Nelson Dam

Nelson Dam: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. 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 Nelson Dam

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

Busiest days: Weekends and long holidays.

Crowd: Moderate; weekends busier.

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

How to reach Nelson Dam — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: 37.69272, -78.88117. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Nelson Dam

• James River State Park · sanctuary · Buckingham · ~13 km · Must-see
• James River Wildlife Management Area · park · Pendleton · ~17 km · Must-see
• Priest Wilderness · sanctuary · Nelson · ~27 km · Must-see
• Three Ridges Wilderness · sanctuary · Nelson · ~27 km · Must-see
• Crabtree Falls · waterfall · Pendleton · ~31 km · Must-see
• Maintop Mountain · viewpoint · Pendleton · ~33 km · Must-see
• Elk Pond Mountain · viewpoint · Pendleton · ~35 km · Must-see
• Rocky Mountain · viewpoint · Pocahontas · ~36 km · Must-see
• Humpback Rocks · viewpoint · Augusta · ~37 km · Must-see
• Saint Mary's Wilderness · sanctuary · Augusta · ~41 km · Must-see
• Appomattox Court House National Historical Park · sanctuary · Appomattox · ~44 km · Must-see
• Appomattox Court House National Historical Park ruins · church · Pendleton · ~45 km · Must-see
• Mount Joy Pond Natural Area Preserve · sanctuary · Preston · ~45 km · Must-see
• Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest · sanctuary · Appomattox · ~45 km · Must-see
• Point of Honor Monument · fort · Monroe · ~48 km · Must-see
• Court Street Baptist Church · church · Lynchburg · ~48 km · Must-see
• First Baptist Church · church · Lynchburg · ~48 km · Must-see
• Chestnut Ridge Natural Area Preserve · sanctuary · Pendleton · ~49 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Nelson Dam

Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Nelson Dam

• Holliday Lake State Park · lake · Appomattox · ~49 km · Must-see
• Bear Creek Lake State Park · lake · Cumberland · ~70 km · Must-see
• Bear Creek Lake State Park · lake · Pendleton · ~71 km · Must-see
• Peaks of Otter Lake · lake · Monroe · ~87 km · Must-see
• Leesville Lake · lake · Pittsylvania · ~111 km · Must-see
• Smith Mountain Lake State Park · lake · Bedford · ~116 km · Must-see
• Brushy Fork Lake · lake · Preston · ~118 km · Must-see
• Smith Mountain Lake · lake · Franklin · ~119 km · Must-see
• Lake Moomaw · lake · Greenbrier · ~125 km · Must-see
• Carvins Cove Natural Reserve · lake · Monroe · ~125 km · Must-see

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Virginia

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