Smith Mountain Lake Neighborhoods & Communities

How to Think About SML Geography

Smith Mountain Lake has two major arms feeding into the main lake body: the Roanoke River arm running northeast, and the Blackwater River arm running northwest. The main lake body lies south of Hales Ford Bridge, where the two arms converge. Bridgewater Plaza — the commercial anchor referred to locally as simply "the Bridge" — sits at Hales Ford Bridge, roughly at the geographic center of the lake's activity. Properties above the bridge on either arm are quieter, generally shallower, and more rural. Properties below the bridge on the main channel are closer to Westlake Corner's amenities, have deeper water, and see heavier boat traffic in season.

The community designations that follow use the postal community names, but county jurisdiction is what determines property taxes, school assignment, and zoning. The county line runs roughly along the Roanoke River through the middle of the lake, putting the north shore in Bedford County and the south and west shores primarily in Franklin County.

Moneta (Bedford County — North Shore, Main Channel)

Moneta is the most commercially developed area of Smith Mountain Lake on the Bedford County side. Downtown Moneta — a mixed-use development along the north side of Hales Ford Bridge — offers shops, cafes, and the entrance to the Bridgewater Plaza complex. The Moneta community extends north and east along the Bedford County shore toward the Roanoke River arm, including access to Bernard's Landing (one of the lake's original resort communities, now primarily vacation rentals with a conference facility), SML Community Park with its beach and walking trails, and several marinas. Moneta properties on the main channel benefit from deep water, wide views, and the highest density of boat traffic at the lake.

Bedford County tax rate of $0.41 per $100 is the lowest at SML. Jefferson Forest High School serves much of the Moneta area and draws families from the Lynchburg region partly on academic reputation. Buyers in Moneta are typically seeking a mix of amenity access, boating infrastructure, and the most active lake social scene. Prices tend to run at the upper end of the SML range for waterfront on the main channel and the primary coves adjacent to the Bridge.

Hardy (Bedford County — Westlake Corner Area)

Hardy is the informal name for the Bedford County area around Westlake Corner, which is the commercial spine of Smith Mountain Lake. Westlake Towne Center includes the Kroger (the largest grocery store at the lake), Westlake Cinema, restaurants, banks, hardware stores, and the SML LOVEworks sculpture. The Westlake Golf and Country Club — an 18-hole Russell Breeden-designed course — anchors the golf community on this side of the lake. The Booker T. Washington National Monument, which commemorates the birthplace of America's most prominent 19th-century educator, is located in the Hardy area and draws visitors from outside the lake market.

Hardy waterfront sits on the north shore of the main lake body and portions of the Roanoke arm below Hales Ford Bridge. Buyers who want the most convenient access to everyday services — the Kroger, urgent care at Carilion Clinic Smith Mountain Lake, the cinema — while maintaining waterfront living gravitate to Hardy. It is also home to Halesford Harbour Marina (112 slips, 24/7 fuel) on the Roanoke arm.

Huddleston (Bedford County — State Park Side, East Shore)

Huddleston occupies the eastern shore of Smith Mountain Lake in Bedford County and is anchored by two major attractions: Smith Mountain Lake State Park (the most visited attraction at SML, with 1,200-plus acres, a 500-foot sandy swimming beach, boat rentals, hiking trails, and a campground) and Mariners Landing Resort, the lake's most amenity-rich planned residential community. Mariners Landing features an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. (7,200 yards from the championship tees), a pool complex, resort lodging, and a marina. Parkway Marina — notable for its octagonal point building and the lake's largest Fourth of July fireworks display — is also in Huddleston.

Huddleston is about 12 miles from the town of Bedford and 30 minutes from Lynchburg. The eastern shore tends to have some of the lake's best sunset views (facing west across the water). Buyers seeking resort-style amenities within a residential community find Mariners Landing's governance structure, pool complex, and golf access attractive. The trade-off is the highest HOA fees at the lake in exchange for the most managed living experience.

Penhook and Union Hall (Franklin County — South and West Shore)

Penhook and Union Hall are the primary Franklin County communities on the south and southwest shore, including portions of the Blackwater River arm. Franklin County's tax rate of $0.43 per $100 — lower than Pittsylvania but comparable to Bedford — combined with generally lower waterfront prices than the main channel north shore makes Penhook and Union Hall the value pocket of Smith Mountain Lake for buyers prioritizing cost efficiency over proximity to Westlake's commercial amenities.

The Blackwater arm running northwest from the main lake body is accessible from the Union Hall area. GoodHue Boat Company (formerly Crazy Horse Marina, now with a restaurant called Coasters open summer 2025) and Magnum Point Marina (now Blackwater Marina) serve the Blackwater arm. The upper Blackwater sees less boat traffic than the main channel, making it appealing for buyers who want quieter water. The Smith Mountain Dam and Visitor Center, operated by AEP, is in the Penhook area and is a free public attraction.

Wirtz (Franklin County — Upper Lake)

Wirtz sits on the Franklin County side north of Bridgewater Plaza, in the transition zone between the main lake body and the upper Roanoke River arm. Gill's Creek Marina and Lodge in Wirtz hosts the annual SML Fishing Tournament. The Waverly community — 130 acres, 100 homes, natural wooded setting, clubhouse and 26-slip marina — is a notable planned community in this area that draws buyers who want a smaller, more curated neighborhood environment. Waterfront options in Wirtz tend to be more affordable than comparable square footage on the main channel.

Notable Planned Communities Across the Lake

Smith Mountain Lake has several planned communities that cut across the general geography described above and are worth knowing by name when searching listings. The Boardwalk, a 100-plus-acre community along four miles of Franklin County shoreline, features Nantucket-style cottage homes, a 2,000-foot namesake boardwalk, and recreational courts. The Farm in Hardy (Bedford County) is a 63-property luxury community with a community dock and picnic pavilion. South Harbour is a small (48-property) exclusive Franklin County community of waterfront cottages and estates. Park Place, a Franklin County community near the SML Community Park, offers custom-built homes and resident access to the county park's beach and fishing pier.

Water's Edge Country Club in Franklin County is another planned community anchored by a PGA Championship course. Bernard's Landing on the Bedford County north shore has transitioned primarily to resort accommodations and vacation rentals. Each of these communities has its own declaration, HOA governance, and covenants. Before pursuing a listing in any of them, confirm the HOA fee structure, any restrictions on short-term rentals, and the dock and marina access rules specific to that community.

Choosing the Right Area

The honest summary of Smith Mountain Lake geography: Bedford County north shore (Moneta, Hardy, Huddleston) offers the most amenity access, the best state park, the most resort infrastructure, and the lowest real estate tax rate — at the cost of higher purchase prices and heavier boat traffic in season. Franklin County south and west shore (Penhook, Union Hall, Wirtz) offers lower purchase prices, a quieter character (particularly on the Blackwater arm), and a slightly higher but still low tax rate — at the cost of longer drives to Westlake commercial services. Buyers who want to maximize waterfront for the dollar without caring about proximity to the Kroger gravitate to Franklin County. Buyers who prioritize walkability to services and the resort amenity experience gravitate to Hardy and Huddleston.