Who this area suits
Is this your part of the lake?
Buyers who want to walk out for coffee, retirees who want the Carilion clinic close, condo and townhome buyers, and anyone who does not want a twenty-five minute drive for milk.
Boater's shorthand: Where the Blackwater arm meets the Roanoke channel.
The lake's practical hub
Westlake Towne Center at the junction of Routes 122 and 616 carries groceries, a pharmacy, hardware, and specialty shops. Carilion Clinic Smith Mountain Lake is here for primary and urgent care. For big-box shopping, Bedford is about twenty minutes and Roanoke about thirty.
Bridgewater Plaza and the Hales Ford Bridge
Bridgewater Plaza is the lake's front porch — restaurants, boat rentals, mini golf, and the place everyone means when they say "meet at the Plaza." The Hales Ford Bridge (Route 122) is the crossing that stitches the two halves of the lake together.
Where the condos are
If you want lake access without a yard, this is your zip code. Bridgewater Pointe, Bridgewater Grande, and several nearby communities put you a short walk from dinner and a short ride from open water.
Franklin County short-term rental rules apply
Franklin County has historically been more restrictive than Bedford about short-term rentals in residential zoning, and the ordinance has been actively revisited. Do not assume; verify for the exact parcel.
One thing to watch here
Convenience is priced in. Expect to pay more per square foot here than in Penhook for comparable water, and expect summer traffic on 122 at the bridge.
The practical facts
- County
- Franklin County (at the Bedford line)
- Towns
- Westlake, Moneta (Franklin side), Wirtz
- Roanoke
- 35 min
- Rocky Mount
- 20 min
- Bedford
- 25 min
- Groceries & pharmacy
- 5 min
Schools
Franklin County Public Schools on the Franklin side; Bedford County schools just across the Hales Ford Bridge.
Communities in and around Westlake & Hales Ford
A starting point, not a complete list — there are more than 320 waterfront subdivisions across the lake.
| Community | Where | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Copper Cove at WestlakeGolf | Westlake, Franklin Co. | Semi-private 6,511-yard Russell Breeden course near the lake's commercial hub — the most convenient golf community for everyday life. |
| Bernard's LandingCondos · Resort | Moneta, Franklin Co. | A 70-acre peninsula with three pools, tennis and pickleball, a beach, marina and waterfront dining. Slips leased; short-term rentals allowed. |
| Bridgewater PointeCondos | Moneta, Bedford Co. | Waterfront condominiums near Bridgewater Plaza with a pool, day docks and covered slip leases. Short-term rentals allowed. |
| Bridgewater GrandeWaterfront · New Construction | Moneta, Bedford Co. | A gated waterfront development of about 30 homesites within walking distance of Bridgewater Plaza, with a pool, pickleball and a community boat storage area. Still building out. |
| The FarmWaterfront · Eco | Moneta, Franklin Co. | Green-building focused community of 63 properties, 17 of them waterfront. |
What are you looking for here?
The agent who is right for a waterfront estate in this area is not the agent who is right for a condo. Pick what fits.
Condos & Townhomes
Lock the door and go. The lake's lowest-maintenance path to the water — and often the easiest one to rent out.
What to knowGolf Communities
Four distinct clubs, four very different memberships. Choosing the course is really choosing the community.
What to knowInvestment & Rentals
The single most important fact for an investor at this lake: the rules change at the county line.
What to knowRentals
Renting first is the smartest thing most lake buyers never do. We will help you find it — even though there is nothing in it for us.
What to knowOther parts of the lake
Moneta & the North Shore
The classic lake side. Cottages and chalets tucked into wooded coves, the State Park, and the county where short-term rentals are permitted.
Explore this areaHuddleston & the East End
Deep water, wide views, and the quietest stretch of main channel — the lake between the bridges and the dam.
Explore this areaHardy, Wirtz & the West End
The commuter's end of the lake. Closest to Roanoke, narrower protected water, and the best odds of keeping a real job while living on a lake.
Explore this areaThinking about Westlake & Hales Ford?
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