Cabin camping near Troutdale, Virginia provides access to the Jefferson National Forest and Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. The region sits at elevations between 2,000-3,000 feet, creating cooler summer temperatures than surrounding lowlands. Winter cabin rentals often require chains or 4WD vehicles on forest access roads when snow accumulates.
What to do
Hiking trails: At Stone Mountain State Park Campground, trails range from easy to strenuous with impressive mountain views. "Great Spot for hiking & biking with family. Great little campground with a nice biking/hiking trail along the lake. Kids had a great time!" notes Molly F. The park features a historic homestead at the mountain base.
Water activities: Summer visitors at Riverside Canoe and Campground can tube down the river with special equipment for refreshments. "You can rent a tube to place a cooler inside of so you can tube down the river with beverages and snacks in tow. The end of the rafting experience puts you right there back at the campsite," shares Julie L.
Stargazing: The higher elevations and minimal light pollution create optimal night sky viewing conditions. "Blue Bear is by far my favorite campground. 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," says Mandy R. about mountain camping.
What campers like
Wooden tent platforms: Campers appreciate the level surfaces for tent setup at Royal Oak Campground — Hungry Mother State Park. "We tent camped here in the Royal Oak section. Campsites in this section are tent only and very nice and have platforms," reports Denise. "The bathhouse was very clean and taken care of. There are several spigots with drinking water through the campground," adds Katrin M.
Privacy: Some cabins offer seclusion on forested mountainsides. "This place is in the middle of nowhere. Literally. It is so amazing for hiking and bird watchers alike. To rejuvenate your mind and soul. Didn't see a single person for three days," shares a visitor about Blue Springs Gap Cabin.
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain excellent bathhouses. "This Campground is my favorite campground by far. The bathhouse is nice and includes showers and drinking water," notes a reviewer at Blue Bear Mountain Camp. Similarly, at Stony Fork Campground, "The bathrooms were clean. The camp host directed us to where we could buy firewood. The wood was dry and seasoned," Will K. reports.
What you should know
Weather considerations: Mountain elevations mean temperature variations and potential weather challenges. "It rained for 12 hours straight with cold, high winds...so it was a bit chilly, but still enjoyable," notes Dave V. about camping at Hungry Mother State Park.
Limited connectivity: Cell service and wifi can be unreliable. "Beautiful campsite. Well maintained. Bring ur own Wi-Fi as there is No cell coverage and the Wi-Fi does not work," warns Larry R. about Creekside Campground.
Road access: Some cabins require careful navigation. "The state maintained gravel road used to access campground was narrow and would be difficult to get a large camper up there, although there were lots of large ones there," Kristen J. mentions about mountain access.
Tips for camping with families
Multi-activity sites: Look for campgrounds with diverse recreation options. "We stayed here on a fall trip to Pigeon Forge. Great little campground with a nice biking/hiking trail along the lake. Kids had a great time!" shares a visitor about Hungry Mother State Park.
Kid-friendly amenities: Wytheville KOA offers extensive entertainment options. "This campground is terrific! Our kids loved the arcade, the wagon and train rides around the campground, the craft time, pool and the fishing!" reports Lisa T. Another visitor adds, "Very clean campground. Has nice pool with waterside and game room with bowling and food and much more."
Nature experiences: Family-oriented activities often focus on wildlife and water. "We camped here over the weekend with our dogs. The campground was fantastic. You can hike, swim, or rent a canoe," says Katrin M. about Hungry Mother State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: At Camp Burson Campground — Hungry Mother State Park, RVers find level sites with good hookups. "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," advises Jeff T.
Hookup availability: Water fill stations and dump stations replace full hookups at some campgrounds. "They do not have water hookups- you fill your camper tank with water at the office area. They have spots with electric hookups. They have a dump station where you can empty your tanks on your way out," explains a Blue Bear Mountain Camp visitor.
Accessibility: Some campgrounds have limitations for larger RVs. "Very nice wooded and private camp sites. Driveway is level and paved. Some sites have electric and water however cannot hook up water to campers," notes Gwynn G. about Stony Fork Campground.
