Fort Hamby Park

🏊Swimming at Fort Hamby Park

Swimming happens at a designated sandy beach at the park, described by campers as a small beach with families swimming and picnicking nearby. It suits families and casual lake swimmers rather than those seeking a wild or secluded spot; reviewers note it can get crowded later in the day, especially in summer.

📍How to get to this swimming hole

From Winston-Salem, take Highway 421 North roughly 61 miles (about 1 hour); from Charlotte, take I-77 North roughly 60 miles (about 1.5 hours), following signage toward W. Kerr Scott Reservoir and Recreation Road. Address: 1534 S. Recreation Road, Wilkesboro, NC 28697.

Parking: Free on-site parking lot at the park; a day-use fee applies to park at the day-use/beach area (waived if parked at a reserved shelter).

🥾The walk in

No real hike here. The water is a short walk from where you park. Drive-up swim spot: the sandy beach sits directly off the day-use parking lot at Fort Hamby Park, no trail hike required. A separate multi-use trail network (including a spur to the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail) runs near/through the park but is not needed to reach the water; it's a bonus hike/bike option, not the access route.

💬What regulars say

Campers describe a small sandy beach that gets crowded later in the day and can be a longer walk from some campsites; midweek visits (for example in September) are described as quiet with only about half the sites occupied; the campground loop has steep, uphill site access requiring care backing trailers and RVs, and the lower access road can flood after heavy rain (a non-water-related hazard). One camper specifically flagged that only one shower house serves the whole campground plus 2 shower stalls at the beach restroom, with inconsistent cleaning noted at times.