Natural Tunnel State Park offers cabin accommodations ranging from rustic to deluxe within the Appalachian Mountains of Southwest Virginia, just minutes from Fort Blackmore. The park sits at approximately 1,700 feet elevation with cabins positioned on forested hillsides overlooking the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail corridor. Seasonal temperature variations affect cabin availability, with peak season running May through October when daytime temperatures average 75-85°F.
What to do
Hiking trails: Multiple trail options connect cabin areas to park features at Natural Tunnel State Park. "Great park! It's got all you need from camping to trails to swimming to even learning history about the area and the park itself! Great for the family!" according to Jaren E.
Tunnel exploration: View the massive limestone tunnel from multiple vantage points. "Who needs to go all the way out west to see the grand canyon when you can get the jist of it here," notes Jonny D. from Natural Tunnel State Park.
Clinch River canoeing: Launch points available within 20-minute drive from cabins. "Spent the night in a tent at Lovers Leap campground. Campground and park are clean, well maintained and up to date. Canoed Clinch River, caved in the park, and took a short guided hike through Stock Creek to backside of tunnel. Highly recommend!" reports Rob J.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Natural Tunnel State Park Primitive Camping offers secluded options. "Booked a 3 night stay over the weekend and had the primitive camping area to ourselves. 5 spots with tent pads, picnic tables, fire pit, hanging poles, and bear box," shares Sarah C.
Clean facilities: Bathhouses receive regular maintenance. "The campground was nice, the staff friendly. Apparently there is a lot of bear activity, although we did not encounter one. The sunsets are to die for!" notes Frances from Breaks Interstate Park.
Variety of accommodation types: Options range from primitive sites to fully-equipped cabins. "This park has so many things to do and is fun for all ages. They have campgrounds, cabins and Yurts. There are nice hiking trails, chairlift to view the tunnel, picnic areas, swimming pool and so much more," explains Kathy L.
What you should know
Summer heat challenges: Yurts and cabins without air conditioning can become extremely hot. "The temperature had to be somewhere around 110 degrees inside. Immediately after opening the door, opening the window and opening the canvas window coverings, we could feel the heat pouring out of the yurt," warns Myron C.
Limited cell service: Coverage varies throughout the region. "The campground itself is maintained better than any other state run campground I've ever been to. The things one must take into consideration is that you need to bring ANYTHING you might need for groceries and there is limited cell coverage for ATT," advises Eric W.
Reservation essentials: Book cabins near Fort Blackmore, Virginia well in advance. "Had a great weekend at Natural Tunnel State Park. This campground stays booked up but was able to get in on a cancellation for the upcoming weekend," shares Julie from Natural Tunnel Primitive Camping.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly amenities: Bristol-Kingsport KOA offers dedicated children's areas. "They have cabins, a nice pool, a blob, lots of outdoor activities, playground area, horse shoes, even with it being a smaller KOA Campground there is a lot to do," reports Laura H.
Educational opportunities: Rangers offer programs suitable for various ages. "Beautiful campground. So much fun stuff for the kids to do. Great trails for hiking or biking," notes Monica S.
Safety considerations: Terrain can present challenges for young children. "One thing that my wife and I found strange was that there were handrails along the three steps to the deck around the yurt, but there were no handrails beside the rougher steps leading to the yurt," cautions Myron C.
Tips from RVers
Road access challenges: Some cabin areas have limited access for large vehicles. "Nice Campground, once you get here. The roads to this amazing State Park are two lane and twisting. We have a 38' 5er and a CrewCab Dually tow vehicle. We didn't have a lot of issues getting here but it is quite mountainous with a lot of climbs to get here," notes Robert L.
Site selection importance: Baileyton KOA Holiday offers more level sites. "We stayed in a pull through site and it was not very level (we had planned to not even unhook from the truck but had too bc of this) looks like a lot of seasonal campers here but maintained very well," advises Beth H.
Utilities and hookups: Check specific cabin locations for availability. "Sites: 60 Pull thrus. RV-Tent-Cabins 15-30-50 amp service. Hot showers, pool, pets allowed, toilets, laundry, small grocery store This is only of couple of miles off I40 in the rolling hills of Tennessee, very quiet and well maintained," describes N.I.
