Does Shinleaf — Falls Lake State Recreation Area have RV hookups?

According to TheDyrt.com, Shinleaf — Falls Lake State Recreation Area has 30 amp and 50 amp electric hookups, water hookups and sewer hookups.

Are fires allowed at Shinleaf — Falls Lake State Recreation Area?

Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Shinleaf — Falls Lake State Recreation Area, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

Does Shinleaf — Falls Lake State Recreation Area have wifi?

No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Shinleaf — Falls Lake State Recreation Area does not have wifi.

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$62 / night

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Facilities

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Established Camping

Shinleaf — Falls Lake State Recreation Area

6 Reviews

Warning 1 Alert is In Effect

There is 1 alert for this campground. Camp safely!

Holiday booking date rules are as follows: 2 nights Minimum Stay on holiday weekend (Friday/Saturday or Saturday/Sunday) 2 nights Minimum Stay still apply to cabin rentals at Hanging Rock and Morrow Mountain State Parks 1 night Minimum Stay on holiday weekend if the booking dates within 7 Days before Arrival Date Rule applies to the following holiday weekends: Memorial Day July 4th Labor Day

Shinleaf, near Falls Lake State Recreation Area, is a fantastic campground that offers a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of nearby Raleigh. With well-maintained sites featuring picnic tables and fire rings, it’s perfect for setting up camp and enjoying the great outdoors.

The campground is known for its clean facilities, including bathrooms and showers, which are better than what you might expect from a state-run site. Campers appreciate the shaded areas that provide relief from the summer sun, making it a comfortable spot to relax after a day of hiking or fishing. One visitor noted, “The on-site facilities are typically better than you’d expect,” highlighting the campground's commitment to cleanliness and comfort.

For those looking to explore, Shinleaf is surrounded by beautiful hiking trails and offers direct access to the lake for fishing and boating. You can catch a variety of fish, including bass and catfish, right from the shore. Plus, there’s a kayak and canoe launch on-site, making it easy to get out on the water. If you’re up for an adventure, nearby attractions like Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park provide thrilling treetop experiences.

While some campers mentioned that the sites can be a bit close together, the overall atmosphere is friendly and welcoming. Whether you’re camping with family or friends, Shinleaf is a great choice for a memorable outdoor experience.

Description

State Park

Falls Lake State Recreation Area

Located in Durham and Wake counties 15 miles east of downtown Durham, Falls Lake State Recreation Area provides seven access areas to the reservoir. More than 300 campsites offer a variety of overnight experiences. Trails include a portion of the Mountains-to-Sea State Trail, as well as one of the premier mountain bike trail systems in the Triangle area, located at Beaverdam access. During the spring and fall, migrating monarch butterflies add to the picturesque beauty of the lake.

Not every access has all the listed facilities. Please check the General Information page to view a table of the facilities at each access: https://www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/falls-lake-state-recreation-area/plan-your-visit

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Location

Shinleaf — Falls Lake State Recreation Area is located in North Carolina

Directions

Go directly to reserved facility location. You do not need to check in at the main park office. **Main Office** - 13304 Creedmoor Road, Wake Forest, NC 27587, is located on NC 50, two miles north of NC 98. **Shinleaf** - 13708 New Light Road in Wake Forest, one and two miles north of NC 98 and one mile east of NC 50. **Holly Point** - 14424 New Light Road, in Wake Forest, one and two miles north of NC 98 and one mile east of NC 50. **Rollingview** - 4201 Baptist Road in Durham. Baptist Road is on NC 98, approximately five miles east of Durham and seven miles west of NC 50. **Beaverdam** - 14600 Creedmoor Road, Wake Forest, is located on NC 50, three miles north of NC 98. **Sandling Beach** - 14605 Creedmoor Road, Wake Forest, is located on NC 50, three miles north of NC 98. **B.W. Wells** - 1630 Bent Road in Wake Forest, approximately five miles east of NC 50 and three miles west of US 1/Wake Forest. From NC 98, take Stony Hill Road north and turn left on Bud Morris Road. Turn left on Bent Road and follow it to the recreation area.

Address

13304 Creedmoor Rd
Wake Forest, NC 27587

Coordinates

35.993353 N
78.653836 W

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.
Hike-In
Backcountry sites.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Unknown
Verizon
Unknown
AT&T
Unknown
T-Mobile
Unknown

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group

Features

For Campers

Picnic Table
Reservable
Showers
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Alcohol
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Sewer Hookups
Water Hookups
30 Amp Hookups
50 Amp Hookups

Contact

General Info

Reservations

Make reservation

Drive Time

15 min from Raleigh
16 min from Durham
46 min from Burlington
53 min from Rocky Mount

Brian G.

Traveler

Reviewed Apr. 10, 2025

Shinleaf is a great, local area for camping

Whenever a few friends and I want to do a quick overnighter to hang out or test gear, we go to Shinleaf. It's in a convenient location, right off of Hwy 98 on New Light Rd. The campsites aren't very far apart from each other. But if you choose any of the campsites off of any of the "leafs" (not in the main gravel path), you will find more solitude and not have many daily walkers or trail runners coming down the leafs of the campground since they mainly stick to the main path. Every campsite here has a fire ring and picnic table for convenience, and you can bring in a few bundles of firewood or cut up some of the dead fall trees that are in your campsites general area. Shinleaf is great for the family or just a quick night or two outdoors. Oh, and bring a fishing rod if you have a fishing license. You can fish from many of the "leaf" campsite spots.

Site13

Month of VisitFebruary

(7) View All

Stuart K.

Legend

Reviewed Jul. 1, 2024

Small Hidden Gem in Falls Lake SRA

If you find yourself in the hustle and bustle of nearby Raleigh and are looking to get away from the crowds and pavement in exchange for some nice shaded nature, hiking trails and calm, peace& quiet that only nature can offer, then make your way here to Shinleaf@ Falls Lake SRA. You’ll discover all of the basics are provided– from picnic table, fold-up fire ring/ grill, bear-proof garbage hanger and a nice pebble-strewn patch of well-maintained flat pitch, perfect for striking camp for the night in your tent amongst the best of what nature has to offer along with pristine shade from an unrelenting bit of summer North Carolina sunshine.

The only real down-side I could find to Shinleaf is that there’s not a whole lot of brush between the campsites so you will be exposed to neighboring sites, which wasn’t a problem when we visited as the place was fairly vacant, but during high season, I could see how this would be a bit of a turn-off. The on-site facilities(limited to just bathrooms& showers) are typically better than you’d expect from a state-run campground, and so this spot gets high marks versus some others– and there’s even a designated‘pot wash’ spigot that is near the campsites making for EZ clean up after any meal. There’s plenty of hiking trails to explore and the on-site rangers are incredibly helpful and positive folks that want to ensure you have a great time.

Insider's tips? Here's a few: (1) If you like to fish, there's tons of different varieties here to catch, including: walleye, crappie, white bass, large- and small-mouth bass, blue gill, striped bass as well as catfish; (2) There is no need to go anywhere else to look for a boat launch as Shinleaf has its very own kayak/ canoe launch that is fantastic and located on the eastern side of the property; (3) If you are looking for some really cool outdoors adventures while in these parts, check out Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park that offers treetop rope trails and adventure courses - our kiddos loved it!; (4) When you grow tired of attempting to conjure up your next meal from the depths of your roto-molded Cordova cooler and want to try out some local fare, then I highly recommend nearby Carolina Ale House in Wake Forest or Buffalo Brothers Restaurant & Bar - both have fantastic local cuisine and nice iced area craft beers to pair with; and (5) IMHO, the best campsites here at Shinleaf are: #6, #14, #16-17; #30-33; #37-39; #40; #42-43; #45-47.

Happy Camping!

Month of VisitJune

(9) View All

Francisco M.

Traveler

Reviewed Jul. 18, 2023

Nice 🔥

Great views by the lake and a great spot to camp

Month of VisitApril

(8) View All

Brad C.

Scout

Reviewed Sep. 30, 2019

Amazing

Had a great 2 nights here ! Can’t wait to come back!

Robert R.

Guide

Reviewed Sep. 18, 2019

Cool place to explore

We had a great weekend camping here with our cub scouts in the Shinleaf group camping area. We had about 40 people and had plenty of room to spread out over three camping sites, Osprey Nest, Blue Heron and Bootleg point. The bathrooms were within easy walking distance. Lots of shade to put tents up under. Plenty of picnic tables and fire rings. The Park Rangers came by a few times and we bought some firewood from them. They were very friendly and helpful.

The area is cool to explore, there are several points on the lake you can easily hike to. There are boaters who use the lake mostly during day, even a few at 6:30am!

We even found a cool Northern watersnake eating a fish on the shoreline.

SiteOsprey Nest

Month of VisitSeptember

Chip G.

Guide

Reviewed Feb. 25, 2018

Nice walk up campground

Falls Lake State Recreation area is an interesting area in that it is made up of a number of non-connecting areas. The camping is at Shinleaf and is walk up only. There is a nice bathhouse at the edge of the parking lot and some of the spaces are quite close. Which is nice if you are a car camper like me and have to make a couple trips.

The camping spots are familiar (table, fire ring, and pole to hang something from). They are well kept and well spaced (at least on the 1-7 road I was on).

Definitely a thumbs up for this campground.

Site2

Month of VisitFebruary

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Shinleaf — Falls Lake State Recreation Area have RV hookups?
According to TheDyrt.com, Shinleaf — Falls Lake State Recreation Area has 30 amp and 50 amp electric hookups, water hookups and sewer hookups.
Are fires allowed at Shinleaf — Falls Lake State Recreation Area?
Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Shinleaf — Falls Lake State Recreation Area, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.
Does Shinleaf — Falls Lake State Recreation Area have wifi?
No, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, Shinleaf — Falls Lake State Recreation Area does not have wifi.

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