Holliday Lake State Park

General Information

Deep in the Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest, Holliday Lake is a paradise for the outdoor enthusiast. Fishing for largemouth bass, crappie and bluegill are popular. Swimming at the park's beach and the "Critter Hole" play area are visitor favorites. The park has several hiking trails, including a 6.7-mile loop around the entire lake. Visitors enjoy its campgrounds, picnic shelters, playgrounds, snack bar, gift shop and boat ramp. The park rents canoes, kayaks, jon boats, stand-up paddleboards and pedal boats (click "Recreation" at left for details). Holliday Lake is just minutes from the famous Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, where Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in 1865 ending the American Civil War in Virginia.

Hours

8 a.m.- dusk.

Location

Access via State Route 24 between Appomattox and U.S. 60 and from Routes 626, 640 and 692. Approximately 12 miles from the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park.

Its address is 2759 State Park Road, Appomattox, VA 24522; Latitude, 37.395945. Longitude, -78.640327.

Drive Time: Northern Virginia, three and a half hours; Richmond, two hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, four hours; Roanoke, two hours

Park Size

560 acres. Lake: 119 acres.

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Cabins, camping

OVERNIGHT FACILITIES

For information on the availability of overnight accommodations and particular park amenities or to make a reservation, you can reserve online or call 1-800-933-PARK (7275). Click here for information on the park fees.

Details on reservation cancellation and transfer policies.

Cabins | Bunkhouse | Camping

Cabins

None, but nearby James River, Bear Creek Lake and Twin Lakes state parks have cabins.

Bunkhouse

Bunkhouse – Two-night minimum; no weekly requirement. It can be rented only during camping season, from the first Friday in March through the first Monday of December. The three-room, climate-controlled trailer has seven bunk beds, a refrigerator, a microwave and a coffee maker. Outside the bunkhouse are a deck, a large fire ring with a cooking grate, a large pedestal grill, a water spigot, and a small screened-in shelter with two picnic tables and an outdoor sink. Water is available during warmer months; call the park to verify. Cooking, smoking and vaping are not permitted inside the bunkhouse. Parking for five vehicles is covered with the rental of the bunkhouse; all other vehicles must pay the park's daily parking fee. Additional cars must park in the field across from Redbud Campground. This facility is not rented 11 months in advance; it goes online in February each year. Check-in is 4 p.m., and check-out is 10 a.m.

• The transfer deadline policy and cancellation fees are the same as those for cabins.
• Linens are not provided. Guests must bring their own linens and pillows.
• Maximum occupancy is 14.
• Guests are responsible for any damage.
• No bathroom, kitchen or fireplace
• Bunkhouse guests use campground bathhouses (about 75 yards away)
• No cable hookup
• Electrical outlets limited to 50-amp service are available
• No extra bed rentals
• No tents or other camping equipment allowed

Camping

The camping season runs from the first Friday in March through the first Monday in December. Check-in is 4 p.m. and checkout is at 1 p.m. Guests may arrive before check-in and enjoy the park until their site is available. 

All campsites at the park are site-specific reservations.
Campsite details
Campground map - updated
Photos of the sites

From Feb. 15 through April 30, a burn ban is in effect from midnight to 4 p.m. Open-air fires are prohibited during this time unless a Camp Host is in residence.

Portable showers that do not drain to wastewater storage tanks are prohibited by state law.  Collected wastewater must be disposed of properly.

Total sites of each type: Laurel Ridge: 6 sites; Redbud: 29 sites; GroupSite, 1. Bunkhouse, 1. 

Laurel Ridge and Redbud campgrounds. Laurel Ridge is well-suited for RVs up to 40 feet long, and Redbud allows tents, trailers, conversion vans and pop-ups up to 30 feet long. 

Site type

Laurel Ridge Campground - (Electric and Water) -  Offers 20, 30 and 50 amp hookup. Various equipment up to 40 feet; six sites. The sites have been designed for larger RVs and are site-specific.

Redbud Campground -  (Electric and Water) Offers 20 and 30-amp hookups for various equipment up to 30 feet. Total 29 sites. Bring additional leveling blocks for camping rigs.

• Sites are site-specific reservations.  Please see the link to the chart to determine what site to reserve for your camping equipment.  Late-arriving reservation guests may proceed to their site if the Contact Station is closed.  Walk-in campers need to follow the instructions for one night's stay by using the green self-pay envelope and pick a site that is unoccupied or does not have a reserved sign on the post.
• Each site has a fire ring with a grate, lantern post and picnic table. The grate can be raised, allowing an open campfire. All fires must be contained within this fire ring.
• Firewood is for sale. Because of the risk of forest infestation, do not bring firewood to the park.
• Parking for two vehicles is covered with the campsite reservation; all other vehicles must pay the park’s daily parking fee.  The additional vehicles, if unable to fit on gravel or paved driveway, must be parked at the bathhouses or in a field across from Redbud Campground.
• Guests visiting campers must pay parking fees and leave by 10 p.m. They may, however, stay overnight if the 6-person limit per site is not exceeded.
• Boat launching is free for overnight campers.
• All sites, except the group camp, have water and electric hookups.
• Pets are allowed but must be attended to at all times and kept in an enclosed area or on a leash no longer than six feet.

Group camping area - GroupSite in Laurel Ridge Campground - All standard tent sites, no hookups. Five tent pads, each about 16 by 20 feet. Each site has a picnic table and lantern holder. The area also has a large fire ring with a cooking grate and a large pedestal grill.

• Tents only.
• No electricity; water is available at the entrance to the group camping area.
• Rented to groups only, up to 30 people.
• Running water and hot showers are available at the Laurel Ridge Bathhouse.
• Pets are allowed but must be attended to at all times and kept on a leash no longer than six feet or in an enclosed area.
• Parking for up to eight vehicles in the designated parking area.
• Vehicles are not allowed in the group tent area.

Recreation

TRAILS

The park has six hiking trails and one aquatic trail. Lakeshore Trail is a 6.7-mile hiking trail that loops around the lake and the Holiday Lake 4-H Educational Center, passing through a hardwood forest, wetlands and managed pine plantation. Saunders Creek Trail provides access from the campground to the picnic area and is .1-mile in length. Dogwood Loop is a .7-mile loop that starts across from Redbud Campground. Northridge Trail is .4-miles and provides a ridge top walk from the picnic area toward the northern end of Holliday Lake and connects to Lakeshore Trail. The Laurel Ridge Trail begins near the Group Camp in Laurel Ridge Campground and connects to Saunders Creek Trail. The S-Curve Trail, which starts at Redbud Campground and ends at the picnic area, enables guests to stay off the road while walking to the beach area. The Sunfish Aquatic Trail is a self-guided water adventure that requires a boat and a free trail brochure. A brochure map and numbered stops provide information about the lake and environment as you paddle around its edges. Carter Taylor Trail, a multi-use trail in the Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest, can be reached by hikers from Lakeshore Trail. Bicyclists can access the trail by State Park Road at our entrance sign. Equestrian users must park in the Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest trailhead off Francisco Road (Rt. 636). A State Forest Use Permit is required for bicyclists and equestrians using that trail.

SWIMMING

Unguarded swimming year-round. Guests must swim in the beach’s designated buoyed area but do so at their own risk. Swimming elsewhere in the park is prohibited. Pets are not permitted within the swimming area or inside the fence of the swimming beach. Hours are dawn to dusk. The beach area has a restroom and a snack bar. Rental boats and beach merchandise are available at the boathouse.

FISHING, BOATING

If you’re looking for excellent largemouth bass fishing, this scenic lake is for you. You’ll also find chain pickerel, crappie, catfish and yellow perch.

A Virginia freshwater fishing license is required. Purchase licenses online at dwr.virginia.gov or at the park office Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Boat launching is available; electric trolling motors only. Gas-powered boats are not allowed.

Canoeists and kayakers are requested to utilize the sandy launch between the swimming area and trailered boat launch area for convenience.

Boat Rentals: The park rents Jon boats, canoes, single and tandem kayaks, pedal boats, and stand-up paddleboards seasonally. One-hour and four-hour rentals are available for Jon boats, stand-up paddleboards, canoes and sit-on-top kayaks. Pedal boats rent by the hour. Boat operations are open seasonally. Check the Know Before You Go section for the schedule.

HORSES

None for rent and no access in the park to the Carter Taylor Trail. Horse riders must park in the Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest trailhead off Francisco Road (Rt. 636). The closest equestrian camping is at James River State Park.

Park Trail Guide

Click here for the park's trail guide.

Click here for its general facilities guide.

Download (external link for use with Avenza App) the geo-referenced map

Download the geo-referenced map for this park

Nearby Attractions

• Appomattox County information
• Appomattox Court House National Historical Park (Civil War)
• Experience Appomattox
• Clover Hill Village (restored historical village)
• Bear Creek Lake State Park
• High Bridge Trail State Park
• Holiday Lake 4H Education Center
• James River State Park
• The American Civil War Museum (Appomattox)
• Twin Lakes State Park
• Wolfbane (professional theater company)

Picnic Shelters

The park offers lakeside picnicking near the swimming beach. Shelters have tables and a grill, and restrooms are nearby. Reserve shelters by calling the Customer Service Center, 800-933-7275. Small shelters only.

Two shelters are available for rent. Parking fee is not included in shelter rental. Click here for park fees. Shelters can be rented from 8 a.m. to dusk (all day).

Cancellation policy: No refund within 14 days before the reserved date. Before then, there's a cancellation fee.

Amenities: Both shelters have a large pedestal grill, picnic tables and access to a restroom.

Shelter 1:

• Located adjacent to the edge of the lake, near the restroom.
• Shelter can accommodate 25 people under the shelter. More seating is available around the shelter.

Shelter 2:

• Across from swimming beach.
• Shelter can accommodate 36 people under the shelter. More seating is available around the shelter.
• Wooden ramp for wheelchair access into the shelter. Has an accessible picnic table under the shelter.

Meeting Space and Facilities

MEETING FACILITIES

None at this park. Nearby Bear Creek Lake and Twin Lakes state parks have meeting facilities.

VISITOR CENTER, GIFT SHOP

No visitor center. Gifts and souvenirs are available year-round at the park office. Fishing licenses may be purchased at the park office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or online at dwr.virginia.gov. Some camping items are available at the contact station when it's open. Beach supplies, worms and souvenirs are available at the boathouse during summer.

RESTAURANT

None. This park has a snack bar, which provides hot dogs, nachos, snow cones and drinks during the summer.

LAUNDRY

The closest laundry facility is in Appomattox, about 20 minutes from the park.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER

None at this park.

Other Info

ACCESSIBILITY

• Campground: No designated universally accessible sites, but the park can, on request, arrange to place those with disabilities near the restrooms. Roadways are paved, and sidewalks to the restroom are paved.
• Campground Bathhouses: Accessible toilet and shower in each. Doors to buildings are not automatic, and in Redbud Bathhouse, the space inside is tight but manageable by wheelchair.
• Picnic area: The restroom has an elevated toilet, but the stall area does not meet wheelchair access size. Doors are not automatic and difficult to open from within. There are paved sidewalks to the building. Several wheelchair-height picnic tables are scattered throughout the area, and the ground is fairly even in most places. There's a ramp for wheelchair access into shelter 2.
• Concession-swimming beach: Concession restrooms are large and open. The toilet is elevated, but space within the stall is inadequate for turning. Universally accessible parking is available by building and paved sidewalks for access. Paved walkways lead to an accessible fishing pier, beach, accessible playgrounds and food service window.
• Although motorized vehicles are not permitted on park trails, electric wheelchairs and electric scooters that meet the federal definition for wheelchairs are allowed to enable people with disabilities to use the trails.

NATURE, HISTORY PROGRAMS

Click here to view all parks' events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs. The park offers ranger-conducted hikes, campfire programs, environmental education programs and specialty workshops.

CONCESSIONS

Concessions include a snack bar and beach swimming. The snack bar is open seasonally from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Check the Know Before You Go section for the schedule. Swimming is only allowed within the designated buoyed area. Call the park for more details.

HISTORY

Holliday Lake State Park and the surrounding state forest were cleared in the 1800s for farmland. In the 1930s, through the Resettlement Administration, the federal government began buying the farms to return the land to its former productive hardwood forest state. The construction of a dam began at Fish Pond Creek, but the dam was relocated to Holliday Creek, where a lake could be created. Traces of family cemeteries can still be found in the area. After Holliday Lake was completed in 1938, the state, through an agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, took over the management of the new day-use recreational area. In 1972, with the addition of campsites, the area became a state park.

FRIENDS GROUP

Feel like lending a hand? The Friends of Holliday Lake State Park is a hands-on volunteer organization dedicated to preserving and supporting the park. Email Friendsofhollidaylake@gmail.com for more information or to become a member.

MASTER PLAN

Master plans must be written for parks before they're built. The plans are updated at least once every 10 years thereafter. The plans cover the size, types, infrastructure and locations of facilities as well as the site's special features and resources. Three public meetings are held during the initial development of each plan. Click here for this park's master plan.