Camp Burson

Hungry Mother State Park is a gorgeous, older historic park. Lake, beach & trails are lovely. Cabins are scattered throughout the park. There are three camping sections. We stayed in Burson. The campground is located right on a lesser traveled highway, and there is no security. The ranger station was not manned when we stayed there. There were slots outside where we picked up our envelope stuffed with everything we needed to camp and visit the park. We felt very safe. The campground is not very scenic, but very comfortable, with a row of sites that have full hook up. The rest have water & electric. The hookups look like they're newer, and are well maintained. A good, quiet campground for families, or for a quick stop off of I81. Cell service is very unreliable.

We visited family in this area and this was the first time staying here.
It was a clean level back in. Very easy to set up. They only have electric and water so you have to dump, which was easy too.
The people were so nice and the grounds and bathroom were very clean. They had a great laundry room(1.50$)
And a pretty creek was in the back of us.
They rent these cool round house things too.
We didn’t have but one bar of cell coverage.

We stayed two nights here, separated by two weeks. We needed an overnight for outgoing and coming back from a journey up north. We enjoyed both stays. This campground is a bit distant from the rest of the park but we were overnighting anyway so it was nothing to us. The sites are nice and level, some with full hookup, some with partial. One of the bathhouses is a bit older but there is also a nice new one. Both are clean. There is a laundry which is a plus and there is guest wifi. The reservation system has some sites that you can reserve specific and some that just have a pool of sites to choose from when you get there. With these you are guaranteed a spot, you just aren’t sure which one til you get there and see which non-specific sites are still open. Lastly, it isn’t too far from town so you can pop in for groceries or a meal. Would stay here again anytime we were in the area.

We stayed at Camp Burson October 10th-14th. At last minute we extended the trip and went a day early, so our first night was a site on the back side without sewer. The remainder of our stay was on a site (#15) with full hookup. This site was a back-in with a separate parking pad as well. Each site has a large picnic table & fire-ring. Firewood is available for purchase. The campground was small & well maintained. The Camp Hosts were very friendly & helpful! We enjoyed hiking all of the trails and kayaking the lake during our stay. The only downside was the lack of decent cell service, even when showing two bars.

Old RV park that State Park runs now.
Next to Back of the Dragon. Many loud motorcycles all day.
Site next to us had an RV and 4 autos. More than 6 people on one site.
Loud and noisy.
Restroom need better cleaning. More gravel needed where turning through mud.
These are just my honest observations.
Beach was very good some trash buried in sand.
Trails were nice.
I might stay again but in the very back away from road.
Marion had a Walmart. Sales tax 12%. Highest I’ve seen anywhere.
Wifi near the office was working 99% of the time.
Price a little high for this park.

Stayed at Camp Burson for two nights on our way north. This state park is excellent with many trails and a really nice beach at the lake with a swimming area and boat rentals. There are three distinct campgrounds: Royal Oak with high platforms for tenting - no RVs allowed, Creekside CG for smaller campers (very windy / hilly road with hairpin turn to get there) and a half mile before entering the park they have Camp Burson for rigs up to 35’. We stayed at Camp Burson on site 4 and had full hookups. It was a tight squeeze but we just fit and it had nice shade all day long. The campsites are level with a gravel bed, picnic table and fire ring. Upon arrival, park in front of the center building, then enter the office by walking around to the rear (COVID-19 limitations). Some sites are site-specific reservable some are not, the ranger will tell you what sites are open and you can walk around and decide which one you want. The camp hosts onsite are excellent and keep the place spotless. One host assisted us by advising us best site for our size rig and he was right. Cell service was tough to come by, Verizon okay - ATT no signal. (at our site). We did not use the restroom facilities as we are self-contained.

Now for the caution - the road into this state park (Park Blvd Rt 16N) is clearly marked as not open to trucks over 35’. The campground itself states RVs no longer than 35’. The road into the park is the reason why they have this policy - it is very windy and steep in areas. Also, follow the parks driving directions - use exit 47 off of I-81, to Rt 11, and then right onto Park Blvd. You avoid driving through the town of Marion and DO NOT TAKE CHATHAM HILL ROAD as some apps will recommend. It would be impossible to tow ANY vehicle in some sections of that road.

We would camp here again if we were staying longer as the state park has much to offer, but for a quick stop off of the interstate we would go to Fort Chiswell RV park.

We were here over the 4th of July, had a "non-specific" site reservation, which meant we had the choice of about 7 sites on arrival. Ended up in a nice pull-through. Even though the place ended up packed, it was still quiet during quiet hours. This is truly one of the better CGs we've come across, in a beautiful location. You have to go to the Virginia Creeper bike trail (rentals available in Damascus), it's an easy 17 mile ride downhill the whole way. Great swimming at the park lake, real nice golf course nearby.

Quiet peaceful site on the side of a brook. Got there later in the day when there was no one around. Camp host directed us in the area where we were to park. He said choose any site in that location. We picked a nice spot next to a brook. Showers were great and clean. Next to the shower, was a dish cleaning area but it was not operational yet due to the cold weather. In the morning we checked out and the office was open and the woman at the desk was so nice and helpful. Grounds were clean and well maintained. They had water and electric and a dump station. They also had a laundry area. It was a few miles off of the highway and that is what we were looking for because we were exhausted.

This is second time we have stayed here. It is a Virginia State Park located near Marion, VA and is in the mountains - 10 degrees cooler then near our home in Eastern VA. The campsites are level and most will easily handle 40+ feet. The sites with full hook up are located in the Camp Burson area. Most of the sites are nicely shaded. There is a very nice lake behind the dam and great sand swimming beach about a mile up the road from Camp Burson near the Visitor Center. They also have a nice restaurant where we have had a good lunch and dinner. The park also rents kayaks, SUPs, paddle boats and canoes. You can fish in the lake with a license.

The park is about 3 miles outside of Marion which is a nice small town. The big attraction that brings us here is the Lincoln Theatre which is one of the Crooked Road Bluegrass Music Venues. Between the Marion and the Campground is a drive-in movie theater which pretty rare to find. Abingdon is down I-81 about 20 miles, it also has an active arts and bluegrass scene.

Route 16 connects Marion and the Park. Somewhat narrow and hilly. Several low branches to keep an eye for.