With all the comforts of home in tow, these 12 West Virginia campgrounds offer showstopping locations to unwind, recharge, and experience all that makes our state wild and wonderful.
Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA, Harpers Ferry
This family campground is a stone’s throw from Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, and River Riders Adventure Resort. It offers a variety of camping and lodging accommodations in a shaded and convenient setting. You’ll also find an on-site coffee and wine store, a junior olympic swimming pool, indoor and outdoor basketball courts, an arcade game room, the Bark Zone dog park, an indoor movie theater, a convenience store, laundry facilities, and $1 pancakes.
343 Campground Road, Harpers Ferry, koa.com/campgrounds/harpers-ferry
Big Bend Campground, Petersburg
Big Bend is a family campground that hugs the South Branch of the Potomac River in Smoke Hole Canyon, 10 miles south of Petersburg. With its convenient position on the river, the campground provides a great location for fishing, tubing, kayaking, and swimming. Big Bend offers 46 sites, each with a lantern holder, picnic table, and fire ring. There are two pit toilets, one shower house, and flushtoilet restrooms. There is also a dump and fill station.
12 Prowler Drive, Cabins, bit.ly/bigbendwv
Five River Camp Ground, Parsons
Home to the popular festival Pickin’ in Parsons, Five River Camp Ground has 138 full-service RV sites with 30/50-amp electric as well as tent sites, a bathhouse with unlimited hot showers, modern restrooms, a laundromat, and two dumping stations. Located on the banks of Shavers Fork River in Parsons, it is a perfect launchpad for kayaking and fishing. The Allegheny Highlands Trail is also just two blocks away.
750 Walnut Street, Parsons, fiverivercampground.com
Grand Vue Park, Moundsville
In 2023, Grand Vue Park added a new campground and a pool and waterpark to its adventure complex. Located 10 miles from Wheeling, it is a go-to spot for exploring the Ohio Valley. With 40 full hookup sites that include 30/50-amp electric service, sewage, and water plus two brand new bathhouses, Grand Vue Park offers campers access to all of its amenities and activities, with a 20% discount on zipline and adventure park activities.
250 Trail Drive, Moundsville, grandvuepark.com
Greenbrier River Campground, Alderson
Looking for a picturesque spot along the river? Then check out Greenbrier River Campground in Alderson, just 15 minutes from Lewisburg. The eight acres of RV and tent sites are lined with trees and have a great view of the river. The grounds also offer a bathhouse, a laundry facility, a swimming area, and a number of water activities. No need to bring your kayaks, canoes, and tubes—just rent them there. Don’t have an RV? Rent one of the campground’s vintage Airstreams or a ‘64 Shasta.
4316 Highland Trail, Alderson, greenbrierriver.com
Horseshoe Recreation Area, St. George
Horseshoe Recreation Area is a hidden gem stitched into a valley along Horseshoe Run River in the Monongahela National Forest. Each site offers picnic tables, grills, and waste receptacles, and standard sites have electric hookups. There are accessible vault toilets and non-accessible flush toilets. Hand pumps and a drinking fountain with faucet are available.
3309 Horseshoe Run Road, Parsons, bit.ly/horseshoewv
Lazy K’s Campground and Canoe Livery, Elkview
Located on the Elk River, Lazy K’s has over 70 acres for RV and tent camping, hiking, biking, ATV riding, and outdoor relaxation. You’ll feel far removed from the hustle and bustle, but the campground is conveniently located minutes from I-79 and 12 miles from Charleston. The 27 RV campsites have full- hookup electric, water, and sewer. Central fresh water fill and dump stations are provided on-site.
213 Lazy K Drive, Elkview, lazykscampground.com
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve Campgrounds
There are eight primitive campgrounds within New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, and they are all free and open year ’round. They don’t have bathhouses, hookups, utilities, or drinking water, and most are suitable for tent and small recreational campers. Most of the campgrounds provide easy access to the New River or its tributaries. Reservations aren’t currently available. Check the website for details about each camping area and NPS rules. nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/camping.htm
Mountain Lake Campground, Summersville
Summersville Lake is a mecca for campers. Mountain Lake Campground offers four distinct camping areas for RVs. From wooded to primitive to lakeview sites, they have a plethora of 20/30 amp locations with water and electric and some 50 amp locations. Fire pits, picnic tables, bathhouses, coin laundry facilities, basketball courts, volleyball nets, a small store, a mining sluice, a swimming beach, minigolf, a pool, an on-site pizza and ice cream shop, and playgrounds make this a family-friendly destination.
1898 Airport Road, Summersville, mountainlakecampground.com
State Parks, Statewide
Camping is West Virginia State Parks’ calling card. All 27 state parks and forests provide unique experiences and breathtaking scenery. From lakes to waterfalls to mind-blowing overlooks, pick your park and be prepared to make memories. Each state park has its own set of amenities, from horseback riding and golf to spas and restaurants, so make a plan to experience them all. wvstateparks.com
Summersville Lake Retreat & Lighthouse, Summersville
With serene lake views, spacious sites, charming cabins, and stellar hospitality, there’s a reason Summersville Lake Retreat & Lighthouse was voted WV Living’s Best Campground in West Virginia in 2021 and 2022. You can visit the lighthouse; explore the gift shop; rent a pontoon boat, kayak, or SUP to explore Summersville Lake; play on the Pirate Ship Playground; and let your dog romp in the large dog park—or just relax at your campsite. Don’t have a camper? No worries. Rent one of their darling new Vintage Campers. RV sites have 20/30/50 amp electric service along with water and septic systems, a picnic table, a private custom fire pit, and Adirondack chairs.
278 Summersville Lake Road, Mount Nebo, summersvillelakeretreat.com
Twin Hollow Campgrounds, Gilbert
If you’re looking for breathtaking views and easy access to the Hatfield-McCoy Trails system, then look no further. Positioned on top of the mountain with a breathtaking panoramic vista, Twin Hollow Campgrounds has 43 full-hookup mountaintop camping sites, 20 primitive camping sites, and its own direct trail access. ATVs, dirt bikes, and UTVs are allowed in the park—you can even rent one on-site. Make sure you enjoy some of the state’s finest barbeque at the campground’s restaurant, Trail 12 BBQ.
703 Twin Hollow, Gilbert, twinhollowcampground.com
On the Move
Airbnb meets RV
One of the fastest-growing vacation trends is the rental RV market. For those wanting to test-drive an RV, renting one is a smart choice. For those who own one and only use it a couple weeks a year, it is a way to help pay for your investment. There are several national companies, like Outdoorsy and RVShare, that take the guesswork out of the rental process with savvy and simple-to-use platforms—think Airbnb for RV rentals. Owners will even deliver the RV—from Airstreams to vintage campers to fifth wheels—to your chosen destination, airport, driveway, or campground.
According to Outdoorsy, millennials are on the move. In the past three years, both guests and hosts have been trending younger, with 43% of guests and 52% of hosts falling in the millennial age range.
Spend less Monet for Degas with VanGo
Morgantown’s VanGo Campervans are a popular way to experience West Virginia’s starry nights.
Founded in 2021 by a young couple, Tiphani Davis and Jesse Holbert, VanGo Campervans, a campervan rental company based in Morgantown, has quickly built a huge fanbase. They provide high-quality campervans at an affordable price while promoting sustainable tourism in our Appalachian region. Their campervans are perfect for navigating our country roads and are equipped with solar panels, beds, camp kitchens, rooftop tents, and other environmentally friendly features. vangocampervans.com
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S SUMMER 2023 ISSUE
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