Cabin camping near Chilhowie, Virginia offers year-round access with elevations ranging from 1,700 to 3,300 feet. Summer daytime temperatures typically reach 80-85°F while winter nights drop to 20-30°F. Most cabin facilities operate March through November with reduced services during winter months at select locations.
What to do
**Hiking trails: At Stone Mountain State Park Campground, trail systems accommodate various skill levels. "Lots of hiking and mice shower house. A must do," reports Von B. The Stone Mountain loop trail provides challenging terrain with substantial elevation change.
**Creek exploration: Shallow waterways in the area provide natural play areas for families. At Deer Trail Park & Campground, "a babbling brook that the kids can wade in" creates natural recreation opportunities. Elena T. notes, "tent sites are along a rippling creek, very clean bathrooms/showers, multiple small playgrounds, and a pool."
**Fishing: Stocked waters offer productive fishing near cabin accommodations. Rainbow Campground features regularly stocked waters as Zach P. describes: "They stock the creek twice a month with trout, it was stocked 80 ft from my tent 2 days ago." Most fishing locations require Virginia fishing licenses unless on private property.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Stony Fork Campground offers well-spaced accommodations. Will K. confirms this appeal: "The sites were spread out from each other and were private. The bathrooms were clean." Sites include level parking areas and standard fire rings.
Clean facilities: Bathroom cleanliness ranks consistently high in visitor feedback across multiple locations. At Camp Burson Campground, one camper observed, "All facilities super clean, laundry and lake for a cool dip. Lots of hikes from moderate to 5 mi hard." Shower facilities typically include individual stalls with push-button water conservation systems.
Mountain temperatures: Higher elevations provide natural climate control during summer months. At Blue Bear Mountain Camp, Mandy R. highlights, "Not only is the weather so much cooler in the summer there (70-80 in July!), it's just a wonderful, down to earth place to be." This temperature difference proves particularly valuable during peak summer heat.
What you should know
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies significantly throughout the region with many cabin areas having minimal coverage. Martha S. notes about Deer Trail Park, "Because of its remote location cell service is all but non existant and Wifi is spotty, but when your enjoying God's handywork who needs electronics?" Some campgrounds offer limited WiFi near office areas.
Access limitations: Road conditions impact larger vehicle access. At Camp Burson, Jimmye M. cautions, "The road in is steep, winding and has a very sharp turn. I made it with 38' RV with toad." Similar access challenges exist throughout the mountainous terrain.
Seasonal operations: Most cabin facilities reduce services during winter months. Casey L. from Camp Burson notes: "We were there during off season so some of the park was closed and they collected payment through honor system." Confirm operational status before planning winter visits.
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds: Multiple recreation areas provide structured play options for children. At Wytheville KOA, Tim H. appreciates the diverse activities: "What a nice clean campground! We stayed for a few days and enjoyed it just wish everything would have been opened."
Water access: Streams and lakes create natural water play areas during warm months. According to one Little Oak camper, "Little oak offered a great place to stay for a week. With south Holston lake at your finger tips it offers a great area to fish, boat, kayak, paddle board and swim."
Activity centers: Some facilities include indoor recreation options for inclement weather. Richard S. notes that Deer Trail Park includes "cool playground, pool, pond, and arcade for kids." Most activity centers operate seasonally with reduced hours during shoulder seasons.
Tips from RVers
Hookup variations: Water and electric service specifications differ between locations. Nancy W. from Camp Burson notes, "The Burston Campground has the largest sites and offers some full hook-up sites and water and electric sites (50 amp) with pull thrus and back-ins."
Site dimensions: RV sites vary in width, length and overhead clearance. Greg S. reports about Camp Burson, "The sites are clean and spacious (except for the row of pull through sites in the middle, which have less space), the grass is green and soft, and everything is in excellent order."
Utility access: Placement of hookups impacts arrival preparation. At Little Oak Campground, limited access may require extension cords or longer water hoses as sites feature varied layouts with utility connections sometimes placed at considerable distances from parking areas.
