Smith Mountain Lake is a 20,600-acre reservoir in southwest Virginia that was built in the early 1960s and is owned and run by Appalachian Power, mainly for hydroelectric power, according to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR). It is known for its striped bass and largemouth bass fishing, for a pumped storage dam that moves water between two lakes, for 500 miles of mostly developed shoreline, for a state park with a beach, cabins and a campground, and for a movie that used it as a stand-in for New Hampshire.
In this guide
- Where Is Smith Mountain Lake?
- What Is Smith Mountain Lake Known For?
- Smith Mountain Lake at a Glance
- History of Smith Mountain Lake
- Smith Mountain Lake Boating Guide
- Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Guide
- Best Things to Do at Smith Mountain Lake
- Best Places to Visit Around Smith Mountain Lake
- Smith Mountain Lake Towns and Communities
- Smith Mountain Lake Vacation Guide
- Smith Mountain Lake Family Activities
- What Should You Bring to Smith Mountain Lake?
- Local Knowledge: Two Lakes, a Movie and a Hoax
- Questions People Ask About Smith Mountain Lake
- Smith Mountain Lake Gifts & Apparel
Where Is Smith Mountain Lake?
Smith Mountain Lake is in southwest Virginia, southeast of Roanoke and southwest of Lynchburg, according to Wikipedia. Visit Roanoke's lake page names three counties: Bedford, Franklin and Pittsylvania. Wikipedia describes Bedford as the north half and Franklin as most of the south shore, and DWR's access table puts one access area in Pittsylvania. DWR's lake page says the lake is in Bedford and Franklin counties, and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) lists all three counties as the places where the lake covered farms and communities.
The lake has two long arms, the Roanoke River arm and the Blackwater River arm, and DWR describes fishing locations on each one. The lake is not a town, and no single community owns the name. The communities most often used as addresses include Moneta, Huddleston and Penhook. See the towns section below.
| County | Where it sits on the lake | What this guide mentions there |
|---|---|---|
| Bedford | North side | Smith Mountain Lake State Park (Huddleston), and the Hales Ford and Hardy Ford access areas |
| Franklin | Most of the south shore | The Oak Grove, Scruggs #8 and Penhook #9 access areas, and Smith Mountain Lake Community Park (Moneta) |
| Pittsylvania | A small part of the lake | The Anthony Ford #4 access area |
The county for each access area comes from DWR's boating access table, the state park's county from DCR and the Community Park's county from DWR's page for it. Wikipedia describes Bedford as the north side and Franklin as most of the south shore. This guide does not state drive times from other cities. Check a map app for your route.
What Is Smith Mountain Lake Known For?
Smith Mountain Lake is known for its size, its fishing, its two-lake dam system and its movie connection.
- Virginia's big reservoir. DWR lists the lake at 20,600 acres. Wikipedia calls it "the largest lake contained entirely within the Commonwealth of Virginia," and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) calls it the second largest freshwater lake in the state.
- Striped bass and largemouth bass. DWR calls largemouth bass the bulk of the black bass fishery and striped bass the second most popular sport fish. Striped bass have been stocked in the lake since it filled in 1963.
- A pumped storage dam. Appalachian Power (AEP) runs Smith Mountain and Leesville as a pair, releasing water downhill through turbines and pumping it back up, which is why the level can move daily.
- A mostly developed shoreline. DWR says most of the shoreline is developed with residential homes. Public access is therefore concentrated in a few state, county and utility sites.
- Smith Mountain Lake State Park. The 1,248-acre park on the Bedford County side has a beach, a boat launch, cabins, a campground and 13 hiking trails, according to DCR.
- A movie location. The AFI Catalog says production of the 1991 comedy What About Bob? moved to Smith Mountain Lake, which stood in for the fictional Lake Winnipesaukee.
- Wine, festivals and lake dining. The Visit Roanoke region events page lists Pirate Days, the Wine Festival and the Chili Festival, and some lakeside restaurants have boat slips.
- A volunteer water quality program. The Smith Mountain Lake Association (SMLA) and scientists from Ferrum College test the lake, and the Smith Mountain Eagle reported on the program's long record of testing.
Smith Mountain Lake at a Glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Man-made reservoir on the Roanoke River and the Blackwater River, built for hydroelectric power (DWR and AEP) |
| Location | Bedford, Franklin and Pittsylvania counties, Virginia |
| Surface area | 20,600 acres, or about 32 square miles (DWR and Visit Roanoke). AEP's pages give about 24,000 to 25,000 acres, which is the total for Smith Mountain and Leesville lakes together |
| Shoreline | About 500 miles for Smith Mountain Lake alone (the Leesville Lake Association, Wikipedia and Visit Roanoke). AEP's 600 miles is the two-lake total |
| Length | About 40 miles, per the private Smith Mountain Lake Insiders' Guide. We found no agency figure |
| Depth | Average about 55 feet (Wikipedia and Visit Roanoke). Maximum about 250 feet near the dam per the Insiders' Guide, while Wikipedia gives 220 feet. We found no operator figure |
| Full pond elevation | 795 feet above sea level. AEP gives a typical operating range of 793 to 795 feet |
| Dam | Smith Mountain Dam is a double curvature concrete arch, 816 feet long and 235 feet high (AEP) |
| Built | Construction began in 1960 and finished in 1963, and AEP says the lakes reached normal full level in 1966 |
| Purpose | Hydroelectric power and pumped storage. The lower lake, Leesville Lake, sits downstream (AEP) |
| Capacity | 636 megawatts for the Smith Mountain and Leesville plants together, per the Leesville Lake Association |
| Owner and license | Appalachian Power, under Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) project P-2210. AEP says its 30-year license took effect in 2010 |
| Managing agencies | AEP runs the project and its shoreline plan, DWR manages the fishery and sets state boating rules, and the Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commission (TLAC) takes applications for No Wake zones |
Figures come from DWR, AEP's Smith Mountain Project, Visit Roanoke, the Smith Mountain Lake Insiders' Guide, the Leesville Lake Association, Wikipedia and the DHR record. Sources disagree on area, shoreline and depth for reasons shown in the table, and the table was checked in October 2026.
History of Smith Mountain Lake
What the lake covered
The DHR record for the area says the lake submerged "numerous historic farms and small communities in Franklin, Bedford and Pittsylvania counties." The same record says much of the historic setting of the John Craghead plantation is now underwater, and that the Craghead House is one of the few pre-Civil War brick buildings still standing in the area around the lake. See the question below on what lies under the lake.
Building the dam
According to AEP, construction began in 1960 and finished in 1963. The Smith Mountain Dam is a double curvature concrete arch that is 816 feet long and 235 feet high, and Leesville Dam, downstream, is a concrete gravity dam about 90 feet high. DWR says striped bass have been stocked since the lake filled in 1963, and AEP says the lakes reached normal full level in 1966.
Two lakes, one machine
Smith Mountain is the upper reservoir and Leesville is the lower one. AEP says the project releases water through turbines when power is needed and pumps it back up, usually at night. That is why the level at Smith Mountain Lake can move from day to day, and why a small change at Smith Mountain is a much bigger change at Leesville. The water level section below explains how to check it.
The license
The project operates under FERC project P-2210. AEP says it relicensed the project for a 30-year term effective in 2010, and AEP's Shoreline Management Plan, approved by FERC in February 2025, sets how docks, beaches and shoreline classes are handled.
The state park opens
Smith Mountain Lake State Park covers 1,248 acres in Bedford County, according to DCR, and Wikipedia says it opened in 1983.
Hollywood comes to the lake
The AFI Catalog says What About Bob? was filmed in New York City and Virginia, that production moved to Smith Mountain Lake, which stood in for the film's fictional Lake Winnipesaukee, and that interiors were shot on a soundstage at the Bedford Armory in Bedford. The real Lake Winnipesaukee is in New Hampshire, and we have a guide to that lake too.
Smith Mountain Lake Boating Guide
Smith Mountain Lake is a long, deep lake with two arms, a developed shoreline and a level that moves. Boaters here need to know where they can launch, how the water level works, which state rules apply and how to be a good neighbor to people on shore. This section covers the ramps, the rentals, the level, the rules and the seasons.
Boat ramps and public access
DWR's boating access table lists six public access areas on Smith Mountain Lake. Smith Mountain Lake State Park also has a boat launch. DWR's lake page names Oak Grove, Scruggs and Penhook as public access facilities with handicapped-accessible fishing piers.
| Access area | County | Ramp lanes (as listed by DWR) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hales Ford | Bedford | 1 | DWR public access area |
| Hardy Ford | Bedford | 2 | DWR public access area |
| Oak Grove | Franklin | 2 | DWR lists a handicapped-accessible fishing pier |
| Scruggs #8 | Franklin | 1 | DWR lists a handicapped-accessible fishing pier |
| Penhook #9 | Franklin | 2 | DWR lists a handicapped-accessible fishing pier |
| Anthony Ford #4 | Pittsylvania | 1 | DWR public access area |
| Smith Mountain Lake State Park | Bedford | See the park | DCR says day-use visitors pay a launch fee, overnight guests launch free and annual launch passes are available. Directions |
DWR's table has no fee column, and we could not confirm what fees or permits apply at each DWR site. DWR's page for the nearby Smith Mountain Cooperative land says a Virginia hunting, trapping or fishing license, a current Virginia boat registration or an access permit is required to use that area, so check DWR's access page for the rule at the ramp you plan to use.
Marinas and rentals
Several marinas rent pontoons, deck boats, fishing boats and personal watercraft. Prices and rules below are as of October 2026 from each operator's own site, and they change, so confirm before you plan around them.
| Place | Where | What it offers | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgewater Marina and Boat Rentals | 16410 Booker T Washington Hwy, Moneta | Tritoon, deck boat, ski and wake boat, personal watercraft and paddleboard rentals. The FAQ says anyone who drives must be at least 16 with a valid driver's license, a photo ID and a NASBLA boater's license (the marina offers a temporary license after its own safety course), and lists a deposit of $1,000 to $1,500 depending on the watercraft | Directions · 540-721-1639 |
| Parrot Cove Boat Rentals and Sales | 16441 Booker T Washington Hwy, Moneta | Pontoons, a houseboat, runabouts, fishing boats, WaveRunners and kayaks. The pontoon page lists renters as 21 and older, and posts seasonal daily rates and a damage deposit | Directions |
| Gills Creek Marina and Lodge | 790 Fox Chase Road, Wirtz (per Visit Roanoke's listing) | Pontoon, jet ski and kayak rentals, plus four lodge rooms overlooking Gills Creek and the Blackwater River | See the rental page for current boats and rates |
| SML Boat Rentals at Mitchell's Point Marina | 3553 Trading Post Road, Huddleston | Boat rentals from a marina in Huddleston. The site says you must be 21 or older to make a reservation | See the booking site |
Bridgewater says drivers need a NASBLA boater's license and offers a temporary one after its own safety course, and state law requires rental businesses to use DWR's dockside safety checklist unless the renter shows a card, as the boating rules below explain. Each business sets its own age, deposit and fuel policy, so ask before you reserve. See our Smith Mountain Lake gift guide for ideas on giving a rental or a lakeside dinner as a gift.
If you want dinner by boat, Tiff's Lakefront (Directions) sits at the Mariners Landing resort in Huddleston, and the resort's dining page says diners can use more than 70 boat slips in front of the restaurant. Phone 540-721-3028. Each restaurant sets its own docking rules and hours, so call first.
Popular areas and navigation
A few facts from DWR's lake page help with the layout of the lake:
- Two arms. The Roanoke River arm and the Blackwater River arm both feed the main lake. DWR's fishing notes refer to the area upstream of the Hales Ford Bridge on the Roanoke arm and to the lower lake between the dams and the numbered buoys on each arm.
- Numbered buoys. DWR's fishing notes name buoy B26 on the Blackwater arm, buoy 40 on the Blackwater arm and buoy 64 on the Roanoke arm as reference points for where fish are found.
- A developed shoreline. DWR says most of the shoreline has residential homes, so docks, swimmers and no wake zones are close to the channel almost everywhere.
- The deep end is near the dam. The Insiders' Guide, a private local site, puts the deepest water near the dam.
Carry a map or navigation app, and expect to meet other boats near the bridges and the marinas on summer weekends.
Islands and landing
AEP's shoreline plan sorts the shoreline into classes, including "Public use" and "Island protection," and each class has its own guidelines, according to AEP's shoreline FAQs. The FAQs do not say whether camping is allowed on islands, and AEP's recreation page does not either, so ask AEP before you land overnight anywhere. AEP also says no sinks, showers or other sanitation facilities are allowed on docks or inside the project boundary.
The Smith Mountain Cooperative is a different kind of public land. DWR's page for the area describes public hunting and fishing land with ten miles of lake shoreline. It allows primitive camping, but "campfires are not allowed." AEP's recreation page calls the area about 5,000 acres, a partnership between AEP and DWR, and says no ATVs and no off-road driving.
Water level and how to check it
AEP publishes the level for Smith Mountain Lake. AEP's pages give 795 feet above sea level as full pond and a typical operating range of 793 to 795 feet. The project moves water between Smith Mountain and Leesville lakes, so the level can change from one day to the next, and AEP says a one foot change at Smith Mountain is a change of about 6.5 feet at Leesville. A low lake exposes shoals, stumps and shallow coves, and a lake near full pond covers them, so look at the number before you launch. The box below links to AEP's official page for today's reading.
Lake level today: Appalachian Power publishes Smith Mountain Lake's level. Check the official page for today's reading: Appalachian Power's Smith Mountain Lake levels page.
Boating rules
These are the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and state law rules most visitors need, as published on the DWR's boating pages and read in October 2026:
- Boater education (DWR boater education requirement): Every operator of a motorboat with a motor of 10 horsepower or more, of any age, and every personal watercraft (PWC) operator 14 and older must complete a boating safety course and carry the completion card aboard. Most state courses and those of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadrons are NASBLA approved and accepted. Exempt: the operator of a boat registered in another state who meets that state's education requirement, and anyone who holds or has held a Coast Guard master, captain or mate license.
- Personal watercraft (DWR PWC rules): No one under 14 may operate a PWC, and operators aged 14 and 15 must have completed an approved boating safety course and carry proof (the challenge exam does not meet the age rule). A PWC may not be operated after sunset or before sunrise. Everyone riding or being towed must wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket that is not inflatable, and the operator must attach the engine cut-off lanyard to his or her person, clothing or life jacket.
- Life jackets (DWR required equipment): Every boat, including canoes, kayaks and stand up paddleboards, must carry one wearable Coast Guard approved life jacket for each person aboard, and boats 16 feet or longer (other than PWCs) must also carry a throwable device. Inflatable life jackets are approved only for people 16 and older. On federal waters, which DWR says include most Virginia waters, a child under 13 must wear an approved life jacket on a recreational boat that is under way unless below deck or in an enclosed cabin; the Coast Guard enforces that federal rule. In July 2026 the Board of Wildlife Resources proposed adding the same child rule to Virginia regulation.
- Boating under the influence (Code of Virginia 29.1-738): No one may operate a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs. An operator with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more is presumed to be under the influence, and the offense is a Class 1 misdemeanor, which DWR says carries a fine of up to $2,500, up to 12 months in jail and loss of operating privileges for up to a year. An operator under 21 with 0.02 percent or more faces a six month loss of operating privileges and a fine of up to $500.
- No wake within 50 feet (DWR safe boating): Motorboats must slow to no wake speed (the slowest speed that keeps steerage and headway) within 50 feet of docks, piers, boathouses, boat ramps and people in the water, and wherever regulatory No Wake buoys are posted. The rule does not stop a boat from pulling a skier on a rope shorter than 50 feet, or a wake surfer behind a boat with an inboard motor.
- Towing skiers and tubes (DWR towing rules): A boat towing a skier, tuber or other person must have either an observer aboard in addition to the driver, or a Coast Guard approved life jacket on each person being towed. Towing behind a motorboat is allowed only from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, and behind a PWC only from sunrise to sunset.
- Registration (DWR registration and titling): Every boat propelled by machinery, including an electric motor, needs a Virginia certificate of number (registration) and a title, and the registration card must be aboard when the boat is in use. Sailboats over 18 feet must be titled. A boat brought from another state may run on its valid home registration for up to 90 consecutive days before it must be registered in Virginia.
- Renting (4VAC15-410-120): A business that rents a motorboat of 10 horsepower or more or a PWC must give each renter DWR's dockside safety checklist, and the renter must review and initial every item before operating, unless the renter shows a boating safety course card or another accepted credential such as a Coast Guard license. The completed checklist stays aboard with the rental agreement.
Rules specific to this lake: AEP's shoreline FAQs say buoys can be placed on the project only after approval from DWR and the U.S. Coast Guard, and that requests for No Wake zones go through TLAC. Obey any regulatory No Wake buoy you see, because the state rule above applies wherever one is posted. We found no lake-wide ban on wake surfing, so the 50-foot rule above and any posted buoys are the rules to follow, and the question below on wake surfing has the details.
Seasons and kinds of boating
Rentals, restaurants and cruises are seasonal, and each operator posts its own schedule, so check the operator's page before you plan around a date. Smith Mountain Lake State Park's guarded beach season, campground season and cabin minimum stays are posted on its DCR page. Pontoons, ski boats, fishing boats, paddlers and personal watercraft all use the lake, and the lake is busiest on summer weekends. Paddlers should plan for boat wakes on the main lake and stay near shore away from the channel.
Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Guide
Smith Mountain Lake is known for its largemouth bass and its stocked striped bass, and it also holds crappie, catfish, sunfish, white perch and muskellunge. DWR's lake page is the agency's own description of the fishery.
Fish species and seasons
Here is what DWR says about each species, on a lake page last modified in May 2024:
- Largemouth bass. The bulk of the black bass fishery, and one that gets a lot of fishing pressure. Spring electrofishing typically turns up many fish of 2 to 4 pounds and an occasional fish up to 8 pounds, and the highest densities are upstream of the Hales Ford Bridge area on the Roanoke arm and near buoy B26 on the Blackwater arm.
- Smallmouth bass. Far less abundant than largemouth, and more common in the lower lake.
- Striped bass. The second most popular sport fish. Natural reproduction is limited, so the lake is stocked. Fish concentrate in the lower lake in summer, mostly between the dams and buoy 64 on the Roanoke arm and buoy 40 on the Blackwater arm.
- Crappie. Limited habitat, so DWR says not to expect big numbers, but quality is good. DWR names March through May and October through November as the best months.
- Catfish. Channel, flathead and white catfish. DWR says flathead catfish are doing very well in size and abundance, channel and flathead are most abundant in the upper arms and white catfish are mostly in the lower end.
- Muskellunge. Stocked annually, according to DWR.
- Sunfish and white perch. Sunfish are abundant but small because they compete with shad, and white perch can be found almost anywhere in the lake.
Where and how people fish
Anglers fish from boats and from piers. DWR lists handicapped-accessible fishing piers at the Oak Grove, Scruggs and Penhook access areas, and says Franklin County Park and Smith Mountain Lake State Park have piers too. Anglers 16 and older need a Virginia fishing license, as the state rules above explain. We did not research fishing guides' rates and did not verify any guide's own site, so this guide does not list guide prices.
Regulations and licenses
Check the current Virginia Freshwater Fishing Regulations from DWR before you fish, because limits differ by species and water. As of DWR's license page (modified October 1, 2026) and the creel and length limit regulation effective January 1, 2026:
- License (DWR fishing licenses): Anglers 16 and older need a Virginia freshwater fishing license. As of October 2026, DWR lists a resident annual freshwater license at $28, a resident five day license at $19 and a license for residents 65 and older at $9, and a nonresident annual freshwater license at $72, with nonresident one day and five day licenses at $20 and $36. A separate trout license is needed in designated stocked trout waters. Licenses are sold online at Go Outdoors Virginia.
- Black bass (4VAC15-320-25): Largemouth and smallmouth bass: 5 per day combined, with no statewide length limit. Spotted bass and Alabama bass have no statewide daily or length limit.
- Striped bass (inland) (4VAC15-320-25): Landlocked striped bass and striped bass and white bass hybrids: 4 per day combined, none under 20 inches, unless the water has its own rule.
- Crappie (4VAC15-320-25): 25 per day combined (black and white crappie), with no statewide length limit.
- Catfish (4VAC15-320-25): Channel, white and flathead catfish: 20 per day with no length limit. Blue catfish: 20 per day with no statewide length limit.
- Sunfish (4VAC15-320-25): Bluegill and other sunfish (not crappie, rock bass or Roanoke bass): 50 per day combined, with no statewide length limit.
- Muskellunge (4VAC15-320-25): 1 per day, none under 40 inches.
Smith Mountain Lake has its own rules for striped bass and black bass, according to a DCR brochure on the fish of the lake dated July 2025, and they replace the statewide limits above on this lake. The brochure also lists muskellunge and crappie limits that match the statewide rules:
- Striped bass: 2 per day all year. From November 1 through May 31, none between 30 and 40 inches may be kept, so fish in that slot must be released. From June 1 through October 31 there is no length limit.
- Largemouth and smallmouth bass: 5 per day combined, and no more than 2 of them under 14 inches. DWR's lake page also counts spotted bass in the 5.
- Muskellunge: 1 per day, none under 40 inches, which matches the statewide rule. DWR's lake page still lists an older 30 inch, 2 per day rule, so read the current digest before you keep one.
- Crappie: 25 per day with no length limit.
The brochure says its information is general and may change. Read DWR's current regulations before you keep a fish.
Seasons for fishing
The lake is fished all year, and DWR describes the crappie bite as best in March through May and October through November. Striped bass concentrate in the lower lake in summer. Tournaments and guide trips are run by private organizers, and we did not verify any schedule, so check each organizer's own site.
Best Things to Do at Smith Mountain Lake
- Rent a boat. The rentals above run from a kayak to a pontoon for a group.
- Swim at the state park beach. Smith Mountain Lake State Park has a 500-foot beach with guarded swimming for a fee from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, and DCR says guarded swimming can be suspended for weather or staffing.
- Swim at the Community Park. Franklin County's Smith Mountain Lake Community Park in Moneta lists a beach as an amenity on DWR's Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail page. Check the county for beach hours.
- Hike at the state park. DCR counts 13 trails from half a mile to three miles, open year round during daylight.
- Fish from a pier. DWR lists accessible piers at three access areas, and the state park and the Franklin County Park have piers too.
- Stay in a state park cabin or campsite. The park has 20 cabins and 50 campsites, as of October 2026.
- Visit the dam. The Joseph H. Vipperman Visitors Center overlooks Smith Mountain Dam and has exhibits on the project's history and how pumped storage works, per the Smith Mountain Eagle. Hours change by season, so call 540-985-2587 or check AEP's site first.
- Taste local wine. Ramulose Ridge Vineyards has a tasting room in Moneta (Directions).
- Go to dinner by boat. Tiff's Lakefront and other lakeside restaurants have boat slips. Call first.
- Look for birds. DWR lists the Community Park on its Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail.
- Time a trip for an event. The Visit Roanoke region events page lists Smith Mountain Lake Pirate Days, the Wine Festival and the Chili Festival. Dates change every year, so check the organizer's own site.
Best Places to Visit Around Smith Mountain Lake
These are the public places most worth knowing, and what makes each one matter.
- Smith Mountain Lake State Park (Directions). The state's park on the lake, at 1235 State Park Road in Huddleston, with a 500-foot beach, a boat launch, a fishing pier, 20 cabins, 50 campsites and 13 trails. DCR charges for parking, boat launching and guarded swimming, so check its fee page. Phone 540-297-6066.
- Smith Mountain Lake Community Park (Directions). A Franklin County Parks and Recreation park at 1480 Parkway Avenue in Moneta with a beach, trails, restrooms and a kayak and canoe launch (DWR's page lists no motorboat ramp). DWR lists it as free and open daily from dawn to dusk. Phone 540-483-9293.
- Vipperman Visitors Center. AEP's visitor center overlooking Smith Mountain Dam, with exhibits on the project's history and pumped storage. Phone 540-985-2587. Check AEP for its hours.
- Smith Mountain Cooperative. About 5,000 acres of public hunting and fishing land with ten miles of shoreline, run by DWR with AEP, with primitive camping and no campfires.
- Ramulose Ridge Vineyards. A winery with a tasting room at 3061 Hendricks Store Road in Moneta.
- Tiff's Lakefront. A lakeside restaurant at 1217 Graves Harbor Trail in Huddleston, with boat slips according to the host resort. Phone 540-721-3028.
Smith Mountain Lake Towns and Communities
Smith Mountain Lake is not a town, and the communities around it are unincorporated places with their own ZIP codes. These are the ones named in the sources we used.
- Moneta. The Roanoker calls it an unincorporated community and "the largest locality on the lake." It spans both sides of the lake and both Franklin and Bedford counties. Bridgewater Marina, Parrot Cove, Ramulose Ridge Vineyards and the Community Park all have Moneta addresses. The Roanoker says its post office was established in 1886.
- Wirtz. Gills Creek Marina and Lodge has a Wirtz address, per Visit Roanoke's listing.
- Huddleston. The address for Smith Mountain Lake State Park, Tiff's Lakefront, the Mariners Landing resort and Mitchell's Point Marina.
- Hardy. DWR's access table lists a Hardy Ford access area in Bedford County.
- Penhook. The Penhook #9 access area is on the Franklin County side.
- Union Hall, White House and Goodview. Wikipedia's lake article lists these among the communities around the lake, along with Moneta, Huddleston and Penhook. Check a map to see which side of the lake each is on.
The Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce lists local businesses, lodging and events around the lake.
Smith Mountain Lake Vacation Guide
When to visit
Operators set their own seasons, so use these as planning notes and check each operator's page:
- Spring: The state park campground opens in early March, per DCR, and rentals and restaurants start opening for the season. DWR names March through May as a good crappie season.
- Summer: Guarded swimming at the state park runs from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, and the cabin minimum stay is longer in summer. This is the busiest boating season.
- Fall: Foliage and quieter docks. DWR names October through November as a good crappie season. Many seasonal businesses wind down, so call first.
- Winter: The state park cabins stay open year round, and the trails are open during daylight.
Where to stay
- Smith Mountain Lake State Park, Huddleston: 20 cabins and 50 campsites. DCR sets minimum stays and a campground season, so see the park's page.
- Mariners Landing, Huddleston: A lakeside resort with dining. Check the resort's site.
- Gills Creek Marina and Lodge: Waterfront lodge rooms with a marina. See the marina's site.
- Vacation rentals: Many lake houses are rented by the week. We do not recommend a specific listing, so look at the Chamber's lodging pages and rental companies' own sites.
What first-timers should know
- Check the lake level before you launch.
- Carry a Virginia boating safety card if you will run a motorboat of 10 horsepower or more.
- Slow to no wake speed within 50 feet of docks, ramps, shore and swimmers, and wherever No Wake buoys are posted.
- Ask AEP before you land or camp overnight on an island.
- Bring a Virginia fishing license if you are 16 or older, and read the lake's striped bass rules.
- The state park charges for launching, parking and guarded swimming.
Smith Mountain Lake Family Activities
- Swim at a public beach. Smith Mountain Lake State Park and the Franklin County Community Park both have beaches.
- Walk a trail. The state park has trails from half a mile to three miles.
- Fish from a pier. A pier is a good first fishing spot for kids, and anglers 16 and older need a license.
- Visit the dam. The Vipperman Visitors Center has exhibits on how pumped storage works.
- Rent a kayak or a pontoon. Parrot Cove lists kayaks, and Bridgewater lists paddleboards.
- Remember life jackets. The federal rule covers children under 13 on a boat that is under way, and DWR's equipment page is the place to check for any change to Virginia's child life jacket rule.
What Should You Bring to Smith Mountain Lake?
- Life jackets for everyone. Virginia requires a wearable Coast Guard approved life jacket for each person aboard, including on canoes, kayaks and paddleboards, and on federal waters a child under 13 must wear one on a boat that is under way.
- Your boating safety course card if you will run a motorboat of 10 horsepower or more, or a PWC.
- A Virginia fishing license if you are 16 or older and plan to fish.
- Registration and safety gear for your own boat: the registration card, a sound-producing device (a whistle or air horn is fine), navigation lights from sunset to sunrise, and a throwable device on boats 16 feet or longer. See the DWR equipment summary.
- A way to check the water level. AEP's lake levels page is the official source.
- A map or navigation app. The lake has two long arms and many coves.
- Money for parking, launching and swimming. The state park charges for all three.
- A rain jacket and a layer. Sun protection and water too.
Local Knowledge: Two Lakes, a Movie and a Hoax
Smith Mountain and Leesville work as a pair
AEP built Smith Mountain Lake as the upper half of a pumped storage project. Water runs downhill from Smith Mountain through the turbines to Leesville Lake when power is needed, and is pumped back up, usually at night. AEP says a one foot change at Smith Mountain is a change of about 6.5 feet at Leesville, which is why Leesville moves much more than Smith Mountain does. AEP's historical table lists a record high of 799.79 feet on April 27, 1978, and a record low of 787.60 feet on January 23, 1970, as of October 2026.
The movie that used a lake as a stand-in
What About Bob? is set at a fictional Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, but the AFI Catalog says production moved to Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia, with interiors shot at the Bedford Armory in Bedford. If you would like the real Winnipesaukee, see our Lake Winnipesaukee gift guide.
The alligator that was not
In April 2017 a Facebook post said there was an alligator in Smith Mountain Lake. WSET reported that the state wildlife agency, then called the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, said there was "no evidence" of alligators in the lake, and that the photo was a hoax.
Public land beside the water
The Smith Mountain Cooperative is public hunting and fishing land with ten miles of lake shoreline, run by DWR with AEP. DWR says the terrain along the shore is rough and access is mostly by boat, so it is a place to go with a plan and a license.
Volunteers who test the lake
The Smith Mountain Lake Association runs a water quality monitoring program with scientists from Ferrum College. In a July 2026 update, the association said volunteers took clarity readings at 84 sites, and volunteers and Ferrum College scientists collected water samples at 14 locations, according to WDBJ. The association publishes its own results, so check it for current numbers.
Questions People Ask About Smith Mountain Lake
How deep is Smith Mountain Lake?
The average depth is about 55 feet, and the deepest water is near the dam. The Insiders' Guide, a private local site, says about 250 feet at the deepest, while Wikipedia gives 220 feet. We found no figure from the operator, so treat the maximum as roughly 220 to 250 feet.
Is Smith Mountain Lake the largest lake in Virginia?
It depends on how you count. Wikipedia calls it the largest lake wholly within Virginia. DCR calls it the second largest freshwater lake in the state. John H. Kerr Reservoir, which crosses into North Carolina, is larger overall. DWR lists the lake at 20,600 acres.
Why does the water level at Smith Mountain Lake go up and down?
Because the lake is part of a pumped storage project. AEP releases water to Leesville Lake through turbines when power is needed and pumps it back, usually at night. AEP gives 795 feet as full pond and a typical range of 793 to 795 feet, and its historical table shows readings as low as 787.60 feet. Use the live box in the boating section, which links to AEP's official page.
Was What About Bob? filmed at Smith Mountain Lake?
Yes, in part. The AFI Catalog says production moved to Smith Mountain Lake, which stood in for the fictional Lake Winnipesaukee, and that interiors were shot at the Bedford Armory in Bedford, Virginia. The film's New York scenes were shot in New York City.
Is wake surfing allowed on Smith Mountain Lake?
We found no lake-wide ban. The state rules above apply: no wake speed within 50 feet of docks, ramps, shore and people in the water, and wherever No Wake buoys are posted. DWR's page says the 50-foot rule does not stop a wake surfer behind a boat with an inboard motor. Regulatory buoys need DWR and Coast Guard approval, and requests go through TLAC, according to AEP. In July 2022 WSLS reported that local residents and business owners had applied to TLAC for a no-wake-surfing zone in the Merriman Run section of the lake, which it described as the first application of its kind. TLAC later created a wake education task force that covers all boating that makes large wakes. We did not confirm the outcome of that request, so look for posted buoys.
Are there alligators in Smith Mountain Lake?
There is no evidence of them. In 2017 the state wildlife agency told WSET there was "no evidence" of alligators in the lake, and the viral photo was a hoax.
Do you need a boating license on Smith Mountain Lake, and what about renting?
Virginia requires a boating safety course card for anyone who runs a motorboat of 10 horsepower or more and for PWC operators 14 and older, with exceptions for out-of-state boats whose operators meet their own state's rule. Businesses that rent a motorboat of 10 horsepower or more or a PWC must give renters DWR's dockside safety checklist unless the renter shows a card. Each rental business also sets its own age, deposit and ID rules: Parrot Cove and Mitchell's Point list 21 and older, and Bridgewater lists drivers 16 and older with a boater's license, as of October 2026. Paddle craft need no course card.
Where can you swim at Smith Mountain Lake, and is the water clean?
People swim at the state park beach and the Community Park beach, and at private docks and coves. DCR says the state park beach has guarded swimming for a fee from the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, and that it can be suspended for weather or staffing. Water quality is monitored by SMLA volunteers and Ferrum College scientists, who test for clarity, algae, phosphorus and bacteria, and the association publishes its own results.
Is Smith Mountain Lake a town?
No. It is a reservoir shared by three counties. The communities around it, such as Moneta, Huddleston and Penhook, are unincorporated places, according to The Roanoker for Moneta.
What is under Smith Mountain Lake?
Farms and small communities. DHR says the lake submerged "numerous historic farms and small communities in Franklin, Bedford and Pittsylvania counties," and that much of the setting of the John Craghead plantation is now underwater. We did not find an agency source that names a specific town beneath the lake.
Smith Mountain Lake Gifts & Apparel
Lake Life Designs makes lake-specific products for people who love Smith Mountain Lake, including a heavy cotton tee, a heavy cotton tee printed front and back, a dri-fit boating shirt, a long sleeve tee, a long sleeve tee printed on the back, a racerback tank, a hoodie, a hoodie printed on the back, a trucker hat, a jigsaw puzzle, a canvas print, a square pillow, a ceramic ornament and kids' tees in a front printed heavy cotton style and a fine jersey style. On the front and back printed styles, the lake is on the back and a small Lake Life Designs logo is on the front.
Looking for a gift for someone who loves Smith Mountain Lake? See our guide to Smith Mountain Lake gifts for ideas that include lake apparel, hats and decor, plus local experience gifts such as a boat rental, a dinner by boat and a state park cabin weekend.
Shop the full Smith Mountain Lake collection.
Details last verified October 2026. Rules, fees, hours and water levels change, so check the linked official pages before you go.
Sources: DWR boating pages, DWR boater education, DWR required equipment, DWR PWC rules, DWR towing rules, DWR registration, Code of Virginia 29.1-738, 4VAC15-410-120, 4VAC15-320-25, DWR fishing licenses, DWR Smith Mountain Lake page, DWR boating access table, DWR Smith Mountain Cooperative, AEP recreation page, DWR Community Park page, DCR fish of Smith Mountain Lake brochure, Smith Mountain Lake State Park, AEP Smith Mountain Project, AEP lake levels, AEP shoreline FAQs, DHR record, AFI Catalog: What About Bob?, Wikipedia: Smith Mountain Lake, Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, Leesville Lake Association, Visit Roanoke region events, Smith Mountain Eagle: Vipperman Visitors Center, Smith Mountain Eagle: SMLA water quality program, WDBJ: SMLA water report, WSLS: Merriman Run no wake surfing zone, Smith Mountain Eagle: TLAC wake education task force, WSET: no alligators, The Roanoker: Moneta, Bridgewater Marina, Parrot Cove, Gills Creek Marina, SML Boat Rentals, Tiff's Lakefront, Mariners Landing dining, Ramulose Ridge Vineyards.