Best Glamping near Altavista, VA

Smith Mountain Lake State Park Campground houses some of the best glamping accommodations in central Virginia, featuring climate-controlled yurts and luxury camping options set against a backdrop of pristine lakefront views. Approximately 45 minutes from Altavista, this state park combines rustic charm with modern comforts, providing glamping guests with comfortable bedding, electricity, and private decks overlooking the water. Nearby, the Natural Bridge-Lexington KOA and Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park offer premium glamping experiences with full amenities including kitchenettes, resort-style bathrooms, and climate control systems. These luxurious accommodations allow visitors to experience nature without sacrificing comfort. One visitor noted, "The cabins were phenomenal, offering a clean setup with wood stoves, exterior decks, grills, firepits, and picnic tables, with some backing right up to the lake."

The glamping sites around Smith Mountain Lake provide direct access to an expansive network of hiking trails, swimming beaches, and water recreation opportunities. Guests at these upscale outdoor accommodations can rent kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards directly on property, while still enjoying resort-style amenities like hot showers and clean facilities. The Natural Bridge area glamping resorts offer convenient proximity to natural wonders, with some properties featuring glamping accommodations just minutes from the geological formations and area wineries. Winter visitors will find year-round options at properties like Smith Mountain Lake and Natural Bridge KOA, which maintain heated glamping structures regardless of season. A recent visitor mentioned, "We truly enjoyed our stay at Smith Mountain Lake State Park. The lake was quite beautiful with paddle boat and canoe rental available even during COVID restrictions."

Best Glamping Sites Near Altavista, Virginia (12)

    1. Smith Mountain Lake State Park Campground

    25 Reviews
    Penhook, VA
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 297-6066

    $20 - $40 / night

    "The tent (non-electric, non-hookups) sites are at the back in their own section. They are the farthest from the bathhouse, but also the most private."

    "I have camped here for 15 years most in tents, each site contains all you need a table pole for light and fire pit. Bathhouse is open,clean showers are hot."

    2. Otter Creek Campground — Blue Ridge Parkway

    14 Reviews
    Big Island, VA
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (434) 299-5125

    $30 / night

    "Rangers on site were super sweet."

    "Slightly dirty bathrooms, not sanitary, but a lot of bugs, spiderwebs etc. Alternative to crowded Shenandoah campgrounds, although is a good drive away <60+ miles away from entrance."

    3. Natural Bridge-Lexington KOA

    31 Reviews
    Natural Bridge, VA
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 291-2770

    $35 / night

    "We had a gravel pull through spot with a picnic table on a wooden deck, fire pit, and full hook up. There is a pool and a playground, however they were both closed due to Covid."

    "This campground is open year round and is right off the highway.  There is a gas station right next to it as well as a safari park. "

    4. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Natural Bridge

    16 Reviews
    Natural Bridge Station, VA
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 291-2727

    $39 - $241 / night

    "There was a carnival for the kids, trick-or-treating, hiking, tons of bike riding, campfire watching, hammock swinging, laughing, loving, and hanging out!"

    "If that isn’t enough, there is a lake with a big blow up slide and more in the center and also has river access. You can get free life jackets to use and can rent out boats for the river."

    5. Middle Creek Campground

    8 Reviews
    Buchanan, VA
    33 miles
    Website

    $20 - $85 / night

    "All of the sites were roomy and featured a small fire pit, picnic table, water, and electricity. Several of them even had a pull-through site and would work well for a small pop-up."

    "It was early season, mid- may, so there were few other campers around. We took a site up their gravel road away from the main campground area."

    6. Staunton River State Park Campground

    17 Reviews
    Henrico, VA
    45 miles
    Website
    +1 (434) 572-4623

    "We camped here again at Staunton River State Park, this time we stayed in site 21, which is an electric site near the bathrooms/showers and one of the best for viewing stars."

    "We got a non-electric site and in November is was in the 30's at night - pretty cold for tent camping! But we bundled up and made lots of fires!"

    7. Holliday Lake State Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Prospect, VA
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (434) 248-6308

    $30 - $80 / night

    "Campground Review

    Holliday Lake State Park is located in the middle of the Buckingham State Forest, so it is completely surrounded by protected forest."

    "We love camping at Holliday Lake. It is completely off grid, and we like that! With busy jobs during the week it’s nice to unwind and enjoy nature."

    8. Natural Bridge KOA

    8 Reviews
    Natural Bridge, VA
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (800) 562-8514

    "This KOA was a very nice surprise given that it was right off the highway. We only were there for 1 night and we didn't hear any highway noise."

    "Big patios, bbq grill, tables, fire pit. It was a quiet, well laid out and easy to manage in our 36 ft trailer. Wished I was staying much longer at this campground."

    9. Salthouse Branch Campground

    13 Reviews
    Henry, VA
    47 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 365-7005

    $26 - $52 / night

    "Washrooms are at quite a distance from this site so we were glad to be completely self-contained. Accessibility to both beach swimming areas is risky for those needing to use a cane or crutches."

    "The lower loop is pretty level, fun to walk and ride bikes around, and the kids love the playground! The bathhouse is always clean and you can't beat the atmosphere around the campground!"

    10. Thunder Bridge

    1 Review
    Natural Bridge Station, VA
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 460-1542

    $35 - $95 / night

    "Thunder BRidge is a unique property tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Near Natural Bridge State Park in Virginia, the campground was once a CCC camp."

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Glamping Reviews near Altavista, VA

153 Reviews of 12 Altavista Campgrounds


  • S
    Sep. 17, 2020

    Natural Bridge-Lexington KOA

    It’s ok

    Clean and right beside the safari park in Natural Bridge, cave mountain is few extra miles but is nicer in my opinion if you want nature and peace. This place does have hookups and sites are on top of one another not spaced out. It does have WiFi available and your phone will work here. Has a gas station right in front of it’s entrance and is directly off interstate

  • Katie M.
    Aug. 30, 2021

    Staunton River State Park Campground

    Great activities/family friendly camping

    We camped here again at Staunton River State Park, this time we stayed in site 21, which is an electric site near the bathrooms/showers and one of the best for viewing stars. There is little tree cover and a sort of field behind the campsite where you can set up your telescope and see the stars really well. We were also able to rent one of the telescopes they have at the Visitors center (for free!) and use it throughout the stay.

    We came the weekend after the fourth of July which was hot but surprisingly not too crowded. We participated in some of the parks' programs this time around and it made it such a great experience, especially for the kids. They had smores around the fire on a Friday night, where they handed out smores ingredients around a big campfire near the visitors center and you could chat with other campers. It was so nice! Then they had a outdoor movie afterwards. The next day we went to a "feed the animals" program, where the kids got to meet and help feed all the animals in the visitors center and learn more about them. There were turtles, snakes, fish! The kids loved it! We did the Junior Ranger hike and the kids all got badges. Hopefully the pool will be open next summer because it was so hot and that would have been awesome! But there is another Virginia State Park nearby, Occoneechee, that has a splash pad that we went to. Such a fun time!

  • Bridget H.
    Oct. 27, 2020

    Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Natural Bridge

    Family Fall Camping Trip

    We had a great weekend with the whole family! There was a carnival for the kids, trick-or-treating, hiking, tons of bike riding, campfire watching, hammock swinging, laughing, loving, and hanging out! We had a campsite with electric and water close to the bathhouse which is great because we have a popup camper with no bathroom and six kids. There were plenty of decorations for Halloween and the kids had a super time. Great for families. There are also a couple of playgrounds, two bouncy pads, basketball court, and gaga ball. During peak season there is also a water play area with a waterslide and mini golf. It is located on the James River. We had a great time.

  • K
    Jul. 24, 2021

    Natural Bridge KOA

    Quiet retreat in nature

    This KOA was a very nice surprise given that it was right off the highway. We only were there for 1 night and we didn't hear any highway noise. They had a very nice nature trail as well as chickens running around and baby goats in a pen. Check in was easy as they had a tent set up so we didn't have to go on the office. An employee led us to our site. The main campground is rather hilly, although our site was a rather level gravel pad. They have a new area, not flat ground, that has cement pads and pretty wood benches around fire pits. It looked like these campsites were for the large class A or fifth wheels. We had electric and water. Cable TV is included. The Verizon wifi was spotty with 2-3 bars. We will definatly go back if we pass through this area again.

  • Andrea N.
    Apr. 3, 2019

    Middle Creek Campground

    Ranger Review: Nature's Coffee Kettle at Middle Creek Campground

    Campground Review

    As a Ranger on The Dyrt, I sometimes receive compensation for reviewing campgrounds like this one. Middle Creek Campground is the perfect place to use as a base camp for all of the outdoor activities in the area. Getting here was a lot easier than expected. The campground is only 6 miles off the I-81 Arcadia exit. We were quickly in the Jefferson National Forest where the road winds through the forest along Jennings Creek. It was absolutely gorgeous. Around every turn we saw fishermen wading into the water or sitting on the banks.

    Check-in is at the fully stocked camp store where you'll likely be greeted by the two resident dogs. They mostly lazed around all weekend and watched people coming and going. The RV sites are directly across from the camp store, but the tent sites were tucked back into the woods. The upper tent campground was closed for renovations during our stay, so we chose from the 8 or 9 sites located in the lower tent campground. All of the sites were roomy and featured a small fire pit, picnic table, water, and electricity. Several of them even had a pull-through site and would work well for a small pop-up. Bonus: most of the lower tent sites have direct access to the creek! There were only four other tent sites occupied the whole weekend. It was very quiet and peaceful.

    We chose site #76 because the creek wound around the back of the campsite and had a gentle slope leading down to the creek. We knew our dogs would love splashing around in it! Once we got everything set up I realized that the site was bigger than I'd originally thought. There was more than enough room to set up our Kingdom 4 tent, 10' canopy, and camp kitchen to glamp in style. We brought a 15' lead for the 2yo beagle so he could go down to the creek on his own or hang out with us. Even at the end of his lead he was nowhere close to the road. Check out the video below for a 360' view!

    The bathhouse was at the back of the camp store. Like the rest of the campground, the facilities aren't fancy, but they are functional and clean. Both men's and women's featured two showers where the water was nice and hot! There are even washers and dryers around the corner.

    Firewood is available for purchase onsite. We paid $7 for a bundle at the camp store, and it was delivered to our site just a few minutes later. The bundle was huge! We had more than enough wood for two cooking fires.

    Because our visit was so early in the year, we weren't able to access most of the amenities. There is a good-sized pool and pavilion on a hill behind the camp store. Right beside that is the swimming pond with two large slides in the middle, plus a small beach. There is another lake at the front of the campground designated for fishing. There are no trails in this campground, so if you want to hike, you'll need to drive about a mile out to where the Appalachian Trail meets Jennings Creek. Or, drive to one of many trail heads within the National Forest. There are also plenty of pull-off spots along the road if you want to wade into the creek.

    During our stay, we observed the staff cleaning, fixing, and getting ready for camping season. The bathrooms got a fresh coat of paint. The roads through the campground were recently groomed with new crushed gravel. All of the picnic tables and sidewalks were being power washed. The game room was also being renovated! Downside: we didn't have water at our site the first day. About half-way through the second day one of the workers came around to let us know they were turning it on and to let it run for a bit since it had been off all winter. That made it much easier to wash dishes in a bucket at camp. There isn't a wash station in the campground for doing dishes, so we had to improvise the first night. The biggest turn-off for us at the campground was the RV section right across from the camp store. It seemed like the sites were really packed in there, one on top of the other. I've never been RV-ing before, so I'm not sure if this setup is typical, but I wanted to point it out.

    All of the staff that we came into contact with were super friendly and helpful. We were immediately made to feel welcome. It felt like spending the weekend with friends and neighbors instead of strangers.

    Product Review

    As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time - today I am testing Nature's Coffee Kettle with Colombian Arabica Coffee. I am completely unable to start my day without coffee even when I'm sleeping in the woods. Nature's Coffee Kettle is a packable system that provides you with delicious, pour-over coffee in the backwoods. The "kettle" is a specially designed pouch with two sections. The top section holds the pre-filled coffee filter in place while you slowly pour hot water over the grounds. It features a zip-top so you can close it up while you're waiting for the magic to happen.The bottom section is the reservoir that holds all of that coffee goodness. Coffee refills are also available separately. The entire system packs flat for storage in a camp tote or in your backpack.

    The directions on the back of the bag are super clear and even contain pictures. The key to making the perfect brew with Nature's Coffee Kettle is time. Don't rush it. This is not instant coffee. It is the real deal and will be worth every minute. Slowly pour 1 cup of hot water over the filter, zip up the top and let it sit for a minute or two so the grounds can soak up all of that water. This is the most important step. Then, unzip the top, and keep slowly adding the rest of the water. How much water? I used my coffee mugs to measure out the right amount of water into the kettle before boiling. After you've poured all the water into the bag zip it up again and let it sit. Then, just twist off the cap and pour!

    The pouch is reusable, so don't toss it out. Dispose of the filter and rinse out the pouch. It will be ready to go the next time you need some caffeine. Nature's Coffee Kettle comes in a variety of coffee flavors as well as orange pekoe black tea, apple cider, and hot chocolate.

  • G
    Jun. 21, 2021

    Salthouse Branch Campground

    Beautiful lake; good value

    Level site with good drainage made this a nice spot for a 3-day rest during a time of limited personal mobility. Washrooms are at quite a distance from this site so we were glad to be completely self-contained. Accessibility to both beach swimming areas is risky for those needing to use a cane or crutches. Our fire pit had not been cleaned before our arrival but we quickly remedied that. We enjoyed touring local historical sites. Lots of pre-teen bike riders had a wonderful time speeding around the campsite. Sighting a male pileated woodpecker was a highlight. COE with permanent senior pass made this an excellent value for us.

  • Diane D.
    May. 22, 2018

    Smith Mountain Lake State Park Campground

    Wooded campground with lake perks

    This is our favorite campground in the Roanoke area. The campsites are roomy, although some are definitely more private than others. The tent (non-electric, non-hookups) sites are at the back in their own section. They are the farthest from the bathhouse, but also the most private.

    Tent sites have a deep bedding of fine crushed stone. All sites include a picnic table and fire ring. Firewood is there to purchase. It will burn very quickly and we usually need several bundles in just one night.

    Price to camp is very reasonable, especially if you consider that you get a beach pass for both the day you arrive and the next day. For a family of 3 or more, it's actually cheaper to reserve a camping spot than to just come for the day to swim. Get reservations in the peak summer months. The campground is often full.

    There are also several hiking trails, but they aren't terribly long or difficult. Good if you have smaller children.

    The camp hosts have been hit or miss through the years. There are no rangers on site after hours.

  • C
    Jun. 13, 2020

    Natural Bridge-Lexington KOA

    Great First Time Experience

    Our first stop on our very first ever camp trailer adventure couldn’t have gone more smoothly! We had a gravel pull through spot with a picnic table on a wooden deck, fire pit, and full hook up. There is a pool and a playground, however they were both closed due to Covid. Natural Bridge is very close—an impressive rock landmark with lush trails through the woods and opportunities for creek wading. We had a great time!

  • William P.
    Jul. 30, 2022

    Smith Mountain Lake State Park Campground

    Favorite place on earth

    I have camped here for 15 years most in tents, each site contains all you need a table pole for light and fire pit. Bathhouse is open,clean showers are hot. They have classes for the children at the nature center. This park is all hands on, the staff ride around checking on folks and answering questions. Swimming area is first rate and the warmest clean waters that will make you forget the ocean.


Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Altavista, VA?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Altavista, VA is Smith Mountain Lake State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 25 reviews.

What is the best site to find glamping camping near Altavista, VA?

TheDyrt.com has all 12 glamping camping locations near Altavista, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.