Published Updated 4 min readThings to do
Things to Do Near Smith Mountain Lake Rentals (Public Sites)
Quick answer
Virginia State Parks' Smith Mountain Lake State Park, on the lake's north shore, has a 500-foot beach (one of two public beaches on the lake), boat rentals in summer, a boat ramp, an accessible fishing pier and 13 hiking trails. The National Park Service's Booker T. Washington National Monument preserves the farm where Washington was born. Facts below come only from those agency pages. On BnB Search, the Smith Mountain Lake vacation rentals hub lists 147 places, 121 of them individual stays. Sources are linked at the end.
Smith Mountain Lake public sites at a glance
- State park: 1,248 acres on the north shore in Bedford County; open daily 8:15 a.m. to dusk (Virginia State Parks).
- Beach: 500 feet; guarded swimming for a fee from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day (Virginia State Parks).
- Trails: 13 hiking trails from half a mile to three miles, open year-round in daylight (Virginia State Parks).
- Booker T. Washington National Monument: Birthplace farm with a reconstructed kitchen cabin, a visitor center and a park trail, in Hardy, VA (National Park Service).
Why this matters for renters: the state park is the public beach, ramp and trail option on the lake, and the national monument is a history stop. Summer services such as guarded swimming and boat rentals are seasonal.
Smith Mountain Lake State Park
Virginia State Parks lists swimming, boat rentals, a boat ramp and a universally accessible fishing pier, plus picnicking, a visitor center, an amphitheater, programs, camping and cabins with boat docks.
- From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, tritoon boats, ski boats, jet skis, kayaks and paddleboards are rented from the beach dock.
- Day-use visitors pay a boat launch fee; overnight guests launch free.
- Fishing for striped, largemouth and smallmouth bass, catfish and other species.
Booker T. Washington National Monument
Booker T. Washington was born enslaved in 1856 on this 207-acre tobacco farm, per the National Park Service. Visitors can see the reconstructed kitchen cabin where he lived for nine years, farm buildings, the visitor center and a trail through the pasture.
What our Smith Mountain Lake listings show
These counts come from BnB Search's own directory data and change when listings are added or removed.
- 147 listings in total: 121 individual stays, 2 resorts, inns or lodging businesses, 18 rental companies, property managers or real estate offices and 6 other local listings that are not rentals.
- Area tags: Huddleston 107, Moneta 11, Peninsula 3. Our area tags are broad, so open the map pin to see exactly where a listing is.
- Words in the stay titles: of the 121 stays, 29 mention lakefront, waterfront or lake access; 26 mention a dock; 2 mention a lake view; 17 mention a hot tub or spa; 9 mention a pool; 24 mention pets or dogs; 6 mention cabin; 14 mention condo. Hosts write these titles themselves, so confirm each feature before you book.
Browse them on the Smith Mountain Lake hub (map and filters) or in the full Smith Mountain Lake listings directory.
Before you book a Smith Mountain Lake rental
- For a summer stay, check the state park page for guarded beach hours, which depend on staffing.
- Reserve state park boat rentals ahead if you want one on a summer weekend.
- Ask your host whether the rental's dock or a public ramp is the easier launch.
- Check the NPS page for visitor center hours before visiting the monument.
FAQ
Is there a public beach on Smith Mountain Lake?
Yes. Virginia State Parks says the state park's 500-foot beach is one of two public beaches on the lake, with guarded swimming in summer for a fee.
Can you rent a boat at Smith Mountain Lake State Park?
From Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, the park lists tritoon boats, ski boats, jet skis, kayaks and paddleboards for rent.
What is Booker T. Washington National Monument?
The NPS site preserving the farm where Booker T. Washington was born in 1856, with a reconstructed kitchen cabin and a visitor center.
How many Smith Mountain Lake rentals does BnB Search list?
147 listings, including 121 individual stays. The rest are lodging businesses, rental companies or other local listings.
Does BnB Search book the stay?
No. Compare on the hub, then book on the site linked from the listing.
Sources
- Virginia State Parks: Smith Mountain Lake State Park
- National Park Service: Booker T. Washington National Monument
Related
Smith Mountain Lake area facts · Smith Mountain Lake vacation rentals · All Smith Mountain Lake listings · Roanoke Airport for Smith Mountain Lake
Hotels, resorts and lodges in our Smith Mountain Lake directory
Each of these listings has a BnB Search page that links to the property’s own website or its managing company’s site. The list is alphabetical, not ranked, and shows no ratings.