Yurt camping in Chilhowie, Virginia offers campers access to the Blue Ridge Mountains at elevations ranging from 1,700 to over 5,000 feet, creating distinct temperature zones that can be 10-15 degrees cooler than surrounding lowlands. The region experiences four distinct seasons, with fall bringing vibrant foliage from mid-October through early November when nighttime temperatures typically drop into the 40s.
What to do
Hiking mountain peaks: Stone Mountain State Park provides excellent trail access with varying difficulty levels. "Great hikes and area for the family. Beautiful scenery and some great swimming holes," notes one visitor at Stone Mountain State Park Campground.
Fishing trout streams: Hurricane Campground offers streamside sites with direct fishing access. A camper reports, "This is a beautiful campground located alongside a stream with trout fishing. Site#2 in particular is susceptible to flash flooding, but if the forecast is for dry weather, it would be hard to beat this site."
Explore historic homesteads: Stone Mountain features preserved mountain dwellings. "The homestead was so neat to walk around at the base of the mountain," shares a reviewer, noting that the Stone Loop Mountain trail offers access to these cultural sites while being "long and strenuous but all ages were hiking it."
Paddling opportunities: For water activities beyond Hungry Mother Lake, the New River State Park provides excellent options. "The park is spread out over several different, disconnected properties throughout the county which offered a lot of different recreational opportunities... Overall the park has miles and miles of blue way."
What campers like
Privacy between sites: At Hurricane Campground, the layout maximizes seclusion. "Sites are large and wooded and first come, first serve. Bathroom facilities include vault toilets as well as flush toilets with showers."
Platform camping: Royal Oak offers an elevated camping experience. "We camped here in the Royal Oak section. Campsites in this section are tent only and very nice and have platforms," explains a reviewer at Hungry Mother State Park.
Yurt accommodations: For those seeking yurt camping near Chilhowie, Virginia, Grindstone Recreation Area provides alternatives to traditional tent sites. "They have yurts in Camp Burson and Royal Oak. Don't remember seeing any in Creekside," notes a camper who explored all three campground sections.
Mountain temperatures: The elevation provides natural cooling in summer. "The elevation is high so weather is nice for those trying to escape the summer heat," reports a camper at Blue Bear Mountain Camp.
What you should know
Multiple campground sections: Hungry Mother's camping areas have different characteristics. "Camp Burson is flat and very well maintained gravel pads. Creekside is a little hilly with blacktop pads and Royal Oak is very steep with deck like structures at each site to set up on."
Seasonal closures: Hurricane Campground operates with limited dates. "Closed as of January 25, 2021," reported one visitor, with the typical season running "April 15 to October 31" according to campground information.
Limited connectivity: Cell service is spotty throughout the region. "No cell phone service. The campsite is wooded and the spaces are distanced well. The constant light breeze and lack of mosquitoes is a treat," notes a camper at Wytheville KOA.
Flash flood risk: Streamside sites offer the best ambiance but come with weather considerations. "Site#2 in particular is susceptible to flash flooding, but if the forecast is for dry weather, it would be hard to beat this site," warns a Hurricane Campground visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Water recreation access: New River State Park provides water-based activities beyond Hungry Mother's lake. "I highly recommend spending an afternoon on the beach at the Elk Shoals access. Beautiful spot with awesome swimming hole!"
Playground proximity: Consider site locations relative to play areas. "There was a nice area for a picnic with swings and other things for kids," notes a Grindstone camper, while another camper at Camp Burson mentioned, "If there was a playground here, it would be 5 stars. There was one by the beach, but not within walking distance."
Educational opportunities: The region offers natural learning experiences. "The nature center was very interactive and great for kids," reports a visitor to New River State Park, while another notes that Grayson Highlands offers "wild horses and ponies" that can be viewed on short hikes from some campgrounds.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for big rigs: Access limitations exist at some campgrounds. "If you have a big RV you can not camp in the Creekside area. You will have to go to Burson which is outside the 'camping area'," advises an RV camper at Creekside Campground.
Low branch challenges: Tree maintenance varies between parks. "Sites are level and can fit big rigs but the only problem we had were that some of the trees need to be trimmed back and scratched the upper sides of our coach," warns a Camp Burson visitor.
Full hookup availability: Service levels differ across the region. "The campgrounds are divided into three sections– Creekside, Burston and Royal Oak. All campsites in the Creekside section are reservable while only some in other sections are reservable. The Burston Campground has the largest sites and offers some full hook-up sites."
