Virginia’s Lakeside Town: A Perfect Haven for Swimming, Boating, Waterfront Dining, and Local Brews

Virginia is home to many splendors. Traveling to the Old Dominion state can offer you treats like award-winning wines on the Monticello Wine Trail or the best art and beaches in Mathews County, along with a rich history as the birthplace of the United States. However, you may not know that Virginia is also home to Clarksville, otherwise known as “Virginia’s Only Lakeside Town.”

Located along the Roanoke River, Clarksville was first incorporated in 1818. The peaceful town got its name from its founder, Clarke Royster. Since then, Clarksville has been the site of a tobacco trade boom in the mid-19th century, and in the 1950s, the damming of the Roanoke River led to the creation of the 50,000-acre Buggs Island Lake, which solidified Clarksville as the only Virginia town with a lake.

Outdoor recreation has flourished in Clarksville, where visitors can enjoy an array of land and water activities, including camping, hunting, boating, and swimming. Beyond this, the town also offers splendid waterfront restaurants and an active local brewery scene.

If you decide to travel to Clarksville, you will be met with a plethora of possible activities. While it’s a peaceful town, there is so much fun to be had. Do you like boating? Clarksville Water Sports offers a variety of rentals where you can book a boat for a fishing trip, a single or tandem kayaking excursion, and canoeing or paddle boarding for a single day or even the whole week. The company keeps its boats in the water at Occoneechee State Park, conveniently ready for customers. 

Across the Roanoke River sits the aforementioned Occoneechee State Park, a great place to find a host of adventures. While the park is notable for its 22 miles of trails, which are perfect for hiking, cycling, and horseback riding, there are also lodging spaces available if you want to wind down and spend the night in nature. Occoneechee State Park offers 11 cabins, two lodges, three yurts, and 45 campsites for tents and RVs. The park is open every day from 8 a.m. until dusk, and the Visitor Center hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (at the time of this writing).

If you’re a history buff and want to do something other than travel to Williamsburg, Virginia, famous for its history and theme parks, you can head to the Mecklenburg County Veterans Memorial. This memorial pays tribute to those who lost their lives in wars from the American Revolution to Iraq. Another spot worth visiting is the Clarksville Regional Museum. Here, visitors can delve into exhibits that showcase the town’s unique history, from Native American tribes and early settlers to the tobacco trade (where you can see a dedicated tobacco room) and a miniature version of Clarksville set in the ’50s.