Parker’s Creek

It’s not the biggest campground at Jordan Lake (that would be Poplar Point, with 579 campsites), it doesn’t have the greatest concentration of sites with hookups (that would be Crosswinds Campground, where nearly three-quarters of the sites have hookups), and it’s not lake’s primitive area (New Hope Overlook, with 24 sites). Parker’s Creek tends to get lost in the shuffle, and that’s a good thing if you’re looking for a more solitary urban camping getaway.

More info

Getting there from downtown Chapel Hill
/—/
Address: 280 State Park Road
City: Apex
State: N.C.
Zip: 27523
Latitude: 35.7369
Longitude: 79.0169
No. of campsites: 250
No. with hookups: 120
No. without hookups: 130
Primitive sites: None (available at New Hope Overlook camping area, also on the lake)
Reservations? Yes. 877-722-6762
Cost: $25 for electrical and water hookups, $20 for non-hookups
Year-round? Part of the campground closes in winter
Gate hours: Open daily at 8 a.m., closes at 6 p.m. November-February; 8 p.m. March, April, September and October; 9 p.m. May-August.
Stuff to do nearby: flat water paddling, fishing, short hikes