Best Campgrounds near Shinnston, WV

Camping options around Shinnston, West Virginia include several established campgrounds within driving distance. Tygart Lake State Park Campground, located near Grafton, offers tent, RV, cabin, and glamping accommodations from mid-April through October. Audra State Park Campground, situated near Buckhannon, provides tent and RV sites with electric hookups, fire rings, and picnic tables. Family Fishing N' Camping and Camp Ara expand the options with cabin rentals and tent sites. Most campgrounds in this region maintain seasonal operations, typically closing during winter months, though a few like Family Fishing N' Camping advertise year-round availability.

Access to campgrounds varies significantly by season, with most state parks operating from April through October. Many sites require advance reservations, particularly for weekend stays during summer months. The terrain throughout the region features rolling hills and river valleys, with several campgrounds positioned along waterways like the Middle Fork River at Audra State Park. Facilities range from primitive sites to full hookup RV pads with electric, water, and sewer connections. Cell service can be limited in more remote areas, though some campgrounds have begun adding WiFi access. As one visitor noted, "This is truly a spectacular campground. Spacious separation between lots, very well kept, the bathrooms are immaculate. An absolutely beautiful setting on the crest of a mountain."

Riverside camping receives consistently positive reviews from visitors to the area. At Audra State Park, campers appreciate sites positioned along the Middle Fork River where the sound of rushing water creates a peaceful backdrop. One reviewer mentioned, "Stayed on a campsite right next to the river and could hear the rushing of water which was so wonderful." Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with deer commonly spotted throughout the region's campgrounds. While some campgrounds offer little privacy between sites, others provide more secluded options with tree cover. Bathhouse facilities vary widely across campgrounds, from basic to recently renovated. The region's natural attractions, including waterfalls at Blackwater Falls State Park and hiking trails at Coopers Rock State Forest, provide excellent day trip opportunities from base camps near Shinnston.

Best Camping Sites Near Shinnston, West Virginia (94)

    1. Tygart Lake State Park Campground

    20 Reviews
    Grafton, WV
    16 miles
    Website

    "There was a bathroom close by with running water and showers. It was beautiful and very close to the lake."

    "Trails to lakeside/shore where campers do swim although no swimming from shore is "not" allowed. Just be respectful and clean up after yourselves and usually no drama involved."

    2. Audra State Park Campground

    32 Reviews
    Volga, WV
    28 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 457-1162

    "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."

    3. Family Fishing N' Camping

    3 Reviews
    Grafton, WV
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 265-1000

    $10 - $150 / night

    4. Camp Ara

    2 Reviews
    Grafton, WV
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (757) 652-4777

    $20 - $150 / night

    "Beautiful lake for canoeing and fishing and the hiking and mountain bike trails are amazing! Cant wait to go back!"

    5. Coopers Rock State Forest

    32 Reviews
    Dellslow, WV
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 594-1561

    $25 - $35 / night

    "This is the largest state forest in West Virginia, it has a total of 25 sites that vary in their privacy. Each site has electrical hookups, picnic tables, fire grates, and utility post."

    "There is also a small laundry room with dishwashing sink behind the bathhouse. Both ice and firewood are sold onsite."

    6. Mylan Park

    5 Reviews
    Cassville, WV
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 983-2383

    "Decent sized “parking spaces” Available on holiday weekend Good price ($40/night) Full hookups (bring your long sewer tube, I used 3 x15’ as it’s at the tail of the spot) Fields & Grassy area adjacent"

    "We love it here most of the time it’s close to Morgantown so it’s perfect for university events. Really close to campus. They have full hookups & partial hookups."

    7. Farnum Park LLC

    Be the first to review!
    Clarksburg, WV
    5 miles
    +1 (304) 476-6292

    8. CAMP73ROCKST☆R

    1 Review
    Morgantown, WV
    19 miles

    $35 - $65 / night

    9. Blackwater Falls State Park Campground

    52 Reviews
    Davis, WV
    47 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 259-5216

    $50 / night

    "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."

    10. Five River Campground

    27 Reviews
    Parsons, WV
    38 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 478-3515

    $15 / night

    "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."

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Recent Reviews near Shinnston, WV

395 Reviews of 94 Shinnston Campgrounds


  • Alia
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Kick Back n Camp

    Last Minute Getaway

    My husband and I went on a spontaneous camping road trip. We called the campground, and they had availability for walk-ins! Usually, you’d have to book in advance. The campsite was a semi-private spot, and it cost less than $30 a night, without electricity. They also have sites with electricity. We were fortunate enough to have no campers around us, making it quite private.

    The campground had a picnic table, a fire pit, and they even delivered our firewood directly to our site. They had separate sites for RVs and tent camping, so we could choose the one that best suited our needs. The owners were incredibly friendly and outgoing, making our stay even more enjoyable.

    If you forget anything, the campground office had everything you needed for purchase. They also had a well-organized brochure that showcased the campground’s amenities and offerings. And let’s not forget their delicious ice cream! They had a variety of flavors, and I highly recommend trying them all.

    One of the standout features of the campground was the bathhouse. It was spotlessly clean and felt like a spa. The showers were comfortable and had hot water, making it our highlight

    Overall, we had a fantastic time at the campground. It was a great place to unwind and connect with nature. If you’re looking for a peaceful and affordable camping experience, I highly recommend this campground.

  • Aileen C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Blackwater Falls State Park Campground

    Clean Campground in a Beautiful Park

    This is one of our favorite places. The park is beautiful, and so are the nearby Canaan Valley Wildlife Refuge and Canaan Valley State Park.

    The campground is better suited to tents and small to medium size camping units. I think the person who designed it was not familiar with camping units other than tents. Loop 1-30 is one way going clockwise. Loop 31-65 is one way going counterclockwise. But in both loops, to have your door facing away from the street, you have to drive counterclockwise if your site is on the outside of the loop, and clockwise if your site is inside the loop.  In some sites, the electric pedestal is on the wrong side, so you'll have to use a long cord and take it under your unit to reach your electric hookup.

    There are two water fill stations, one at the camp store where you check in, and the other at a water fountain near the bathhouse in loop 31-65. They are supplied supplied with a green garden hose, not a white potable water hose, so we unscrewed the hose and used our own. The water tastes unusually good.

    The dump station is in a section of loop 31-65. You have to go the wrong way on a one way road to be close enough for your slinky to reach it. The non potable rinse water is across this road from the dump station and it has a white hose--beware--this is not the drinking water! You stretch this hose across the road to rinse your gray and black tanks and slinky.

    Some of the sites are not very level, and many of the pull thru sites share some driveway space with another pull thru site or a back in site. There are two pairs of sites that share a pull thru--OK for people traveling together, but otherwise a headache if you're arriving and leaving at different times.

    Once you have dealt with all this inconvenience and oddness, you'll find you're within walking distance of the falls, a small lake, hiking trails that go through beautiful forests with rhododendrons, hemlocks, spruce, and hardwoods. The camp store is limited, but the staff is very friendly and helpful. The nature center is one of the best I've ever visited, and park naturalists provide programs on weekends. There are kayak rentals in summer. The lake has a swimming beach, but you can pay to use the swimming pool at the lodge for better swimming. The lodge also has a huge lobby with a cabinet containing jigsaw puzzles. We worked on one on a rainy day when we didn't want to be outside. Davis and Thomas have some interesting shops and good restaurants.When you get back after a day of adventures, you'll find clean restrooms with hot showers that are actually hot. And the T-Mobile service was good enough for my husband to stream a movie while I sent photos to my family. The park was very busy for Labor Day weekend, but it was a family atmosphere and after dark, there were few lights and little noise.

  • scott K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 23, 2025

    Gladwin Dispersed Camping

    Go a little further

    Decided to try it even though other review said private property- and seems they were correct but incorrect. Initially you do come to private land with several campsites and campers present. But if you go down the dirt road a little to the low water bridge you will find a wonderful site on the right with several fire pits. Or another 100 yards after bridge was another nice site on the left

  • Sophia Z.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Gladwin Dispersed Camping

    Spot is on Private Property

    Spot is amazing, but we got told to leave due to it actually being private property, not part of the national forest camping.
    There is a private property line next to the entrance, so we thought we were in the clear being away from it, but locals, although incredibly friendly, kindly asked us to leave.

  • Gene H.
    Aug. 12, 2025

    Alpine Shores Campground

    Great Music on holiday weekends!

    This is a clean, beautiful location ran by wonderful, kind folks.  My band, The Fridley Boys plays there on the 4th and Labor Day weekends.  The crowd and atmosphere is always amazing.  It is definitely our favorite venue!!!  Crowd and band are out of the weather.  Love this place!

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 10, 2025

    Sand Springs Campground

    Remote wilderness

    Was a nice campground. Wish I would have picked a better spot. Was tricky backing in. Lots of tress. Was off season so felt like I had the place to myself. Gets some crazy fog but lot of parks and trails close by.

  • Sienna L.
    Jul. 22, 2025

    Blackwater Falls State Park Campground

    The Best Campground

    This campground was amazing! The shower and bathrooms were spotless. Some sites were closer together than others but we didn’t mind since we just had a tent. There were trails to walk pets. The sky was absolutely perfect to view from the campground - you could bring a telescope! I would absolutely come back to stay for a few days!

  • Sienna L.
    Jul. 22, 2025

    Rhododendron Camping Area

    Amazing WV getaway

    This is one of my favorite campgrounds! It is quiet and the sites are spacious. There is a bathhouse located closest to site 5 with trails from other sites to get there. The facilities are always clean- no shower available. The campground is in walking distance to the overlook and most of the trails. Absolutely lovely here!


Guide to Shinnston

Camping near Shinnston, West Virginia, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to choose from.

What to do

  • Rafting on the river: Experience the thrill of rafting down the Ohio Pyle River. One camper mentioned, "Stayed here one weekend and rafted down the Ohio Pyle river. Very convenient to the river and town," highlighting the easy access to water activities at Kentuck Campground — Ohiopyle State Park.
  • Hiking trails: Explore the numerous hiking trails nearby. A visitor at Blackwater Falls State Park Campground said, "The Black Water Falls were also within walking distance and beautiful to see," making it a great spot for nature lovers.
  • Fishing and swimming: Enjoy fishing or swimming at Deep Creek Lake State Park Campground. One camper noted, "The only thing that I didn’t like was that there were a lot of sharp stones on the bottom of the swimming part of the lake," so be cautious while enjoying the water.

What campers like

  • Clean facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained bathrooms and showers. A review for Audra State Park Campground stated, "The bathrooms were spotless with tiled floors and walls," which adds to the overall camping experience.
  • Privacy between sites: Many campers enjoy the spaciousness and privacy of the sites. A visitor at Coopers Rock State Forest mentioned, "Beautiful campground with well spaced sites," making it a peaceful retreat.
  • Friendly staff: Campers often rave about the helpfulness of campground staff. One review for Five River Campground said, "The owners are amazing and so helpful," which can make a big difference in your stay.

What you should know

  • Alcohol policies: Some campgrounds, like Swallow Falls State Park Campground, do not allow alcohol. A camper noted, "The campground is dog friendly, but didn’t realize the park is not," so check the rules before you go.
  • Limited amenities: Many campgrounds have basic facilities. A review for Red Creek Campground mentioned, "This campsite is a great jumping off point for a number of hikes throughout Dolly Sods," but it also highlighted the lack of modern amenities.
  • Crowded weekends: Expect busier campgrounds on weekends. One camper at Tygart Lake State Park Campground said, "The sites are so close together," which can affect your experience if you prefer solitude.

Tips for camping with families

  • Choose spacious sites: Look for campgrounds with larger sites for family gatherings. A review for Kentuck Campground — Ohiopyle State Park mentioned, "The campground was not as well maintained as other state parks we have visited but not bad," indicating that some sites may be more suitable for families.
  • Plan for activities: Make sure to have a list of activities to keep everyone entertained. A camper at Blackwater Falls State Park Campground noted, "There is a lot of hiking nearby," which can be great for family bonding.
  • Pack snacks and drinks: Having food on hand can make family outings easier. One camper at Deep Creek Lake State Park Campground mentioned, "Firewood was cheap," so you can focus on cooking and enjoying meals together.

Tips from RVers

  • Check site sizes: Make sure the campground can accommodate your RV size. A review for Coopers Rock State Forest warned, "Beware Site 25! Very hard to get into!" so be cautious when selecting your spot.
  • Look for electric hookups: Many RVers prefer campgrounds with electric hookups. A camper at Five River Campground said, "Full hook up sites were amazing," which can enhance your camping experience.
  • Plan for waste disposal: Ensure the campground has a sanitary dump station. A review for Tygart Lake State Park Campground mentioned, "There was a shop where you could purchase wood and supplies," indicating that amenities are available for RVers.

Camping near Shinnston, West Virginia, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. With a little planning and knowledge, you can enjoy a fantastic outdoor experience!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Shinnston, WV?

According to TheDyrt.com, Shinnston, WV offers a wide range of camping options, with 94 campgrounds and RV parks near Shinnston, WV and 5 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Shinnston, WV?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Shinnston, WV is Tygart Lake State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 20 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Shinnston, WV?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 5 free dispersed camping spots near Shinnston, WV.