Posted April 16, 2017 | Updated April 5, 2019

Outdoor Photographer, Adventurer, Climber, Speaker Kenton Steryous has a favorite Virginia campground, a place dedicated as a family getaway, to relax and spend time together in the great outdoors. 

We're thrilled to share the following photos and insight by Kenton Steryous.

FAMILY FAVORITE CAMPING

Spending time in a place you love with the people you love. Those are the moments that won’t be soon forgotten. Throw in a rip-roaring campfire, and it doesn’t get much better.

You would never guess that one of our favorite places for family camping is found right here in Southwest Virginia, at Claytor Lake State Park.

Family bonding at Claytor Lake State Park - photo courtesy of Kenton Steryous

A family favorite campground - photo courtesy of Kenton Steryous

Claytor Lake is a very well-maintained state park with plenty of outdoor activities to offer, and some decent campgrounds.

CAMPING

The park has four campgrounds available. Campgrounds A, B and C are mostly for tent camping with no electric or water hookups, while campground D accommodates RV units with water and electric hookups. None of the campgrounds are lakefront, but the cabins are if you're adamant about a water view.

The Park offers a place to relax and unwind - photo courtesy of Kenton Steryous

BOATING

There is also a boat launch area as well as a marina where boat rentals are available in season.

Canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddle boards are also available for park visitors to rent for the hour, half or whole day.

A boat launch as well as a marina where boat rentals are available - photo courtesy of Kenton Steryous

If you are looking for a place not too far off the beaten track to get away, relax, unplug and reconnect with your family in the outdoors, then try Claytor Lake State Park.

Pack up the bikes so you can enjoy the paved paths and 4 miles of trails that meander around the park, most of them providing water views.

RECHARGE

The beach is central and easy to access and provides a great place for swimming for all ages. Docks are found throughout the park, and near the cabin areas.

As photographers we know that having drained batteries pretty much make for a useless camera. How much more do we need to recharge our personal batteries?

We need to get away from it all to recharge our batteries - photo courtesy of Kenton Steryous

HIKING

One of our family favorite things to do at Claytor Lake State Park is take a little hike after dark down to the lake. On a clear night with a new moon, the Milky Way is just visible over the lake.

The Milky Way is just visible over the lake - photo courtesy of Kenton Steryous

Claytor Lake State Park is the perfect spot for camping, hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, boating and picnicking, and conveniently located only about 10 minutes off exit 101 on Interstate 81, just an hour south of Roanoke. 

If you have a favorite campground, we would love to hear about it. Join the conversation on our Facebook page.

Editor’s note: If you enjoyed these photos as much as we did from Kenton Steryous, you'll love his other work on Instagram here.  

Posted April 16, 2017 | Updated April 5, 2019