GENERAL INFO: Twin Lakes State Park, centrally located in Virginia's Piedmont region, provides visitors from all over the Commonwealth with a variety of lakefront activities in a secluded setting. Swimming, camping, fishing, canoeing and hiking are popular activities. The park is home to Cedar Crest Conference Center, a perfect facility for group meetings, family reunions, wedding receptions and company picnics. The park also offers catering services for on-site events. Call (434) 767-2398 for details.
AT-A-GLANCE: The pictographs directly below show park offerings. Click on those of interest or read below for more detail. Mouse-over the image for a short text description or click here to view a legend in which each pictograph's meaning is expressed.
LOCATION: Twin Lakes State Park is near Farmville, about an hour southwest of Richmond. To get there, take U.S. 360 West of Burkeville to Route 613. Then go east on Route 629.
Drive Time : Northern Virginia, three to four hours; Richmond, one to one and a half hours; Tidewater/ Norfolk/ Virginia Beach, two and a half to three hours; Roanoke, three hours
Click here for a Google map.
PARK MAP: Click here (PDF).
OVERNIGHT FACILITIES: Camping, cabins and lodge. For information on availability of overnight accommodations, particular park amenities or to make a reservation, you can reserve online or call 1-800-933-PARK. Click here for park fees. Those interested in Cedar Crest Conference Center, a day-use facility, should call (434) 767-2398.
Twin Lakes' Cabins and Lodge near Cedar Crest area:
Weekly Rentals Required in prime season, which runs Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. (Saturday or Sunday start dates.)
Cabin guests should register at the Twin Lakes office upon arrival. Check-in time is 3 p.m. on arrival date; Check-out is 10 a.m. on departure date.
Cabin guests arriving after 4:30 p.m. must know their reservation number(s), especially the last four numbers, to access their keys. Each overnight facility has a push button combination key box located by the entrance door. The combination needed to access this key is the last four digits of the reservation number for that cabin. Once entry is gained, please return the key to the lock box (instructions are posted on site). If you're arriving after hours, please check in at the Twin Lakes office between 9:30-11 a.m. the next day to complete registration, obtain additional passes/keys, and find out about scheduled events. This park offers no additional bed rentals.
Cabin rental information:
These cabins and the lodge require weekly rentals from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. Cabins and the lodge are assigned either a Saturday or Sunday start date for prime season weekly rentals; two-night minimums are available during other seasons of the year. All cabins and lodge can be rented up to 11 months in advance. Customers can request two-night rentals of cabins and lodge between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends by calling 30 days prior to date of arrival to see if there is a vacancy during the summer prime season. Two-night minimums outside the Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend period are available 11 months in advance.
During the summer, swimming is free for overnight guests in campsites, cabins and the lodge, however swimming is not guaranteed should circumstances beyond the park's control require closure. We do not give refunds for swimming to overnight guests under any circumstances.
Descriptions of Cabins and Lodge:
The park has six housekeeping cabins featuring an English Tudor exterior over cinderblock. Three of these are adjacent to Prince Edward Lake, and three others are on a hillside overlooking the lake.
Each cabin has a screened front porch with rocking chairs. A picnic table, lantern hanger and pedestal grill are next to each cabin. One set of linens and towels per person are provided, however linens are not changed daily. Also included are a refrigerator, electric stove, automatic drip coffeemaker, microwave oven, toaster, an AM-FM clock radio and place settings for eight people, as well as dish detergent, dishtowels and a basic set of pots and pans.
Cabins 1-4 and 6 each have two bedrooms and sleep three people per room (total of six). Each bedroom has a twin bed and a set of bunk beds. Cabin 5 has a double bed in one bedroom and two sets of bunk beds in the second bedroom.
Cabins 2, 4 and 6 are waterview cabins and priced as such; cabins 1, 3 and 5 are not waterview.
A seventh cabin called the Martin Cottage is near the lodge. It has two bedrooms with a maximum occupancy of four. One bedroom has a double bed, the other has two single beds. No rollaway beds are available at this park. This cottage features a large living room, screened front porch with rocking chairs, a back deck, a lantern hanger, a picnic table, a pedestal grill and a full kitchen. The kitchen has a refrigerator, electric stove, automatic drip coffee maker, toaster, place settings and dinnerware for six, a basic set of pots and pans, dish detergent, dish towels and an AM/FM clock radio. Linens and towels, which are not changed daily, are provided per person.
Cabins have no TV, telephone, dishwasher, washer or dryer. Customers should bring their own toiletries, food, coffee filters, favorite baking dish if plans include special cooking (e.g., Thanksgiving and Christmas).
The Hill Lodge
The lodge has four bedrooms with two single beds in each (sleeps eight total; no bed rentals), great room (suitable for meetings), kitchen with pantry, common bathroom, back deck, patio tables to seat six, heating, air conditioning and carpet. A charcoal grill is also available. The lodge has a TV and VCR. Also included: refrigerator, electric stove, toaster, automatic drip coffeemaker, microwave oven, AM/FM clock radio, place settings for 10, and one set of linens and towels per person provided (linens are not changed daily).
Total sites of each type: Two-bedroom cinderblock, 4; Two-bedroom cinderblock waterview, 3; Hill Lodge
Twin Lakes State Park Camping
Each campsite has a fire ring with a grill over it. It can be used for cooking or a small campfire. Campsites have water and electricity; outlets provide 20 and 30-amp current. Firewood is available for sale in the campground.
One vehicle per campsite in addition to camping unit allowed. Additional vehicles must park in a designated parking lot and may be subject to parking fees. Visitors to overnight guests must leave the park by 10 p.m.
Site type:
EW Tent: Tent only, electric and water hookups, bathhouse available.
EW 25ft - Various equipment. RVs up to 25 feet. Graveled entrance, mostly shaded. A bathhouse is available. Electric and water hookups.
EW 30ft - Various equipment. RVs up to 30 feet. Graveled entrance, mostly shaded. A bathhouse is available. Electric and water hookups.
EW RV36 - Various equipment. RVs between 30 and 36 feet long only. No tents or popups.
Total sites of each type: EW Tent, 6; EW 25ft, 19; EW 30ft, 4; EW RV36, 4
SWIMMING: A swimming beach complete with concessions and bathhouse is available Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Click here for park fees. In the summer, swimming is free for overnight guests in campsites, cabins and the lodge, however it cannot be guaranteed should circumstances beyond the park's control require that swimming be closed. Because of a shortage of qualified lifeguards from mid-August to Labor Day, the park can offer swimming on only Saturdays and Sundays, and on Monday of Labor Day weekend. If your visit depends on swimming daily, we advise you to reserve at another time. We do not give refunds for swimming to overnight guests under any circumstances.
TRAILS: Six miles of trails for hiking take the visitor through hardwood forests and near the lakes. Prince Edward Gallion Multi-use Trail, in the Prince Edward-Gallion State Forest adjacent to the park, is open to hikers, bikers and horses. It's an eight-mile non-loop trail.
FISHING, BOATING: Freshwater fishing is available. A valid Virginia fishing license, which may be purchased at the main office, is required.
Boating is allowed on both lakes and electric motors may be used. A public boat launch is available for each lake. Rowboats and canoes are available for rent year-round, and paddleboats are available for rent only during summer. Click here for park fees.
PARKS CALENDAR OF EVENTS: Click here to view park events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.
VISITOR CENTER, GIFT SHOP: None.
NATURE, HISTORY PROGRAMS: Nature hikes, night hikes, canoe trips, children’s programs, stargazing, campfire programs and children's nature craft programs. Click here to view park events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER: None.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS: Sailor’s Creek Battlefield State Park; Sandy River Reservoir; Briery Creek Wildlife Management Area; High Bridge Trail State Park; Prince Edward-Gallion State Forest; Lee’s Retreat Driving Tour; Longwood University Visual Arts Center, Farmville; Moorefield Mine, Amelia; several antique shops.
PICNIC SHELTERS: Picnic shelters are available for rental by calling the Reservation Center at 1-800-933-PARK (7275). In addition to shelter rental fee, a daily parking fee per vehicle is enforced. Swimming, boat rental and boat-launching fees are also additional.
Twin Lakes State Park Picnic Shelters at Goodwin Lake Day-use Area
Two shelters are available for rent. They can be rented all day from 8 a.m. to dusk. Click here for park fees.
Cancellation policy: No refund within 14 days before reserved date. Before then, there's a cancellation fee.
Shelter 1: This structure overlooks Goodwin Lake and is near a playground. It can accommodate 60 people under the shelter. Additional seating is available around the shelter if vacant. Shelter is handicapped accessible for handicap parking and an adjacent walkway.
Shelter 2: Close to swim area on Goodwin Lake, this unique shelter is made from rough cedar trunks and cedar beams. It can accommodate 25 people under the shelter. Additional seating is available around the shelter if vacant. If you need help getting to the shelter, please let park staff know when you arrive. Staff will help anyone needing such assistance.
SPECIAL FEATURES: Cedar Crest Conference Center.- Conference center facilities may be rented directly through the center's staff by calling (434) 767-2398. The facility is day-use only. There's a certified meeting planner onsite to help with event needs. Please call the center at (434) 767-2398 for details.
Overlooking Prince Edward Lake, this group-use facility includes three meeting rooms, audiovisual equipment, a gazebo, decks, shelters, kitchen and catering services by the staff. The largest room overlooks the lake and can be used for meetings, family and church gatherings and has a capacity of 130.
CONCESSIONS: "The Beach" concession is a family-themed snack bar open only during summer prime season. Specializing in premium hand-dipped ice cream, guests can also purchase swim-related merchandise, sundries, sweets, gift items and park mementos.
LAUNDRY: Closest laundry facility is 10 miles from park in Crewe, Va.
HISTORY: The land for Twin Lakes State Park was initially bought from struggling farmers by the federal government during the Great Depression. Two parks, Goodwin Lake and Prince Edward Lake, were founded in 1939 and until the early 1960s were run as two racially segregated parks. The parks merged into one in 1976, and the site was renamed Twin Lakes State Park in 1986.
FRIENDS GROUP: Feel like lending nature a hand? This friends group of hands-on volunteers is dedicated to preserving the park and supporting its mission. Call (434) 392-3435 for more information.
