake are open to hunting with appropriate state licenses. Game species include whitetail deer, wild turkey, bobwhite quail, mourning dove, gray squirrel, cottontail rabbit, fox and raccoon. Resident waterfowl species include wood duck, black duck, mallard and Canadian geese. There are 26 Wildlife Management Areas around the lake that provide year-round opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing, birding and more. The lake is widely known for fishing, with large-mouth bass, striped bass, crappie, flathead catfish, channel catfish and blue catfish available. Viriginia Dept of Wildlife Resources regulate hunting and fishing on Kerr Lake on the Virginia side (which is known as Buggs Island Lake) and North Carolina Dept of Wildlife Resources regulate hunting and fishing on Kerr Lake on the North Carolina side.
For campground inquiries, please call: Office Phone Number: (434) 738-6143
Learn more about gear rental options for your trip
The physical address for Ivy Hill Park is 3197 Ivy Hill Road, Clarksville, Virginia 23927. Ivy Hill Park is approximately 15 miles south of Clarksville and approximately 24 miles north of Oxford, North Carolina.