Natural Tunnel State Park offers glamping opportunities in southwestern Virginia, approximately 30 minutes from Wise. The park sits at an elevation of about 1,600 feet and features limestone formations that date back millions of years. Visitors can find yurts and cabins available throughout the year, with seasonal facilities including the chairlift that operates on weekends.
What to do
Hiking and fishing: Kingdom Come State Park provides multiple short trails that connect for longer treks. A camper notes, "There are plenty of hiking trails. Our favorite is the Raven Rock trail which leads to a 450 foot 40 degree angle granite rock facing that you can climb to get an amazing view of the surrounding mountains." Fishing enthusiasts can enjoy the small lake stocked with trout and other fish species.
Outdoor recreation: At Warriors' Path State Park, visitors access multiple recreational facilities beyond hiking. "The grounds are mostly maintained and well kept. There's plenty to do within the park itself," according to one reviewer. Another camper mentioned, "My son and I enjoyed a round of disk golf while my wife and daughters made use of their awesome playground."
Scenic driving: For adventurous travelers, Kingdom Come State Park offers unique driving experiences. One reviewer described, "For the adventurers you can drive along a section of The Little Shepard Trail. A one lane road that runs along the ridge of the mountain. No guard rails! With 300 foot cliffs to either side."
What campers like
Private spaces: Natural Tunnel State Park Yurts provides accommodations separated from standard campsites. A recent visitor shared, "As far as yurts go, I think the price was reasonable and is a little bit more separated from the rest of the sites which is a plus! Yurt itself was clean, comfortable and super spacious for just 3 people."
Accessible amenities: Campers at Breaks Interstate Park appreciate the well-maintained facilities. "Bathrooms are clean and well maintained. Lots of hot water and water pressure in the showers. There is a pool and waterpark on site, and a gift shop and camp store," according to a recent review. Another visitor noted, "Nice camp store with firewood and propane refill."
Wildlife viewing: The parks near Wise offer opportunities to observe local fauna. At Breaks Interstate Park, a reviewer mentioned, "White tail deer are frequent, and very tame." Kingdom Come State Park campers reported bear sightings, stating, "I saw more bears while at this park then any other time. But it was never scary because they were always far away."
What you should know
Weather considerations: Summer temperatures can affect glamping close to Wise, Virginia. One visitor at Kingdom Come State Park noted, "The campground has 7 sites each with it's own picnic table, fire ring, and pole for stashing your food away from bears."
Cell coverage: Connectivity varies across parks. A camper at Kingdom Come State Park stated, "Great area, no service or wifi." In contrast, at Warriors' Path State Park, a visitor reported, "Cell coverage varies from LTE to 5G all over the park."
Site selection: Many campgrounds require careful consideration when choosing sites. A Warriors' Path State Park visitor warned, "Be sure to read site descriptions and check the suggested trailer size- they seriously mean the max size!!" Another camper advised, "Each site has a fire ring, and small grate grill and a picnic table. The sites up on the ridge are probably sized only for tents and Class B units; many are sloped."
Tips for camping with families
Ranger activities: Baileyton KOA Holiday offers organized events for children. According to a visitor, "This place is very kid-friendly yet quiet! Pool is salt-water so no chlorine smell. Playground is away from most camp sites and has a tire swing and small set up. They have activities planned lots on the weekend."
Accessible swimming: Multiple parks provide swimming options. At Leeman Field Park, a reviewer highlighted, "Neighboring Leeman Field park has multiple playgrounds, picnic shelters, swimming pool (Admission to the pool is included in campground fees.), tennis courts, and disc golf course."
Educational opportunities: Natural Tunnel State Park offers learning experiences. A camper shared, "Bathhouse is very clean and an easy walk to. People can be a little loud. Easy to walk to trails and a nice little gift shop available + helpful rangers!"
Tips from RVers
Utility access: Leeman Field Park provides comprehensive hookups for RVers. A visitor reported, "Great little park located in the Appalachian mountains of Virginia beside of Leeman Field park in Pennington Gap. Easy sites to get into with full hookups."
Road conditions: Access to some parks can be challenging. At Breaks Interstate Park, a camper warned, "The roads to this amazing State Park are two lane and twisting. We have a 38' 5er and a CrewCab Dually tow vehicle. We didn't have a lot of issues getting here but it is quite mountainous with a lot of climbs to get here."
Site leveling: When glamping near Wise in an RV, prepare for uneven terrain. At Warriors' Path State Park, a visitor cautioned, "There are a lot of uneven campsites, so bring your leveling blocks. That said, great campground. The facilities were clean, the park was well kept."
