Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, this stunning lake is for those who want both chill and fun. Whether you’re here to soak up the sun, take a boat ride or go on a lakeside hike, this place is for you!
If you'd like to watch the video of my trip to Smith Mountain Lake, you can here:👇
Day 1
7am Leave Richmond and head to Smith Mountain Lake State Park (drive time approx 3 hours).
10am You arrive at Smith Mountain Lake State Park.
*Entrance Fee $7 (or if you have a REI receipt, you get in for free!)
10am Take a hike on the Turtle Island Trail
This is a 1.4 mile loop trail with lake views. You walk through a shaded woods trail with the lake peaking through the trees. Then you arrive at the bridge that will take you to Turtle Island. You circle the island with the lake right beside you. So calming and nice! (My fav thing to do here!).
11:30am head to Smith Mountain Lake Beach for a picnic
The beach is open from 11am-6pm and costs $4 for adults and $3 for kids. There is a concessions here with typical fried food and ice cream or you can bring your own lunch. We brought our own lunch and laid a towel down on the beach to enjoy it before hopping in for a swim!
1:30pm Head to the Boat Launch in Smith Mountain Lake State Park
This is a great place to walk to the end of the pier or sit down on a bench and admire the lake. There are also plenty of picnic tables here to have your lunch if you don't want to swim at the beach or pay the $4 entry fee. We brought our kayak and headed out on the lake. It was so calm and peaceful. We loved it!
I also want to add that there is another beach for swimming at Smith Mountain Lake Community Park, which is located on the other side of the lake.
3pm Head to your hotel or airbnb for check in.
We stayed at a fantastic airbnb. It had so many amenities that came with it too!
AirBNB amenities:
2 Outdoor Pools
Boat & Jet Ski Rental
1 Indoor Pool
Hot Tub
Courtesy Boat Slips
Beach & Boat Launch Area
Tennis & Pickleball Courts
It was a condo that faced the water, where we were able to see the sunset and sunrise. It had everything we needed to cook and the bed was so comfy!
Here is the link to the airbnb we stayed at: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/41517702
3:30pm Head to Twin Creek Distillery (36 minute drive from airbnb)
Open from 4-9pm, here they have brandy & moonshine tastings.
OR
3:30pm Enjoy the airbnb amenities.
Go for a swim in one of the pools, walk around or take a kayak out (the airbnb comes with 2 kayaks as well!).
6pm Enjoy dinner at the restaurant Napoli on the Water
This restaurant is actually located at the airbnb. (no vegan options)
OR
6pm Enjoy cooking your own dinner inside the airbnb.
Since we are vegan, we brought our own groceries to make dinner at the airbnb.
8pm Watch: What About Bob?
This is a 1991 comedy film that stars Bill Murray as Bob Wiley, a lovable but excessively neurotic man who develops an extreme attachment to his new psychiatrist, Dr. Leo Marvin, played by Richard Dreyfuss. It is an insane movie, but it was filmed at Smith Mountain Lake - so it's a full circle moment!
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Day 2
9am Have Breakfast at hotel or airbnb then checkout.
9:45am Head to Smith Mountain Lake Coffee House.
Open 7am-5pm. Here you could also have your breakfast or opt for a small bakery item and coffee. We ordered their pumpkin spice latte with oat milk and had their vegan coffee cake. The latte had a great flavor and just the right amount of sweetness. The coffee cake was moist and delicious!
10:30am Harbortown mini golf
This mini golf course is built right on top of the boat docks, which gives an amazing view of the lake while playing.
Tickets are $11 for adults, $7 for children 12 and under & Kids 3 & under are free.
12pm Head to the Booker T. Washington National Monument (16 min drive)
Open from 10am-4pm. This is a National Park Service run historical spot located on the plantation Booker T Washington was born on. A film, museum, and nature trail tell the story of what life was like for the first years of Booker's life. Highly recommend a stop!
1pm Head to Bedford, VA for lunch. (30 min drive time)
This is technically not Smith Mountain Lake, but a great stop to make on the way back to Richmond! There are a few restaurants in this town to choose from. Lukas and I opted to eat our own snacks that we brought in the car before heading to...
2pm National D-Day Memorial
Open 10am-4:30pm. This is a memorial and museum dedicated to those lost in D-Day during WWII. The reason it exists in Bedford is because this town had the highest per capita D-Day losses in the US. I highly recommend grabbing a tour to learn more about it!
Tickets: $15 adults, $10 students & kids under 3 are free.
3:30pm Drive to Lynchburg, Virginia for late lunch or snack.
We decided to get a huge feast at Millie’s Living cafe & coffee, open from 9am-6pm. Here they have vegan smoothies, sandwiches, and bowls. We got the bbq jackfruit sliders, spring rolls, walnut meat tacos and a bbq jackfruit bowl.
I hope you found this itinerary helpful! There are more blogs on my website about other spots around Virginia, as well as Richmond tips. You can also follow me on YouTube for my travel videos or Instagram for daily updates. Feel free to DM me with any questions! Have a great trip!
💚Lauren Z Ray