Smith Mountain Lake State Park offers cabin accommodations ranging from basic to fully-equipped units. The elevation of the area ranges between 795-900 feet, creating a temperate climate with warm summers and mild winters. Water temperatures at Smith Mountain Lake typically reach the mid-80s during summer months, making it comfortable for swimming from late May through early September.
What to do
Swimming at designated areas: Smith Mountain Lake State Park Campground provides a beach area for swimming during summer months. "Rate it 5 stars very well maintained, has perfect waters to swim, boat, fish," notes one visitor, adding that the park has "perfect clean clear water to fish, swim."
Kayaking on calm waters: The lake at Smith Mountain offers ideal conditions for paddling with protected coves and minimal wake zones. "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," shares a camper at Smith Mountain Lake State Park Campground.
Hiking network: Multiple trails connect throughout the park system with varying difficulty levels. "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," reports a visitor. For more challenging terrain, Peaks Of Otter Campground offers "tons of hiking trails, but make sure you look at the map because we unfortunately did not look at it well enough and thought that the trail was a loop when it led to the opposite side of the mountain."
Fishing opportunities: Multiple species including bass, catfish, and crappie can be caught at Paradise Lake. "You can spend the weekend or a week. There is plenty to keep everyone busy," shares one visitor to Paradise Lake & Campground.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: The layout at many campgrounds provides good separation between campers. At Smith Mountain Lake, "these campsites are close enough to the showers/restrooms without compromising all of your privacy. Sites are nice and have room for parking."
Clean facilities: Bathhouses are regularly maintained at most parks in the region. A visitor to Lynchburg / Blue Ridge Parkway KOA described it as having the "best bathhouse I've encountered with something like 7 unisex bathrooms each with their own shower."
Reliable utilities: Water and electric hookups function well at established campgrounds. A camper at Paradise Lake noted: "We stayed overnight on the lake (#45). The campground is very well maintained with clean restrooms... Great wifi!"
Seasonal activities: Many parks offer scheduled events during peak seasons. Chantilly Farm hosts special events throughout the year, with one visitor noting, "Went for a weekend vw campout (Buses at Chantilly) and had a blast. We all camped on the hill. There was a concert with an awesome stage, beer tent, and vendors."
What you should know
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies widely between locations. At Fairy Stone State Park Campground, "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!"
Reservation requirements: Many cabins near Penhook require advance booking, especially during summer and holiday weekends. Book well in advance for best availability and site selection.
Weather preparedness: The Blue Ridge region experiences sudden weather changes. "It poured - for hours - but our site stayed dry for the most part. The tent pads at this campground are excellent and drain well."
Uneven terrain: Sites at some campgrounds may require leveling equipment. "The sites are not level - and we had the best of the lot - very private (if others had been there) but only one side of the picnic table was accessible (bc of the slope)," reports a visitor to Peaks Of Otter Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Activity planning: Kid-friendly programming happens regularly at many parks. A visitor to Natural Bridge-Lexington KOA noted it's "close to Natural Bridge with vineyards, restaurants and antique shops. Next door to the drive thru zoo and near Natural Bridge."
Swimming options: Multiple water features available for different age groups. At Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park, a camper reported: "Lots of stuff for kids, very close to river for tubing, reservation system in place because of Covid prevention guideline for swimming which worked out really well for kids."
Educational opportunities: Nature programs teach children about local ecology and history. "Perfect places for families. We loved all the ranger programs, especially finding all the fairy stones," shares a visitor to Fairy Stone State Park.
Safety considerations: Some camping sites have steep drop-offs or water features requiring supervision. "The cabins at Fairy Stone State Park was so cozy and comfortable with the fireplace. The cabins have a bathroom, shower, kitchen with sink, fridge, oven/stove, microwave, toaster, everything you need!"
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Choose based on length restrictions and amenities needed. At Chantilly Farm RV/Tent Campground, "we stayed in a full hookup site 8 on top of a hill overlooking other areas of the park. They have sites for everyone and every type of camping!"
Water pressure considerations: Check with campground about utility reliability. "My water pressure was good but talking to other campers, the farther away you get from the front of the park the worse the water pressure gets."
Leveling requirements: Many sites in mountainous areas require blocks or leveling systems. "We were on top of a hill with other RV's with gorgeous views and sunsets. The grounds were very well kept and mowed."
Navigation challenges: Roads to some campgrounds may be narrow or winding. Approach directions matter for larger rigs, as one visitor to Lynchburg/Blue Ridge Parkway KOA mentioned: "We had reserved a pull through but were just short in length and had to disconnect the tow vehicle for the night."
