Smith Mountain Lake
The second-largest lake in Virginia, known as the 'Pearl of the Blue Ridge.' Visitors can swim, boat and fish, and the state park has beaches.
Smith Mountain Lake is a reservoir formed by a dam built in the 1960s, with a shoreline of about 800 km. Smith Mountain Lake State Park offers public beaches, campgrounds and trails, with an entry fee of about $10 per vehicle. Around the lake you can rent boats and paddleboards, and there are wineries along the shore. It is about 45 km from Roanoke and suits a one-day summer trip.
Opening hours
State park 06:00–22:00
Nearby sights
- Booker T. Washington National Monument
- National D-Day Memorial
- Explore Park
- Mill Mountain Star (Roanoke Star)
- Mill Mountain Zoo
- Peaks of Otter
- Taubman Museum of Art
- O. Winston Link Museum