Jones Lake State Park
- Status
- Status not posted
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed6-ft leash
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- ncparks.gov(910) 588-4550
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. Details last changed Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
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Jones Lake State Park is a park in Bladen County, about 6 miles north of Elizabethtown.
Things to do include canoeing and kayaking, swimming, boating, fishing, and hiking. Facilities for water recreation include a swimming beach, a boat ramp, and boat or kayak rentals. Camping is available: 2 camping areas, including RV sites, tent sites, and group camping.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other — January | Not stated | 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. | — |
| Other — March | Not stated | 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. | — |
| Other — June | Not stated | 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. | — |
| Park | The park is closed on Christmas Day. The park is open during all other holidays. | ||
| Visitor center | Mon–Fri | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. | — |
Official wording
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 8 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.
The park is closed on Christmas Day. The park is open during all other holidays.
Visitor Center: Open Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The visitor center is closed on all state holidays. The full list of state holidays is available on the N.C. Office of State Human Resources website.
Open Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The visitor center is closed on all state holidays. The full list of state holidays is available on the N.C. Office of State Human Resources website.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/New York).
Fees and passes
Free entry at most parks ('Most state parks are free to enter'); per-vehicle day-use fees at the reservoir SRAs (Falls Lake, Jordan Lake, Kerr Lake) and fees for swimming, boat launches, rentals, ferries and camping.
Statewide fee rule from North Carolina's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
North Carolina park passes
- Annual Pass for Reservoirs — $70 Details
- Annual Pass — $100 Details
- Annual Pass with 4WD Beach Access — $200. Annual Pass benefits plus four-wheel-drive beach access Details
From the North Carolina state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Camping
- Not required
- Booking system
- ReserveAmerica (northcarolinastateparks.reserveamerica.com)
- Phone
- 1-877-722-6762
Reservations are suggested, but campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis if not reserved.
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed · leash up to 6 feet
Pets are allowed at the park and at campsites. Pets must be on an attended leash of no longer than 6 feet at all times.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
| Campground or site type | Sites | Hookups / features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tent, Trailer and RV Camping Each of the 20 wooded campsites at Jones Lake State Park is equipped with a picnic table and fire ring/grill. Drinking water and a bathhouse are located nearby.
Six campsites have full RV hookups for electric, water, and sewer.
Reservations are suggested, but campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis if not reserved. | — | — | |
| Group Camping A group campsite, available for organized groups, is open year-round.
It includes a fire ring/grill, picnic tables, and benches. A bathhouse is located nearby.
The group campsite is available by reservation only, and reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance.
No more than 35 people can occupy the site.
Cancellation Policy for Group Campsites
Please note that if you need to cancel your group campsite reservations, you have until 14 days prior to the scheduled arrival date. No refunds are issued after the 14-day mark, but campers may reschedule to another date and will be charged… | — | — |
Camping details from the park
Camping • Tent sites • Trailer and RV sites (some with electric, water, and sewer hookups) • Group tent sites • Showers • Firewood Tent, Trailer and RV Camping Each of the 20 wooded campsites at Jones Lake State Park is equipped with a picnic table and fire ring/grill. Drinking water and a bathhouse are located nearby. Six campsites have full RV hookups for electric, water, and sewer. Reservations are suggested, but campsites are available on a first-come, first-served basis if not reserved. Book now Group Camping A group campsite, available for organized groups, is open year-round. It includes a fire ring/grill, picnic tables, and benches. A bathhouse is located nearby. The group campsite is available by reservation only, and reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance. No more than 35 people can occupy the site. Cancellation Policy for Group Campsites Please note that if you need to cancel your group campsite reservations, you have until 14 days prior to the scheduled arrival date. No refunds are issued after the 14-day mark, but campers may reschedule to another date and will be charged only the cancellation fees. Book now
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
HikingCanoeing and kayakingSwimmingFishingPicnickingBoatingCamping
Trails
| Trail | Length | Difficulty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Trail | 4 mi | Moderate | 4-mile loop; Blaze: white diamondsHiking only |
| Cedar Loop Trail | 1 mi | Easy | 1-mile loop; Blaze: red circlesHiking only |
| Salters Lake Trail | 1 mi | Moderate | 1-mile one way; Blaze: yellow rectanglesHiking only |
Trail descriptions from the park
Hiking Trails: Open Bay Trail (4-mile loop; Blaze: white diamonds), Moderate, Hiking only Cedar Loop Trail (1-mile loop; Blaze: red circles), Easy, Hiking only Salters Lake Trail (1-mile one way; Blaze: yellow rectangles), Moderate, Hiking only
Swimming
Swimming
Boating and paddling
Paddling
Fishing
Fishing
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Picnic shelters
- Visitor center
- Nature center or museum
- Park or camp store
- Restaurant or food service
- Group facilities
Water
- Swimming beach
- Boat ramp
- Boat, canoe or kayak rentals
Camping
- Tent camping
- RV camping
- Group camping
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Address
- 4117 N.C. 242 N.
Elizabethtown, NC 28337 - Nearest town
- Elizabethtown — about 6 mi north (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 34.7083, -78.6417 (from Wikidata)
- Phone
- (910) 588-4550
- jones.lake@ncparks.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- North Carolina State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- NC State Parks 'Catalog: Find a State Park Access' (paged Drupal view, ?page=0..6)
- Wikidata
- Photo: Plants xyris blooms small cypress Jones Lake State Park ncwetlands KG (54).jpg — CC0 1.0 (public domain dedication), ncwetlands.org
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. “Last changed” (Oct 29, 2026) is when the information shown here last differed from the previous check. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology