Memorial Lake State Park

About Memorial Lake State Park

Memorial Lake State Park is surrounded by Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. The park covers an area of more than 2,000 acres (1,800 square miles) and is covered by a 2.8 km long park.

The 85-acre Memorial Lake covers a total of 2,800 square miles, with the first in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Sailing and sailing is very popular at MemorialLake, and boat rentals offer rowing boats on Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day.

The 85-acre Memorial Lake is home to the Great Smoky Mountains perch, the largest fish species in North Carolina. Trout are found in the lake, although they are not farmed, and the lake is a popular destination for fishing, kayaking, canoeing and other recreational activities.

Four separate access roads provide easy access to the daily use area, picnic tables are available in the park parking lot, on the shore and on the lake shore.

Two picnic pavilions are conveniently located in the parking lot, one on the shore and the other on the lakeside. A charcoal grill is located within the parks and offers first come, first served barbecue, hot dogs, hamburgers and hot dogs. Two picnic baskets are available in two of the parking lots, the first for $5 per person and $10 for a family of four.

The park is located about 30 minutes east of Harrisburg and is easily accessible from I-81, take Exit 85 northbound or, if you are coming from the south, Exit 85B. For reservations please call 888 - pa - PARKS or email

Turn north on Fisher Avenue and follow the signs to the park and turn right into the parking lot at the south end of the street.