North Bend Park

John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir

North Bend 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. North Bend is the largest park on Kerr Lake and is located near Kerr Dam and the Corps Visitor Assistance Center.

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 North Bend Park will enjoy the lakeside views and wildlife watching. More than 200 sites for tents or RVs, and amenities like hot showers, flush toilets and a dump station provide a comfortable camping experience. Each camping area has its own swim beach. North Bend Park also has a large day use area with picnic shelters and a swim beach, 3 boat launching ramps, an amphitheater, a disc golf course and a paved 1.5 mile bicycle trail.

Notifications and Alerts

Starting April 1st, 2025 - Our campsite occupancy limits and total number of vehicles allowed will be changing. Extra vehicles will not be allowed and visitors to campsites will count as campers. Within Recreation.gov, you can find this information for each campsite in the "Site Details" and "Allowable Vehicle/Driveway Details" sections. If you have questions, please call the Visitor Assistance Center at 434.738.6143. You can also follow the John H. Kerr Reservoir (Buggs Island Lake) Facebook page for more detailed information. https://www.facebook.com/JohnHKerrReservoirBuggsIslandLake

Need to Know

North Bend Campground hours are listed as follows:

•April 1st - April 31st and September 15th - October 31st:

Sunday – Thursday: 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

Friday & Saturday: 9:00am – 10:00pm

•May 1st - September 15th :

Every day: 8:00 am - 10:00 pm
Most campsites have gravel bases; bring padding for tents. All equipment must be placed within the site perimeter.
Check-in is at 4 p.m. and check-out is at 2 p.m. Campers must drop off their blue camping hangtags at the gatehouse upon checkout.
Maximum stay is 14-days within any 30 day period. Changing names on a reservation, changing campsites, or making multiple reservations in order to stay over 14-days is prohibited!
Quiet hours are from 10pm to 6 am. Generators and music must be cut off at 10 pm.
Customers should not have packages or mail sent or delivered to Park. Mail and packages will be refused and returned to sender.
Alcoholic beverages and off-road vehicles (golf carts,4-wheelers, etc.) are prohibited.
Golden Age/Access and America the Beautiful Interagency Senior and Access Passes are accepted at this campground and cardholders receive a 50% discount on camping fees. Cardholder must be present at registration, show pass and ID, and camp during entire stay.
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. The day use fee is waived for current reservation holders.
For a full list of rules and regulations please visit Title 36
Please read through the fees and cancelation policy for Recreation.gov

Natural Features

North Bend Park is forested and offers plenty of shade. Wildlife viewing is popular just below Kerr Dam, where waterfowl and Bald Eagles can be observed year around. This area, called Tailrace Park, has a wheelchair accessible canoe/kayak launch into the river, and is part of the Virginia Blueways Trail.

Nearby Attractions

About a half-mile away, at the intersection of Mays Chapel Road and State Route 4, visitors will find the Joseph S.J. Tanner II Environmental Education Center. The center has interpretive programs and exhibits for the public from Memorial Day through Labor Day, on Saturdays and Sundays. Gas, groceries, firewood and restaurants are located within 2 miles and also within 20 minutes in Boydton and South Hill, Virginia.

Recreation

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. Buggs Island, located immediately below the dam, attracts migrating bald eagles in the winter and osprey in the summer, as well as gulls, great blue herons, waterfowl and the occasional river otter.

Several trails are available for hiking and biking. The 1.5-mile Liberty Nature Trail and 5.5-mile Robert Munford Trail both offer hikes within a short drive from the campground.

The lake is widely known for fishing, with large-mouth bass, striped bass, crappie and flathead catfish available. Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources regulate hunting and fishing on the Virginia side of Kerr Lake.

Changes & Cancellations

Changing Reservations:

There is no change fee if a visitor extends or shortens a reservation, as long as the change includes dates from the original reservation. Additionally, there is no change fee if the visitor wants to switch sites that are the same price with the same reservation dates in the same facility.
If a visitor wants to switch dates that are entirely outside of the original reservation dates, there is a $10 change fee.
If a reservation is made that includes dates beyond the maximum booking window, that reservation cannot be changed until 18 days have passed from the original booking date.
Once a reservation date has begun, visitors cannot change a reservation using the online system or through the Call Center. Onsite staff will assist with changes or cancellations.

Cancellations:

Visitors may cancel their reservation prior to arrival both on-line and through the call center. A $10 service fee will be withheld from any refund for a cancellation.
A visitor who cancels a reservation the day before or on the day of arrival will pay a $10.00 service fee AND forfeit the first night's approved rate including tax and applicable add-on. Cancellations for a one-night reservation will forfeit the entire amount paid and will not be subject to an additional service fee.
Visitors who cancel a group overnight facility reservation less than 14 days prior to arrival date will pay a $10 service fee AND forfeit the first night’s rate.

No-Shows:

A no-show visitor is one who does not arrive at a campground and does not cancel the reservation by check-out time on the day after the scheduled arrival date. Staff will hold a campsite until check-out time on the day following the arrival date.
No-shows are assessed $20.00 service fee and forfeit the first night's rate, taxes and applicable add-on for a campsite.

Early Departures:

Visitors are requested to notify staff at the facility if they depart early to allow others to use the site.
If the visitor chooses to depart early, they may forfeit the approved rate and applicable tax and applicable add-on for the day of departure. If a visitor departs prior to the scheduled check-out date, they may be eligible for a partial refund. Visitors may notify the Recreation.gov call center to request a refund of remaining unused nights. If a visitor requests a refund for an early departure after the facility check-out time (3 pm) has passed, the visitor will not be refunded for that night and is eligible for a refund on any additional nights that will not be used.

Refunds:

Visitors may submit a refund request through their Recreation.gov profile within 7 days of the end date of their reservation. Visitors may also initiate a refund request through the call center at any time after their reservation has ended.
Refunds for debit or credit card payments will be issued as a credit to the original bank or credit card used to pay.
For check or cash purchases, Recreation.gov will mail a Treasury check for refunds of cash, check, or money order payments to the address associated with the reservation. Treasury check refunds may take up to 6-8 weeks to arrive.
In the event of an emergency closure, the Recreation.gov team or facility manager will refund all fees and will attempt to notify you using the contact information within the Recreation.gov visitor profile.

Contact Information

Physical

64 North Bend Drive Boydton VA 23917

Phone Number

For campground inquiries, please call: 434-738-0059

Rental Options

Learn more about gear rental options for your trip

Driving Directions

The physical address for North Bend Park: 64 North Bend Drive, Boydton VA 23917. It is located approximately 20 miles west of South Hill, VA.

Available Campsites

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