Kernersville Lake Park: Complete Family Guide (2026)

Last updated August 2026 | By Sarah Marchwiany

If you’ve driven through Kernersville and never stopped at the lake park, this is your sign to change that. Kernersville Lake Park is one of those Forsyth County gems that locals quietly love and everyone else overlooks — a 160-acre park wrapped around a beautiful 60-acre lake, with pedal boats and rowboats for rent, some of the best bank fishing in the area, a shaded playground, picnic shelters, walking trails, and wildlife around every corner.

It’s peaceful, it’s genuinely beautiful, and it’s one of the most affordable family afternoons in the entire Triad.

The Basics

• Address: 6408 Old Valley School Road, Kernersville, NC 27284
• Phone: (336) 703-2500
• Website: forsyth.cc/parks/KernersvilleLake
• Operated by: Forsyth County Parks & Recreation

The park is closed every Wednesday — not seasonally, every single Wednesday, year-round. Plan around it.

The park is also closed January 1 through February 29 and November 10 through December 31. It’s only open to the public March through early November.

2026 Park Hours

• Jan 1 – Feb 29: Closed to the public
• Mar 1 – Mar 8: 7:00am – 7:00pm
• Mar 9 – Apr 7: 7:00am – 8:00pm
• Apr 8 – Apr 30: 7:00am – 8:30pm
• May 1 – May 11: 6:30am – 8:30pm
• May 12 – Aug 10: 6:30am – 9:00pm
• Aug 11 – Aug 31: 6:30am – 8:30pm
• Sep 1 – Sep 7: 7:00am – 8:30pm
• Sep 8 – Sep 21: 7:00am – 8:00pm
• Sep 22 – Oct 12: 7:00am – 7:30pm
• Oct 13 – Nov 1: 7:00am – 7:00pm
• Nov 2 – Nov 9: 7:00am – 6:00pm
• Nov 10 – Dec 31: Closed to the public
• Closed every Wednesday, year-round

What to Do at Kernersville Lake Park

Pedal Boats & Rowboats

This is the thing most families don’t know about Kernersville Lake Park — you can rent boats right there and get out on a beautiful 60-acre lake for next to nothing.

• Pedal Boats: $5.00 / 30 minutes (max 4 people per boat; whoever’s steering must be at least 16)
• Row Boats: $5.00 / 3 hours (fishing only)

A rowboat for $5 for three hours is one of the best values for on-the-water fun anywhere in the Triad — pack a picnic and make a full afternoon of it. The lake is calm and well-protected, which makes it comfortable for families with younger kids, and the wooded shoreline makes it feel far more remote than a park minutes from I-40 has any right to.

A few rules to know before you go: only the park’s own rental boats are allowed (no private boats), everyone must wear a properly fitted, Coast Guard–approved life jacket the entire time they’re on a boat — no exceptions, even for confident swimmers — and pets aren’t allowed on the boats. Boat rentals also run on their own window tied to park hours: rentals start 1.5 hours after the park opens and must be returned 1.5–2 hours before closing, so don’t plan on renting first thing or right before the gates close.

Tip: Boats are first-come, first-served — no reservations. Arrive early on summer weekends if you want to be sure to get on the water.

Playground

Well-maintained and conveniently located right next to the picnic area by the lake’s edge, so it’s easy to watch younger kids while others fish or picnic. Swings and slides in a shaded setting — not a large destination playground, but clean and consistently well-reviewed.

Walking Trails & Nature Exploration

Several walking trails wind through the 160-acre property. They’re shorter and less marked than you’d find at a larger county park, but the wooded setting is genuinely beautiful — a pleasant 30–45 minute walk with several scenic spots around the lake.

Basketball Court

A basketball court is available for pickup games or family play.

Sand Volleyball

There’s a sand volleyball court on-site. Fair warning: its placement is a little puzzling — you’ll understand when you see it — but it’s fun regardless.

Fishing at Kernersville Lake

Fishing is one of the park’s biggest draws, and the lake consistently delivers. It’s stocked seasonally with catfish, bass, and bream.

Fish species & limits

• Catfish: 6 per day per person (no size limit)
• Largemouth Bass: 2 per day per person (16″ minimum size)
• All NC Wildlife Resources Commission regulations apply

Fishing rules

• Bank fishing is allowed in designated areas only
• Live minnow bait is allowed
• A valid NC fishing license is required — the park doesn’t sell them on-site, so pick one up beforehand at Salem Lake or Walmart
• NC Wildlife Resources Commission: 1-888-248-6834 or ncwildlife.org

Where to buy bait

• Forsyth Bait & Tackle — 4332 Old Walkertown Road, Winston-Salem, NC | (336) 661-0210
• Sports Fisherman Center — 3460 Clemmons Road, Clemmons, NC | (336) 766-9486

Bank or boat?

Both work well. The designated bank fishing spots are solid, with benches available at some. But renting a rowboat for $5 for three hours (rowboats are for fishing only) lets you reach less-pressured spots — many regulars combine the rowboat rental with a full day of fishing for excellent value.

See our Best Fishing Spots in the Triad guide for more Forsyth County options.

Picnic Shelters

The large, reservable picnic pavilion sits near the water’s edge with lake views and is consistently described as clean and well-maintained. Picnic tables and grills are also available throughout the park for non-reserved use near the playground and lake.

Shelter rental fees

• Monday – Thursday: $85 per day
• Friday – Sunday: $100 per day

Reserve online through Forsyth County Parks.

Wildlife at Kernersville Lake Park

The mix of lake, wetlands, and wooded trails makes for great wildlife-spotting:

• Deer — regularly spotted throughout the wooded areas
• Beavers — the lake and wetlands are prime beaver habitat; look for signs along the shoreline
• Ducks — year-round residents, often approachable for younger kids
• Great blue herons — frequently seen fishing from the shoreline
• Songbirds — the wooded trails are great for casual birdwatching

A slow walk around the lake with good eyes usually turns up something for the kids to point at.

Tips for Your Visit

• The park is closed every Wednesday — double-check before you go.
• Check the seasonal calendar. Closed Jan–Feb and Nov 10–Dec 31. Spring and fall are excellent shoulder seasons — fewer crowds, pleasant temperatures, and nice foliage in fall.
• Pack a full picnic. There are no food concessions on-site.
• Arrive early for boats. No reservations, first come first served, and summer weekends fill up.
• Bring a valid NC fishing license — there’s no on-site purchase option.
• Bring your own fishing gear — the park doesn’t rent equipment.
• Life jackets are mandatory on any boat, no exceptions — plan accordingly for younger kids.
• Leave pets off the boats, though dogs on a leash are welcome elsewhere in the park.
• E-bikes, trikes, and horses aren’t permitted in the park.
• Best combination for a full day: boat rental + packed picnic + bank fishing + a nature trail walk + playground time for younger kids — a full, excellent family afternoon for $5–15 total.

A Note on the Two Kernersville Lakes

Two different lake parks exist in the Kernersville area, and it’s easy to mix them up:

• Kernersville Lake Park (this guide) — 6408 Old Valley School Road, run by Forsyth County Parks, 160 acres with a 60-acre lake, pedal boats, rowboats, playground, and picnic shelters. The larger, more developed option.
• Old Kernersville Lake — run by the Town of Kernersville, a smaller, quieter 5-acre stocked lake with a small fishing pier, walking trails, and picnic tables. More tucked-away, great for a quick catch-and-release outing.

If your GPS takes you somewhere unexpected, double check you have the right address.

Sample Kernersville Lake Park Family Day

• 9:00am — Arrive early, snag a lakeside picnic table, set up gear
• 9:30am – 12:00pm — Bank fishing plus playground time for the kids, or rent a rowboat and fish as a family ($5 / 3 hrs)
• 12:00pm — Picnic lunch at the lakeside tables
• 1:00pm – 2:30pm — Pedal boat rental ($5 / 30 min) — let the kids take turns pedaling around the lake
• 2:30pm – 3:30pm — Nature trail walk; watch for deer, ducks, herons, and beaver signs
• 3:30pm — Head home, or stop in downtown Kernersville for ice cream or dinner

Total cost for the whole day: $5–15 — one of the best value family days in Forsyth County.

FAQs About Kernersville Lake Park

What are Kernersville Lake Park’s hours?

Hours vary by season, and the park is closed every Wednesday and closed entirely Jan 1–Feb 29 and Nov 10–Dec 31. Peak summer hours (May 12–Aug 10) run 6:30am–9:00pm. Always check forsyth.cc before visiting.

Is Kernersville Lake Park free?

Parking and general admission are free. Boat rentals cost $5/30 min (pedal boats) or $5/3 hours (rowboats). Picnic shelter reservations run $85–$100/day. Fishing requires a valid NC fishing license.

Can you swim at Kernersville Lake Park?

No — swimming isn’t permitted. The lake is for fishing and boating only.

What fish can you catch?

The lake is stocked seasonally with catfish, bass, and bream. Catfish: 6/day per person, no size limit. Largemouth bass: 2/day per person, 16″ minimum.

Do you need a fishing license?

Yes, a valid NC fishing license is required. Buy one beforehand at Salem Lake or Walmart — there’s no on-site sales.

Can you bring dogs?

Yes, dogs are welcome on a leash throughout the park — just not on the rental boats.

Is Kernersville Lake Park good for young kids?

Very much so. The playground sits right next to the lakeside picnic area, pedal boats are a big hit, trails are flat and accessible, and the ducks are a perennial favorite. Just note that life jackets are required for any child on a boat.

How do I reserve a picnic shelter?

Online through Forsyth County Parks. Rates are $85 Mon–Thu and $100 Fri–Sun.

Looking for more Triad park and outdoor activity ideas? See our Best Fishing Spots in the Triad, Best Destination Playgrounds in the Triad NC, Ultimate Guide to Outdoor Activities in the Triad, Free & Cheap Things to Do in Winston-Salem, and our Triad Area Parks guide.

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