5 Best Marinas At Smith Mountain Lake

Smith Mountain Lake is the largest lake contained entirely within Virginia — 20,600 acres of water, more than 500 miles of shoreline, and 40 miles of navigable length in the Blue Ridge foothills southeast of Roanoke. Created in the mid-1960s when Appalachian Power dammed the Roanoke River, SML is Virginia’s most popular recreational lake. Marinas are the social hubs of lake life here: they’re where you fuel up, rent a boat, grab lunch on the water, catch live music, and launch a fishing trip. Below are seven of the best marinas at Smith Mountain Lake, including what each one offers and what’s changed recently.

1. Bridgewater Marina and Bridgewater Plaza

Location: 16410 Booker T Washington Hwy, Moneta, VA 24121 (channel marker R28)
Phone: (540) 721-1639

Bridgewater is the biggest and most popular marina complex on Smith Mountain Lake — and it’s more than a marina. Bridgewater Plaza is a waterfront shopping village with roughly 40 shops and restaurants, a climbing wall, over-water mini-golf (seasonal), and a large live-music stage. The marina itself has been operating since 1989 and offers boat and PWC rentals (tritoons, pontoons, ski boats, deck boats, kayaks, paddleboards), a dockside gas dock (24/7 pay-at-the-pump), and a marine store stocked with fishing gear, water toys, life jackets, and accessories. Used boat sales are available as well.

The restaurant to know here is Mango’s, a bar and grill with a stage that hosts live bands regularly — check their Facebook page for the schedule. Other food options around the plaza include Moosie’s SML Coffeehouse and the Ice Cream Cottage. A beloved tradition: buy popcorn at the marina store and feed the massive carp that congregate around the docks (proceeds benefit Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia). Bridgewater also operates satellite rental locations at Bernard’s Landing and Smith Mountain Lake State Park.

2. GoodHue Boat Company — Blackwater (Formerly Crazy Horse Marina)

Location: 400 Crazy Horse Dr, Moneta, VA 24121 (channel marker B-10A)
Phone: (540) 719-0620

In early 2024, Goodhue Boat Company — a family-owned business dating to 1903 in New England — acquired both Crazy Horse Marina and Crystal Shores Marina on Smith Mountain Lake. Crazy Horse is now GoodHue Blackwater, though many locals still call it Crazy Horse. Situated on the Blackwater arm of the lake, it offers an attended gas dock (not 24/7 but sheltered from boat wakes), new and used boat sales (Cobalt, Malibu, Premier Pontoons), boat rentals, and Carefree Boat Club memberships.

The marina is known for its events — the summer concert series on a floating Pon-Tune Stage, Pirate Days, and Knot-A-Fest. The on-site restaurant is Coasters, which opened summer 2025 (same ownership as Drifters at the sister marina). There’s a small beach area where kids can splash, ample docking for restaurant patrons, and a boat launch ramp nearby. Weekend live music can be enjoyed from your boat, either docked in a transient slip or anchored just offshore.

3. GoodHue Boat Company — Eastlake (Formerly Crystal Shores Marina)

Location: 1617 Crystal Shores Dr, Moneta, VA 24121 (channel marker R27)
Phone: (540) 297-1888

The other half of the GoodHue acquisition, Crystal Shores is now GoodHue Eastlake, located on the eastern side of the lake off the Roanoke River, not far from Bridgewater. The marina offers covered wet slips ranging from 15 to 60 feet, attended gas pumps, and a full-service marine repair facility — historically one of the largest maintenance operations on the lake, capable of hauling vessels up to 48,000 pounds. Renovated shower and bathroom facilities, trailer parking, picnic areas, and pump-out service are all available.

The restaurant here is Drifters, which has won recognition for best outdoor dining area and cocktails at SML. It’s a great spot to sit with a meal and watch boats come in and out of the cove. The marina sits in a deep-water cove with good protection — a few minutes from Halesford Bridge and Bridgewater Plaza by both road and water, and roughly 45 minutes from Roanoke via Route 122.

4. Gill’s Creek Marina and Lodge

Location: 790 Gill’s Creek Ln, Wirtz, VA 24184
Phone: (540) 721-3664

Gill’s Creek is a full-service marina with an on-site lodge where you can book a room right on the lake — one of the few places at SML where you can stay waterfront without renting a house. The marina was voted best marina and lodging at Smith Mountain Lake by readers of the Laker Weekly, and it’s pet-friendly. Facilities include credit-card-activated fuel pumps (24/7), a pump-out station on the fuel dock, handicap-accessible bathrooms, and slip rentals. Gill’s Creek is also home to the Annual SML Fishing Tournament — Smith Mountain Lake holds the state record for striped bass and is Virginia’s top freshwater striped bass fishery. If you’re coming to SML to fish, this is a logical home base.

5. Mitchell’s Point Marina & RV Park

Location: 3553 Trading Post Rd, Huddleston, VA 24104 (channel marker R2)
Phone: (540) 484-3980

Mitchell’s Point is on the Bedford County side of the lake near Huddleston and caters to a wide range of boaters — covered and uncovered floating slips, open slips, PWC drive-ups, and houseboat slips accommodating vessels up to 50 feet. The marina has a full-service gas dock, pump-outs, and a small store with snacks, ice cream, sundries, oil, and bait. Mitchell’s Restaurant and Pizzeria ((540) 296-0664) is on-site for dine-in or carry-out.

The marina also operates an RV park with annual-lease waterfront and non-waterfront sites (full hookups, 30-amp electric). Owner Jeff Prowse has been developing an outdoor recreation area on adjacent land with basketball courts, roller hockey, and eventually pickleball — aimed at giving families and youth in the Huddleston area a place to stay active. SML Boat Rentals operates from the marina with pontoons, runabouts, kayaks, paddleboards, and fishing guide services. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day, 9 a.m.–7 p.m. daily; winter hours are limited — call ahead for gas.

6. Parkway Marina

Location: 500 Shoreline Marina Circle, Moneta, VA 24121 (channel marker R6)
Phone: (540) 721-3664

Formerly known as Saunders Marina, Parkway Marina is on the main body of Smith Mountain Lake near Smith Mountain Lake State Park. You’ll recognize it by the octagonal building on the point that houses a carousel (operated for special events only). The marina has an attended gas dock (8 a.m.–6 p.m. daily in season), a boat launch ramp, porta-potties, and a marina store with souvenirs, life jackets, water toys, engine oil, and beverages including beer. SML Marine Service and Straight Line Upholstery & Canvas are accessible by water from the outer shore.

Parkway’s location near the State Park makes it a practical stop for boaters exploring the eastern reaches of the lake. The Virginia Dare, a 19th-century-style side paddlewheeler, departs from nearby for two-hour sightseeing cruises (April–December) covering 10 miles of shoreline including views of Smith Mountain Dam.

7. Marina 66

Location: South end of Hales Ford Bridge (up-river side), channel marker R28–R29

Now in its second year of operation, Marina 66 sits at the south end of Halesford Bridge and is run by sisters Abigail Wilson and Emily Dameron. The marina has an attended gas dock (9 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday–Saturday, noon–6 p.m. Sunday) and a marina store with bait-and-tackle supplies. They also operate SML Recreational Boat Rentals with Crest LX tritoons available at two locations (Marina 66 and Gill’s Creek). A short walk on shore leads to a retail store with water toys, outdoor furniture, dock decor, and Nautical Bowls, a smoothie and acai bowl shop. One note: wake wash can be heavy at this location on weekend afternoons, so approach the docks with lines and fenders ready.

Choosing a Marina at Smith Mountain Lake

SML is a freshwater reservoir — there are no tides, no saltwater, no ocean currents. The lake level fluctuates up to about two feet during a typical week as Appalachian Power generates electricity and pumps water back from Leesville Lake below. This is worth knowing because water level affects dock access at some marinas, particularly during drought or heavy generation periods. Check the current lake level before heading out — the Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commission posts regular updates.

When picking a marina, the main considerations are location on the lake (Roanoke River side vs. Blackwater side vs. main channel), whether you need 24/7 gas (Bridgewater and Gill’s Creek have it; most others have attended-only pumps with limited hours), slip size (if you need houseboat-size slips, Mitchell’s Point and a few others accommodate up to 50 feet), and what you want nearby — Bridgewater has the most dining and shopping, GoodHue Blackwater has the best event calendar, Gill’s Creek has lodging, and Mitchell’s Point has RV camping.

Virginia law requires no-wake speed within 50 feet of docks, shore, and marked no-wake zones. Everyone under 13 must wear a life vest when the boat is in motion. The legal blood alcohol limit on the water is 0.08. And it’s illegal to feed waterfowl within 500 feet of the lake — their waste contributes to harmful bacteria in the water.

For more lake and water destinations, see the Flathead Lake boating guide, Lake Hickory in North Carolina, Beavers Bend State Park, and liveaboard marinas in Massachusetts.