The Lake

The Lake: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: usually quiet; mostly local visitors. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this lake: Full / gates open · Low water level · Entry closed.

Best time to visit The Lake

Season: August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

Crowd: Usually quiet; mostly local visitors.

Typical week: Mon quiet · Tue quiet · Wed quiet · Thu quiet · Fri light · Sat light · Sun light.

How to reach The Lake — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: 34.52850, -78.03194. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near The Lake

• Moores Creek National Battlefield · park · Pender · ~13 km · Must-see
• Battleship North Carolina · sanctuary · New Hanover · ~42 km · Must-see
• Bellamy Mansion Museum of History & Design Arts · museum · New Hanover · ~42 km · Must-see
• Cape Fear Museum · museum · New Hanover · ~42 km · Must-see
• Airlie Gardens · park · New Hanover · ~49 km · Must-see
• Singletary Lake State Park · lake · Bladen · ~50 km · Must-see
• New Hanover County Arboretum · park · New Hanover · ~50 km · Must-see
• Mount Lebanon Chapel and Cemetery · church · New Hanover · ~50 km · Must-see
• Topsail Island · river spot · Onslow · ~62 km · Must-see
• Bladen Lakes State Forest · sanctuary · Bladen · ~63 km · Must-see
• North Carolina Coastal Land Trust: Orton Plantation Holdings, LLC · sanctuary · Brunswick · ~64 km · Must-see
• Lake Waccamaw State Park · lake · Columbus · ~65 km · Must-see
• Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest · sanctuary · Bladen · ~66 km · Must-see
• Green Swamp Preserve · sanctuary · Brunswick · ~67 km · Must-see
• Historic Brunswick Town · fort · Brunswick · ~69 km · Must-see
• Fort Anderson Ruins · fort · Brunswick · ~69 km · Must-see
• Jones Lake State Park · lake · Bladen · ~71 km · Must-see
• Pleasure Island · river spot · New Hanover · ~73 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of The Lake

Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near The Lake

• Singletary Lake State Park · lake · Bladen · ~50 km · Must-see
• Lake Waccamaw State Park · lake · Columbus · ~65 km · Must-see
• Jones Lake State Park · lake · Bladen · ~71 km · Must-see
• Catfish Lake South Wilderness · lake · Jones · ~116 km · Must-see
• Hope Mills Lake · lake · Dillon · ~121 km · Must-see
• Bogue Sound · lake · Carteret · ~131 km · Must-see
• Penderlea Lake · lake · Pender · ~15 km
• Lake Ann · lake · Pender · ~21 km
• Cypress Lake · lake · Sampson · ~24 km
• Boney Mill Pond · lake · Duplin · ~31 km

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in North Carolina

Frequently asked