Lover's Leap Campground — Natural Tunnel State Park

Lover's Leap Campground at Natural Tunnel State Park is situated in a region characterized by rolling hills and dense forests. The area experiences temperatures ranging from the 30s in winter to the 80s in summer. Nearby attractions include the Natural Tunnel, a geological formation, and hiking trails that offer scenic views.

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Warning 6 Alerts are In Effect

There are 6 alerts for this campground. Camp safely!

Late Cabin/Lodge/Yurt/Camping Cabin/Bunkhouse Arrivals:
A sealed packet of information with your last name will be left for you. This packet will be at one of the following places: contact station, visitor center or park office. Claytor Lake and First Landing will leave your packet at the cabin. Your last 4 digits of your confirmation number will be your access code. Please take your confirmation letter with you.

Late Camping Arrivals:
A sealed packet of information with your name will be left for you. This packet will be at one of the following places: contact station, visitor center, park office or the campground camp host site. Please take your confirmation letter with you. If you have a site specific reservation please look for your site highlighted by the yellow post along with your site number. If you have a non-site specific reservation please look for your site type to set up your equipment.

Notice for Campers and Cabin Guests:

We're hiring! dcr.virginia.gov/jobs

Linens are not provided, so guests will need to bring their own sheets, pillowcases, blankets, towels, washcloths and dish towels.

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

There is a per night per pet fee for cats and dogs in all cabins and lodges (pets are not allowed in the yurts). Customers making reservations via the web are responsible for visiting the park office to pay all applicable pet fees. Customers may also call the reservation center at 800-933-7275 to pay the pet fees in advance.

Play it safe - Leave your firewood at home.

One of the most important things we can do to protect Virginia's trees and forest diversity is to stop moving firewood. New infestations of tree-killing insects and diseases are often first found in campgrounds and parks. Why? Because people have accidently spread invasive species when they brought firewood along with them. In Virginia, there are numerous counties under quarantines issued by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services due to an invasive insect pest or disease. These quarantines restrict the movement of firewood or wood by products from certain tree species. For more information on areas under quarantine, go to http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/firewood-quarantine. Virginia State Parks recommends that you do not bring firewood from home but buy it at the park or in the parks locality. Any wood brought to the park should be fully burned before leaving.

Shelter 2 (small): This shelter accommodates up to 40 and is well suited for kids as it's just over 300 feet away from the playground. It's about 150 feet from the parking area and 275 feet from the nearest restroom. It includes eight 6-foot tables, a 36 by 36-inch grill, a water fountain and an electrical outlet. Each shelter guest must pay applicable daily parking or admission fees. If you'd rather arrange to have such fees for your guests paid up-front, please contact park staff before the day of your event. Also, a special use permit and additional fees may be required for any activities other than simply picnicking; call the park beforehand to discuss such issues. No refund within 14 days before reserved date. Before then, there's a cancellation fee.

Shelter 5 (large - 30 by 60 feet): This shelter, the park's largest, was built by the Duffield Lions Club and accommodates up to 150. There are 20 six-foot picnic tables, two "Texas style" grills, horseshoe pits, a water fountain, electrical outlets, a sand volleyball court and a 230-foot paved walkway, easing accessibility. It's 280 feet from the parking area, 230 feet from the volleyball court, 180 feet from the restroom and 390 feet from the playground. Caterers may use the shelter's back entrance but must arrange for such access with park staff beforehand. Each shelter guest must pay applicable daily parking or admission fees. If you'd rather arrange to have such fees for your guests paid up-front, please contact park staff before the day of your event. Also, a special use permit and additional fees may be required for any activities other than simply picnicking; call the park beforehand to discuss such issues. No refund within 14 days before reserved date. Before then, there's a cancellation fee.

The renter is responsible for any damages or excess cleaning created during their visit. The renter agrees to being charged the full cost to cover such damages and / or excess cleaning. A letter will be mailed giving details of the damages / cleaning and break down of the cost involved to rectify the problem. Should a credit card be on file, it will be charged. If not, an invoice will be included with the letter for immediate payment.

Guarded lake swimming is generally available at the designated swimming beach during scheduled hours between the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day. One day of swimming is free for each night reserved for overnight guests. During this time period the weather and other issues beyond our control may reduce the availability of guarded swimming. No refunds will be given if guarded swimming is not available. Outside of guarded swimming times, park guests may swim at the designated beach within marked areas. Swimmers using these areas do so at their own risk. Swimming anywhere else in the park at any time is prohibited.

Reservations only guarantee the facility or site being rented. Programs and park amenities may be cancelled or closed for various reasons and do not constitute a refund.

Pursuant to the Code of Virginia, all open fires (including wood and charcoal) are prohibited between February 15 and April 30 annually (except between the hours of 4PM to midnight). Camping stoves that are self-contained are permitted (ex. Coleman Stove). We have received permission from the Department of Forestry to allow open fires between midnight and 4 p.m. in our campgrounds if we have a camphost. Failure to observe the burning law could result in a fine of up to $500.00.

As part of your trip planning, before you arrive at the park, check out our events database to see the programs scheduled at your park. You can find the database here: http://bit.ly/vspevents. The events are sometimes added as late as the start of the month they will occur, so check back right before you leave. Another way to keep in touch with programs and offerings is to subscribe to our weekly enewsletter. It takes just a few minutes to sign up here: http://bit.ly/vspenews. You can also follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/virginiastateparks) and Twitter (@VAStateParks).

Campers cannot be assured of access to reserved sites before 4 p.m. on their arrival date, but early check-in is often available. Camping check-out is 1 p.m. Generators are not permitted in the campgrounds.

Cabin/Lodge/Camping Cabin/Camping Lodge/Trailer/Yurt check in time is 4:00 p.m. Check out is 10:00 a.m.

State law prohibits state employees from accepting gratuities. If you are so inclined, you may direct gifts or donations to: The State Park Projects Fund, c/o The Department of Conservation and Recreation, 600 E. Main St., 16th Floor; Richmond, VA 23219. These funds will be used for the development, maintenance, and operation of Virginia State Parks.

Customer satisfaction is a priority with State Parks and our Reservation Center. Please feel free to call the Operations Director, Nancy Heltman, with your compliments or concerns regarding your treatment by our staff. Nancy can be reached at 1-800-933-7275 (786-5057 if local Richmond). For changes to your reservation, please call 1-800-933-7275 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Please tell us what you think. Fill out our online survey for your chance to win a $50 gift certificate and other prizes in our monthly drawing. http://bit.ly/surveyvsp

Virginia State Parks offer numerous opportunities for volunteers. If you are interested, please contact vspvolunteer@dcr.virginia.gov.

Cancellations must be made by calling the Park or Customer Service Center by the day prior to your reservation. Cancellations can also be made online for most sites. If you choose to cancel your reservation, the reservation service fee will not be refunded and, once a reservation is paid for, a cancellation fee will be charged. Depending on the facility and/or the length of the advance notice, this fee may be a significant portion of the amount paid. Cancellation fees are as follows:

Standard campsites (up to 6 occupants): $10 per reservation, includes horse stalls.

Group campsites (sites that allow 7 or more occupants): $30 per reservation

Camping Cabins: $10 if cancelled more than 30 days before the scheduled arrival, $10 per night within the last 30 days.

Yurts and Bunkhouses: $30 if cancelled more than 30 days before the scheduled arrival, $30 per night within the last month.

Cabins and Kiptopeke's EW Yurt: $30 if canceled more than 90 days before the scheduled arrival, $30 per night within the last 90 days.

Lodges: $60 if canceled more than 90 days before the scheduled arrival, $60 per night with the last 90 days.

Picnic Shelters: $10 up to 14 days prior to the start of the reservation, no refund within 14 days of the scheduled arrival.

Please verify cancellation fees for other facilities on our website before making your reservation. Once the official check-in time is reached or after a customer checks in (whichever comes first), any reduced stay constitutes an early departure. For camping there is a one night penalty for early departure. For cabin stays, there is a $30 per night penalty ($60 per lodge night) for early departure and the two night minimum is enforced regardless. Due to the week discount for cabins, reducing the stay down from a week will result in a higher nightly fee.

Transfers can be handled by the Customer Service Center or online (most sites). For cabins, lodges, yurts, camping cabins, and bunkhouses, transfers can be requested up until 4 days prior to your reservation start date. Camping transfers can be handled up until the day prior to check-in. Shelter transfers can be handled up until the day before your reservation, or the last day the Customer Service Center is open before your arrival. All transfers are free, but different seasons and sites may incur additional fees.

Our parks are strictly enforcing honor parking rules. To avoid any inconvenience, overnight guests who arrive when the contact station or office is closed are asked to register promptly the next day so park staff will not ticket your vehicle(s) in error. Campers and cabin guests are allowed two vehicles per site. Additional vehicles and visitors are subject to the daily parking fee. If you receive a parking ticket in error, please be sure to report the error to park staff immediately so the ticket can be canceled before it is processed.

RV Road Trip Guides

Location

Public Campground

Lover's Leap Campground — Natural Tunnel State Park is located in Virginia

Detail location of campground

Address

1420 Natural Tunnel Parkway
Duffield, VA 242449361

Coordinates

36.7021541902004 N
82.73810102351848 W

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Connectivity

  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 3 users
    Last on 3/17/26
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 7 users
    Last on 3/17/26

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Connectivity

  • signal strength bars
    T-Mobile5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 3 users
    Last on 3/17/26
  • signal strength bars
    VerizonLTE
    Some Coverage
  • signal strength bars
    AT&T5G
    Excellent Coverage
    Verified by 7 users
    Last on 3/17/26

Access

  • Drive-In
    Park next to your site
  • Walk-In
    Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Site Types

  • Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

  • Picnic Table
  • Reservable
  • Electric Hookups
  • Pets
  • Fires

For Vehicles

  • Water Hookups
  • Pull-Through Sites
  • 50 Amp Hookups

Contact

General Info

Reservations

Drive Time


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Reviews

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5.0

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3 Reviews

Visitors repeatedly highlighted the spacious, private sites and extremely clean facilities at this well-maintained campground. Many mentioned the helpful staff and quality amenities like clean bathhouses and convenient hookups.

Reviewed Jun. 4, 2023

Excellent all around

We camped here for 2 nights. We reserved a spot at the Lovers Leap Campground. The sites are very spacious and private. It comes with the usual amenities like a fire ring, picnic table, and a lantern pole. There was even an extra little wooden table on every site. The campground is very well maintained. Everybody from rangers to volunteers was super nice and helpful. The bathhouse is extremely clean. The showers are separate from the restrooms. The other campground, Cove View, is not as private and spacious. We also drove by the cabins and the primitive campsites. The cabins look fantastic from the outside. For more adventures you can also rent a yurt. There is also a little campstore that has firewood and some essentials. The area is very scenic. There are not many trails but there is still a lot to see. The tunnel is spectacular. Make sure you ride the chairlift (dogs allowed to ride with you) down to see the tunnel and creek. Also plan a quick trip to see the blockhouse and learn about the history. The park has a lot of activities for all ages. Check out the calender and see what you like. We would definitely visit again.

Site6
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Lover's Leap Campground — Natural Tunnel State Park by Katrin M., June 4, 2023
  • Review photo of Lover's Leap Campground — Natural Tunnel State Park by Katrin M., June 4, 2023
  • Review photo of Lover's Leap Campground — Natural Tunnel State Park by Katrin M., June 4, 2023
  • (6) View All
Reviewed Oct. 22, 2022

Worth the trip

Lovers Leap Campground is best and newer. No sewer but dump station. Sites have water and electricity and a very nice bathhouse. A hike to the tunnel is a must. Towns of Big Stone Gap and Norton VA visit for sure.

SiteLL9
Month of VisitSeptember
  • Review photo of Lover's Leap Campground — Natural Tunnel State Park by Ron W., October 22, 2022
  • Review photo of Lover's Leap Campground — Natural Tunnel State Park by Ron W., October 22, 2022
  • Review photo of Lover's Leap Campground — Natural Tunnel State Park by Ron W., October 22, 2022
  • (9) View All
Reviewed Aug. 29, 2022

Come Back Again and Again

This was my third visit to the NTSP - I really enjoy the camping, and the pool and Natural Tunnel are great fun.  Each time I've camped in Lover's Leap, and all the sites are well spaced.  Have stayed in #3 and #5, and #12 which is even more private.  The restrooms and showers are always clean, and there is a nice laundry area as well.  This trip we took a car ride to Big Stone Gap, a thriving little town about 30 minutes north of the park - it's a nice quiet but interesting town, with a nice dog park.  Took a car ride to Gate City, south of the park - wouldn't recommend it.  It's a city on it's way down.  The short ride to the Blockhouse in the park is interesting, with nice views of the mountains.  The ride and hike up and down to the tunnel is always fun.  In the summers they light the tunnel one Saturday night each month, so it's worth trying to plan for that.

SiteLL #5
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Lover's Leap Campground — Natural Tunnel State Park by Carol J., August 29, 2022
  • Review photo of Lover's Leap Campground — Natural Tunnel State Park by Carol J., August 29, 2022

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a map available for Lovers Leap Campground trails and facilities?

Yes, maps for Lovers Leap Campground are available. You can obtain trail and facility maps at the park office or visitor center upon arrival. The campground is well-marked with numbered sites, and the layout makes navigation straightforward. Maps show the campground's amenities including the bathhouse, water and electric hookups, and connections to hiking trails. For planning purposes, check the Virginia State Parks website for downloadable maps before your visit.

What is the connection between Lovers Leap and Natural Tunnel State Park?

Lovers Leap Campground is one of the camping areas within Natural Tunnel State Park. It's named after the scenic overlook nearby and is considered the newer and more preferred camping section in the park. The campground offers convenient access to the park's main attraction, the Natural Tunnel, which is a must-visit geological formation. Campers at Lovers Leap enjoy proximity to all park amenities including the swimming pool, hiking trails, and the chairlift that takes visitors down to view the impressive tunnel formation carved through the mountain.

Where is Lovers Leap Campground located in Virginia?

Lovers Leap Campground is located within Natural Tunnel State Park in southwestern Virginia. The campground sits on a scenic ridge overlooking the beautiful Natural Tunnel formation. It's situated near the towns of Big Stone Gap and Norton, VA, which are worth visiting while in the area. The location provides a peaceful mountain setting with spacious, private campsites surrounded by natural beauty and access to the park's main attractions.

Are there cabins available near Lovers Leap Campground?

Natural Tunnel State Park does offer cabin accommodations in addition to the Lovers Leap Campground sites. While the cabins aren't located directly in the Lovers Leap camping area, they're within the same state park complex. The camping area itself features spacious sites with water and electric hookups, fire rings, picnic tables, and lantern poles. For those preferring cabin amenities, contact the park directly for availability, location details, and reservation information. Cabin guests still have full access to all park attractions including the Natural Tunnel and swimming pool.