Smith Mountain Lake State Park Campground offers secluded tent sites spread across wooded terrain at 800 feet elevation, with many sites positioned along 500 miles of shoreline. The campground stays open year-round with spring temperatures ranging from 40-70°F and summer reaching the high 80s. Weather patterns can shift quickly as fronts move through the Blue Ridge foothills.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Smith Mountain Lake State Park provides excellent fishing access with dedicated piers. According to William P., the lake has "perfect clean clear water to fish, swim," making it a prime location for anglers at any skill level.
Hiking trails: The park offers trails with water views from multiple vantage points. R N. notes, "I just stopped in for the day and did some hiking. Loved that I could see water from almost every trail. The black locusts were in bloom which smelled wonderful."
Kayaking: The calm waters make paddling accessible for beginners. Kevin T. shares, "I came here and it was so beautiful. I don't know if you can camp here because I only came here to kayak. The water was calm and is perfect for everyone who is into water sports."
Stargazing: Smith Mountain Lake State Park Campground offers exceptional night sky viewing opportunities in its remote setting. Jonny D. observes, "Boy are there some amazing stars out here," making it ideal for astrophotography and constellation spotting.
What campers like
Semi-private sites: Campsites at Smith Mountain Lake offer a good balance of privacy and community. Chris L. explains, "These campsites are close enough to the showers/restrooms without compromising all of your privacy. Sites are close enough to meet the neighbors though."
Spacious layouts: Middle Creek Campground provides creek-side camping with generous site dimensions. One camper shares, "Our campsite was nice, fairly private and backed up to a creek. Relatively level site."
Clean facilities: The bathrooms and shower facilities receive regular maintenance. Scott B. comments on Smith Mountain Lake: "Tent sites are large and a good distance apart. RV sites are good and have decent privacy. Power and water are reliable. There is one dumping station."
Yurt accommodations: Fairy Stone State Park Campground provides unique glamping in Moneta, Virginia area with their yurt options. A visitor describes, "The Yurt overall was very clean and cozy... 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."
What you should know
Wildlife encounters: Campers often spot deer and other wildlife throughout the area. Sara S. notes about Smith Mountain Lake: "It was a nice reprieve to spend time at a park with spacious sites and a decent amount of privacy. The lake was a nice aspect of the park as well."
Cell service limitations: Natural Bridge KOA and surrounding campgrounds have variable reception. One visitor reports, "I had excellent cell service on Verizon. Although the KOA offers WiFi, I was never able to get a strong enough signal to connect to the internet even though I tried several times."
Seasonal crowds: Popular areas get busy during summer months. Daniel P. advises about Smith Mountain Lake: "It's super popular, so you'll see a ton of people. Depending on where you are it may feel too crowded."
Weather preparation: Spring camping requires preparation for temperature swings. A camper staying in a Salthouse Branch glamping structure reports, "We had issues finding out if pets were allowed... they are! My dog and I had an awesome time and we will be back for sure."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Natural Bridge offers extensive water recreation. Matt R. describes, "A great place!! Right next to the James River for all of your fishing needs. Have a pool, splash pad, pond/lake with a slide, beach, inflatable obstacle course."
Recreation programs: Many campgrounds offer organized activities for children. Regarding Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, Matt continues: "Rec staff had awesome activities planned and kept the kids entertained all week with kick ball and karaoke and shaving cream wiffle ball and dance parties."
Biking opportunities: Look for campgrounds with safe riding areas. One visitor to Jellystone notes, "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!"
Family-friendly glamping: Luxury camping options near Moneta provide comfort for families with young children. Katie M. shares about Fairy Stone: "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."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Natural Bridge-Lexington KOA provides assistance with positioning. Ron H. appreciates that "They even guided you to your site and help you level."
Winter camping considerations: Some campgrounds provide heated water connections for cold-weather RVing. A camper at Chantilly Farm reports, "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."
Site selection for large rigs: Carefully choose sites that accommodate your vehicle length. Martha S. cautions about Natural Bridge-Lexington KOA: "We were here in mid Sept and in site 15. It was a very small site with a half deck. If we had camper with slide, we would not have been able to use our slide in this site."
Premium site options: Some campgrounds offer upgraded RV sites with additional amenities. One visitor to Natural Bridge KOA reports, "We had a deluxe patio area. Which was on nice level concrete. Was not too close to the pool but there were rest rooms nearby."
