If you want to explore the beauty of Beech Fork Lake, glamping is an excellent option. Glamping near Beech Fork Lake is especially popular among campers who enjoy beds and electricity. You're sure to find glamping for your West Virginia camping adventure.
Hidden deep under the northeast forests of Kentucky, strange formations with names like Giant Turkey, Headache Rock, and The Cathedral mingle with cave corals, underground waterfalls and thousands of endangered bats. This is what awaits visitors to Carter Caves State Resort Park, approximately 90 miles east of Lexington. The park was only established, and the cave environments protected, in 1946. Prior to this, the land—and caves—have a long and storied history. It begins millions of years ago, when North America was in its development stage, with the land rising and falling, cracking and washing away. This began forming the caves as seen today. Fast-forward to the 1800s, and the caves served as a resource during the War of 1812. Today however, this 2000-acre park—both above and below ground—serves as a recreation destination for campers and adventurers. The resort at Carter Caves offers a variety of overnight options, including camping, cottages and a lodge. Campers will find a large campground with 89 RV sites with utilities, 30 primitive tent sites, eight equestrian sites, and two bunkhouses. Most RV sites are back-in, and can accommodate vehicles/trailers up to 60 feet; bunkhouses can accommodate up to six people. The campground features bathhouses with showers, water faucets, picnic shelters, horse stables, and a playground. The park’s cottages are fully equipped with linens, cookware, and most have wood-burning fireplaces; these can accommodate up to eight people. The Lewis Caveland Lodge offers 28 rooms with full amenities, balconies and patios. Dogs are permitted in designated areas, and must remain leashed. Campsite rates are $18–$55/night; cottages and lodge rooms are $75–$240/night. The main attraction at Carter Caves State Resort Park is … the caves! There are six named caves in the park for exploring. Some are open year-round, some are only open during the summer. The park offers guided walking tours in four of the caves. Tours range from 45 minutes to 2.5 hours, and require some stair-climbing and stooping. There are also two caves open for self-exploration. These are undeveloped, and require visitors to provide their own light source. For the adventurous, there are also two cave crawling expeditions. These tours are three hours long, and explore tight, undeveloped passages that require lots of crawling, stooping and duck-walking in muddy conditions. For visitors who would rather stay and play above ground, the park features 26 miles of hiking trails, guided horseback rides, putt-putt golf, rock climbing, and fishing and paddling on Smoky Valley Lake.
Iron Ridge is one of two campgrounds in the Vesuvius Recreation Area in southeastern Ohio's Wayne National Forest. Iron Ridge offers a great location for outdoor recreation, with activities like boating, swimming and fishing on Lake Vesuvius. Horseback riding and hiking are also available in the rolling hills surrounding the campground.
Boating, fishing and swimming on Lake Vesuvius are the area's most popular activities. Anglers may catch bass, catfish, crappie or bluegill. More than 40 miles of trails exist in the area, with trailheads beginning at or near the campground. A 1/2-mile hiking trail connects the campground to Lake Vesuvius. Lake Shore Trail offers an 8-mile loop around the lake and shorter trails lead to Rock House Cave, a grand, tunnel-like sandstone cave that was once used by Native Americans for shelter.
Iron Ridge Campground is located on a wooded ridge above 143-acre Lake Vesuvius. A scenic forest of mature eastern hardwoods covers the area.
The closest town is Ironton, Ohio, less than 10 miles from the campground.
$20 / night
$20 - $50 / night
Oak Hill Campground is one of two camping areas within Lake Vesuvius Recreation Area. It has recently renovated and upgraded with modern conveniences like electric hookups and flush toilets. Lake Vesuvius is very close, providing access to ample recreational opportunities.
Boating, fishing and swimming on Lake Vesuvius are the most popular activities. Anglers may catch bass, catfish, crappie and bluegill. More than 40 miles of trails exist in the area, with trailheads beginning at or near the campground. A spur within the campground connects to the Rock House Trail, which leads to a cave Native Americans used as a hide-out many years ago.
The campground is situated on the west side of the 143-acre lake. A mixed hardwood-pine forest with many mature oak trees covers the area.
The closest town is Ironton, Ohio, less than 10 miles from the campground.
$20 / night
$20 / night
This recreation area is part of Dewey Lake
Legend
We enjoyed our stay at Huntington/Fox Fire KOA! This is a holiday KOA that offers more amenities for vacationers. It has very close proximity to I-64 in West Virginia, and you can hear the traffic pretty clearly.
The staff is wonderful, they obviously care very much about their jobs and we enjoyed talking to them. They keep the property very clean which is saying a lot because it’s a very busy park. Each day we watched the park nearly empty and by sundown it was mostly full again. On the weekends it was full to capacity, and it’s occupants were out enjoying their time!
There is: great cellular for TMobile and AT&T, laundry, dog walk area, storage, cabins, a store, a swimming pond, small beach area, and some sites have fire pits. The picnic tables were pretty dated.
The hookups are a little strange. You share pedestals in many of the sites. And the arrangement is a little strange but it works.
Scout
I lived in the Dewey Lake-JWSP area with family members, until 2002. Currently, I live about 10-15 minutes away from JWSP and visit the park at least once a month, depending on the weather. If you want to mix up your trip besides going camping or doing any recreational activities: Jenny Wiley Theater, mid June-early August, Outdoor Theater, (kinda like Summer Stock); Theme or special dinners at the Lodge, (mostly on weekends), year round; the community/ state park swimming pool is currently being "refurbished" and will be reopening, (hopefully) in Summer 2019. And, speaking of recreation, you can "hit the links" at the Stone Crest Golf Course, nearby.
But, as for other recreational activities: there's bike riding, hiking, boating: recreational, travel, kayaking and fishing types. If you want to do any horseback riding, you have to bring your own horse and gear, but contact the JWSP office first on where you can ride your horse. Better yet, you can take about a 30 minute drive from the Lodge to the German Bridge Campground area up Cow Creek, which is also in the Dewey Lake area, Contact the Dewey Lake US Army Corps of Engineers for more details, (in other words, Google it). Plus, there are picnic shelters in different areas of JWSP, some of them right next to Dewey Lake.
Now, as for camping, you have 3 type choices... #1. reserving a cabin near the Lodge, (and Dewey's, the local "watering hole"), kinda like "glamping", but it's rougher. (BTW, this area and the Lodge are the best places for getting a cell phone signal). #2. RV (Recreational Vehicle) Camping. There is a RV camping site not far from where I used to live, but from my personal experience, call the JWSP office at least 2 weeks in advance before the date you plan to use the site to see if there is going to be anything available on the dates you want, before making your reservation. First come, first served! #3. A. There are tent campsites next to Dewey Lake in various areas around the lake accessible by boat only, which are overseen by the Corps of Engineers, contact them or the JWSP office. Best place in my opinion: Campsite near the Dewey Dam/ Spillway Area. B. Other Outdoor Camping: Contact the Corps of Engineers or the Park Ranger's at JWSP. If you want to see some wildlife also, contact the local KY State Fish & Wildlife office that handles JWSP and Dewey Lake.
But there's some stuff I've learned over the years living and camping in this area, that I think you must know, some of this you might have run into on other camping trips at other parks...
And last, but not least...
6. DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE A MOTORBOAT! NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ON THE BOAT! EVERY PERSON ON BOARD MUST BE WEARING A LIFE JACKET! The Fish & Wildlife officers do surprise checks on the recreational boats to see if the rules are being followed... if they aren't following the rules... you may have to pay a fine and/or do some time!
Scout
Great secluded campsite with privacy and lots of space
ScoutI would give it a zero if possible. The cabin we stayed in was absolutely filthy-dirt and dead bugs on the floor, coffee pot was nasty, extremely small counter was dirty, no access to running water(no even a sink in the bathhouse) and I could go on but I think you get the point. The bathhouse looked like a shed and was also dirty. Were told there were groups going out every weekend, all day long and also night riding. Trails are not marked so you really can't go out on your own. We paid for 3 nights, but only stayed for 2. And of course, we were never offered a refund or partial refund. Like Share
GuideThe couple that run this campground are awesome! They made me feel like I grew up there and was back to visit old friends. The Memorial Day celebration pig roast with live music and even a huge fireworks display were amazing. I'm planning on returning for the 4th of July celebration pig roast. Thanks guys.
TravelerWe have stayed at Pappys multiple times this year and each time is better than the last. We tent camp and always have plenty of room. Campground is located right next to the East Lynn outlaw trails. The owner and staff very friendly and even set us up with a local group to show us around. They also offer parking and you don’t have to worry about any one messing with your stuff because there is alway some one there! Just an absolutely awesome place for kids and adults.
ScoutWe have been camping at Pappys for 2 yrs now! We always have a great time, the folks out there are so nice and friendly it literally feels like a family reunion everytime!! We ride with the WV Outlaws and they take you on awesome trail and creek rides!! Kids love the creeks on hot days they have so much fun!!
I definitely would recommend Pappy’s to everyone looking for an awesome camping / cabin experience and WV Outlaws for Awesome trail riding.
LegendOk for overnight stop.
Pros: 50 amp hook-up Water Sewer
Cons: Gravel pad Sites close together
GuideIt was our first stay ever in our RV. Our site was muddy but it did rain 2 out of 3 days. Site 32. The staff was very pleasant and helpful.
RangerWe came to this campground because it was close to the Kenova Pumpkin House. We rented a cabin on a cute little pond. It was a nice setting and it was a little out of the way from the main part of the campground which was nice. It had a deck that overlooked the pond and the campground. The only thing I didn't like was that it was close to the interstate and you could hear the traffic all night. If you want convenience, though, this is good since it is close to the interstate.
ScoutWe have stayed here full time for work and the people who run the place and work here are so kind and friendly. The area is safe and right near the nicest little towns (barboursville and hurricane) which have all the restaurants and shopping you’d need. A few city parks have some decent hiking trails and the state park and ‘big city’ of charleston or Huntington are a short drive. Great park all year with lots of green space, ponds for catch and release, and fun swimming blow up things in the water during summer, cabins for visitors. Very family friendly and well maintained. Another RV park that is right down the road is literally a parking lot, definitely the nicest campground we’ve found in this area for sure! We stayed in 114 and 115 which are RIGHT under the expressway, so can be VERY noisy. The closer you get to the front desk the better for the noise, but the expressway can be very very loud with all the truck and engine brakes.
GuideFantastic cabins!
LegendPros: entrance/check-in area is very cute and welcoming, staff is extremely nice and accommodating. Cons: dirty, dumpsters were overflowing and the whole place smelled like a dump station, cats wandering around, our pull-thru site was unlevel and a mud pit, horrible road noise. Would never stay here again.
ScoutThis campground has excellent customer service. The crew are stoked to be there and it showed. Tent camping had its downfall. I had a tent pad, which was a great choice because the ground was soggy from rainfall earlier in the day. The proximity to the road and the loud night critters kept me up for a few hours after dark. Other than this, it was a great quick one night stay!
TravelerWe stayed 2 nights at the KAO. Even though we had a back site that was close to the interstate, it was surprisingly quiet. The grass had just been mowed which made for a little bit of a mess inside, everything was nice and clean.
ScoutThis is a very nice KOA camp. I arrived after dark so I didn’t get a good look at the place but the entrance is well marked. The family restrooms are very nice and comfortable. The sites have great electric and water, I’ll try the sewer before I leave. It’s damp and muddy but it’s December so that’s expected. I took off a star for the street noise. The campground is right next to a major highway. There is car and truck noise all day long and all night too. Maybe it would be better in the summer when there are leaves on the trees. At least that would block the view.
TravelerThis is a very cozy park tucked in between US60 and I64. We are in site 14 and its not quite level, but they were generous with gravel so the drainage is good! No parking in puddles!The staff is great, friendly, upbeat. The gentleman who led us to the site helped us get positioned, and squared up.The site has a patio, bench, picnic table, fire pit, and a huge gas grill. There is more privacy than usual at KOA, pine trees between sites.Well be back! You do have to watch for the entrance, there is a big KOA sign but its not aligned with the actual turn, so be careful.
ScoutGreat RV/Camper spots for your family! Although I’m more of a tent camper myself, my family members have some medical issues that require them to sleep inside and have access to electricity, so Fox Fire turned out to be a really good spot for that. Camper spots are a decent size, but they can feel a little cramped on the bigger weekends. Their camp store is stocked with everything you may need and not to mention their swimming lake is pretty fun and provided hours of entertainment for the youngins in our group. Super cool programs too! Can’t complain about a movie out by the lake. Ooh and make sure you rent a banana bike! Super fun.
RangerWe loved our stay here! The owners are so friendly and welcoming. They had so much for kids to do: a swimming pond with inflatables, gem mining, banana bikes, and more. They showed a movie at 9pm on a big inflatable movie screen outside. Lots of other families there to hang out with.
The only downside was that the tent sites are close to the interstate, so there was A LOT of road noise all night. Otherwise, it was a great camping experience!
GuideMaybe I am not used to KOA prices but $52 a night for a FHU seems high! The owners were nice and accommodating! The site while somewhat level was gravel and wet from day’s storm (poor drainage) ! I booked from afar and was not able to find other campgrounds near Charleston, WV.
TravelerStaff was exceptionally friendly and helpful. Only stayed here one night on our transit to Kentucky. Facilities and sites were exceptionally clean. Yes, it’s close to the interstate so you can hear traffic but for a short stay this campground can’t be beat. Be careful of the turn onto the property….it’s a sharp right hand turn with a dip….take it slow!!!
LegendPerfectly fine KOA. Nicely decorated for Halloween and seemed like it had lots of nice amenities for kids. We did a quick overnight here so we could have some electricity and a shower. Lots of highway noise. We had one of the back in sites which was nice because there was nothing but woods behind us.
LegendWe were stopping here on our way to another KOA. At the check in area I noticed that the park looked nice. When we arrived at our site (we were escorted), the escort left and my wife noticed trash in the fire pit. I called the office, told them there was a lot of garbage at our site including a lot of cigarette butts. A young man came and cleaned up the trash in and around the fire pit and he said he was sorry about it not being clean. There were also piles of wet dog food. There is a terrible sewer smell that continues to float over to our site. There were many complaints of this on the KOA site. The highway is close and very noisy. (See video) Not worth the money to stay here. It might be worth $10 for an overnight stop, we didn’t even hook up electric or water. Ran fans, lights and water pump off of solar. Not at all what I expect from a KOA.
GuideThis is a very nice KOA camp. I arrived after dark so I didn’t get a good look at the place but the entrance is well marked. The family restrooms are very nice and comfortable. The sites have great electric and water, I’ll try the sewer before I leave. It’s damp and muddy but it’s December so that’s expected. I took off a star for the street noise. The campground is right next to a major highway. There is car and truck noise all day long and all night too. Maybe it would be better in the summer when there are leaves on the trees. At least that would block the view.
LegendBeautiful sites and park. Easy in and out.
Guide
Is a cheap place, the shower house is very old, $40 per night The sewer was flooded because of the rain, don’t park in the middle line Is bad.
GuideIt’s such a peaceful place to visit. Kids can play without worry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular glamping campsite near Beech Fork Lake?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular glamping campground near Beech Fork Lake is Huntington / Fox Fire KOA with a 3.8-star rating from 19 reviews.
What is the best site to find glamping camping near Beech Fork Lake?
TheDyrt.com has all 12 glamping camping locations near Beech Fork Lake, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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