Smith Mountain Lake State Park and Douthat State Park feature luxurious glamping accommodations with modern amenities near Troutville, Virginia. Both parks offer yurts that combine rustic appeal with comfort, providing electricity, real beds, and covered decks. Smith Mountain Lake's yurts include trundle beds, rocking chairs, small tables, and spacious decks perfect for relaxing. Douthat State Park complements its glamping options with stunning mountain views and lake access. The yurts provide a perfect middle ground between tent camping and cabin stays, with many featuring furniture, beds with mattresses, and outdoor living spaces. One visitor noted, "The Yurt overall was very clean and cozy. They have a nice large deck that is great for hanging out while the kids were asleep."
Natural Bridge-Lexington KOA and Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Natural Bridge enhance the glamping experience with activities and attractions just minutes from the accommodations. Hiking trails at Smith Mountain Lake State Park start directly across from the yurts, allowing guests to quickly access nature without sacrificing comfort. Lake activities include swimming at designated beach areas, fishing, and boating opportunities. Seasonal events at Jellystone Park include carnivals, trick-or-treating, and water play areas with waterslides during peak season. The Natural Bridge area offers additional attractions including the Safari Park, caverns, and historic sites within a short drive. A recent visitor mentioned, "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!"
$20 - $85 / night
"All of the sites were roomy and featured a small fire pit, picnic table, water, and electricity. Several of them even had a pull-through site and would work well for a small pop-up."
"It was early season, mid- may, so there were few other campers around. We took a site up their gravel road away from the main campground area."
$35 / night
"We had a gravel pull through spot with a picnic table on a wooden deck, fire pit, and full hook up. There is a pool and a playground, however they were both closed due to Covid."
"This campground is open year round and is right off the highway. There is a gas station right next to it as well as a safari park. "
$27 - $144 / night
"The tent (non-electric, non-hookups) sites are at the back in their own section. They are the farthest from the bathhouse, but also the most private."
"I have camped here for 15 years most in tents, each site contains all you need a table pole for light and fire pit. Bathhouse is open,clean showers are hot."
$39 - $241 / night
"There was a carnival for the kids, trick-or-treating, hiking, tons of bike riding, campfire watching, hammock swinging, laughing, loving, and hanging out!"
"If that isn’t enough, there is a lake with a big blow up slide and more in the center and also has river access. You can get free life jackets to use and can rent out boats for the river."
$37 / night
"We use a teardrop camper so we appreciated the water and electric hookup (although we disconnected the water at night to prevent freezing)."
"It’s a nice scenic drive getting to the park on a quiet and well maintained back road. The rangers at the park are very knowledgeable and kind and have no problem answering questions."
"This KOA was a very nice surprise given that it was right off the highway. We only were there for 1 night and we didn't hear any highway noise."
"Big patios, bbq grill, tables, fire pit. It was a quiet, well laid out and easy to manage in our 36 ft trailer. Wished I was staying much longer at this campground."
$30 / night
"Rangers on site were super sweet."
"Slightly dirty bathrooms, not sanitary, but a lot of bugs, spiderwebs etc. Alternative to crowded Shenandoah campgrounds, although is a good drive away <60+ miles away from entrance."
$35 - $95 / night
"Sited on an old CCC camp, and former juvenile detention center, this private campground is a few minutes from convenience stores, has water, cold showers, toilets, fire pit, community room, and picnic"
"Thunder BRidge is a unique property tucked away in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Near Natural Bridge State Park in Virginia, the campground was once a CCC camp."
$16 - $85 / night
"Our spot was right there on the water, there are bathrooms at the top of the hill. Campsites are drive up and can fit 2 vehicles. The spot also has a fire ring and picnic tables."
"I stayed on campground 1 on a lake side site with access to the lake, the views from my tent were breathtaking! The campground is clean, it has shower and flushable toilets."
$24 - $413 / night
"Site had a picnic table, large fire ring, electric and water hook up. Sites were private due to trees around each site. Our site was #35 which was a lovely end spot. "
"Our spot included a grill and campsite. There is also a camping manager type person who drives around and sells firewood and helps answer any questions."
GuideClean and right beside the safari park in Natural Bridge, cave mountain is few extra miles but is nicer in my opinion if you want nature and peace. This place does have hookups and sites are on top of one another not spaced out. It does have WiFi available and your phone will work here. Has a gas station right in front of it’s entrance and is directly off interstate
GuideSite 034 Loop Morr Dates of Stay: August 30-Sept 1 Average Daily Temp: 78 Average Nighlty Tem: 64 Pet friendly spot with access to firewood on site for small fee. Tent pad, fire pit, one picnic table, and lamp post on site. Close access to Lake area with a 100 yard walk through pathway off the site. Great shade for those hot sunny days. Plenty of room on the site for tents and vehicle parking. Neighboring sites offer fair amount of privacy. Site had some trash scattered around by previous visitors. Needed to do some checking for broken flashlight pieces and glass before I allowed my dog free roam.
LegendCampground Review:
We stayed in Yurt#4 for 2 nights at Fairy Stone State Park, about a 4 hour drive from where we live. The Yurt overall was very clean and cozy. The outside of the Yurt looks like it needed a powerwashing, but that didn’t really affect us at all, just kind of unsightly. They have a nice large deck that is great for hanging out on while the kids were asleep. 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. We ended up eating and hanging out inside the Yurt or on the deck most of the time.
There are 4 Yurts to choose from. Two of them (Yurts#1 & 2) do not have a parking spot right in front of them, they are a short walk from a parking area, so I made sure to get one that did since we would be arriving after dark. The Yurt we stayed in was a little weird because the Fire Pit and Picnic table is behind and almost under the yurt, down a decently step slope and the yurt sits on stilts on the back side. The Yurt next to us#3 had the fire pit and table right up front next to the parking spot which would be better I think. I would try to get Yurt#3 next time! Overall Yurt camping is so fun! We have done it once before, and it is such a great mix between cabin and tent camping. You get the protection from the elements, a real bed to sleep in, and it’s quick to pack-up- but still a bit rustic since there’s no ac or electricity.
There are hiking trails right across the street from the Yurt, which was awesome! The bathrooms and showers were fine and in close walking distance. They could probably use some updating but didn’t have any major issues with them. Overall the campground is pretty big and a bit of a maze getting around, we needed to use the park map a lot! Probably due to the park being so old there are a lot of old buildings not in use that are pretty cool.
The park is big and there is lots to do! There is a beautiful lake for swimming Tons of hiking trails. They had a great playground for the kids nearby. They had a concert going on somewhere at the park so we had some beautiful orchestral music playing as we were winding down for bed one night. We saw lots of deer roaming around. Note that there is not great cell service in this area.
The place to find the Fairy Stones are outside of the park, down the street a little bit beside a gas station. It was tricky knowing exactly what to look for, but once we found a few Fairy Stones, they were everywhere! So fun searching for them with the kids!
It was such a fun trip, very peaceful, beautiful scenery everywhere!
………………………………
Product Review:
As a Ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time - we tested out the Banner& Oak Men’s Nebo Hat– Olive
The quality of this hat is great. Nice and thick but breathable fabric, durable construction. We’ve put this hat through the ringer so far with sweaty hikes, long beach and lake days, and everyday wear and tear and it has performed spectacularly. The adjustable snapback makes fitting easy. Has a nice shape, looks great! Love this hat’s patch with well-designed graphics and the neutral olive color– goes with everything. Will definitely purchase again! Also appreciate the fact that the hats are made in the USA! It is my husband’s new go-to daily hat and I think it will last for a long time.
RangerWe 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! We had a campsite with electric and water close to the bathhouse which is great because we have a popup camper with no bathroom and six kids. There were plenty of decorations for Halloween and the kids had a super time. Great for families. There are also a couple of playgrounds, two bouncy pads, basketball court, and gaga ball. During peak season there is also a water play area with a waterslide and mini golf. It is located on the James River. We had a great time.
RangerThis weekend was a great adventure in SW Virginia. We stayed in a Yurt. It has no electricity or water but the bath house was close. The yurt has a double bed, a twin trundle, a couch and some chairs, and a table and chairs. It also has a large wrap around deck with rocking chairs. A picnic table, lamp post, and fire ring are also provided at the site. We hunted and found fairy stones which made the trip that much more fun. It was just after covid 19 started and lessening restrictions began so the beach was closed and there were few people at the campground but we had a great time riding bikes and hiking. We even went to the Creeper Trail and rode our bikes from White Top to Damascus.
TravelerLovely campground. Not too noisy and gorgeous nature. Campsite 2 is across the path from the check in point and you are quite on display but on the other hand you have WiFi signal and are close to water and perfect distance from the campground.
Firewood and ice is available for purchase and there is a soda machine and laundry facilities on site.
Perfect combo of shade and sun with deers grazing right next to your tent!!
LegendMY husband and I stayed two nights in a 1 bed efficiency CCC Cabin at Fairy Stone State Park for a short weekend away from the kids. We visited in December so it was pretty cold weather but the cabin was so cozy and comfortable! We loved having the fireplace! The cabins have a bathroom, shower, kitchen with sink, fridge, oven/stove, microwave, toaster, everything you need! They have heating and a/c as well. The cabin was built in the 1930s and is so charming! Loved everytihg about our experience here.
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!
LegendSited on an old CCC camp, and former juvenile detention center, this private campground is a few minutes from convenience stores, has water, cold showers, toilets, fire pit, community room, and picnic tables. Close to the Appalachian Trail, and National Forest. Resarant, grocery, and AT hostel and shuttle in nearby Glasgow. Rock Bridge and waterfalls just minutes away, by car. Minimum two-night stay for $100 is a little pricey, for me, but they do have Wi-Fi, and they don't have T-Mobile coverage. Some road noise and barking dogs in the distance. Adjacent to National Forest land. Cabins also available.
As you leave Glasgow turn left at the cow, and go past the big blue propane tank. Host texted us a good hand-drawn map. Some of the turns were a little precarious in the campground itself, but the road was overall good and flat.
GuideThis KOA was a very nice surprise given that it was right off the highway. We only were there for 1 night and we didn't hear any highway noise. They had a very nice nature trail as well as chickens running around and baby goats in a pen. Check in was easy as they had a tent set up so we didn't have to go on the office. An employee led us to our site. The main campground is rather hilly, although our site was a rather level gravel pad. They have a new area, not flat ground, that has cement pads and pretty wood benches around fire pits. It looked like these campsites were for the large class A or fifth wheels. We had electric and water. Cable TV is included. The Verizon wifi was spotty with 2-3 bars. We will definatly go back if we pass through this area again.
Troutville's camping options extend beyond traditional setups, with several parks featuring yurt accommodations in the Alleghany and Blue Ridge mountains at elevations between 1,200-2,800 feet. The area experiences warm summers with temperatures averaging 75-85°F and cool fall nights dropping to 40-55°F. Most yurt camping near Troutville operates from April through November, with limited winter availability at select locations.
Fishing at multiple lakes: Lake Moomaw at Bolar Mountain Recreation Area offers excellent fishing opportunities with stocked trout. "Our site was across the road from the lake but there was a trail that lead to the water. The water was beautiful, temperature perfect for swimming," notes one visitor at Bolar Mountain Recreation Area.
Hiking accessible trails: Several trails start directly from campgrounds, making day hikes convenient without driving. At Otter Creek Campground, "It's close to the AT and blue ridge parkway and about an hour from Shenandoah Nat'l Park. Clean bathroom, spacious sites, very pretty creek."
Mountain biking options: The main roads and trails at multiple parks offer good biking terrain. As one camper at Douthat State Park noted, "We did a decent amount of biking here, the main road is nice for road biking, we rode out about 15 miles and back, saw a black bear. Beautiful country roads. And the trails are great for mountain biking. Bring your legs, lots of climbing!"
Kayaking and paddling: Many campgrounds offer rentals directly on-site. "We rented kayaks at the marina/camp store down the road and explored a little cove that was really cool. We blocked out 4 hours, but only lasted 2 hours before we got tired and returned the kayaks," shared a camper at Middle Creek Campground.
Yurt comfort and amenities: The yurts at Smith Mountain Lake State Park Campground provide more comfort than traditional camping. "The lake was super calm, clear and not too cold. We went out kayaking and swam out in the open," reports one visitor describing the lake activities accessible from the yurts.
Privacy between sites: Campgrounds vary widely in how much separation exists between sites. At Middle Creek Campground, "We chose site #76 because the creek wound around the back of the campsite and had a gentle slope leading down to the creek. We knew our dogs would love splashing around in it!"
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain excellent bathrooms and shower facilities. A visitor to Douthat State Park observed, "The bathrooms were incredibly clean and heated. Showers were terrific as well. Staff were kind and knowledgeable."
Seasonal activities: Fall brings special programming at several campgrounds. One camper at Jellystone Park noted, "We had a great time. We had a campsite with electric and water close to the bathhouse which is great because we have a popup camper with no bathroom and six kids. There were plenty of decorations for Halloween and the kids had a super time."
Campground staffing varies: Off-season visits may mean limited staff presence. At Middle Creek Campground, "In the shoulder season the campground isn't staffed often, but what do you expect when it's not busy? There are plenty of things to do near by, especially hiking."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Troutville, VA?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Troutville, VA is Middle Creek Campground with a 3.9-star rating from 9 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Troutville, VA?
TheDyrt.com has all 18 glamping camping locations near Troutville, VA, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
