Smith Mountain Lake State Park

This clean lake, outlined by coves and mountains, just may be my favorite lake in Virginia. Only about a 2.5-hour drive from the Richmond area, Smith Mountain Lake State Park offers a beautiful lakeside getaway. Since my husband, recovering from an extensive 6-month cancer/medical journey, was not able to deal with camper-related duties, we opted for a cabin stay. And it was the perfect way to spend 5 days during Spring Break! 

Our 2-bedroom waterview cabin was comfortable and just the right amount of space for our family of four, plus two pups. I wish I had tracked the number of hours we spent sitting on the deck! We couldn’t have asked for a better view or weather, and enjoyed reading, chatting, eating, and napping outdoors.

This spacious park is pretty spread out, and while we did bring bikes to travel around the various areas, it is definitely a workout. One of my favorite activities during our visit was mountain biking. Every trail is usable for hiking and biking, and my son and I had a blast exploring by bike. I was glad we brought our bikes, but regretted not bringing the kayaks. We could have easily launched right in front of our cabin, with its sloped shoreline, or from the nearby docks available to all cabin guests. We did stick a toe into the lake at the beach, but I was not exactly looking to do a polar plunge. I know this is a prime spot in warmer months and want to return to enjoy it at some point.

This relaxing visit was a glamping trip, for sure. We kept dinners easy with freezer meals in the oven, the shower had the best water pressure ever, and I read an entire book. Even the queen bed in our bedroom had a view of the lake, and the room warmly glowed during sunset. It doesn’t get much better than that. And if my daughter hadn’t been taken down by the flu, it would have been almost perfect. But if you have to be sick, might as well have a bed next to an open screened window with a view of tree-filtered sunlight glistening off a lake. 

We will return to this park with our camper, I’m sure of it. And we won’t forget the kayaks!

Fast Facts (and Opinions)

Location: Smith Mountain Lake State Park, Huddleston, VA

Equipment: Cabin

Date: March/April 2025

Weather: Chilly, sunny, one overnight rain shower

Kid-Friendly: Yes (ours were ages 12 and 11)

Dog-Friendly: Yes (we have a large dog and a small dog) - cabin requires pet fee

Site: CW-11

• 2-bedroom waterview cabin

• 1 bathroom with shower

• Air-conditioned and heated

• Sofa in living area has comfy cushions and can be utilized for a twin bed if needed)

• Woodburning stove (one bundle of firewood is complimentary)

• Spacious parking area

• Deck with 4 rocking chairs and view of lake (provides a nice covered space underneath to store bikes)

• Fire pit and picnic area with view of lake

• Partial shade

• Many trees

• 2 nearby docks with boat slips, one per cabin

Cell Service: Yes (Verizon)

Park Highlights:

Click here to watch highlight reel.

• Smith Mountain Lake access (boating, fishing, and swimming)

• Hiking and biking trails (some with plantation, cabin, and tobacco barn ruins)

• Beach area with seasonally guarded swimming, concessions, and boat rentals

• Nice picnic areas

• Cabins (several with water views), bunkhouse, and campground with electric/water sites and tent-only sites

Area Highlights:

• Closest grocery store is Food Lion, about 20 minutes away in Moneta

Park Hikes:

• Turtle Island trailhead parking to Turtle Island to Striper Cover to Beach area -  4.4-mile point-to-point

• Iconic Turtle Island

• Mostly shaded

• Many water views

• 334 feet elevation gain

• Easy to moderate

• Mom and son hike - was picked up in beach parking lot and driven back to cabin

• Beachwood - 1-mile loop

  • Loop trail around campground

  • Packing available across the street in small parking area

  • Some water views

  • Shaded

  • Pass ruins of Peach and Alice Maxey's home and tobacco barn

  • 158 feet elevation gain 

  • Easy

• Buck Run trailhead parking to Buck Run to Chestnut Ridge -  4.6-mile out-and-back

• Great views of lake most of the way

• Shaded

• Chestnut Ridge has 2 loops offering different views on the hike back

• Pass tobacco barn ruin on Chestnut Ridge

• Could see our cabin across the cove

• 397 feet elevation gain

• Easy to moderate

• Cabin to Turkey Food via Overnight Road to Buck Run to Beechwood to road back -  3-mile out-and-back trail/road run

• Nice route for a run

• 368 feet elevation gain

• Moderate

Area Hikes:

• None that we explored

Park Mountain Bike Rides:

• Cabin to Beechwood at Campground to Buck Run to Turkey Foot to Visitor Center to Five Oaks Trail (loop) and back via park roads -  6.7-mile out-and-back

• Easy to moderate (had to walk bike up steep inclines a few times)

• Mostly shaded

• Lake views

• Pass ruins of Five Oaks Plantation

• Fun route with hills and turns

• Stopped at visitor center because son forgot to bring water

• 579 feet elevation gain

• Easy to moderate

Other Campsites:

• Sites that looked great for our 27-foot camper: 9, 12, 13, 14, 38

Things to Do Next Visit (Because There's Just Never Enough Time!):

• Bring kayaks!

• Bring fishing gear

• Experience the swimming beach during summer months

• Hike or bike the 2 trails that I missed

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