Virginia Recreation Area

Claytor Lake State Park

Claytor Lake Trail, Virginia 24084

Available Activities

Camping
Swimming
Fishing
Boating
Picnicking
Bird Watching
RV
Biking

By America's State Parks Editorial TeamOutdoor Editor & Trail ExpertApril 18, 2022 · Updated May 13, 2026

✓ Verified by America’s State Parks Editorial Team – Updated February 2026

Claytor Lake State Park offers a resort-style experience on a beautiful 4,500-acre lake in Virginia’s Blue Ridge foothills. With 3 lodges, 15 cabins, 110 campsites, a full-service marina, and a guarded swimming beach with diving tower, this is Virginia’s premier lakeside destination. Explore the historic Howe House visitor center—a National Register landmark!

Lodges & Cabins

Lodges	Bedrooms	Notes
🏠 2-Bedroom Lodge	2	Smaller groups
🏠 3-Bedroom Lodge	3	ADA accessible option
🏠 6-Bedroom Lodge	6	Large groups!

Cabin Amenities	Details
🏠 Cabins	15 total
🍳 Kitchen	Fully equipped
🔥 Fireplace	Included
🌳 Outdoor	Screened porch, picnic table, fire pit
📅 Prime Season	Weekly rental (Memorial–Labor Day)

Camping

Camping Options	Details
⛺ Campsites	~110 (some 30-amp RV hookups)
🛖 Yurts	Available
🏕️ Bunkhouse	Camping lodge

⚠️ 2025-26 Closures

Campground Birch (including yurts) is closed through 2025 season.

Marina & Beach

Water Recreation	Details
⚓ Marina	Full-service (docks, fuel, supplies)
🚤 Boat Rentals	Pontoons, kayaks, paddleboards (seasonal)
🏊 Beach	Guarded swimming (Memorial–Labor Day)
🎯 Diving Tower	At beach
🍦 Snack Bar	Beach area

Howe House Visitor Center

Historic Howe House	Details
🏛️ Built	1876-1879
📜 Status	National Register (2008)
🖼️ Exhibits	Claytor Lake ecology
🎫 Virtual Tour	Available 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Wildlife & Nature

Claytor Lake SP — 472 acres on Claytor Lake (4,500 acres) in the New River Valley. The park’s 1876 Howe House is a historic landmark. The lake’s coves, forest, and shoreline support bald eagles, osprey, and great blue herons. Striped bass, largemouth bass, and walleye provide excellent fishing.

Nearby Attractions

Dublin — adjacent. Radford — 5 miles east — has Radford University. Virginia Tech — 15 miles east in Blacksburg. New River Trail SP — 20 miles south.

What accommodations are available?

Claytor Lake offers 3 lodges (2, 3, and 6 bedrooms—the 3-bedroom has an ADA accessible option), 15 cabins with full kitchens and fireplaces, and approximately 110 campsites including some with 30-amp RV hookups. Yurts and a bunkhouse are also available. Reservations can be made up to 11 months in advance.

What about the marina?

The full-service marina offers docking slips, fuel, refreshments, and supplies. Boat rentals (pontoons, kayaks, paddleboards) are available seasonally through private concessionaires starting in April. Note that the lake level is typically lowered each November for maintenance.

When is the beach open?

Guarded swimming is available Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day (fee applies). The beach area includes a diving tower, snack bar, and gift shop. Outside this period, swimming is at your own risk in the designated beach area.

What is the Howe House?

The Haven B. Howe House (built 1876-1879) serves as the park’s visitor center and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (2008). It features interactive exhibits on Claytor Lake ecology. A virtual tour is available throughout 2026.

What are the park hours?

The park is open daily from 6 AM to 10 PM. The visitor center is open 8 AM to 4 PM.

🌊 Virginia’s Lake Resort

Stay in lodges or cabins, swim at the guarded beach, and explore a historic visitor center. Visit the official Claytor Lake State Park website for reservations.

Explore More Virginia State Parks

Claytor Lake State Park is one of many outstanding state parks in Virginia. Discover more parks in our Best State Parks in Virginia guide, or use our Park Finder to search by activity, location, or features.

Keep exploring: The closest neighbors are Shot Tower Historical State Park (within about an hour’s drive) and Shot Tower State Park (within about an hour’s drive).

About the Author

America's State Parks Editorial Team

Outdoor Editor & Trail Expert

America's State Parks is an independent online guide to the state parks of the United States. Our editorial team compiles and reviews each park profile from official state park agency sources and other primary references, and follows a published editorial and review methodology (see /editorial-review-methodology/). We update profiles and correct errors on an ongoing basis.

200+ state parks visited across 42 states | 8+ years of outdoor writing

Last updated: May 13, 2026

At a Glance

State
Virginia
Established
1951
Features
Lakes, Rivers, Beaches, Historic Sites, Cabins, RV Hookups, Marina, Forests, Lodges, Visitor Centers, Glamping, Camping Sites, Yurts
Park Size
472 acres
Address
Claytor Lake Trail, Virginia 24084

An All-Terrain Wheelchair is available for both children and adults. Please visit the All-Terrain Wheelchair page for more information and to request a reservation.
Picnic shelters 1 and 4.
Picnic area restrooms near shelters 1 and 4.
There is an accessible fishing pier in the picnic area. A 1/4-mile paved walkway leads to it. The pier is best accessed from the picnic area restroom parking lot.
The marina has an accessible fishing platform. It's best accessed by parking at the meeting facility and taking a sidewalk down the hill.
Several small picnic shelters in the parking area are wheelchair accessible.
The beach bathhouse restrooms, concession area and breezeways there are accessible. There is a rather long sidewalk connecting the bathhouse to the beach; the sidewalk meets accessibility standards. The sidewalk ends at a concrete platform adjacent to the water, however, there is no ramp into the water or transfer equipment.
Cabins 1, 6 and 7 are accessible. This includes level entry to exterior doors, modified interior door widths, renovated restrooms and kitchens, and widened exterior doors. Cabins 13, 14, 15 and 16 are also accessible.
Alder and Dogwood Campgrounds have accessible restrooms. Campsites D-27 and D-35 are accessible. Yurt Osprey in Birch Campground is accessible.
The Water’s Edge Meeting Facility has accessible parking spaces and a sidewalk that leads directly to the front entrance and deck. The meeting room, restrooms, gift shop and snack bar are accessible.
Howe House restrooms can be accessed through the house's back door.
Accessible parking spaces are designated at the beach, marina, visitor center and two picnic areas.
Lakeview Trail and a paved section of Poplar Leaf Trail that connects Dogwood Campground to the day-use area are accessible. Although gas-powered devices are not permitted on park trails, electric-powered wheelchairs, golf carts, Segways (r) and scooters that meet the federal definition for wheelchairs are allowed.