8 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Campgrounds near Athens, West Virginia range from established state parks to primitive riverside sites across the scenic New River basin. Pipestem Resort State Park, located approximately 10 miles southwest of Athens, offers both RV and tent camping with modern amenities including electric hookups, showers, and a sanitary dump station. Camp Creek State Park provides multiple campground options including Mash Fork and Blue Jay Campgrounds, with accommodations for RVs, tents, and cabin rentals. Several privately operated facilities like Brushcreek Falls RV Resort and Pipestem RV Park & Campground supplement the public camping infrastructure with additional amenities.
Access to many campgrounds varies seasonally, with some sites closing between mid-October and mid-April. The region experiences significant rainfall in spring that can affect water levels in the New River basin. "The New River has swollen beyond its boundaries by 50 feet or more on either shoreline. At this visit, after a night of rainfall, the powerful drone of the New River never subsides," noted one camper about riverside camping conditions. Most developed campgrounds require reservations, particularly during summer weekends when visitation peaks. Cell service is limited in many areas, especially in the more remote river access points like Bull Falls Campground in the Bluestone Wildlife Management Area, where tent-only sites are accessed primarily by boat.
Waterfront camping locations receive consistently positive reviews, with visitors highlighting swimming and fishing opportunities. Bluestone Lake State Park's campgrounds provide direct access to water recreation, while also offering hiking trails and cabin options. The landscape ranges from open meadows to densely wooded mountain terrain, providing diverse camping experiences within a relatively compact region. "West Virginia at its finest! Blue stone state park is right next door to the lake so there are wonderful water activities here. There is a marina where we got to rent a boat and the catfish were plentiful," shared one visitor. Several campgrounds, including Little Beaver State Park and Kairos Wilderness Resort, offer a mix of camping styles from traditional tent sites to glamping accommodations, reflecting the region's growing appeal to both traditional outdoor enthusiasts and those seeking more comfortable nature experiences.
"This was a convienent campground right off the highway, easy to get to, small but has a few full hookup sites."
"I got spot 6 which back right next to a creek. It was really peaceful. The shower facilities were clean though did smell a bit like mildew."
"Pipestem Resort State Park Southern West Virginia. We spent 4 nights here. Used this park as a base camp for New River Gorge NP. There's many other State Parks we visited too.
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"There is plenty to do within walking distance or a short drive. There is hiking all around the Pipestem area. There is a lake to fish and boat on."
"Good location not far off the exit. Would stay again!"
"Like a lot of private RV parks, the sites tend to be very close to each other. Beautiful backdrop of the mountains with mist and low clouds. Gravel parking pads."
"Besides the aforementioned site hookups there are a lot of new activities to do at pipestem close to the campground on the Pipestem park property such as ziplining and swimming on the lake with inflatables"
"Short drive to Sandstone Falls, which are stunning."
from $55 - $65 / night
"On a weekday in the fall, the road was very quiet, but I imagine that in the summer when carloads of people head to Campbell Falls, it would be a different story and would take away from the peacefulness"
"Except of one, all other campsites are directly next to a beautiful creek. It was very calm and peaceful. The toilets were kinda messy."
from $25 / night
"This campground rests by Bluestone Lake, which is where the Bluestone River runs runs into the New River."
"We stayed in Meador site 14, which was the furthest away from the bath house (still only maybe 150 yards), but it was on the water & was the most secluded (just meaning it's at the end of the row not"
"This CCC State Park is very picturesque and has several hiking trails and the man-made lake is small but offers plenty of recreation possibilities. I found the layout a little strange."
"Note that there is a walking path that runs directly behind the site and will take you over to loop 2. There weren't too many people using it while we were there though."
from $35 - $50 / night
"The hill to climb to get there is SUPER sketchy but it’s a gorgeous location. If you want to go ride dirt bikes or UTVs this place is definitely the spot."
"It sits on 1500 acres and has 41+ miles of trails. The only complaint is the campsites are very close but everyone was friendly and respectful so all in all it was a great place."
"West Virginia at its finest! Blue stone state park is right next door to the lake so there are wonderful water activities here."
"We enjoyed hiking the trails, swimming in the lake and sitting by our campfire. The ladies working at the check-in office were absolutely the sweetest and extremely helpful."
"Rv sites are large and easy access to back into your site. Fire pits and picnic tables. Restaurant right next door. Cabin and camper rentals very well kept. Trails are literally out your front door."
"Right next to outlaws and Hatfield McCoys plus a terrific restaurant right there at camp. We LOVE Hilltop Escape and highly recommend for all ages!"
TravelerGreat access to local crags. Campsites are spacious but can be close to neighbors, so the quietness of your night depends on them. Bathhouse has male and female areas with showers, sinks, flush toilets and mirrors. Creepy crawlies make their way in but overall decent cleanliness.
GuideROAD IN IS QUITE STEEP. DEFINATELY LOTS AND LOTS OF ROOM. VAULTED RESTROOM, VERY CLEAN. DEFINATELY WOULD NOT TRY WITH A BIG TRAILER OR CLASS A. ROAD AT THE END IS VERY NARROW WITH BRANCHES HANGING DOWN, BE CAREFUL.
ScoutI have known tbe owners for 30 years, great folks ,honest caring. We stayed from April 2026 through August 2026 while building our new place. Never any issues .Peaceful quiet setting, we made reservations, although we were a couple days the owners were glad to accommodate. We highly recommend staying here to anyone from tent to toy hauler they can cover your needs.
TravelerMy first ever love's stop. Very clean and nice people. Great reception and I don't think it was too noisy for sleep. I don't recommend the dunkin, couldn't make my sandwich right.
ScoutShady Rest RV Park — one night, Nov 7–8, 2026
We stayed one night in our 31.5-ft Class C and left early the next morning because we didn't feel safe — and we couldn't sleep.
Getting in was the first warning. The road in narrows to one lane for a long stretch, and it's muddy — I nearly got stuck, and the rig coming the other way nearly went over the drop-off. There's no office and no signs telling you where to check in. I called first and got voicemail; I emailed and it bounced. (The website even says the GPS coordinates are wrong, though our RV-safe navigation brought us right in.)
A kind older woman came out of the trailer at the top of the hill, calling for 'John.' John is the property manager — he's in the blue trailer at the front of the row, landscaping equipment by the porch. The woman is the owner; her husband recently passed away, and he was the one who ran everything. That's clearly why nothing gets answered. I feel for her — truly. But the place is in chaos.
The owner and John argue constantly, in public, and it turned physical more than once while we were there. She told us John would take care of us, then whispered that she's his foster mother and that he has an intellectual disability. She couldn't tell us the rates. Later John knocked on our door with a handwritten note: $50/night, $175/week. We considered the week — we didn't take it, and I'm glad.
This isn't an RV park anymore; it's a run-down trailer park with long-term residents, only about half the trailers occupied. Sites aren't marked — a man just waved us to a spot, and we had to move because it was 50-amp and we need 30-amp. The gravel sites are unlevel and ungroomed. The electric will make you glad you have a surge protector. The water is cold, the sewer is just a hole in the ground, and the 'bathrooms' are glorified outhouses. There's a horde of cats and kittens across the road, and the whole park is their litter box — our dog found every spot. Three trailers I walked past were empty and falling apart. The one next to us had been sitting so long the grass had grown over its sewer hose.
We left at 9 AM after spending half an hour looking for someone to pay. When we finally found John and handed him the $50, the owner stormed out of her trailer demanding to know if we'd paid him, how much, and why — she's the owner, after all. Then she tackled him to get the $50 from him. It was awful to watch.
I have nothing against mom-and-pop campgrounds. But this place is disorganized, unkempt, and — with the constant public fighting — we did not feel safe there, not leaving our dog, and not leaving our whole life in the rig while we went to see the New River Gorge. (Yes, it pained me to skip the Gorge.) The whole time, I swear I could hear the Deliverance banjo.
I don't recommend it. The value just isn't there at $50 a night. It's an old park in a great location that is way past its heyday — and until someone is actually running it, it's not a resting place for RVers.
GuideVery nice camping and mill near by
TravelerVery clean, both showers and parking lot. Actually watched the crew pressure washing around the gas pumps. Close to highway but sheltered from the noise.
TravelerShowers themselves are nice but don't have privacy room to dry and get dressed. Spots are fairly close together. $50 for one night seemed kinda high. There is highway noise. You do get a discount on your cave tour.
GuideNeed an overnight stay on 81/77 this is the place. Booked is call them complete the reservation via Campspot app which they use so I had to download it. Place had plenty of sites pull through which I didnt need but they were so accommodating. I had a perfect view of mountains and cow pasture Relaxation and sleep close to bathhouse and office. They also have propane fill for your camper
Camping spots near Athens, West Virginia offer diverse terrain access across the New River and Bluestone Lake watersheds. The region sits at elevations between 1,500-2,500 feet with moderate summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak season. Cell service can be unreliable throughout the area, particularly at campsites in deeper valleys where signal strength drops significantly.
Fishing adventures: Camp Creek State Park features two campgrounds with access to trout fishing. "We spent time in the park and saw many of the local waterfalls (Pipestem Falls, Sandstone Falls, Brush Creek Falls, Mash Fork Falls, Campbell Falls). The night sky was amazingly clear and stars were bright," notes one Pipestem Resort State Park visitor.
Hiking trail access: Multiple trail systems connect directly to campsites. At Little Beaver State Park, "Spacious, private... walking trail system connected to camp sites. Cleanest bathrooms and showers I've seen. Beautiful trails. Scenic lake," reports a camper who stayed at site #9.
Water activities: Seasonal lake inflatables operate at several parks. A Kairos Wilderness Resort visitor explains: "The hill to climb to get there is SUPER sketchy but it's a gorgeous location. If you want to go ride dirt bikes or UTVs this place is definitely the spot. The staff are excellent, they brought us firewood in the rain and stayed to chat with us for a bit."
Spacious sites: Most established campgrounds provide ample space between sites. At Mash Fork Campground, "All camper pads are paved, have a generous camper pad length, and most are spread a decent amount of space apart," according to a recent camper.
Wildlife viewing: Deer sightings are common throughout the camping areas. A Meador Campground visitor reported: "We stayed in Meador site 14, which was the furthest away from the bath house (still only maybe 150 yards), but it was on the water & was the most secluded. There were also TONS of deer all around (just hanging out eating vegetation) during our short one night stay."
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept restrooms and showers. "Shower houses were well maintained daily throughout the week, however not on weekends when it tends to be most crowded. Shower houses had been recently updated which was nice for a state park," explains a camper from Pipestem Resort State Park.
Seasonal operations: Most facilities close between October and April. At Blue Jay Campground, "All 12 non-electric sites appeared to have fire ring, picnic table, trash can, flat parking area. They did vary a bit in size. It was delightful falling asleep and waking up to the sound of the creek!"
Limited connectivity: Wi-Fi is inconsistent across most campgrounds. A visitor to Little Beaver State Park noted: "This campground is situated in the woods, near Lake. Has a good WFI everywhere, very clean and quiet."
Weekend crowds: Facilities experience heaviest use Friday through Sunday. "The park is super clean and very well maintained. The campground was nearly full. It was well maintained, but the sites were small and very close together," reports a Pipestem visitor.
Playground access: Several parks have updated play areas for children. One Pipestem Resort State Park camper mentioned: "Nice outdoor and indoor pools right down the road in the park. Beautiful views. Lots of places to bike ride for my family of young kids (4 & 8). They also had a nicely updated park for the kids to play."
Biking opportunities: Multiple parks feature kid-friendly paved roads. "Lots of space to run around for the kids. It rained one day we were there and we took a quick drive to Pipestem and swam in the heated, indoor pool that is included in camping fee," notes a camper at Meador Campground.
Wildlife cautions: Campers should properly store food as raccoons are active. "The raccoons at night have a schedule of getting any foods left out. Putting everything away is a must," warns a Pipestem camper who experienced wildlife encounters.
Leveling challenges: Many sites require blocking to achieve level position. "Watch the site descriptions for the incline. The water/electric sites surround a large field. These sites tend to be sunny. 1-49 are in the woods. The sites seem small, but the perimeter sites face the woods," advises an RVer from Pipestem Resort State Park.
Dump station availability: Not all campgrounds provide on-site dumping. At Little Beaver State Park, a camper noted: "Sites have water and electric. Only downside for longer term stays is no sewer hookup, but they do have a very convenient dump spot at entry."
Access limitations: Some roads present challenges for larger rigs. A visitor at Brushcreek Falls RV Resort shared: "We enjoyed our stay. The hosts made it super easy to reserve, check in etc. Truly nice people. The place is not too big or small, just right. Very clean. Nice tenants! Spots are long but pretty close together. We're a triple axl so we had to take it nice and slow getting there with the road and even navigating the property but it was fine."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Athens, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, Athens, WV offers a wide range of camping options, with 149 campgrounds and RV parks near Athens, WV and 5 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Athens, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Athens, WV is Mash Fork Campground — Camp Creek State Park with a 4.6-star rating from 17 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Athens, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Athens, WV.
What parks are near Athens, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 27 parks near Athens, WV that allow camping, notably Bluestone Lake and George Washington & Jefferson National Forest.
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