West Virginia Campgrounds: Where to Stay in Nature

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

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

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 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 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 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

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 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 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

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