Openings · last 7 days
0
01 · Detected Opening History · the openings record · file CS-10224635
When Old Picnic Area (John H Kerr) reopens
Old Picnic Area (John H Kerr)'s openings record: every site-date Campsite Sniper detected turning available, logged and time-stamped. Refreshed hourly.
Openings · last 30 days
0
Openings · last 90 days
17
Only 17 openings in the last 90 days: not enough recent activity for a reliable pattern. A free Campsite Sniper alert watches around the clock instead, and pings you the moment one opens.
02 · Availability Outlook · Apr 1 – May 3, 2027 · of 1 monitored site
Of the 33 tracked reservation dates (Apr 1 – May 3, 2027): 33 open for online reservation.
Where the open windows are
0% of tracked reservation dates are not currently open for online reservation. 33 of 33 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Apr 1 – May 3, 2027Not open online0%
Open reservation dates33 / 33
Reserved (of online inventory)0 / 33
Weekday openings18
Weekend openings15
Of the open reservation dates on mapped day-use units, 18 fall on weekdays and 15 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Apr 2027 – May 2027April holds the most room. 30 of 30 reservation dates are still open there.
Holiday windows — day use
Units open per date · of 1 day-use unit| Window | Date | Units open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Day | FRI May 28 | 0 | None open |
| SAT May 29 | 0 | None open | |
| SUN May 30 | 0 | None open | |
| MON May 31 | 0 | None open |
Memorial Day: no online availability on any tracked date.
Availability by day-use unit
Most open reservation dates · tracked window| Unit | Open reservation dates |
|---|---|
| Old Picnic Area | 33 |
This day-use unit currently has 33 reservation dates available.
Tracked window
CoverageCampsite Sniper's data for this facility starts Apr 1, 2027. That is about 150 days after the current snapshot was taken, so dates before Apr 1, 2027 are not covered by what Campsite Sniper tracks here — they are not known to be unavailable. The reservation dates shown on this page describe Apr 1, 2027 onwards only. Check Recreation.gov for earlier dates.
Reservation dates
33 available reservation dates across 1 day-use unit at Old Picnic Area (John H Kerr), from the same hourly snapshot as everything above.
All 1 day-use unit with current availability
| Unit | Open reservation dates | Consecutive dates | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Picnic Area | 33 | 33 dates | Apr 1, 2027, Apr 2, 2027, Apr 3, 2027, Apr 4, 2027, Apr 5, 2027, Apr 6, 2027, Apr 7, 2027, Apr 8, 2027, Apr 9, 2027, Apr 10, 2027, Apr 11, 2027, Apr 12, 2027 +21 more |
About Old Picnic Area (John H Kerr)
Overview
Welcome to John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir! Kerr Lake is 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.
The Old Picnic Area (OPA) is a day use area open to the public but also avalible for reservations on Recreation.gov. Looking for a great view for a wedding or a large area for a reuinion? The Old Picnic Area is a great option! It has a paved parking lot and road way. There is a shelter with electricity and a water spigot located near by the shelter.
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.
The lake is widely known for fishing, with large-mouth bass, striped bass, crappie and flathead catfish available. Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries regulate hunting and fishing on the Virginia side of Kerr Lake.
Facilities
The Old Picnic Area (OPA) has a wooden shelter with electricity for small items such as fans and lights. There is a water spigot located near the shelter. Trash cans are located all throughout the area. This area is located behind a locked gate. There is one vault toilet located within the park.
Natural Features
The Old Picnic Area (OPA) is located right next to a very sandy beach area perfect for fishing. There are trees to create shade and a clear grassy area for games for the family. Bald Eagles can be seen year round at the OPA.
Nearby Attractions
Located right across the road, 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.
1 monitored unitDay use1 shadedWaterfrontLakefrontPets OKMax party 150
Getting there
2340 Mays Chapel Road, Boydton, VA 23917Visitors Center Phone Number: 434-738-6143
BirdingDay Use AreaFishingPhotographyPicnickingScenic DriveWater Access
View on Recreation.gov ↗ Get directions ↗
03 · Field Photos · roll CS-10224635 · facility + sites
Photo gallery
Roll CS-10224635 · Old Picnic Area (John H Kerr) · Boydton VA4 frames · facility + sites
FAQ
How do I get a reservation at Old Picnic Area (John H Kerr)?
Reservations for Old Picnic Area (John H Kerr) are made through Recreation.gov. The current snapshot shows substantial availability: 33 of 33 tracked reservation dates are open (100%), though availability can change. Campsite Sniper has also detected 17 site openings here in the last 90 days, so further dates may appear. Pick the unit on the map to see its reservation calendar, or set a free Campsite Sniper alert. You complete the reservation yourself on Recreation.gov.
Does Campsite Sniper book this facility for me?
No. Campsite Sniper sends alerts and direct Recreation.gov links. It never books, pays for, holds, hoards, or resells reservations.
How current is this availability data?
Campsite Sniper re-checks public Recreation.gov availability for this facility every hour and republishes whenever anything changes. This facility's data last changed at Nov 2, 2026 18:20 UTC; an older timestamp means nothing has changed since that time, not that checking stopped. Always confirm final availability on Recreation.gov when you book.
How often do new openings appear at Old Picnic Area (John H Kerr)?
Campsite Sniper detected 17 site-date openings here over the last 90 days, none in the last 7. A free alert watches around the clock and pings you the moment one appears.
Which month has the most availability at Old Picnic Area (John H Kerr)?
April 2027, with 30 open reservation dates in the current snapshot of 30.
When is the next open date at Old Picnic Area (John H Kerr)?
Campsite Sniper cannot answer that from the current snapshot. The availability data held for Old Picnic Area (John H Kerr) begins Apr 1, 2027 — about 150 days after this snapshot was taken, so any earlier dates are outside what Campsite Sniper is tracking here rather than known to be unavailable. Check Recreation.gov for dates before Apr 1, 2027.
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When a selected date becomes available, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.