If you’re like us, then the anticipation of the first camping trip of the season send chills of excitement up your spine as the weather warms up each spring. There’s nothing more satisfying and nostalgic than recreating all those summer camping trips we took as a kid – or the many more magical weekends we spent on similar trips with our own children.
If you were raised here in the Tar Heel State, then chances are good that you’ve spent a weekend or two somewhere on Jordan Lake if you’re a camping enthusiast.
Jeremy Taylor/Flickr The nearly 14,000-acre lake was created 45 years ago and has since become a major source of summer recreation for natives and visitors alike. Some may say that a day at Jordan Lake is like a day in paradise.
In 1982, more than 5,000 acres along the shores of Jordan Lake was turned into a North Carolina State Park.
Surya Reddy/Google Today, the state park has numerous access points all around the lake — and one of them, in particular, transforms each summer into the size of a small town.
With 579 lakeside campsites, the Poplar Point Access campground at Jordan Lake is by far the largest of the campgrounds surrounding the lake.
David Roth/Google At capacity, assuming each campsite has at least four persons, Poplar Point has an ever-changing population of 2,316 people, and that’s doesn’t even include any four-legged family members.
Given the sheer size of the fun-loving crowds that descend upon Poplar Point each summer — combined with the lack of urban comforts like restaurants, stores, and other distractions…
Nicolas Kressmann/Google It’s probably a bit more accurate to say Poplar Point turns into a giant summer camp each year. It’s a safe haven for retreating back to a time when life was simpler and we awoke each morning with no plans but to enjoy life to its fullest.
Camping at Poplar Point affords some of the very best views of Jordan Lake.
Angie Real Estate/Google Most of the waterfront sites are those without electric and one can truly get a sense of literally unplugging for the weekend.
The sites are spacious and you can always count on meeting a few new people with whom you, at the least, have a love for the great outdoors — and camping — in common.
Larry Parnell/Google
As for amenities, Poplar Point boasts more than one place where you can dip your toes (and more) in the water.
BeMoore33/Google The parks system doesn’t promote swimming because there are no lifeguards on duty (swim at your own risk!), but a visit to the sandy shores of Dolde Beach is a perfect way to spend the day. Poplar Point also boasts a couple of boat ramps that are for the the use of camping guests only. Picnic shelters are in place, as well as playgrounds for the kids.
This map of JUST the Poplar Point Campground at Jordan Lake gives you an idea of how much the population swells during the summer months after the campground opens the gates for the season.
North Carolina Parks Even though there are 579 campsites, you’ll want to get reservations early if you want to be a part of the unofficial small town at Poplar Point this year!
Poplar Point Campground at Jordan Lake is open seasonally. Some loops in the campground open as early as March, while others don’t open until mid-May. Some sites are available for reservations in advance. (See this link for reservations.) Other sites are set aside for walk-up only. For more information about the Jordan Lake State Recreation Area, see this link on the official website of North Carolina State Parks!
Jeremy Taylor/Flickr
The nearly 14,000-acre lake was created 45 years ago and has since become a major source of summer recreation for natives and visitors alike. Some may say that a day at Jordan Lake is like a day in paradise.
Surya Reddy/Google
Today, the state park has numerous access points all around the lake — and one of them, in particular, transforms each summer into the size of a small town.
David Roth/Google
At capacity, assuming each campsite has at least four persons, Poplar Point has an ever-changing population of 2,316 people, and that’s doesn’t even include any four-legged family members.
Nicolas Kressmann/Google
It’s probably a bit more accurate to say Poplar Point turns into a giant summer camp each year. It’s a safe haven for retreating back to a time when life was simpler and we awoke each morning with no plans but to enjoy life to its fullest.
Angie Real Estate/Google
Most of the waterfront sites are those without electric and one can truly get a sense of literally unplugging for the weekend.
Larry Parnell/Google
BeMoore33/Google
The parks system doesn’t promote swimming because there are no lifeguards on duty (swim at your own risk!), but a visit to the sandy shores of Dolde Beach is a perfect way to spend the day. Poplar Point also boasts a couple of boat ramps that are for the the use of camping guests only. Picnic shelters are in place, as well as playgrounds for the kids.
North Carolina Parks
Even though there are 579 campsites, you’ll want to get reservations early if you want to be a part of the unofficial small town at Poplar Point this year!
Address: 558 Beaver Creek Road, Apex, NC, 27523
If you’re planning multiple camping trips this season, don’t pass up a chance to spend the weekend tubing at this river campground in North Carolina!
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