Hungry Mother State Park is more than a 5 star review for me. It's beautiful. It's also my 30th VA State Park Visit! Hidden away in the mountains of southern VA, is a great lake with water that looked crystal clear! You can paddleboat, kayak, canoe and swim! The swim spot is more than twice the size of Lake Anna State Park. And surrounded by the beautiful mountains. I hiked the 6 miles around the lake with the stop off ay Molly's Knob. It's gorgeous! I had preplanned this trip to see these parks down here many months ago. While, I camped in a tent at Claytor Lake, I rented a Yurt for two nights here at Hungary Mother. I've never stayed in a Yurt before and I loved it! It was hot though, don't get me wrong. That Yurt was like a volcano tube all day and 1/2 the night. Luckily I was gone during the daytime and due to location, around 3am to 6am it wasn't very hot at all. LoL. Mountains make the difference! The Yurt was spacious and lovely. I'll rent again in the future. Employees were nice. Gift shop was amazing. Unlike most other state parks, this one had long trails. Like I said, one was 6 miles..usually, at other parks, they have .5 and .9 mile trails that you peice together to make a 6 mile trail. Those who've been, know what I mean. My favorite VA State Park is Sky Meadows. Perfect for me and only 25 min from my house. Hungry Mother is second place winner for me!! Love it! read more

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April, 2024. We were traveling between Roanoke, VA and the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park when we saw a sign for Hungry Mother State Park in Marion, VA. It was close to lunch time, so we decided to go to check it out and have a picnic lunch there, lake-side. Road signage to the main part of the park wasn't great, and our GPS took us to the campground which was a few miles from the Visitor's Center. A camper sent us in the right direction. We stopped at the Visitor's Center, paid the $7 parking fee, spoke with staff, and picked up a map. We learned from staff that Hungry Mother was one of VA's original six state parks. It's known for its woodlands and placid 108 acre lake. It offers miles of hiking and biking trails, fishing, boating (including rentals), a beach (with concessions in-season), camping and cabin rentals, and special events and programs. Our goal though was to take a short walk and to find a place to eat our picnic lunch! We found the Lake Trail loop, which is a 5.7 mile hiking and biking trail. The first mile parallels Park Blvd, and was gently rolling and relatively flat. Plus, it had picnic tables lake-side! Hungry Mother State Park was a pleasant place to stop during our travels. We hope to return in the future to explore it further. Slight mark-down in rating due to insufficient signage and for charging $7 for parking for a short visit and even when most amenities were still closed off-season. This is state of VA policy, not specific to Hungry Mother. read more

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Beautiful place to camp, fish, hike, or just enjoy an evening! We stayed at a cabin and enjoyed seeing and hearing wildlife. Cabin was clean and peaceful! Prices were very reasonable especially with the privacy you have. It has an indoor and outdoor fireplace, outside grill, electric heat, and AC. Shower was hot. We did fish in our boat but only caught baby blue gills. A little peace of heaven away from home (Michigan). We came from 25 degree weather to enjoy 78! Highly recommended and we will be back! read more

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If you like to hike or just want to look at beautiful mountain views, this is a lovely state park. We did two hikes here during my time in the area. The second one was all the way up Hungry Mother and it's well worth the trek for the views. read more

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I'm a glamper all the way. I love nature, but am not a fan of sleeping on the ground without a solid structure over my head. A hot shower after a day of hiking, water sports, or whatever a state park may bring is also a must for me. So... I absolutely love the state parks in VA that have cabins, as well as the more traditional tent or RV camping. You do need to supply your own linens, but a small price to pay to be able to actually be inside of a park with as many things to do as here. I hiked the Molly's Knob Trail as well as the Vista Point, and they were being truthful when they called them moderate to strenuous. I also hiked the Raiders Run area, which was a very nicely laid out mountain biking trail. I didn't run into anyone on that trail at all in the morning, so had it all to myself. There is a lakeside beach, cool folklore, and the park has all kinds of events daily, from SUP yoga to fishing 101 to campfires with s'mores, there is really something for everyone! Get outside! read more

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We had a Creekside campsite, and it was absolutely spectacular, we could not have been any closer to the creek, the sound of trickling water lulled us to sleep. The sites, although not too large are laid out nicely, are wooded, and with the creek by your side you don't even realize there are other campers nearby. The restrooms were very clean and well-kept, firewood is readily available throughout each loop, and the water and electricity at the site worked perfectly. read more

This consistently ranks in not just the best in Virginia, but nationally. A lake for fishing, paddle boarding, kayaking, and a beach for swimming. Three camping areas. Beautiful location! Site of the Hungry Mother Festival in July. read more

Absolutely loved our time at this park! We rented a cabin for two nights and had a blast. Staff were friendly and trails were clearly marked for hiking. THINGS TO NOTE: -It's a state park, YOU WILL NOT HAVE WIFI, you WILL survive -It's a state park, you most likely will NOT have cell service -It's a state park, you're responsible for your trash, don't ruin the parks beauty! -There are several grocery stores and small restaurants "in-town" about a 10 minute drive from the cabins. We brought our pups along for an extra fee and they loved it just as much as we did. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Absolutely Fantastic! The staff was helpful, honest and cheerful. They were informative and regarded safety has a high priority. It was our first time camping and the park had us hooked. The views were awe inspiring and the trails (well marked) ranged from easy to very difficult. The camp grounds had a variety of choices between the RVs being closer to each other to tents being far apart. They have activists for all ages and a schedule to boot. If you call the front desk, A PERSON WILL ANSWER! ‍ read more

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Beautiful park nestled in the mountains. We rented a cabin because tent sights were full. Our mission was to see the leaves changing and we got there just it time. Very vibrant colors. Will probably go back when we can rent boats. Very beautiful & quiet. Perfect getaway. Thanks to the Rangers for their hard work and dedication. read more

Hungry Mother State Park - Hungry Mother Lake at the entrance to campground. - Parks Near Me - Marion, Virginia

Earlier today before lunch we all went to the Visitors Center here at the park. Lots of information about the CCC that built this park. And lots of the animals that inhabit the area. I always like taking pictures of the animals on display. They also had a very small gift shop. Tim bought a nice hiking/trekking stick in there. read more

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We enjoyed our first visit to Hungry Mother State Park and by the end of our visit we were already planning our next. The park is beautiful and the trails are well-maintained. We stayed in the Chestnut Lodge. It comfortably sleeps 8. There are 4 bedrooms, a small living room area, a wet bar kitchen (small sink, full-sized fridge, but no stove). Facilities include two showers and two toilets. On the wrap-around deck, there's a propane grill (with side burner), a picnic table and a couple of rocking chairs. Outside, there's a fire ring and a charcoal grill. One small quibble is that, unlike other cabins in the park, there's no roof over the gas grill. Since the grill is the only way to cook, it'd be nice to have a bit of protection from the weather. We enjoyed hiking the lake loop trail (~6 miles), the CCC trail to Molly's Knob and the Vista trail (parked at the boat loop, ~4.5mi and strenuous but the view is worth it) and Raider's Run plus the Shawnee Trail loop (~2.5mi). If you're driving to Hungry Mother from the east or south, be sure to stop in at Shot Tower State Park. There's not a lot there, but it's a unique attraction and it wasn't out of the way. A plus: it's a short trip into town to the Ingles grocery store if you need supplies. read more

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Love this park...there's so much to do from Hiking to Swimming at the "Beach". They have Cabins you can rent and a nice Restaurant. They have several campgrounds. My kids and I love the Beach and Kayaking and the Paddle Boats. So relaxing and great place for family and friends to get together and have fun. They do charge to get into the park but it's not expensive. We paid $7.00 for a car. read more

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Stayed in cabin 2 nights. Staff was friendly and helpful. Cabin and grounds were clean and well kept. Beautiful area with restaurants and a nice Walmart (yes I know, lol) few minutes down the road. Will be visiting again. read more

Hungry Mother State Park - Parks Near Me - Marion, Virginia

Stayed in Cabin 11 with a couple friends. Super modest and small, but super homey. The couch and 2 chairs in the living room had cushions that sounded like crinkly shopping bags and a bit stiff. Wooden dining room table had 6 chairs - perfect for a family or friends. Fireplace is in the living room -- super nifty for warming the whole cabin. Super surprised that the cabin had CENTRAL A/C! I seriously thought it was going to be a hot and humid weekend with a window unit. Loved the picnic table that was on the outdoor patio. The grill that was behind the house was super hard to cook on. The grate was super rusted and covered in filth. Kitchen oven was super old. Could barely read what the temperatures were on the knob. Every burner was wrapped in aluminum foil, so the smoke/heat had a hard time filtering out. I burnt my whole package of bacon to a carbon-crisp in the oven (and I was using my normal cooking method). So be SUPER careful when cooking in the oven. One room had a queen-size bed and the other room had 2 sets of bunk-beds. I don't recommend sleeping on the top bunk if you're more than 150(ish) lbs. Did not seem to be very stable when one of the guys was trying it out (I could see the plywood bending downwards from the bottom bunk). Surprisingly, each room had a lamp and a nightstand with a radio alarm clock! The bathroom was super small. One toilet, small sink, and a shower. The shower water temperature control knob was possessed. You had to turn the knob all the way to the left and then slowly inch it back to the right to get slightly hot water. A bit tricky, but at least hot water worked! Items provided for use in the house: a basic coffee maker, microwave, one cooking pan, one casserole dish, toaster, basic cooking utensils, cutting knives, one dish towel, some cups, plates, a couple bowls, and linens (2 towels, a washcloth, and hand-towel per person). Bathroom surprisingly had some free shampoo, conditioner, soap, and body wash. My suggestions are to bring: your own water filter, cutting boards, a cooking pan (the one there burnt food easily and was SUPA HARD to scrub), charcoal, lighter fluid, dish soap, hand soap, spices, coffee, coffee filters, cooking spray, board games, cards, General reminders: Each cabin had its own journal (entertaining to read all the entries from past guests). Only 2 vehicles per cabin allowed (must display parking pass on rear-display mirror). Park has WIFI (praises!). You get one free bundle of wood with the cabin rental. You can bring Fido along (only $10 a night for a small dog). read more

My first visit to Hungry Mother State park did not disappoint. We had a great visit during the week in May. We stayed at Burson campground, which offers spacious sites, a clean shower house, and lots of trees! I selected my site online, and probably chose the least desirable site, number 3, but It was great! We sat in our camp and watched the sky between two mountains. This row of sites is the outside row, so no campers to look at, just the park! We saw orioles in the brush at our site. Trail heads begin at this campground, which is just outside the park entrance. We enjoyed a low traffic hike of the Lake Loop Trail with our dogs in perfect weather on day 1. Laurel and Rhododendron are thick, We did not see full bloom, but enjoyed the purple. There are many streams for dogs to drink from on this trail. Day 2 we hiked Molly's Knob. I was not prepared for this difficult trail, but made it up to see the view on a clear day. There are a few drinking spots for dogs on this trail in May. Motors are not permitted on the lake, so it's very quiet at Hungry Mother State Park. I am looking forward to my next visit and will be taking my kayak! read more

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It's easy to see why Virginia's State Parks are voted best in America. The cabins were gorgeous, spacious and economical. The trails were well groomed, well marked and signed, and the beach looked spectacular. The staff seemed really nice and most things are on the honor system, so if you show up after they close for the night, just put some money in a box and pitch your tent! Need some firewood? Money in a box, take some logs. Such an excellent 4 day weekend! read more

This is a large and beautiful state park that isn't far off I-81. They have cabins you can rent, but most are fairly close together. There is a beach and a long lake you can swim in and hike around (might take a few hours). There are also areas to picnic and places to plug your R/V in. It's a great place to visit, especially if you have dogs or kids. read more

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Beautiful state park with full service amenities! Love this park. Up in the mountains in western Virginia. Marion, WV is nearby for groceries. Lots of trails and a beach with all kinds of water sports to do. Kayaking, canoeing, fishing or just sitting and watching the water, no better place exists to spend a weekend or a whole week of your life. Cabin 2 is right on the water and is picturesque. The rest of the park is breathtaking. Stay here and enjoy!! read more

We thoroughly enjoyed our camping trip at HungryMother. The park & amenities were plentiful & clean! We were amazed at how beautiful and well kept the area was plus all of the activities that they put together daily for your family and/or children. We will be back agin soon. read more

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Had a blast week of September 12, 2020! Great place awesome weather will book again. Great cabins, camping, fishing and hiking.

While the weather wasn't the greatest, the rain held off and we were able to have a picnic lunch on some of the many picnic tables at the beach. Also, some of the park staff brought snake skins / exhibits out to the beach (had to warn my wife, as she is crazy afraid of that stuff) and also mentioned that they would have a wild animal exhibit at the education / visitor's center. It happened to be on snakes, so naturally, our boys and nephews were all excited. The park does a great job keeping the place neat and clean, rotating the life guards for safety, and providing informational sessions, as well. The only down side I can think of is that the diving board platform needs some maintenance as some of the boards seemed quite weak due to rot. read more

We arrived after hours and passed the actual park. We went up to the main office and had to drive back down . They were very nice there . The restaurant is open which we didn't know. We got settled in without any problems nice level campsite but then it started to rain . No pour for the next 2 days . Even in the rain we walked the dogs checked out the bathroom shower and laundry facilities. They are very clean . There is a nice walking trail but it was flooded out while we were here. We want to come back and try this one again . read more

If your idea of a vacay doesn't include shopping and nightlife, this is the spot for you. This place is a beautifully self contained outdoor vacation destination. My family enjoyed the swimming area which includes a lake diving board and life guards, as well as kayak and paddleboard rentals, biking and hiking trails and a restaurant. Just a few miles away is a drive in movie theatre with a mini golf course. Everything is reasonably priced. You can not go wrong. read more

I had a blast I chose Campground C in the park for my locations and I REALLY enjoyed the fact that they were high off the ground on a deck! It truly was amazing! It is a big park, with many things to do! The lake is huge and the beach area was clean. I didn't eat at the parks restaurant, but I am sure it would have been good. The camp locations were very secluded and private. Of course your heard the echo of others but it was not unbearable. I am looking forward to heading back ASAP! This park is a MUST! read more

My wife and I frequently camp with our small travel trailer. We stay exclusively at state and national parks. We recently camped at Hungry Mother State Park in Virginia and were very disappointed. There are 2 campgrounds at this park with RV hook-ups. One of these campgrounds is outside the State Park proper and may have formally been a private campground... in other words an RV parking lot. The other campground (campground B) is old, antiquated, and very small. The campsites are also very close together affording little, if any, privacy. The overall setting of this park is beautiful, but the campgrounds leaves much to be desired if you are looking for a natural camping experience. Virginia State Parks currently have a "1st come 1st served" policy regarding camp site allocations. In other words, you can make a reservation but the reservation is not site specific. You claim a site when you arrive... supposedly on a 1st come 1st served basis. When we arrived, we observed several sites which were "taken," but the sites were not occupied. Obviously the locals send someone over to claim the specific site early in the day (prior to check-in time) and the equipment arrives much later. This seems to circumvent the intent. We stayed only one night at this campground and left sooner than planned vowing never to return. read more