Cabin accommodations near Whitetop, Virginia range from rustic to modern with diverse settings and amenities. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains at elevations ranging from 3,000 to over 5,000 feet, the area experiences cooler temperatures than surrounding lowlands, even during summer months. Mountain cabin rentals often feature deck areas facing creek or mountain views with temperature averages 10-15 degrees cooler than nearby cities.
What to do
Hiking at Stone Mountain State Park: Multiple trail options range from easy lakeside paths to challenging mountain climbs with diverse terrain. "The Stone Mountain loop trail is incredible! Long and strenuous but all ages were hiking it...homestead was so neat to walk around at the base of the mountain," notes one Stone Mountain State Park visitor.
Creek exploration for kids: Most cabin properties include access to mountain streams perfect for splashing, rock hopping, and amateur naturalist activities. "The hike to the pond was a little more strenuous than we anticipated but once you get there, there is a nice creek and we caught a trout in the pond right away," mentions a visitor at Blue Bear Mountain Camp.
Tubing experiences: Several cabin properties provide on-site river access or are located near tubing outfitters. A camper from Riverside Canoe and Campground explains, "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."
What campers like
Temperature relief: Cabins at higher elevations provide natural cooling during summer months. "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," reports a camper.
Lakeside recreation: Several cabin properties feature lake access for swimming, fishing, and paddling. A visitor at Little Oak Campground shared, "Super easy camp ground to get to with excellent paved roads in very close to each of the Tri-Cities. The camp ground is well organized with many amenities including super easy access to the water on all sides."
Cabin layout options: Properties offer diverse options from single-room rustic cabins to multi-room structures. One camper at Camp Burson noted, "The sites were clean and spacious, level. Easily accommodated our 25 foot RV. Trails started close to our site and were just beautiful."
What you should know
Seasonal availability: Some cabin properties operate with limited services during winter months. At Stone Mountain State Park, "We went in December and there wasn't many people there at all, maybe 4 other campers all weekend."
Reservation requirements: Booking well in advance is essential, particularly for holiday weekends and fall foliage season. "We chose a site that had water and electric hook-ups. The real stars were the camp hosts, The Viles. The sweetest couple. So friendly and helpful," notes a camper at Camp Burson.
Limited provisions at some properties: Small camp stores carry basics but may not stock extensive supplies. "The check-in building/store is small but mighty, offering items like local honey, local preserves and camping/tubing accessories," reports a Riverside Canoe and Campground visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Kid-friendly activities: Several cabin properties provide specialized amenities for children. A visitor at Honey Bear Campground shared, "Good for kids - rootbeer float nights, outdoor movies with marshmellow pits, creeks to splash in. Full bathhouses, laundry & even a gameroom. My kids loved the tire swings & animals!"
Platform camping options: Some locations offer wooden platforms for tent setups, creating level sleeping areas. "The campsites have the usual amenities like a picnic bench and table, a firepit, and a lantern pole. The bathhouse was very clean and taken care of," notes a camper at Royal Oak Campground.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Cabin properties often provide natural settings to observe local wildlife. At Camp Burson, one visitor mentioned, "Beautiful ride in, drove by so many deer on the side of the road. Very clean, well organized, sites are almost level on their own."
Tips from RVers
Site selection importance: Due to mountainous terrain, not all cabin properties have level sites for larger RVs. "The drive into/out of the campground is on a main drive and on a hill which makes it difficult leaving. For experienced campers this may be okay but I wouldn't recommend for novice campers," warns a visitor at Flintlock Campground.
Hookup variations: Electric, water, and sewer connections vary significantly between properties. At Boone KOA, "The sites are narrow. The width of the sites left little area to hangout outside. We have a Flagstaff 26RLWS with 2 slides on the driver side. With the steps out, there was only a few feet between them and the picnic table."
Site access challenges: Some mountain roads leading to cabin properties present challenges for larger vehicles. "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," notes a visitor at Blue Bear Mountain Camp.
