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
19
Only 19 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 · Sep 18 – Oct 31, 2026 · of 1 monitored site
Of the 44 tracked reservation dates (Sep 18 – Oct 31, 2026): 36 open for online reservation · 3 reserved · 5 on sites not offered for online reservation (first-come, first-served or administrative).
Where the open windows are
18.2% of tracked reservation dates are not currently open for online reservation. 36 of 44 remain open; here is where they are.
Load status
Sep 18 – Oct 31, 2026Not open online18.2%
Open reservation dates36 / 44
Reserved (of online inventory)3 / 39
Weekday openings21
Weekend openings15
Of the open reservation dates on mapped day-use units, 21 fall on weekdays and 15 on weekends (Fri–Sun).
Open dates by month
Sep 2026 – Oct 2026October holds the most room. 30 of 31 reservation dates are still open there.
Holiday windows — day use
Units open per date · of 1 day-use unit| Window | Date | Units open | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor Day | SAT Sep 5 | 0 | None open |
| SUN Sep 6 | 0 | None open | |
| MON Sep 7 | 0 | None open |
Labor 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 | 36 |
This day-use unit currently has 36 reservation dates available.
Next windows
As of Sep 18, 2026 snapshotNext open dateThu · Sep 24
Next open weekendFri · Sep 25
The next bookable date is Sep 24; the first open weekend starts Sep 25. Campsite Sniper can watch later dates for you.
Reservation dates
36 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 | 36 | 28 dates | Sep 24, Sep 25, Sep 26, Sep 28, Sep 29, Sep 30, Oct 1, Oct 2, Oct 4, Oct 5, Oct 6, Oct 7 +24 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: 36 of 44 tracked reservation dates are open (81.8%), though availability can change. Campsite Sniper has also detected 19 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 Sep 18, 2026 16:19 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 19 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)?
October 2026, with 30 open reservation dates in the current snapshot of 31.
When is the next open date at Old Picnic Area (John H Kerr)?
As of the Sep 18, 2026 snapshot: the next open date is Thu, Sep 24 and the next open weekend starts Fri, Sep 25. Detected openings can add earlier dates at any time; a free Campsite Sniper alert catches those the moment they appear.
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Get the ping
When a selected date becomes available, you get a push with a Recreation.gov link so you can review and book it yourself.