126 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The Monongahela National Forest surrounds Elkins, West Virginia, creating a landscape rich with camping opportunities ranging from developed sites to remote backcountry areas. Stuart NF Campground sits directly in Elkins, providing convenient access to town amenities while offering both tent and RV sites with full hookups. Within a 30-minute drive, Audra State Park Campground features riverside sites along the Middle Fork River, while Five River Campground in Parsons offers year-round camping with options for tents, RVs, and glamping accommodations. Dispersed camping can be found at Gandy Creek and Lower Glady, both primitive areas managed by the Forest Service that provide more solitary experiences for self-sufficient campers.
Narrow mountain roads with blind curves characterize access to many campgrounds in the region, particularly those at higher elevations like Spruce Knob Lake. As one camper noted, "The drive is on a combination of narrow, winding, mostly unpaved roads. Go slow because there are plenty of blind curves." Cell service is extremely limited throughout the area, with most campgrounds offering no connectivity. Weather patterns include frequent afternoon rain showers even in summer months, with one visitor reporting, "I have mastered the fine art of campsite tarping due to West Virginia camping." Most campgrounds operate seasonally from April through October, closing during winter months when snow makes access difficult.
Wildlife encounters are commonly reported by campers staying near Elkins, with deer frequently wandering through campsites at dawn and dusk. Bear activity requires proper food storage throughout the region. Riverside campsites receive particularly high ratings, with locations along the Shavers Fork of the Cheat River and Middle Fork River being especially popular. Visitors consistently mention the quality of night sky viewing due to minimal light pollution. Weekday camping typically offers more solitude, while weekends see higher occupancy rates, especially at state parks. Temperature variations can be significant, with one camper noting, "It is much cooler at elevation, even in summer, and the winds on the summit cut through like a knife." Many campgrounds feature access to hiking trails, with connections to notable landmarks like Seneca Rocks and Spruce Knob.
"Audra State Park, is a bit off the beaten path but well worth the journey. Tucked away, just outside of Buckhannon, WV...home of West Virginia Wesleyan College."
"v=VLUEBlIxHpo) Trails undulate with the terrain. The short trail within the campground area is steep in areas but offers some nice views."
"This is a hidden gem right outside of town. We utilized one of the rv sites with 50 amp service and full hookups."
"It sets at the end of a side street (Walnut St) at the edge of town (Parsons). A small, quaint mountain town."
from $15 / night
Check Availability"Blackwater State Park, Davis, WV https://wvstateparks.com/park/blackwater-falls-state-park/ Camping anywhere in West Virginia is a highlight, but this area offers hiking views aplenty."
"This was our first stay in a state park campground in West Virginia and it was a great stay. Arrived during a steady downpour and rented a cabin for the first night but camped the second night."
from $50 / night
Check Availability"Close to Elkins and half hour from Davis. Very nice area and primitive campsites to base your outdoor adventures from!"
"One of the advantages of this particular campground is that it's not far from the town of Elkins, so you can go back into town if you don't feel like campsite cooking— lots of good restaurants and entertainment"
"Very centrally located to many fun attractions including the railroad tours, Mongahelia National Forest, Davis and Elkins College, etc."
"Restaurant, Shavers Saloon, was walking distance and had full bar with good food. Service there was great. Bathrooms were older but very clean. Plenty of hot water."
"The main reason I'm reluctant to give it five stars(I gave it 4) is because nearly all of its many campsites cannot be entered by vehicle; you have to park next to the dirt road that runs north-south through"
"Some you walk-in a short distance but are rewarded with amazing sites on the creek, secluded and wooded. Other places you can camp in your vehicle or park at the site."
"We had to drive back to route 33 and the halfway to Elkins to catch a sliver of cell service. If you are staying at camp and brought everything you need, you're golden."
"simply would not like it all, but might be ideal for your purposes, such as two or three areas where there is essentially a big field with a short loop road with maybe half a dozen campsites right next to"
"There is one building with showers and flush toilets near the entrance, and several outhouse style toilets scattered around."
from $33 - $150 / night
Check Availability"I stayed here for a single night while I was exploring West Virginia, but I wish I had stayed longer. This is one of the most beautiful campgrounds I've ever seen."
"West Virginia is packed with some of the best hiking, climbing, rafting, biking, canyons, mountains, rivers, valleys, and forests in the U.S...and the beauty is few people take advantage of it."
from $17 - $65 / night
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TravelerThis place is beautiful! I loved seeing all the wildlife! My daughter and I enjoyed walking the entire campground looking for Bigfoot.😉 we loved waking up the next morning to having squirrels, chipmunks, deer and birds on our campsite. We stayed on site 14
ScoutSuper remote camp spot! The drive to the forest road was a little tight and windy for an inexperienced mountain driver as myself. Wouldn't want to do it at night.
Most camp spots are on loops of more group camping with 4-6 sites at each loop and I believe there were 3 or 4 loops. Not my cup of tea, too fish bowl for me and way too exposed. Outside of the loops, there were 8-10 sites that were more my style, with the one we stayed at was just right! The most perfect spot in the whole place (for our preferences) we were literally on a babbling creek. Couldn't get any closer. Had direct access to water for washing and other needs. However I read in a brochure to not drink the water without boiling for 3 minutes because the area has giardia.
Saw a lot of people headed further down creek to fish for trout. No cell service for about 20 minutes. We had to drive back to route 33 and the halfway to Elkins to catch a sliver of cell service.
If you are staying at camp and brought everything you need, you're golden. There are lots of things to occupy yourself with exploring. There is a trailhead on forest rd 162 with miles of hiking with a hand full of trails to choose.
We arrived around 4PM on a Sunday. Plenty of sites to choose from. Was about half full. When we got up the next morning to leave, most spots were open. We stayed until mid day on Friday. Action was definitely picking up. Saw more people, more kids and louder noises. We are definitely Sunday to Thursday campers. I want to camp without knowing the neighbors are there. When leaving on Friday most sites were taken.
Had no problems finding plenty of fallen kindling for our fire. We found a great roadside house on route 33 that was selling firewood in their front yard for only $10 a "row" as they called it. We got 2 rows because we werent sure what to expect when we got there. We built a good hearty fire every morning and every evening and still had firewood we left there since there was so much accessible resources.
We ended up doing a lot of "tourist" experiences that was a bit of a drive to get to due to my inexperience in driving in the mountains. The drives were usually 30 minutes to an hour and a half. But well worth the drive.
Elkins is the closest place to "civilization" (north on 33) we went there for cheap gas, ice, and the grocery store. Didn't explore Elkins as it was too "city" for us. We wanted more remote experiences.
Harman was the next closest place (south on 33) not much for exploring, but they have a dollar general (what remote town doesn't have a dollar general?) and a place for gas
Continue on 33 south and hit Seneca Rocks! Such a beautiful sight to see! Also have the oldest general store built in 1902 and Yokums country store. Its like going back in time. Both tourist traps but worth the experience. We went to the recreation area with river access so beautiful to see the cliffs upclose and personal. If you are a climber this is the place for you. We are hikers. But enjoyed the views.
Continuing on 33 south there is smoke hole caverns. Another tourist trap but fun. For $20 you get a cavern tour tack on a little more if you want to go gem "panning" and get a bag of dirt to find gems. Or putt putt. Giant gift shop. Someone said it was the largest gift shop in West Virginia.
From Seneca Rocks if you head west on 28 it will take you past Seneca Caverns. They were closed for the summer due to blasting nearby.
Continuing on 28 west you then come to one of my favorite spots. Spruce Knob. The highest elevation in all of West Virginia, gorgeous views all around! Terrible observation tower that you cant see anything due to trees. Nice picnic area. Going down the other side of the mountain Spruce Knob lake, lots more trail heads AND a fantastic dispersed camping area! Seneca Creek backcountry. Didn't camp here. Will camp here next time. All dirt roads down the other side of the mountain. But so worth the adventure!
From camp and going to Harman take 32 east and that will take you to Canaan Valley state park, didn't explore too much but access to a lot more hiking
Then you come to Davis WV one of the cutest little towns ever! Very developed for back country but very very quaint. The davis depot has some camping/hiking clothes and lots of tourist items with t-shirts stickers and such. But great designs. Spent a hunk of change here. Has a grocery store and a dollar general. And a hiking, camping, backpacking store. Has gear, clothes, shoes, you name it. Had an issue with my hiking boots. Got good quality boots here! There are several small boutique stores a couple of restaurants a brewery and a bicycle shop.
Last point of interest I'll address, on the other side of Davis, Blackwater State Park. Easy in intermediate hiking here did most of our hiking here. Gorgeous falls. 3 to be exact. Nice overlooks. Nice recreation center for the kids. Near Canaan loop rd.[Canaan loop rd has dispersed camping too. This is where I had planned on camping when we came to WV and ended up over in Glady. However, I was told by the guy at the camp store in Davis that it was closed. I cannot confirm this. But just definitely check into it before solidifying plans]
My preferences for camping are not usually the whole tourist thing. But WV has so much to offer I just couldn't get enough! So we kept trekking out to see more. The drive is a lot and was a whole day's journey round trip with spending time at those locations but so worth it. Not that far of a drive in the scheme of things
Will come back to this area over and over for all the dispersed camping options and for all the sights and experiences packed in such a small area.
TravelerThere were at least 12 numbered sites. Free dispersed camping. 14 day limit. Most sites had sun so you could have solar. Some sites were very private tucked far off the gravel road. All sites were very spaced out. Very quiet.
TravelerI used the coordinates and it took me to a campground that charges $15 a day. They weren’t private being right on the gravel road. There were tables,pits and the shepherds hook in each one. There were some that were on the river. There were toilets. I didn’t use them so I can’t say anything more about them. Not much sun thru the dense trees for solar. I kept driving around the forest on FR227 and came upon a whole nother set of labeled dispersed campsites that were very private and have open areas for solar. They were numbered. There were at least 12 that I saw.
ScoutThe biggest problem with the WV state parks is the cancellation policy. Make sure you check it out. Bath houses are decent. Shower had hot water and good pressure. Most of the sites are not level 1-9 are the best sites by far. Poor drainage when raining.
ScoutThe surroundings are beautiful as is the Campground. No water or sewer so be prepared for that. The shower/laundry/bathroom building is centrally located and immaculate.
ScoutAbsolutely no service here cell or internet. We have a starlink so are connected if needed Stayed at the furthest site removed from anyone. Very beautiful.
ScoutBeautiful quiet place
TravelerI’m a new car camper and my mom and I took a day trip out to check out the sites. When I tell you this is the most beautiful, secluded, peaceful camping site I truly couldn’t have asked for a better find!! I did however (like an idiot) end up going waaay too far down the trail (aka the whole 18 miles) and THANK GOD I drive a 4 runner!! That road gets pretty sketchy in most spots the further you go down but I somehow (by the grace of God) made it through the whole thing IN TWO WHEEL DRIVE!! ugh may never do that again but the camping is fantastic!! If you wanna check out more of the off-roading aspect I recommend checking out nolimitbmore on youtube! Will be spending most of my summer & fall here!!
Monongahela National Forest encompasses over 919,000 acres in eastern West Virginia, with Elkins positioned at approximately 2,000 feet elevation along its western edge. Camping spots near Elkins, West Virginia provide access to extensive limestone cave systems, high-elevation spruce forests, and multiple watershed headwaters. Summer temperatures typically range 10-15 degrees cooler than surrounding lowland areas, making it a popular destination during hot months.
Fishing access: Several campgrounds along Shavers Fork of the Cheat River offer direct fishing opportunities. At Five River Campground, "The river is fantastic and holds trout and smallmouth for those that like to fish" according to one visitor, who noted the convenient riverside location.
Hiking to unique geological formations: The region features distinctive sandstone and limestone formations. Near Bear Heaven Campground, "Right beside the camp ground is a really cool area to explore unique boulders and rock structures. You can either walk through or climb these boulders." This area connects to several mountain biking trails.
Waterfall exploration: Multiple waterfalls dot the region's river systems. A camper at Blackwater Falls State Park noted, "We really enjoyed the falls & were able to take a couple of hikes. Wonderful views from the lodge & one of Pendleton Falls from the road. The Falls of Elakala is a short walk from the lodge."
Winter recreation: While most campgrounds close during winter, some areas remain accessible for day use. According to one winter camper at Lower Glady, "I drove in during a small snow storm, it was in the single digits for temp, and I woke up with about 8 inches on the ground."
Established fire pits and rings: Fire rings at many dispersed camping sites are well-maintained. At Lower Glady Dispersed Campground, "The campsites are boarded by boulders. The toilet was one of the cleanest I have seen. Most sites have good shade while still open to the sky. Sites are level and have good back-in driveways. Fire rings are large."
Riverside camping options: Many campers seek sites directly on rivers. At Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping, "We lucked out with a very spacious site right at the creek's edge. Towering pines lined the sight, and provided a gorgeous backdrop for the stars and fireflies at night."
Swimming access: Natural swimming areas are popular in summer months. As noted by a camper at Gandy Creek, "Several spots along the creek are deep enough for swimming," providing natural cooling options during hot days.
Accessibility to small towns: The proximity to small towns adds convenience without sacrificing wilderness feel. A camper at Five River Campground appreciated that "Grocery store, gas station and a family dollar all within a 5 min drive or walk."
Road conditions vary significantly: Many campgrounds require navigating unpaved roads. At Seneca Shadows, a visitor noted "So many windy (but safe) country road as we entered the campgrounds," which can be challenging for larger vehicles.
Reservations systems differ by location: While some campgrounds offer reservations, others operate on first-come, first-served basis. At Audra State Park, "No reservations, first come, first served" is the rule, so plan accordingly, especially for weekend visits.
Seasonal closures affect most campgrounds: The majority of campgrounds operate from April through October. A camper at Blackwater Falls explained, "This is a very oddly laid out campground... The handicapped sites are in the first loop by the bathroom. There's a dump that's in the middle of the first loop. You have to go the wrong way on a one way road to dump."
Weekend crowding is common: Popular areas fill quickly, especially during summer weekends. At Lower Glady, one frustrated camper reported, "We tried to get a spot this weekend and arrived around 430pm on Friday. Every single spot was taken with many people who look like they have been set up there all summer."
Day-use areas supplement campground activities: Many parks offer additional facilities beyond camping areas. At Audra State Park Campground, "Across the road is a day use area for swimming and tubing - bring your own or rent one. The camp has a decent bath house and playground."
Short hiking trails for children: Kid-friendly trails exist throughout the region. At Stuart Recreation Area, "The 1.5 mile loop trail was great and just challenging enough to be fun. The campground and trail are filled with beautiful mountain laurel."
Creek exploration opportunities: Shallow streams provide natural play areas. At Five River Campground, one family noted, "The location is amazingly located right on the Shavers Fork river on a section that was shallow and calm enough for our small children to enjoy it."
Evening wildlife viewing: Wildlife sightings enhance family camping experiences. According to one visitor, "The tent areas were not very private and wasn't exactly what we were looking for but had a very nice view of Seneca Rocks," making wildlife viewing accessible even from campsites.
Limited full-hookup options: Only select campgrounds offer complete RV services. At Stuart NF Campground, "RV/Camper sites have power and water. Tent sites do not. In fact, tent sites might be considered primitive, possessing no picnic table."
Narrow access roads: Many campgrounds have restricted access. One RVer advised at Five River, "We utilized one of the rv sites with 50 amp service and full hookups. The rv sites are very close together but in the week that we stayed we never heard any noise other than our own children."
Consider site orientation: Some campgrounds have unusual layouts. At Blackwater Falls, "You back in & your door is facing the correct way, but your picnic table & fireplace are on the wrong side! A lot of sites on this loops are like that."
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the best campgrounds near Elkins, WV?
The Elkins area offers several excellent camping options. Seneca Shadows stands out with its stunning mountain views and mix of standard sites with utilities and more primitive walk-up tent sites. For a more secluded experience, Spruce Knob Lake Campground provides extra-large, shaded sites with plenty of privacy and is located near West Virginia's highest peak. Other notable options include Kumbrabow State Forest for primitive camping in a historic setting, Horseshoe Recreation Area for family-friendly amenities, and Stuart Recreation Area for those seeking water and toilet facilities. For budget-conscious campers, Eagle Rock Campground offers affordable riverside camping at just $10 per night, while Audra State Park is highly recommended by local campers for its superior facilities.
What are the most popular camping activities around Elkins, WV?
The Elkins area is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts with diverse activities year-round. Hiking trails abound, particularly at Kumbrabow State Forest which offers extensive trail networks through its 9,500-acre forest. Water activities are popular at Horseshoe Recreation Area, where visitors enjoy tubing, swimming, and fishing. The Greenbrier River Trail is perfect for bikepacking and hiking adventures. During winter, Canaan Valley transforms into a skiing destination with both downhill and cross-country options. Mountain climbing and rock climbing are available near Seneca Shadows. Wildlife viewing and photography opportunities are plentiful throughout the region's forests and mountains, while stargazing is exceptional due to minimal light pollution, especially at higher elevations like Spruce Knob.
What RV rental options are available in Elkins, West Virginia?
While Elkins itself has limited dedicated RV rental businesses, there are several campgrounds that accommodate RVs with varying levels of hookups and amenities. Canaan Valley Resort State Park Campground offers sites suitable for RVs with proper facilities. Five River Campground near Parsons is big-rig-friendly with water and toilet facilities. For those bringing their own RV, Revelle's River Resort provides similar amenities. Stuart Recreation Area and Stuart NF Campground both accommodate RVs with reservable sites and basic utilities. For RV rentals, visitors typically need to arrange through online platforms like RVshare or Outdoorsy, which connect travelers with local RV owners. Alternatively, renting from larger cities like Morgantown or Charleston before traveling to Elkins is an option for those who don't own an RV.
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