The questions travelers actually Google before they arrive — and the answers you'd get from a friend who lives on Claytor Lake.
Getting there & around
Logistics
How big is Claytor Lake?
4,500 acres with over 60 miles of shoreline, in Virginia's New River Valley. It was formed in 1939 when Appalachian Power Company dammed the New River, and is named for Graham Claytor, a former American Electric Power vice-president.
What's the closest airport to Claytor Lake?
Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional (ROA) is the nearest with regular commercial service, about forty-five minutes east. Charlotte Douglas (CLT) is a comparable drive south with more flight options.
Groceries, gas, urgent care
Essentials
Where's the closest grocery store to Claytor Lake?
Food City, on Bob White Boulevard in Pulaski — the main provisioning stop for the lake.
Where's the closest emergency room to Claytor Lake?
LewisGale Hospital Pulaski's emergency room, on Lee Highway North in Pulaski — a 24-hour ER, the closest hospital to the lake.
Where to eat
Food & drink
Where can I eat at Claytor Lake?
Dockside Grill, at Rockhouse Marina — wings, burgers, and barbecue with live music. Shamrock Cafe, a mile from the state park in Dublin, is the classic Southern-cooking option for breakfast and lunch, with limited dinner and weekend hours.
What's worth doing
Things to do
What is the history of Claytor Lake State Park?
The park opened around the lake in 1949 under the Radford Chamber of Commerce and came under official Virginia state park management in 1951 — a decade after the lake itself was created by the 1939 damming of the New River.
On the water & on the trail
Outdoors
Where can I rent a boat at Claytor Lake?
Rockhouse Marina, run by Mountain 2 Island, rents boats alongside its Dockside Grill restaurant. Claytor Lake Water Sports covers pontoons, ski boats, a jet ski, kayaks, canoes, and a pedal boat. The state park's own marina also rents slips March through October.
Is there a public beach at Claytor Lake?
Yes — Claytor Lake State Park has a clean sandy beach with a bathhouse and concession stand, open through Labor Day, plus a universally accessible fishing pier and a free launch ramp for overnight park guests.
Seasons & weather
When to come
When's the best time to visit Claytor Lake?
Late spring through Labor Day for the state park beach's concession stand and full marina hours. The park's boat slips run March through October, a longer window than the beach season itself.