West Virginia features a beautiful landscape of rolling hills, forests, peaks, plateaus, and verdant river valleys that beckon locals and visitors to come and spend a while getting closer to nature. The good news for camping and RV enthusiasts is that there is a wide choice of brilliant campgrounds and RV parks dotted around the state’s many state parks and national forests waiting to welcome you.
Audra State Park, Buckhannon
Audra State Park is a particularly scenic stretch of forested land that lies along the Middle Fork River, mainly in Barbour County. The campground has a total of 67 campsites for tents and RVs, 13 of which have electrical hook-up. You can spend your days swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the Middle Fork River, cast a line into the river or the Teter Creek Lake to catch a trout for your dinner, or enjoy biking, boating (whitewater rafting available), or hiking in the pristine wilderness. At the end of a busy outdoor day you can enjoy a hot shower in the modern bath house before gathering around your campfire for a barbeque.
Audra State Park, 8397 Audra Park Rd, Buckhannon, WV 26201, Phone: 304-457-1162
Baker’s Run Campground, Sutton Lake
Operated by the US Army Engineers Corps of Engineers, Baker’s Run Campground is located right on the shores of Sutton Lake, offering 14 wonderful waterfront camp sites. In total the campground has 77 sites suitable for both tents and RVs or camping trailers, and about half of these offer electrical hook-up. This is a brilliant campground to choose if you love fishing and messing about on boats – there is a launch area in the campground and you are welcome to bring just about any type of boat. The campground offers both hiking and biking trails and there are hot showers where you can freshen up at the end of a long and busy day.
Baker’s Run Campground, 1628 Bakers Run Rd, Sutton, WV 26601, Phone: 304-765-5631
Bear Heaven, Monongahela National Forest
When you really feel the need to head off for some solitary time communing with nature you can make your way to Bear Heaven Campground close to the Otter Creek Wilderness near Elkins. This lightly trafficked primitive campground has just eight first-come first-served campsites (tents and vans only), set in a beautiful forested area. You can go hiking along the 3.7-mile Middle Road Trail nearby or take on over 45 miles of trails inside the Otter Creek Wilderness. The campground has pit toilets and you will need to bring in everything you need for your camping trip, including water as there is none available on site.
Bear Heaven Campground, Forest Road 91, Elkins, WI 26241, Phone: 304-636-1800
Beech Fork State Park, Barboursville
Beech Fork State Park near Barboursville offers four well-serviced campgrounds with a total of 275 campsites, many of which are right on the shores of Beech Fork Lake. Old Orchard Campground is open year round and you can book your site well in advance. You can expect just about everything you need for a relaxing camping holiday, including electrical and sewer hook-up, bath houses with hot showers, a coin-operated laundry, and even free Wi-Fi. The campground has a large swimming pool, a marina, and a convenience store for all those basics you left at home. You can go hiking and biking along a selection of trails, take a boat out on the lake, or simply relax and do some birdwatching.
Beech Fork State Park, 5601 Long Branch Rd, Barboursville, WV 25504, Phone: 304-528-5794
Big Bear Lake Family Camplands, Bruceton
Big Bear Lake Family Camplands is a privately owned camper’s paradise nestled in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains near Bruceton. The facility offers a variety of camping options (including owning your own permanent campsite) and overnight visitors are welcome in Beaver Creek Village. The campground offers a host of activities to keep the whole family busy all day long, including Bearfoot Springs Waterpark, hiking and biking trails, basketball and volleyball courts as well as loads of boating fun on Big Bear Lake. There is full hook-up for your RV and all campsites include a picnic table and fire pit, and you can reserve your site well in advance.
Big Bear Lake Family Camplands, 450 Big Bear Lake Rd, Bruceton Mills, WV 26525, Phone: 304-379-4382
Big Bend Campground, Monongahela National Forest
Big Bend Campground is a lightly used family campground located in Smoke Hole Canyon, beside the south branch of the Potomac River. The campground can accommodate tents, RVs, and camping trailers on 46 sites, 18 of which may not be reserved. Each site lies in the shade of beautiful old-growth forest and has a lantern holder, fire pit, and picnic table. Each loop also has toilets and a shower house. You can spend your days exploring over 30 miles of maintained hiking trails or be more adventurous and set off into the expansive backcountry. The river offers canoeing and kayaking and you can also do some trout fishing and birdwatching.
Big Bend Campground, Monongahela National Forest, WV 26241, Phone: 304-358-3253
Blackwater Falls State Park, Davis
Tucked away in a very special corner of the Allegheny Mountains in Tucker County, Blackwater Falls State Park is an excellent place for campers and RV enthusiasts to set up camp. You can reserve your favorite campsite in advance from Memorial Day to Labor Day each year. There are 65 campsites to choose from, 30 of which offer electric hook-up, and the campground has good restrooms with hot showers, flush toilets, and a coin-operated laundry. The park has several lookout points from which you can see the beautiful Blackwater and Elakala Falls. Besides brilliant hiking you can also enjoy boating and fishing, volleyball, basketball, and tennis.
Blackwater Falls State Park, 1587 Blackwater Lodge Rd, Davis, WV 26260, Phone: 304-259-5216
Bluestone State Park, Hinton
Bluestone State Park is a West Virginian gem – a huge forested wilderness recreational area located around the shores of Bluestone Lake. The park offers visitors the chance to get back to nature and enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and outdoor ball games. To fully enjoy everything the park has to offer, you need to spend a few days on site – bring your tent or RV to one of the four campgrounds on offer. The Meador Campsite welcomes tents and RVs and offers some sites with electrical and water hookup and a central bathhouse. The other campsites are a bit more rustic (no hook-ups) and if you crave a truly primitive camping experience, you can head to the East Shore campground, which is accessible by boat only.
Bluestone State Park, H.C 78, Hinton, WV 25951, Phone: 304-466-2805
Bulltown Campground, Burnsville Lake
Bulltown Campground lies on the site of a Civil War battle in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains. You can bring your tent, RV, or camping trailer to one of 200 campsites and settle in to enjoy a great family vacation close to all the area attractions. Each loop of the campground has toilets, showers, and a children’s playground and the facilities for adults include basketball courts, interpretive trails, and horseshoe pits. Besides visiting the nearby Bulltown Historical Village for a glimpse of life during the Civil War era, you can enjoy hiking, biking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, fishing, boating, and waterskiing.
Bulltown Camp, 2550 South Main Street, Burnsville, WV 26335-7516, Phone: 304-452-8006
Canaan Valley, Davis
It’s not often that campers find themselves in a campground that offers upscale resort facilities, but this is exactly what you can look forward to when you set up camp at the Canaan Valley Resort and Conference Center. The 34 campsites offer everything you need for a comfortable stay, including full hook-up, comfort stations with showers, and a laundry and a discharge station for self-contained RVs. Campers can avail themselves of all the resorts facilities, which means you can start your day with a swim in the heated pool, have a relaxing spa treatment, or set off on foot to explore Seneca Rocks or the Smoke Hole Caverns. There are on-site restaurants when you don’t feel like cooking and children will love the games arcade.
Canaan Valley Resort, 230 Main Lodge Rd, Davis, WV 26260, Phone: 304-866-4121
Coopers Rock State Forest, Bruceton Mills
The brilliant views on offer at the Coopers Rock State Forest bring regulars back year after year. To fully enjoy this beautiful forested area you can set up camp at one of the 25 serviced campsites, all of which offer full hook-up to make camping more comfortable. The vast forested area offers hikers and bikers over 50 miles of maintained trails to explore, and the campground has playgrounds for younger children. Other activities include picnicking, fishing in Coopers Rock Lake, and geocaching, while a short drive will bring you to the Lake View Golf Resort, the Morgantown Glass Museum, and great rafting on the Cheat River.
Coopers Rock State Forest, 61 County Line Dr, Bruceton Mills, WV 26525, Phone: 304-594-1561
Gauley River Wild and Woolly Primitive Campground, Summersville
If you long to indulge in some primitive camping far from the usual crowded campgrounds, this delightfully secluded private campground could be just what you need. The Gauley River Wild and Woolly Primitive Campground is located on the privately owned Tawney Farm and at most times of the year you can set up camp in total solitude. Although the campsite is primitive, the owners supply a portable toilet and even an outdoor hot water shower where you can freshen up after a long day of exploring the beautiful river gorge along a selection of nature trails. Your campsite is equipped with a campfire grill and firewood. To make it even easier, you can just bring your sleeping bags and rent a comfortable large tent with four airbeds on site.
Gauley River Wild and Woolley Primitive Campground, 286 Arnette Rd, Summersville, WV 26651, Phone: 304-619-7332
Holly River State Park, Hacker Valley
Nestled in the heart of an 8,000-acre tract of verdant forest, Holly River State Park is the ideal antidote to life in the city. Visitors can set up camp in the large campground, which offers a choice of 88 campsites with electrical hook-up. Each section of the campground has a bathhouse with showers and toilets as well as a coin-op laundry facility. You can spend your days getting closer to nature as you explore up to 42 miles of trails on foot or by bike, some of which will lead you to waterfalls and excellent lookout points. Equestrians can bring their horses – three of the campsites include a horse corral.
Holly River State Park, 680 State Park Rd, Hacker Valley, WV 26222, Phone: 304-493-6353
Kumbrabow State Forest, Huttonsville
Kumbrabow State Forest is scenically located near the top of Rich Mountain on the edge of the Allegheny Highlands, surrounded by over 9,000 acres of high-altitude forests. Visitors who would like a few days to explore the beautiful area can book one of 13 campsites in the Millcreek Campground on the banks of a lovely trout stream. This is a lightly trafficked campground and you may be lucky enough to have this little corner of paradise all to yourself. The campsites give direct access to some brilliant and challenging hiking and biking trails. Other activities include fishing and wildlife watching and experiencing the fun of stargazing around your campfire.
Kumbrabow State Forest, 219/16 Kumbrabow Rd, Huttonsville, WV 26273, Phone: 304-335-2219
Lake Sherwood Campground, Monongahela Forest
Lake Sherwood Campground in the Monongahela Forest is a great option for families, offering good facilities and plenty to do for all ages. The campground has a total of 104 campsites suitable for tents, RVs, and camping trailers as well as three group camping areas. Although there is no electrical hookup, each campsite has the usual picnic table, fire pit, and barbecue and each section offers easy access to restrooms with hot showers and flush toilets. There are lakeside picnic pavilions with tables and barbecues and Lake Sherwood has two of the best swimming beaches in the area. You can also enjoy canoeing and kayaking, and don’t forget to look out for the many species of wildlife that you may encounter as you explore the various backpacking and day hiking trails.
Lake Sherwood Campground, Monongahela Forest, 200 Sycamore St, Elkins, WV 26241, Phone: 304-636-1800
East Fork Campground, Lynn Lake
Scenically nestled along the shores of East Lynn Lake on Twelve Pole Creek, East Fork Campground is the perfect getaway destination for camping and water activities. You can set up camp on one of 166 shady campsites offering electrical and/or water hook-up and spend your days enjoying boating, waterskiing, fishing, hiking, picnicking, and wildlife watching. In addition to having the use of a boat ramp, campers can enjoy basketball and volleyball courts, an amphitheater, and a children’s playground. At the end of your busy day you can have a hot shower before settling down to cook your catch of the day over the campfire grill.
East Fork Campground, East Lynn Lake, Wayne, WV 25512, Phone: 304-849-2355
Mountain Lake Campground, Summersville
Summersville’s Mountain Lake Campground has everything you need for a fun-filled family camping vacation. The large campground offers a choice of fully serviced or primitive campsites where you can pitch your tent or park your RV, all of which have a fire pit, picnic table, and easy access to toilets and showers. If you are bringing your own boat, you can reserve one of the lakeside campsites, which allows you to tie up right in front of your site. The whole family can enjoy the bathing beach, outdoor pool, mini-golf, and basketball, and there is a bouncing mat and playground for younger children. While the emphasis is on watersports, there are also hiking and biking trails to explore.
Mountain Lake Campground, 1898 Airport Rd, Summersville, WV 26651, Phone: 304-872-6222
New River Gorge National Park, Glen Jean
New River Gorge National Park is located along a 50-mile stretch of the scenic New River, which offers exceptional outdoor recreational activities both on land and on the river. You can really get back to nature by bringing along your tent or (small) RV and setting up camp in one of the eight primitive campgrounds dotted throughout the park. Although the campgrounds are all located close to the river, you will need to bring along everything you need as there are no hook-ups and limited access to restrooms. Activities in the park include whitewater rafting, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing on the river as well as hiking, cycling, rock climbing, and wildlife watching.
New River Gorge National Park, 104 Main Street, Glen Jean, WV 25846, Phone: 304-465-0508
North Bend State Park, Cairo
Scenically located along the banks of the north fork of the Hughes River, North Bend State Park has two campgrounds where nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts can set up camp to enjoy a wonderful wilderness getaway. The campgrounds are open from around mid-April to October and some sites offer electric and water hook-up while others just have the usual fire pit and picnic table for visitors wanting a more back-to-nature camping experience. You can have hours of fun fishing at the lake or launch your boat or kayak – rentals are available on site. Hiking and biking are popular activities in the park, especially along the almost-level 72-mile North Bend Rail Trail, and there is an abundance of wildlife to observe.
North Bed State Park, 202 North Bend Park Road, Cairo, WV 26337, Phone: 304-643-2931
Seneca Shadows Campground, Monongahela National Forest
Boasting outstanding views of Seneca Rocks, Seneca Shadows Campground is the newest campground in the Spruce-Knob/Seneca Rocks Recreational Area. As the new kid on the block, you can expect modern campground facilities including electrical hook-up (loop C only), showers, flushing toilets, fire pits, and picnic tables. There are also three group campsites, each of which can accommodate up to 40 campers – the ideal place to escape to with your buddies. The campground is ideally placed for hikers and rock climbers who wish to climb to the top of Seneca Rocks. Other activities include fishing on the river (catch and release) and exploring two local caves.
Seneca Shadows Campground, Seneca Rocks, WV 26884, Phone: 304-636-1800
Spruce Knob Lake Campground, Monongahela National Forest
Picturesquely located close to Spruce Knob, which is the highest point in West Virginia, Spruce Knob Lake Campground offers a total of 42 primitive campsites where nature lovers can enjoy a pioneer-style camping experience (vault toilets and no hook-ups). What the campground lacks in the way modern camping conveniences it makes up for in atmosphere, as it is situated on a peaceful wooded ridge overlooking the lake. Most of the sites have a fire pit and picnic table and drinking water is available. Campers have easy access to the stocked lake for excellent trout fishing and non-motorized boating, and the surrounding forest offers over 60 miles of marked hiking trails, including the popular 1-mile Big Bend River Loop.
Spruce Knob Lake Campground, Monongahela National Forest, WV 26884, Phone: 304-636-1800
Summersville Lake Retreat and Lighthouse, Mount Nebo
Not everyone enjoys the same type of camping – some prefer to have all their home comforts at hand while others just want to pitch their tent in a quiet primitive campground. At Summersville Lake you can choose which option suits you best – bring along your large RV and enjoy both electric and water hook-up or rough it a little at one of the primitive tent sites. The pull-through RV sites are spacious enough to give everyone some privacy and there are great views of the forests and lake. All the campsites have access to clean tiled washrooms, water-craft rentals, and lighthouse tours.
Summersville Lake Retreat and Lighthouse, 278 Summersville Lake Rd, Mount Nebo, WV 26679, Phone: 304-872-5975
The Flatwoods KOA, Sutton
Perfect for an overnight stay or an extended camping vacation, The Flatwoods KOA campground near Sutton can accommodate most RVs (up to 85 foot) and camping trailers in a variety of spacious pull-through or back-in campsites. All the sites offer full electric and water hookup and there are clean shower rooms, a laundry facility, and a games room and children’s playground. You can also enjoy other upmarket facilities on site, including an indoor heated swimming pool, outdoor pool (seasonal), gym, restaurant, and tavern. You can go hiking along a selection of trails and there is a large outlet mall nearby if you feel the need for some retail therapy. This campground does not offer tent sites.
The Flatwoods KOA, 350 Days Drive, Sutton, WV 26601, Phone: 304-765-5055
Tygart Lake State Park, Grafton
Scenically nestled in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains, Tygart Lake State Park offers families the chance to enjoy a great lakeside camping vacation. You can pitch a tent or bring your RV to one of the 40 camping sites (14 offer electric hook-up) and prepare to enjoy a wide variety of lake activities, including kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddle boarding – rental equipment is available on site. Tygart Lake is known for offering excellent bass and trout fishing and the park has five hiking trails that will lead you to some great lookout points. Other campground activities include geocaching and golf (nearby).
Tygart Lake State Park, 1240 Paul E. Malone Rd, Grafton, WV 26354, Phone: 304-265-6144
Watoga State Park, Marlinton
Watoga State Park covers over 10,000 acres of land in the mountains of Pocahontas County, providing a vast recreational playground for nature lovers. If you want to try your hand at all the activities on offer, you will need to set up camp for at least a few days in either Beaver Creek Campground or Riverside Campground, both of which offer both primitive and full-service campsites. You can explore over 40 miles of hiking and biking trails, enjoy paddling and canoeing on the lake, or go fishing for your dinner. At the end of a busy outdoor day you can look forward to a hot shower at the central bath house.
Watoga State Park, 4800 Watoga Park Rd, Marlinton, WV 24954, Phone: 304-799-4087
