A Guide to Boating in Virginia

Going boating in Virginia? Will you visit a big city like Virginia Beach, Richmond, or Norfolk? Or a smaller, cozy VA town like Kilmarnock? How about a historic gem like Alexandria?

Doesn’t matter much — there are lakes and marinas everywhere!

So how do you like to spend a day on the water boating in Virginia? Do you love making waves, skimming the surface in your kayak, taking a tumble off a tube, or nailing a new trick on your wakeboard? Whatever your style or watersport of choice, you’ll definitely find the boating experience you’re looking for on one of Virginia’s lakes, rivers, coastal waterways or when you’re out boating in the beautiful Chesapeake Bay area!

Keep reading for our guide to boating in Virginia.

The Best Boating Lakes in Virginia

Virginia has spectacular lakes and rivers for boaters and paddlers to check out! No matter which area of the state you live in or will be visiting, you can always count on there being a lake less than an hour away!

To get you started on your Virginia boating adventure, we thought we’d suggest a few of our favorite places to hit the water in Virginia!

One of Virginia’s most popular lakes is Lake Anna. It offers a boat launch, making the lake accessible to visitors bringing their own boats in tow. The park also has a fish pond accessible to children and people with disabilities, a boathouse complex, and camping facilities, including cabins and lodges.

There are over 15 miles of trails allowing visitors to hike, bike, and horseback ride. Anglers can access the boat ramp from 5:30 am onwards.

Wise Lake/Reservoir provides the water supply to the town of Wise. The lake also serves as a venue for anglers, picnickers, wildlife watchers, boaters, and swimmers. Many trails around the lake allow walkers to be immersed in nature, and the lake backdrop offers much in the way of photography.

The lake is a mecca for bird lovers with various migrating animals, including warblers, swallows, flycatchers, waterfowl, and shorebirds. The area is also known for reptiles and amphibians, including various species of frogs and snakes.

John H. Kerr Reservoir is Virginia’s largest lake, with over 50,000 acres of fresh water and over 800 miles of shoreline. The lake is a platform for skiing, fishing, sailing, and swimming. The shore offers other recreation such as camping, hiking, bicycling, hunting, and golfing.

Listed as the number one Crappie fishing lake in the U.S. by “In-Fisherman” magazine, Kerr Lake is host to state and national fishing tournaments.

Smith Mountain Lake, or SML, is considered Virginia’s most popular lake. It features 500 miles of shoreline in being a 40-mile-long, 20,600-acre lake. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of rural southwestern Virginia, it provides a scenic backdrop for an array of outdoor activities and is a top spot for boating in Virginia.

Boating is a key activity, and you can launch from any of the marinas along the shore and use one of the six public docks. There are a number of boat rental companies. Restaurants and businesses are accessible from the water.

SML is a great place to learn and improve your boat Captain skills, with sailing and other boater education courses offered. So enjoy a leisurely ride along the steep shoreline of deep pine trees and islands littered with tents and tanned families.

Ideal for swimming, camping, hiking, and picnicking, Claytor Lake is known for sport fishing and boating. The park has a full-service marina with docking slips, supplies, fuel, boat rentals, and refreshments.

Three lodges and 15 cabins overlook the 4,500-acre lake, offering visitors a scenic retreat. The historic Howe House has interactive exhibits describing the ecology of the lake and the surrounding areas.

Guests can also rent bikes and enjoy a universally accessible fishing pier, picnic shelters, a seasonal snack bar, and playgrounds.

They’ve been consistently rated as some of the best parks in the region, so what are you waiting for? Plan your boating adventure in one of Virginia’s State Parks!

There are 36 Parks stretching across the state, many of which are located on the Atlantic Coast and along the shore of Chesapeake Bay.

So, how many of Virginia’s 36 State Parks offer boating access? The odds are really good, with 24 fully accessible parks for boaters. Several of Virginia’s State Parks also have full-service marinas, boat launch ramps, and boat rental facilities.

Planning a visit to a Virginia State Park with your boat trailer in tow couldn’t be easier.

Did you know the IGFA World Record blue catfish was caught from Virginia’s Bugg’s Island Lake? Or that there are 2,800 miles of trout streams in Virginia’s lakes and rivers, several of which are regularly stocked with trout?

That’s right, we used the ‘s’ word.

In Virginia’s freshwater lakes, you’ll catch largemouth and smallmouth bass, sunfish, and catfish. Anglers can reel in flounder and striped bass along the coast, even in the shallow waters.

Or, if you’re in vacation mode and feeling adventurous, you could consider chartering a boat and doing a little deep-sea fishing for marlin, tuna, and more — but be prepared for the roll of the ocean and fish that can fight!

Be sure you know Virginia’s Fishing Regulations and Boating Laws before you launch a boat or cast a line.