If you're searching for a place to camp with pets near Buckeye, look no further. Camping is an adventurous and unique way to escape the city—and you can bring along your furry friend. The Dyrt can help you find the perfect pet-friendly campsites that are scenic and easy to access.
Bolar Mountain Recreation Area is a great destination for visitors looking for a fun getaway on Lake Moomaw. The area provides plenty of outdoor activities, including boating, fishing, camping and hiking. There is little to no cell service, so be ready to disconnect!
Boating, canoeing, water skiing and relaxing on the beach are popular activities at the lake. Anglers fish for brown and rainbow trout, bass and crappie. A boat ramp is located at the Bolar Flat Marina, which has a modern dock with boat slips. Bolar Mountain boasts 11 miles of hiking trails that lead to two impressive scenic overlooks: Islands Overlook Spur and Grouse Point Overlook. Looking for a more primitive experience? Hike or boat to Greenwood Point for dispersed camp sites.
The campground sits on the northern end of Lake Moomaw, a manmade lake covering 2,530 acres along the Jackson River. The lake is held by Gathright Dam, constructed in the 1980's by the Army Corps of Engineers for flood control. The lake's average depth is 80 feet and it has 43 miles of wooded shoreline making it the second largest impoudment in western virginia.Bolar Mountain is part of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest which span 1.8 million acres across Virginia and parts of West Virginia and Kentucky. The forest protects 40 tree species within mostly Appalachian hardwood and mixed pine-hardwood forests, 60 species of mammals and 200 species of birds.
Hidden Valley is a short drive from the lake and has ample opportunities for outdoor enthusiast: Hike or ride your horse along the Jackson River, all the way to Poor Farm, cast a line for trout, and stay at the Hidden Valley Campground or even better the historic bed and breakfast. Warm Springs has restaurants, shopping and a Historical Society for Bath County in addition to other typical amenities.
$30 / night
Cabins
To camp at Douthat State Park you must have with you either your reservation number(s) or confirmation letter at check-in. If you've arranged for someone else to check in for you, make sure that person has your reservation number as the number is needed to enter the cabin. All cabins are pet-friendly; there is a fee per pet per night. Camping and cabin guests should be prepared to show a valid ID if requested. Check-in is 4 p.m. and checkout is 10 a.m.
Camping
Douthat is known for delightful, inviting campsites and makes great camping near Richmond. Some offer a splendid view of Douthat Lake. Camping is available year-round in Whispering Pines campground. (Note: Water is unavailable at individual campsites from November through March because of freezing weather. As hot water is still available in the bathhouse, camping fees are not reduced.) The campgrounds are pet-friendly. Generators may not be used in any campgrounds.
Lodges
Please note that the cancellation fee for Douthat Main Lodge, Creasey Lodge and Beard's Mountain Lodge is higher than it is for cabins.
Douthat Lodge (atop mountain): Six-bedroom, rents Saturday - Saturday
This log lodge overlooks the park. It was built by the CCC. It sleeps 13 and allows 15. There are six bedrooms: one queen bed, one queen bed, one queen bed, four twin beds, two twin beds and one twin bed. It has a fireplace, two bathrooms, a washer and a dryer.
Creasey Lodge (behind park's main office). Five-bedroom. Weekly rentals start on Friday when a week-long stay is required. Fully universally accessible.
This one story wood-frame lodge is next to the park office. It accommodates up to 18 guests. There are five bedrooms: one queen bed, two sets of bunk beds, two sets of bunk beds, two sets of bunk beds, two sets of bunk beds. It has a fireplace and three bathrooms.
Beards Mountain Lodge: Six-bedroom, maximum occupancy is 16. Weekly rentals start on Sunday when a week-long stay is required.
This frame-built facility is midway up the mountain and is universally accessible. It accommodates up to 16 guests. There are three bathrooms and six-bedrooms; queen, queen, two twins, two twins, two bunk beds, two bunk beds.
$20 - $40 / night
$23 - $50 / night
Lake Sherwood Recreation Area is a complete family destination offering a wide variety of activities and camping options. Standard, tent-only and group camping facilities are perched along Lake Sherwood, the largest lake in the Monongahela National Forest. Swimming beaches, a picnic area, boat ramp and several hiking trails are among the features of the area.
Anglers seek tiger muskie, channel catfish, bullhead, bluegill and largemouth bass. Boating is a big draw as well. Hikers have the option of exploring Lake Sherwood Trail, Upper Meadow Trail, Meadow Mountain Trail and Meadow Creek.
At an elevation of 2,600 feet, Lake Sherwood spans 156 acres. The recreation area is part Monongahela National Forest, which comprises about a million acres of forest in West Virginia, and attracts 1.3 million visitors each year. A variety of animals make their home here, including black bear, coyote, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, red and gray fox, bobcat, fisher, otter and mink.
The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia is a 15 minute drive. The West Virginia State Fair, held in August each year, is located 30 minutes away in Lewsiburg, West Virginia.
$24 - $34 / night
Morris Hill is a peaceful, rustic campground for groups of family and friends. The family campground is a family-friendly destination perched on a ridge above Lake Moomaw. Kids can have fun at the playground while older generations sit back and relax in the shade. The group sites accommodate up the 25 guests with space for up to eight tents. Campers can enjoy the wonders of camping with simple pleasures like s'mores on the campfire, berry picking in the woods, and watching for waterfowl and wildlife like deer. The convenient location near Lake Moomaw and sandy swim beaches, a fishing pier, boat ramp, and hiking and biking trails makes Morris Hill a popular spot.
An inviting swimming beach at Coles Point attracts many visitors. About less than a mile from the campground is a fishing pier where anglers seek brown and rainbow trout, bass and crappie. Back Creek is also nice for trout fishing. Hikers enjoy the Morris Hill Bike Trail and Fortney Loop Trail.
The campground sits on a ridge overlooking Lake Moomaw. It is about a half-mile from the south end of the lake. Lake Moomaw, which flows from the Jackson River, is a cold-water 2,530-acre lake with an inviting swimming beach. Morris Hill is part of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests which spans across Virginia and parts of West Virginia and Kentucky. These forests protect 40 species of trees that are mostly Appalachian hardwood and mixed pine-hardwood forests, 60 species of mammals and 200 species of birds.
Head downstream of the Jackson River for fly fishing, canoeing, rafting and kayaking. A half hour east of the lake is Hot Springs, Virginia, a quaint village known as a rural resort town.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions group camping will not be open this season. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please visit www.cdc.gov for the latest information on the virus.
$65 / night
$23 - $26 / night
$45 / night
Fourteen primitive and separately numbered campsites dispersed along a 5-mile section of the lower Cranberry River. Campsites are number 6-19 along the Cranberry River between Big Rock Campground and Cranberry Campground on Forest Road 76. Double sites available at sites 7 and 12.
Scout
Staff were friendly campground was nice with shade pull throughs and fairly level.
Traveler
Nothing to write home about but it’s pretty. There’s a road that runs right in front that has some noise. Not all that different from most national forests, which isn’t bad.
Scout
Douthat is really four separate campgrounds. Three of them (i.e. not Whispering Pines) are located near the lake. Each one had a campground host (volunteer) and wood for sale.
White Oak Campground is larger, wooded, and has a significant elevation change between different sites. Caution should be used with large rigs as the low-water bridge to White Oak has steep approach and departure angles.
Beaver Dam Campground is relatively flat and similarly wooded while also providing equestrian facilities.
Lakeside Campground is smaller but the front row sites provide great lake views. Unfortunately swimming is only allowed in the Beach area which is not directly connected to this campground.
Whispering Pines is a few miles away along the entry road and has a different character. It’s a very flat and wide-open campground perfect for big RVs with much larger sites.
The Lakeside Camp Store is nice and has a to-go counter for food. The facilities, overall, were well maintained and clean. Firewood is for sale for $6 per bundle.
Traveler
Pretty much what a campground should be. Absolutely 0 service. No place to get ice if you’re out. Make sure you have a full tank of gas.
Scout
It was dead when we arrived; only saw two other vehicles. Very quiet and secluded. Easy to navigate and find a spot.
Guide
Very quiet, beautiful views, amazing drive from VA. Multiple campsites and they all have beautiful views. I have T-Mobile and had signal only by the first campsite for some reason. I had no signal for almost two hours heading towards VA.
Traveler
I liked this campground -- most RV sites have electric, and water fill stations are easily accessible. Sites weren't too close together, and they were clean and well kept. Staff was also quite friendly and available. Note: It's in a valley, so there's no cell service. The wash houses have wi-fi, but it's not great and you have to be either in the building or sitting at the bench outside to use it.
Traveler
I’ve stayed here at least a dozen times over the years. Nice sites for tent camping. Clear skies and a decent bathhouse.
Guide
We booked this trip last minute on Memorial Day weekend and literally took the last site reservable. The place was crowded and our corner was as crowded as anywhere. The people beside us had way too many cars that made it a little tough to back in. The 5 dudes standing around helped us navigate their vehicles but it was annoying. Later the guy brought us over some whiskey and beers, maybe as an unstated apology.
The CG itself was very family oriented and our site was a good size. We went swimming in lake two days and drove down to Flatwoods for some of the best ice cream you can find at The Spot (UFO and alien sighting location lol).
A huge storm rolled through with 40/50 mph winds. We had a little heads up thanks to buying a day of WiFi but most people were caught flat footed. We saw 30 plus awnings and canopies destroyed. Power went out for entire last day but we were fine. No rangers or park folks let us know anything but that was fine.
I’d recommend c1-c5 if you have kids.
Guide
The State Park is as close to the interstate as you can get without hearing a single truck- just about 10 minutes.
The campsites have electric hookups but no water or sewer. There wasn’t a dump station but the bathhouse was very well maintained and had great shower. For being so close to the interstate, the park is very quiet. Close to many interesting places to visit.
Legend
Pros: 50 AMP, sewer & water hookup
Cons: Gravel sites Check-in at Days Inn Limited amenities (pools at Days Inn)
Ranger
We had a great time here. A very clean, peaceful, and enjoyable campground. The staff were amazing and will definitely be back soon! Our site worked out but if your entry door is at the back of the camper you could have troubles, other than that we lived it.
Guide
This is a great campground! I came here in June with my wife, daughter, and my parents. My wife, baby, and I stayed in a tent only campsite while my parents were in a pull through RV site.
This place is huge! There is so much to see and do. But because of this size, I would not recommend walking the campground or even using a bike to get around. I say this because on top of it being very large and spaced apart, it is also very, very hilly. You'll find yourself either having to drive your car or rent a golf cart.
The staff was pretty nice and helpful. We even met the owner. She was nice to talk to.
The camp store was a bit of a letdown, a lot of knic knacks, and not many actual camping supplies. The pool was small and very, very cold well maintained. The mini golf was fun, but unlike other campgrounds I've been to, you have to pay for it. The ice cream store was also satisfying.
The campsites themselves are roomy, plenty of space! Ours even had an amazing view of the small airport and surrounding hills. The restrooms were alright, about average for a campground. But they seemed to be cleaned every day.
The beach was nice, we definitely enjoyed it. Also, make sure to stop by serenity point for sunset. You won't regret it!
I would recommend either bringing your own golf cart or renting one. But make sure if it's electric, you book a site with a hookup to charge the cart when not in use.
All together, this is a great place. We will hopefully be back!
Guide
We had an amazing overnight stay at Rays Campground. The site we had, site 10, was large and secluded. Clean shower house and hot water and the owners were extremely friendly.
Ranger
Awesome large spaces. Camped with 8 people/ 2 tents and had room for more if needed. Secluded enough but a lot to do. Will definitely return!
ScoutLarge sites, clean bath house and showers. $52/ night with tax. 110/30 amp electric at site. No sewer,no water at site. Water available, sewer dump station available. Has sites along the river. Also there are two rental cabins down near the river.
Traveler
For $43.24 we got a pull through site with full hookups. However, we had to disconnect shore power because we kept tripping the 50A service even when we turned our draw down to 30A. As we head into 2 weeks of sewerless sites, this made sense for us to stop, shower, laundry, and top up on power and water. If you don’t have that sort of limitation ahead, this gas station truck stop likely isn’t worth your money.
Scout
Great campground hosts!!!!!
Bakers Run is a great place to camp for families and people who can let go and stay off the grid for a few days. There little to no cell service available and having a boat to enjoy the lake is a must. Camping here for many years due to the location and ease of access for boaters. Getting to the campground can be nerve racking for those who do not like love the back roads of WV. Bakers Run is a great place to get away from it all. Bakers Run is well of the beaten path nestled along the shoreline of Sutton Lake, with that being said Bakers Run is a public Crops of Engineers small and uncommercialized campground. You will not find the following Wi-Fi, swimming pools, snack bars, game rooms, boat rentals, hiking or biking trails. There are two small stores off of campground property offering firewood, snacks, bait, ice, camping supplies and limited grocery items. To fully enjoy Sutton Lake a boat is a must. https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/10122583?tab=ratings
Traveler
Nice level Campground, easy access from I-64, AT&T and Verizon both 5 bars. Sit & watch deer in the valley most mornings. No on-site management, you have to txt for reservations.
Scout
This was the best camping experience. waking up to the sound of the river and then paired with the most gorgeous view. unbeatable. way worth the drive to get there. loved every minute
Scout
Small, clean, and convenient campground off Hwy 60. Stayed here for a weekend car camping trip and really enjoyed it. I was the only camper, so I had the whole place to myself. The setup was very nice, with options to pay for your stay with cash or Venmo on site. There’s also a small woodshed with bundles of firewood for $5, a clean porta-potty, and a spigot. As a solo female camper, I also loved the fact that there were security cameras at the entrance and exit. The highway is definitely noisy, but over an awesome campsite. Would definitely stay again!
Scout25 Beautiful remote sites with Mountain View’s and lake overlook
ScoutSwimming in this beautiful and very swimmable and safe lake is limited to a kiddie area - useless if you're looking for exercise. Count on a ranger yelling if you go elsewhere despite the absence of "no-swimming" signs. (Lots of signs about not feeding the wildlife). Tennessee state parks, for example, allow swimming in huge lakes swamped with jet-skis and speed boats. Lake Norris, Harrison Bay... What's wrong with "swim at your own risk?" No cellular signal which can be a plus. Old fashioned pay phone available for the generation that knows how to operate those.
Traveler
Unfortunately the road is closed for upgrades until spring of 2024
TravelerWe drove In Thursday evening intending to go to stonecoal but the road was blocked off so we headed out to mowers basin and were lucky enough to snag this beautiful view. The few people we did encounter were friendly.
Guide
Lots of scenery and trails to check out.
Guide
This place has a little bit of everything from hiking and fishing to places for the kids to play or have a cookout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Buckeye, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Buckeye, WV is Bolar Mountain Recreation Area with a 4.5-star rating from 24 reviews.
What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Buckeye, WV?
TheDyrt.com has all 77 dog-friendly camping locations near Buckeye, WV, with real photos and reviews from campers.
