Best Glamping near Chatham, VA

Fairy Stone State Park and Staunton River State Park house some of Virginia's most distinctive glamping accommodations near Chatham. Fairy Stone's yurts blend rustic charm with modern comforts, featuring full-size beds with twin trundles, indoor seating areas, and spacious wrap-around decks with rocking chairs. The yurts lack electricity but provide cozy shelter with proper beds rather than sleeping pads. Staunton River State Park, recognized as an International Dark Sky park, offers similar yurt accommodations plus excellent stargazing opportunities. Both parks maintain clean facilities with hot showers and flush toilets within walking distance of glamping sites. Occoneechee State Park complements the area's glamping scene with waterfront yurts that provide stunning views of Buggs Island Lake. One guest shared, "The Yurt overall was very clean and cozy. They have a nice large deck that is great for hanging out on while the kids were asleep."

Smith Mountain Lake State Park's glamping options include access to swimming beaches, boat rentals, and nature programs that enhance the luxury outdoor experience. Visitors can borrow telescopes from Staunton River's visitor center for nighttime stargazing, with some glamping sites specifically positioned in open areas for optimal celestial viewing. Fairy Stone Park offers unique geological exploration with its namesake fairy stones—rare staurolite crystals that visitors can hunt and collect near the park. Most glamping accommodations remain available year-round, though swimming amenities typically operate seasonally. The parks feature extensive trail systems, with Smith Mountain Lake offering family-friendly hiking routes suitable for all skill levels. A visitor noted, "We participated in some of the parks' programs 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."

Best Glamping Sites Near Chatham, Virginia (11)

    1. Smith Mountain Lake State Park Campground

    25 Reviews
    Penhook, VA
    21 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. Hyco Lake State Park Campground

    8 Reviews
    Leasburg, NC
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 599-4343

    "We stayed for BRRF nearby. The site was big and good for the short amount of time we spent in it."

    "We had a blast it was the weekend prior Labor Day we fished saw old friends in Virginia and had a wonderful time. The stuff was amazing"

    3. Salthouse Branch Campground

    13 Reviews
    Henry, VA
    36 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!"

    4. Staunton River State Park Campground

    17 Reviews
    Henrico, VA
    41 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!"

    5. Fairy Stone State Park Campground

    11 Reviews
    Proctor Lake, VA
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (276) 930-2424

    $30 / night

    "They have a nice large deck that is great for hanging out on while the kids were asleep. The inside of the Yurt has a full size bed with a twin sized trundle bed that rolls under the full."

    "This weekend was a great adventure in SW Virginia. We stayed in a Yurt. It has no electricity or water but the bath house was close."

    6. Lake Reidsville Recreation Park

    12 Reviews
    Reidsville, NC
    40 miles
    Website
    +1 (336) 349-4738

    $60 - $75 / night

    "Trash cans, fire pits, level spots, picnic tables were at every location. Easy access to the water, playgrounds & hiking trails were just moments away from the camper."

    "The bathhouse was well kept. The staff had decorations throughout the park for Halloween which is something I dont remember them doing in the past. There is a nice playground for the kids."

    7. Occoneechee State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Clarksville, VA
    50 miles
    Website

    "Its like tent camping except you get to sleep in a bed. We stayed in September so the fact that there is no AC or electricity in the yurt was not an issue because the weather was moderate."

    "It’s a 3BR/2BA spacious cabin, wooded and lakeside. Great sunsets and nice big deck (some areas of the porch are covered, and have rocking chairs)."

    8. Chantilly Farm RV/Tent Campground & Event Venue

    10 Reviews
    Floyd, VA
    47 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 808-4984

    "We were a little taken aback when we first arrived at our site but quickly began to appreciate the beautiful field we were camped in with electric and water hook-ups."

    "We arrived late around 7pm and it was getting dark, our lovely Host was very kind and showed our site - It also had heated water hose so that was a big bonus. Yes"

    9. Middle Creek Campground

    8 Reviews
    Buchanan, VA
    50 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."

    10. Callahan's Hideaway

    3 Reviews
    Red Oak, VA
    40 miles
    +1 (434) 471-1699

    $22 - $53 / night

    "Very nice place to walk and lots of sight seeing close by and shor t walk or drive to the water"

    "One mile walk to Buffalo park a beautiful place with lots of history. I love it .Great day for a picnic ."

Show More
Showing results 1-10 of 11 campgrounds

2025 Detourist Giveaway

Presented byToyota Trucks

Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

Enter to Win


Glamping Reviews near Chatham, VA

127 Reviews of 11 Chatham Campgrounds


  • Katie M.
    Sep. 12, 2019

    Fairy Stone State Park Campground

    Ranger Review: Banner & Oak Hat at Fairy Stone State Park

    Campground Review:

    We stayed in Yurt#4 for 2 nights at Fairy Stone State Park, about a 4 hour drive from where we live. The Yurt overall was very clean and cozy. The outside of the Yurt looks like it needed a powerwashing, but that didn’t really affect us at all, just kind of unsightly. They have a nice large deck that is great for hanging out on while the kids were asleep. The inside of the Yurt has a full size bed with a twin sized trundle bed that rolls under the full. It also had some rocking chairs inside, a small table and chairs, and a couch. We ended up eating and hanging out inside the Yurt or on the deck most of the time. 

    There are 4 Yurts to choose from. Two of them (Yurts#1 & 2) do not have a parking spot right in front of them, they are a short walk from a parking area, so I made sure to get one that did since we would be arriving after dark. The Yurt we stayed in was a little weird because the Fire Pit and Picnic table is behind and almost under the yurt, down a decently step slope and the yurt sits on stilts on the back side. The Yurt next to us#3 had the fire pit and table right up front next to the parking spot which would be better I think. I would try to get Yurt#3 next time! Overall Yurt camping is so fun! We have done it once before, and it is such a great mix between cabin and tent camping. You get the protection from the elements, a real bed to sleep in, and it’s quick to pack-up- but still a bit rustic since there’s no ac or electricity. 

    There are hiking trails right across the street from the Yurt, which was awesome! The bathrooms and showers were fine and in close walking distance. They could probably use some updating but didn’t have any major issues with them. Overall the campground is pretty big and a bit of a maze getting around, we needed to use the park map a lot! Probably due to the park being so old there are a lot of old buildings not in use that are pretty cool. 

    The park is big and there is lots to do! There is a beautiful lake for swimming Tons of hiking trails. They had a great playground for the kids nearby. They had a concert going on somewhere at the park so we had some beautiful orchestral music playing as we were winding down for bed one night. We saw lots of deer roaming around. Note that there is not great cell service in this area. 

    The place to find the Fairy Stones are outside of the park, down the street a little bit beside a gas station. It was tricky knowing exactly what to look for, but once we found a few Fairy Stones, they were everywhere! So fun searching for them with the kids! 

    It was such a fun trip, very peaceful, beautiful scenery everywhere!

    ……………………………… 

    Product Review:

    As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time - we tested out the Banner& Oak Men’s Nebo Hat– Olive  

    The quality of this hat is great. Nice and thick but breathable fabric, durable construction. We’ve put this hat through the ringer so far with sweaty hikes, long beach and lake days, and everyday wear and tear and it has performed spectacularly. The adjustable snapback makes fitting easy. Has a nice shape, looks great! Love this hat’s patch with well-designed graphics and the neutral olive color– goes with everything. Will definitely purchase again! Also appreciate the fact that the hats are made in the USA! It is my husband’s new go-to daily hat and I think it will last for a long time.

  • 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!

  • s
    Apr. 23, 2022

    Lake Reidsville Recreation Park

    Amazing Place

    All of the sites were amazing. Trash cans, fire pits, level spots, picnic tables were at every location. Easy access to the water, playgrounds & hiking trails were just moments away from the camper.

  • Bridget H.
    Oct. 28, 2020

    Fairy Stone State Park Campground

    Great Adventure in SW Virginia

    This weekend was a great adventure in SW Virginia. We stayed in a Yurt. It has no electricity or water but the bath house was close. The yurt has a double bed, a twin trundle, a couch and some chairs, and a table and chairs. It also has a large wrap around deck with rocking chairs. A picnic table, lamp post, and fire ring are also provided at the site. We hunted and found fairy stones which made the trip that much more fun. It was just after covid 19 started and lessening restrictions began so the beach was closed and there were few people at the campground but we had a great time riding bikes and hiking. We even went to the Creeper Trail and rode our bikes from White Top to Damascus.

  • Katie M.
    Dec. 9, 2019

    Fairy Stone State Park Campground

    CCC Cabin - Couple's Weekend Away!

    MY husband and I stayed two nights in a 1 bed efficiency CCC Cabin at Fairy Stone State Park for a short weekend away from the kids. We visited in December so it was pretty cold weather but the cabin was so cozy and comfortable! We loved having the fireplace! The cabins have a bathroom, shower, kitchen with sink, fridge, oven/stove, microwave, toaster, everything you need! They have heating and a/c as well. The cabin was built in the 1930s and is so charming! Loved everytihg about our experience here.

    There is no cell service or internet/wifi at the cabins though so come prepared with something to do! We found it to be very relaxing to unplug!

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.


Guide to Chatham

Smith Mountain Lake State Park offers several camping options near Chatham, Virginia, 45 miles south of Roanoke. The area sits at approximately 800 feet elevation with summer temperatures averaging in the mid-80s and mild spring and fall conditions ideal for outdoor recreation. Campgrounds in this region feature a mix of waterfront sites, wooded areas, and access to multiple recreation areas with varying levels of amenities.

What to do

Stargazing at night: Staunton River State Park, recognized as an International Dark Sky Park, provides exceptional night sky viewing. "They even 'rent' (no charge!) telescopes from the very nice Visitor's Center! It is an International Dark Sky Park and there are two telescopes that can be checked out for free at the visitor's center," notes Carrie A. from Staunton River State Park Campground.

Water activities on Buggs Island Lake: Occoneechee State Park offers multiple water access points with boat launches. "We paddled around Bugg's Lake. Used the boat launch near the office - nice place to put in. The whole trip we saw lots of birds, squirrels, deer, and raccoons," says RL from Occoneechee State Park Campground.

Frisbee golf courses: Several campgrounds offer disc golf courses for all skill levels. "They have free wifi along with a brand new 9 hole disc golf course!" says Stafford W. about Chantilly Farm RV/Tent Campground.

What campers like

Lakeside sites with fishing access: Lake Reidsville Recreation Park provides direct waterfront access. "Sites right on the lake. Boating, hiking. Fishing and Friendly people," according to Joy A. from Lake Reidsville Recreation Park.

Wide tent camping spaces: Salthouse Branch Campground offers spacious areas for tent campers. "Great spot for tent camping! Loved the hillside spots bc of all the trees and the multiple levels that the spots are on. They are all built out and flat. Bathrooms are clean and campground was quiet," writes Paula J. about Salthouse Branch Campground.

Glamping in restored structures: Beyond traditional glamping in Chatham, Virginia, some parks feature historical buildings. "LOVE the care and attention that they've put into restoring and preserving the older buildings," mentions Ashley I. about Staunton River State Park Campground.

What you should know

No alcohol policies: Some parks enforce strict alcohol rules. "The police visited us bc we were drinking outside of our camper. He was very nice and explained no alcohol allowed. This is clearly stated and we were in the wrong," warns Anne F. about Salthouse Branch Campground.

Cell service limitations: Many campgrounds have limited connectivity. "There is no cell service or internet/wifi at the cabins though so come prepared with something to do! We found it to be very relaxing to unplug!" shares Katie M. about Fairy Stone State Park Campground.

Sloped sites: Some campgrounds have uneven terrain. "A lot of them are sloped. Very hard to level out a RV," notes Danielle W. about Hyco Lake State Park.

Tips for camping with families

Ranger programs for kids: Educational programs offer interactive learning experiences. "We loved all the ranger programs, especially finding all the fairy stones," shares Bonnie T. about Fairy Stone State Park Campground.

Lakes with swimming areas: Several campgrounds feature dedicated swimming zones. "There is a nice playground for the kids nearby. They had a concert going on somewhere at the park so we had some beautiful orchestral music playing as we were winding down for bed one night," reports Katie M. about her stay at Fairy Stone.

Off-season camping benefits: Spring and fall provide fewer crowds. "It was rather empty since it was still technically winter. The showers were hot and the bathrooms were clean. The rangers were nice and helpful," says Bridget H. about camping at Staunton River State Park during winter.

Tips from RVers

Hookup locations: Pay attention to utilities placement at sites. "Our water and electricity was on the passenger side of our vehicle so it was a good thing we had an extra hose to reach the water as well as a long enough cord to reach the electric box," advises Barb T. about Hyco Lake State Park.

RV size considerations: Many campgrounds have site limitations. "This campground is well maintained and the sights are awesome. The hiking trails are also do horses and parts have been beaten down and there was a lot of horse poop in the trail," reports Chaz M. from Staunton River State Park.

Seasonal availability: Some amenities operate only during peak season. "Most of the sites were nice and level with decent privacy. Power and water are reliable. There is one dumping station," explains Scott B. about Smith Mountain Lake.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Chatham, 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 Chatham, VA?

TheDyrt.com has all 11 glamping camping locations near Chatham, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.